Unbelievable Chalkidiki Escape: Port Marina Hotel Awaits!
Unbelievable Chalkidiki Escape: Port Marina Hotel Awaits! – A Review Straight From the Beach (And My Brain!)
Okay, folks, buckle up because I just got back from the Unbelievable Chalkidiki Escape: Port Marina Hotel Awaits! and my brain is still buzzing with sun, sea, and surprisingly good coffee. Honestly, I'm not one for writing reviews - I’m more of a “leave it to Tripadvisor and pray” kinda gal – but THIS PLACE. This place deserves all the words. And maybe a few exclamation points.
So, let’s dive in, shall we? I’m going to try and be organized, but fair warning: my brain operates on a “scattered sunshine” principle.
First Impressions & Accessibility (and the Slight Panic I Had on Arrival)
Getting there was a breeze. We opted for the Airport Transfer – smart move, especially after that flight. The hotel itself? Gorgeous. Right on the marina, picture-postcard perfect. Now, I need to be honest, I’m not a particularly patient person, and accessibility…well, it's something I tend to gloss over until I NEED it. The elevator was crucial, and thankfully, there was one (a real blessing for my tired legs!), and the facilities for disabled guests looked well-thought-out, although I didn't personally experience them. I did see ramps everywhere, which is always a good sign. Bonus points!
The Room: My Sanctuary (and Where I Almost Locked Myself Out)
My room? Oh, my room was a haven. Air conditioning that actually WORKED (a game-changer!), a ridiculously comfortable extra-long bed, and those blackout curtains? Pure. Bliss. I'm talking serious "sleeping-in-until-noon" bliss. There was a mini-bar (naturally, I raided it), a coffee/tea maker (essential!), and, you know, the usual suspects like a desk, private bathroom (with a fantastic shower), and a safe box.
I also really appreciated the little touches. Like the complimentary tea and free bottled water. And the slippers. The slippers were a godsend after a day of pounding around in sandals. I even had a window that opens! (though I almost lost my balance trying to reach it. My arms are not as long as they used to be.)
My major drama…I almost managed to lock myself out on my last night. It was a total Mary Poppins moment, stuck on my balcony on the phone, trying to get back in. Luckily, they were incredibly nice and fixed the problem quickly. A great reminder of how soundproof the rooms were!
"Cleanliness & Safety" (or, The COVID Chronicles)
Okay, let's be real. This is on everyone's mind right now. The Port Marina Hotel took this seriously. I mean, seriously, seriously. There was hand sanitizer everywhere. They had daily disinfection in common areas, and staff were clearly trained in the safety protocol. The use of Anti-viral cleaning products, felt like they were ready to launch a sanitizing missile anywhere (and it was very reassuring!). Rooms sanitized between stays (phew!), They had cashless payment service and sanitized tableware items, which gave me a huge amount of peace of mind. I even appreciated the individually-wrapped food options at breakfast – felt super safe. And I saw a doctor/nurse on call - thankfully, I didn't need it, but it's good to know.
Food, Glorious Food! (And My Obsession with Greek Yogurt)
Alright, FOOD. This is where things get really good. The breakfast buffet was…well, addictive. I’m pretty sure I single-handedly kept the Greek yogurt industry afloat for the duration of my stay. It was heavenly. I'm not kidding; thick, creamy yogurt, drizzled with honey and topped with fresh fruit. Every. Single. Day. The Asian breakfast options were a welcome touch, but the yogurt? The yogurt was life. I wasn't so keen on the breakfast takeaway service , but I'm not a grab and go kind of person.
The hotel has several restaurants, including an a la carte and a buffet in restaurant. The international cuisine was top-notch. There was also a vegetarian restaurant - good for those who appreciate it (I needed the meat). The poolside bar was the perfect spot for a pre-dinner drink, especially during happy hour. I remember someone ordering a cocktail and a delicious plate of salads in restaurant, and I was very jealous. The coffee/tea in restaurant was excellent, and the desserts in restaurant were so hard to resist. The room service [24-hour] was a lifesaver on a particularly lazy afternoon (and after one too many ouzos). In fact, a bottle of water was always at your disposal, I loved it!
Relaxation, Recreation and The Spa – (My Own Personal Paradise, Minus the Body Wrap)
This is where the "Unbelievable Escape" part really kicks in. The swimming pool [outdoor] was stunning, with a pool with a view – infinity pool goals, anyone? I spent a lot of time doing absolutely nothing but floating and gazing at the sea. Bliss.
