Aperitton

We stayed for five nights in two room, my wife and I in one and our teenaged children in the other, and the hotel and staff were fantastic. The rooms werecc clean and bright, housekeeping prompt and excellent and every one of our requests was met with warmth and professionalism. The pool is clean and great to dip in after a hot day and towels were provided free of charge to use by the poolside. The breakfast buffet was a nice bit of Mediterranean and Continental, something for everyone. Thank you, Aperitton Hotel!

We stayed at the Aperitton Hotel in Skopelos Town and had an excellent stay. The hotel gives you the convenience of being right in the town, which is both its greatest strength and, depending on your point of view, its only real drawback. Skopelos Town lives around you. There are restaurants, shops, narrow streets winding down towards the harbour, and a nearby clock tower whose bell sounds rather like a church bell. It chimes on the hour from 6 am until midnight and gives a single chime every half hour. Some guests may find that distracting. We did not. We came to explore the island, not sleep through it, and before long the bell simply became part of the character of the place. Besides, the sea air drifting in from the harbour has a way of helping you sleep. If you can, get a room with a sea view. It is absolutely worth it. The hotel itself is small, quaint, immaculately maintained and beautifully presented. It feels cared for rather than merely managed. Our room had a walk in shower and WC, with the basin located in the bedroom itself. The room was cleaned daily and the sheets and towels were changed every other day. The real highlight, however, is the staff. They were consistently friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely helpful throughout our stay. Whether offering advice about the island, helping with practical arrangements, or simply greeting guests with a smile, they seemed to take real pride in ensuring everyone enjoyed their holiday. A hotel can have comfortable rooms and attractive surroundings, but it is often the people who make a stay memorable, and that is certainly true here. Overall, the hotel is excellent. If I had to find fault, and I am being very picky here, I would say the breakfast became a little repetitive after several days. It was perfectly acceptable and there was nothing wrong with it, but it was perhaps the least memorable part of an otherwise excellent experience. We visited in June, and for us the weather was just about perfect. It was sunny, warm and in the mid to high twenties, but not ridiculously hot. You could still go out, explore, walk around, visit beaches and actually enjoy the island rather than spend the whole day hiding from the heat. I would imagine that later in the summer, particularly during the school holidays, Skopelos becomes much busier and far hotter. At that point, some of the exploring we enjoyed might feel like hard work. For us, June felt like the ideal time to visit because it was quieter, cooler and still beautifully sunny. As for Skopelos itself, I think some people misunderstand what kind of destination it is. If you are looking for clubs, nightlife and parties that continue into the early hours, this probably is not the island for you. We saw very little in the way of nightlife, even in the main town. There are plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars, and the food was very good almost everywhere we ate, but this is not a party island. What Skopelos offers instead is something far better, at least in our opinion. The island is beautiful. There are beaches with crystal clear water, hidden coves, pine forests that seem to tumble into the sea, and spectacular views around almost every corner. It is a wonderful place for swimming, snorkelling, paddle boarding, hiking, photography or simply exploring. Some roads climb into the hills where the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic and the views stretch across the Aegean. We came here for my girlfriend’s birthday, and she is a huge Mamma Mia fan. The film is set on the fictional island of Kalokairi, but many of the filming locations were actually on Skopelos and nearby islands. One thing worth knowing is that the film makes these locations appear much closer together than they really are. In reality, they are spread across the island. There are organised Mamma Mia excursions available, but in my view the best way to experience Skopelos is by hiring a car. We had not planned to do so ourselves but were fortunate enough to find one very inexpensively through The Local Group car hire company. I would strongly recommend taking full insurance or some form of excess protection because Google Maps occasionally sends you down roads that require a degree of commitment and faith. Some of the routes can be quite challenging, but they often lead to places most visitors never see. And those places are worth finding. A quiet beach at the end of a winding road. A hillside viewpoint overlooking the sea. A small taverna hidden away from the crowds. These were some of our favourite memories of the island. We were also told that if you drive up into the hills at night, away from the light pollution, the stars are extraordinary. Having seen the island during the day, I can easily believe it. To sum up, the Aperitton Hotel is a wonderful place to stay. The staff are outstanding, the hotel is charming and exceptionally well maintained, and the location is ideal if you want to experience Skopelos Town properly. The breakfast is perfectly adequate, if slightly repetitive, and the nearby clock tower may not suit very light sleepers. As for Skopelos itself, do not come expecting Ibiza. Come for the beaches. Come for the scenery. Come for the clear water, the sea air and the slower pace of life. June, in our experience, is a brilliant time to come because you get the sunshine without the punishing heat and crowds of peak summer. Hire a car, explore beyond the obvious tourist spots, and let the island reveal itself. If you do, there is every chance you will leave wondering why more people have not discovered this remarkable corner of Greece.

Booked one night via Expedia due to high rating and images. Very steep climb from port to reach this hotel on foot. Tough going in heat. Not for anybody with any mobility issues. Friendly welcome on arrival/check in. Very basic room, white decor and clean. Partial sea view. Needs door key fob to be placed in electricity slot so you cannot keep air-con running when you go out. Return to a hot room. Shower not very powerful (at all). Small balcony but air-con unit at floor level. Takes up space. Blows warm air on you. Nice pool area but very fragile/broken sunbeds. One collapsed when I sat on it. Quite noisy corridors as people return from Skopelos late. Checked out at 6am for ferry. Missed breakfast but area where buffet is located is very small. Suggests minimal options. Overpriced. Wasn’t worth the price point paid.