Pylaia Hotel

Rooms

For a small hotel, Pylaia has a lot of different room categories. Bright and spacious, bedrooms differ widely in size and vantage point, but all have excellent all-natural mattresses and bed linen, and décor is clean, neutral and uncluttered, with the odd designer piece. Bathrooms are attractive, too, with walk-in showers plus tubs in the bigger categories. Every room has outdoor space though most are tiny terraces and the larger ones tend to be quite exposed.

Deluxe Rooms near the top of the hotel have big bathrooms and fabulous views across the valley to the sea. The Junior Suites at the bottom of the hotel are the most peaceful and private, with unbroken sea views. Split-level Honeymoon Suites have steep stairs down to rather dark, musty bathrooms, but lovely terraces. The Grand Suites, clustered around the pools, are best suited to families, with separate bedrooms and large indoor and outdoor living areas. There’s a sea view but not a lot of privacy when the pools are busy.

There's also the serviced Two-Bedroom Apartments, with double and twin rooms, a shower bathroom, an open-plan living/dining area with a kitchen, and a spacious veranda.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is a generous spread of freshly baked breads and cakes, saffron and raisin pastries, pouggia (cream cheese and cinnamon turnovers), eggs, bacon, heaps of fresh fruit, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Only the cappuccino, which is charged extra, was a letdown.

The top-floor breakfast room doubles as Plori for lunch and dinner, a smart restaurant with a modern Mediterranean menu that’s anything but traditional. Dishes such as cheese and lavender rolls, monkfish with lemon, fennel and lemongrass, or sea bass with martini sauce are delicious and make a welcome break from standard taverna fare. There’s a decent selection of Greek wines, too. Room service covers the basics (burgers, club sandwiches, Greek salad), but is underwhelming. Simple snacks and refreshments are served at the small pool bar throughout the day, but it’s closed in low season.

Akti, the hotel’s sister restaurant, was already closed for the season when we visited in late September. However, there are plenty of other eating and drinking options in Chora, a 5-minute walk.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Climb up to the 13th-century Venetian castle that crowns Chora, via a delightful maze of sleepy, whitewashed lanes
  
• Swim at Kaminakia beach or walk to Tzanaki, a tiny pebble beach 10 minutes down a dirt track, with amazing views
  
• Take a boat trip to Koutsomiti and Kounoupes, tiny islands with castaway beaches that could be in the Caribbean
  
• Drive to Vathy, an otherworldly lagoon and archaeological site, for fresh fish at one of the tavernas
  
• Go to Castro bar at sunset for exotic cocktails and unforgettable sea views
  
• Relax in the hotel spa with a hot-stone massage or some 'ouzotherapy'!
  
• See our other top tips for the island

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Sailing
• Scuba diving
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures

Kids

The hotel is very welcoming to families, and messy eaters are tolerated with good humour. Travel cots and highchairs are provided free of charge, and there's a special room service and even a spa menu for kids! However, the hotel is built on multiple levels with lots of steep stairs, so it’s best suited to older children who are steady on their feet.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Most rooms can fit a baby cot or rollaway bed. Grand Suites have a double bedroom and a large lounge with space for 1-2 baby cots or rollaway beds. The Two Bedroom Apartments are great for a family of 4-5, with double and twin rooms, plus space for a baby cot or rollaway bed.

Cots Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Astypalaia is the westernmost island in the Dodecanese. Built on a sheer hillside, Pylaia Hotel is on the outskirts of Chora, a small town. It’s a 5-minute walk into town.

By Air:
There are regular flights from Athens to the tiny airport of Astypalaia (aka Panaghia), 12km away. There may also be flights from Leros or Rhodes. Check Sky Express and Aegean Air or ask the hotel when making your enquiry.

Pylaia Hotel provides transfers to and from the airport at an additional cost, and the island is small so you may not need a car. But if you want to explore the island's unspoilt interior during your stay, you can hire one locally; consider hiring a jeep. The hotel has a free car park.

By Ferry:
There are ferries from Piraeus via Paros - Naxos - Amorgos, or from Rhodes via Kos - Kalymnos; both routes will take several hours, but you can often get a cheap cabin.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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