They have a full Spa and Spa/sauna experience (if that's your jam) with a sauna, and steamroom. They offer massage, body scrub, and body wrap (I skipped the body wrap – I'm not quite that zen, yet), and a fitness center for serious fitness enthusiasts. There're also a foot bath. Honestly, I spent my days alternating between the pool and napping in the sun. My idea of relaxation is…basic. Things to do, ways to relax: The hotel also had a Shine! I found this quite unusual in a hotel, but very endearing and unique!
Internet, or The Quest for Wi-Fi (and the Near Meltdown)
Okay, internet. This is where things got a tiny bit…hairy. They have Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! – which is amazing. Internet access – wireless - but the connection can be a little…spotty. I'm used to super-fast, reliable internet from home. I needed to check my emails (work never sleeps, does it?). If you're planning on doing any super-intense streaming or video conferencing, be warned. They also provide Internet access – LAN, but let's be honest, who uses that anymore? I survived, though, and the disconnect was probably a good thing. Forced relaxation, anyone?
Services and Conveniences (A World of Practical Magic)
The hotel excels in this area. They offer Daily housekeeping, which meant my room was always spotless. They have a concierge that was incredibly helpful. Luggage storage, laundry service, dry cleaning, ironing service (needed!), currency exchange, a convenience store, a gift/souvenir shop (for those last-minute gifts). There are also some Business facilities in case you have to check emails (shame on you) (I had to! - ugh!).
For the Kids (And the Parents Who Need a Break)
They're family-friendly! They had babysitting service, kids facilities, kids meal. I couldn't stop but note their family/child friendly attitude everywhere.
Getting Around (And the Gentle Art of Doing Nothing) They offer Airport transfer, and I noticed that Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], and Taxi service.
The Fine Details (And My Obsessive-Compulsive Checklist)
- Air conditioning in public area. (Check)
- Audio-visual equipment for special events. (I don't do events, but good to know)
- Cash withdrawal - (Yup)
- Contactless check-in/out. (Efficient!)
- Doorman. (Polite)
- Elevator. (Crucial)
- Essential condiments (It's very important)
- Facilities for disabled guests. (Seemed good)
- Food delivery. (Convenient)
- Invoice provided (Always good.)
- Meeting/banquet facilities (I was going to invite everyone. But I changed my mind)
- Non-smoking rooms. (Thank goodness.)
- Proposal spot. (Awwwww)
- Safety/security feature.
- Security [24-hour]. (Peace of mind)
- Smoking area. (For the smokers)
- Terrace. (Beautiful)
- Wi-Fi for special events (I didn't go)
- Xerox/fax in business center (If you need them!)
- Additional toilet. (Good!)
- Alarm clock. (I used my phone)
Okay, buckle up buttercups. This is going to be less "travel itinerary" and more "emotional rollercoaster fueled by Greek sunshine, questionable tzatziki, and a profound existential dread about never truly understanding the metric system." Here goes… my “Port Marina Hotel Chalkidiki: A Mostly True Account”
Day 1: Arrival and the Tyranny of the Towel
10:00 AM (ish): Arrive at Thessaloniki Airport. Already sweating. Not from the Greek heat, but from the internal monologue screaming about my luggage being lost (it’s not. Yet.). Find the pre-booked transfer, which promptly turns into a mini-adventure involving a very enthusiastic driver named Dimitri who insists on explaining the entire history of olives in heavily accented English. I can’t understand half of it, but I nod furiously, mostly because he looks like he’s about to explode if I don’t.
12:00 PM: Arrive at Port Marina Hotel. It’s…fine. Actually, it's pretty great. The view is stunning. Turquoise water, yachts bobbing…my Instagram feed is going to be lit. Check-in is surprisingly smooth, but there’s already a battle for the prime sunbeds erupting. Seriously, people. It’s 12 PM. You haven’t even seen the beach! I’m already mentally drafting a strongly worded email to the hotel about the tyranny of the towel. (Spoiler alert: I never send it. Conflict is exhausting, and there’s a bar calling my name).
1:00 PM: Unpack. Or, attempt to. The suitcase explodes, spewing underwear and sunscreen into the pristine room. Decide to "deal with it later." Priorities, people. Priorities.
2:00 PM: Lunch at the hotel restaurant. Order the Greek salad, because, duh. It's…good. But the feta cheese is a bit… extra. I think it's trying to communicate with me.
3:00 PM: First swim! The water is shockingly clear. The sun is glorious. I feel like a Greek goddess (minus the abs and the ability to, you know, rule). This is precisely what I needed. Maybe the towel-based conflicts are worth it.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Nap in the sunshine and feel my brain slowly melt.
6:00 PM: Wander the marina. Gawk at the yachts, feel a pang of envy, and then remind myself that I'm perfectly happy with a slightly-less-than-yacht-sized bank balance. Buy a gelato, and accidentally drop half of it on my pristine white t-shirt. Rage briefly. Pick up the gelato pieces and eat them anyway because, again, priorities.
