Sandy Beach Hotel

We recently stayed at Sandy Beach Hotel in Kos (Marmari area), and overall, we had a good time – but there were definitely a few things that took the shine off what could have been a stand out holiday.

The Good Stuff:

1. The food was genuinely great – tasty, varied, and always something nice to choose from. The cocktails were also really good, just a shame they weren’t included in the all inclusive.

2. Pools were lovely, and the deck chairs were comfy enough to lounge around on all day.

3. We loved the resort cats – so cute and clearly looked after by guests. We fed and fussed over them too – it really added a nice vibe to the place.

4. The gym was decent enough for a holiday workout, but it could definitely do with some air con – it got really hot in there.

5. Our room was fine – a bit dated decor-wise, but it stayed nice and cool thanks to the aircon (which was included in the price).

6. The beach is beautiful, especially at sunset. It’s sandy (hence the hotel name), clean, and the sunbeds are free for guests.

7. After we checked out, we were still allowed to use the all inclusive until we left for the airport. A nice touch that meant we didn’t have to start spending on food and drink while we waited.

Bonuses Nearby the Hotel:

i) There are a bunch of great beachside restaurants just outside the resort – we especially loved the Tiki Bar, the food there was really nice.

ii) One of our favourite evenings was walking to Marmari Go-Kart, about 40 minutes away. A really lovely walk in the evening, and the track was a lot of fun – we’d definitely recommend it for all ages.

The Not-So-Good:

1. One thing we hadn’t fully anticipated was just how much the hotel is geared towards German guests. We’d seen in reviews that it was mostly German holidaymakers and figured that would be totally fine – but as a British couple, we did end up feeling quite out of place at times. We’re very low-key – kept to ourselves, played cards, didn’t drink much or cause any noise – but we still felt like we got the odd side glance from some guests, and a few of the staff weren’t as warm or friendly with us. On more than one occasion, we were served at the bar only after all the German guests had been seen to first, despite having arrived earlier.

That said, this didn’t apply to everyone – the staff at the cocktail bar in the evenings were consistently friendly (hopefully not just because we were paying extra), and there were still some lovely people in the mix. But the few interactions that felt a bit cold or dismissive did put a bit of a damper on things. No one was outright rude – just noticeably less welcoming in a way that’s hard to ignore.

After speaking to a local, we found out that Marmari tends to cater more to German and Scandinavian tourists, while Tigaki is more popular with British holidaymakers. Apparently, the general vibe in Marmari isn’t always the most welcoming towards Brits. I really wish I’d known that before booking – I had no idea Kos had that kind of divide.

2. The biggest negative for us was a travelling photography team that the hotel allows onto the grounds. One evening, they stopped us on the way to dinner and asked to take some photos, assuring us it was just for fun and that there was no pressure to buy. The next morning, after breakfast (around 10.30), they were waiting outside and said they’d been waiting just for us and that we should’ve come before 10am – something they hadn’t explained clearly at all. We’d assumed we could view the photos at reception whenever suited us.

To our surprise, they had already printed five photos (which were honestly very average) and tried to charge us €50 for them. I said no, but they kept pushing and made it so awkward that I ended up buying one for €10 just to get them to go away. It felt like a set-up and definitely not what you’d expect from a hotel of this level. It really left a bad taste.

Overall Thoughts:

There’s a lot to like about Sandy Beach Hotel – the setting is beautiful, the food is excellent, and the beach nearby is fantastic. But for us, the general atmosphere created by some of the guests and a few of the staff, along with the uncomfortable photo situation, really took away from the experience.

If you’re German or Scandi, you’ll probably feel right at home. But if you’re coming from the UK, I’d suggest doing a bit more research on which part of Kos suits you best – something I really wish I’d known beforehand.

We had such a wonderful family holiday at Sandy Beach Hotel! The place is absolutely beautiful and the vibe is so friendly. A special mention to the animation team, they are just incredible! Always helpful, super energetic, and taking such good care of us. We laughed so much with them! My daughters completely loved them and were actually really sad to leave. Big thanks to the entertainment team Palmera, you made our trip truly unforgettable! The hotel itself is great, super clean and with excellent facilities. All the staff is very professional and welcoming. The food was amazing too! The italian restaurant had so much choice, and the main restaurant had different delicious options every single day. Really a big well done to everyone, thank you so much for this beautiful memories! We will definitely come back!