7:00 PM: Dinner at a taverna overlooking the water. Order the grilled octopus, because I’m feeling adventurous. It arrives looking… intimidating. But the taste? Heavenly. The waiter (who, like everyone, is incredibly charming) seems pleased by my enthusiastic scarfing.
9:00 PM: Attempt to watch the sunset, get completely distracted by a couple who are clearly madly in love and start to get a little emotional. Reminded of my single status. Eat more gelato.
10:00 PM: Collapse into bed, completely exhausted. Jet lag, sun, and the sheer beauty of everything have taken their toll.
Day 2: The Beach and the Great Tzatziki Debacle
9:00 AM: Wake up feeling… slightly sunburnt. Curse my past self for not applying enough sunscreen. Drag myself to breakfast.
10:00 AM: Beach Day! Find a sunbed (miraculously!) and settle in. Read a book (mostly). People-watch (extensively). Observe the ongoing towel wars with amused detachment. Vow to purchase a comically large towel.
12:00 PM: Lunch at a beachside taverna. Order the tzatziki. This is where things go south. This tzatziki… is not good. It tastes like watered-down yogurt with the barest whisper of garlic. I suspect a conspiracy. Is this even real tzatziki? My inner Greek food critic is furious. I force myself to eat it, mostly because I'm hungry and don't want to offend the sweet, overworked waitress.
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Back to the beach. Overcome the Tzatziki trauma. Swim. Sunbathe. Repeat.
4:00 PM: Venture into the town for some retail therapy. Buy a ridiculously overpriced, but undeniably cute, souvenir T-shirt that I will probably never wear. Because I'm on vacation and the rules don't apply here.
6:00 PM: Decide to try another restaurant for dinner. Discover a hidden gem with the best tzatziki ever. Redemption! Order a second helping and make up for yesterday's debacle.
8:00 PM: Wander along the beach again. Hear some live music.
9:00 PM: The existential dread of never knowing how to properly pronounce "gyros" returns.
Day 3: Day Trip to Sithonia
9:00 AM: Wake up more prepared for the sun, so apply a generous amount of sunscreen, also get up early for the day trip.
10:00 AM: Take a small boat tour to the Sithonia region.
11:00 AM: Arrive to a small fishing village. The boat stops on the beach. I don't know what the name is but it is a beautiful place. After the tour, eat lunch at a taverna. Order the grilled fish.
2:00 PM: The boat goes to another location and they have a swim in the crystal clear water.
4:00 PM: The boat take us back to the hotel.
6:00 PM: Nap time.
7:00 PM: Dinner.
9:00 PM: Walk by the beach.
Day 4: The Unspoken Truths
9:00 AM: Eat breakfast.
10:00 AM: Swim.
12:00 PM: Lunch.
1:00 PM: Decide to go to the shop, I want to buy some gifts for my family. After arriving at the shop, I am having a hard time deciding what to buy. After thinking for a while I have been able to solve what everyone will enjoy the most.
3:00 PM: Back to the hotel to do more swimming.
6:00 PM: Dinner.
8:00 PM: Watch the starry sky.
9:00 PM: Bedtime.
Day 5: Departure (and the lingering scent of oregano)
9:00 AM: Breakfast. Feel a pang of sadness knowing that breakfast will soon be a distant memory.
10:00 AM: Soak up the last rays of sunshine. Swim one last time. Try to memorize the feeling of warm sun on my skin.
11:00 AM: Check out. Dimitri is not driving me back to the airport. Thank the Greek gods. But I have to tell you I'm already feeling nostalgic for his stories (even though I didn't understand them).
12:00 PM: Head to the airport.
2:00 PM: Depart.
Upon reflection, forever: I realize that I will never fully experience the Greek culture without committing to it fully, and to do so, I will have to learn the culture. Even though I didn't speak the language I was able to fully experience the trip. I miss the sound of the waves, the smell of the food, and the sun on my skin.
Unbelievable Chalkidiki Escape: Port Marina Hotel Awaits! (Or Does It?) - The Messy Truth
Okay, so, is this Port Marina Hotel actually *that* amazing? Every review is practically gushing…
Alright, alright, let's talk. "Amazing"? Well, definition of "amazing" is subjective. It's...good. Really good. But let me tell you, after reading ALL those reviews, I started thinking I was going to stumble onto a portal to paradise. Spoiler alert: I didn't. (Though, the retsina did make me *feel* like I was in paradise, at least for a bit…) It's definitely a step up from my last "holiday" (which was, let's just say, involving a tent and a questionable beach in Cornwall – that’s a whole other story of epic proportions, involving rogue seagulls and a very soggy sandwich). The view… yeah, the view is STUNNING. Like, Instagram-worthy stunning. I'm talking turquoise water, little boats bobbing around… you get the picture. It's the kind of view that makes you want to write terrible poetry. (I *tried* a haiku. It ended with “sun, water, slightly hungover”). But don't go expecting *perfect*. More on that later.
What's the deal with the location? Is it actually near anything interesting?
Location, location, location! It's… decent. Port Marina is, well, a marina. So, boats are your main neighbors. Which, for someone who loves watching boats (that’s me!), is a massive plus. But it also means you're not *right* in the thick of things. If you're after raging nightlife, you probably need to look elsewhere. We had to take a taxi to get to the nearest town, which cost an eye-watering amount (Greek taxi drivers are masters of the "we got a problem with the meter" maneuver, just FYI). On the plus side, it does mean it's generally peaceful. Except for… [dramatic pause]… the seagulls. Those feathered fiends. They're attracted to the balconies like moths to a flame. And they are RUDE. More on *that* later. Again.
Okay, the rooms… tell me the truth. They look *nice* in the photos….
Right, the ROOMS. The photos are… well, professionally taken. Let's just say they *flatter*. The rooms are fine. They’re clean, which is a big win in my books. The air con worked (thank the gods, because that Greek sun is brutal!). And the bed… was comfy-ish. Maybe. Look, I'm not a royal. I don't need a bed made of clouds. But I'm also not a fan of a lumpy sleep, and there were a few nights where I swear I could feel every spring. The bathroom was… adequate. Nice, hot water, which is always a bonus. Slight issue – the shower curtain. It felt like it was trying to escape every time I had a shower, and water somehow ended up *everywhere*. I mean, EVERYWHERE. My partner keeps reminding me about this, because he ended up mopping the bathroom floor every morning. (He is the angel in this equation, by the way).
What about the food? Heard Greek food is amazing…
Ah, the food. The *food*! Okay, on the whole… yes, it was good. The breakfast buffet was a sight to behold. Mountains of pastries, fresh fruit, the most amazing Greek yogurt you will ever taste (seriously, I’m still craving it), and a dodgy-looking coffee machine that mostly dispensed brown-ish water. Lunch at the pool bar was… convenient. And that’s about all I can say about it. Dinner at the hotel restaurant? Decent. Some dishes were fantastic, others were… well, let's just say I got very familiar with the "safe" options. I’m thinking grilled chicken and… more grilled chicken. But, venture out! Find a little taverna in the next town. Order the grilled octopus. It'll change your life. Seriously, it will. (Just check it for tentacles… it's still a little weird).
The pool! What's the pool situation?
The pool is… okay. It's not tiny, which is great, because I hate fighting for space. There are plenty of sun loungers, but they get snapped up pretty quickly. The pool bar serves cocktails, which is a major plus. But… and here’s the thing… the pool gets *busy*. Really busy. And let's be honest, some people have… questionable pool etiquette. I witnessed a full-blown cannonball competition (kids, mostly), a near-drowning (thankfully the lifeguard seemed to know what he was doing), and a terrifying incident with a rogue inflatable flamingo that nearly took out an elderly gentleman. So, yeah, the pool is a mixed bag. Fun, sunshine, and potential chaos. Embrace the chaos. Or, you know, hide in your room with a good book. Also valid.
Customer Service? Are the staff at least nice?
The staff? Mostly lovely. Really! They're friendly, generally helpful, and try their best. But… and there always seems to be a "but," doesn't there?… Communication can be a bit tricky. Not everyone speaks fluent English. This led to some hilarious misunderstandings. Like the time I tried to order a "sandwich" and ended up with an entire plate of… [dramatic pause]… olives. Seriously, a mountain of olives. (I love olives, but even *I* couldn't eat that many). And the whole thing with the taxi, where no one could quite agree on the price… That was frustrating. But overall, the staff were trying their best. They seemed genuinely happy to help, even when I was completely flustered. Bless them.
Okay, the "seagull incident" – you've mentioned it like, three times. Spill the tea! What the heck happened with the seagulls?
Alright, alright, you want the seagull story? Buckle up, buttercup, because this is an epic tale of avian aggression. So, we're on the balcony, lovely view, enjoying our morning coffee. Sun's shining, birds are tweeting, life is good. Suddenly… *squawk!* A seagull. Okay, harmless enough. Then another, and another, and then… they were EVERYWHERE. These aren't your cute seaside seagulls; these are the winged equivalent of the mafia. They were circling. They were eyeing us. And, I SWEAR, they were planning an attack. We had a little plastic bag with some leftover bread (I know, I know, should have known better) sitting on theUnique Hotel Finds
