Ninos on the Beach Complex

Thanks to everyone at Ninos on the Beach for making our holiday so special.

As this was to be our first holiday in 20 years without the kids we wanted everything to be just right, ie – a short flight and transfer, a room with a sea view, good food, a large contour swimming pool (it does make a difference!), friendly people, and a relatively quiet resort. After failing to find all of this with all of the main players we stumbled onto Ninos website and booked direct. Once we’d booked a flight and had a taxi arranged by Ninos we were all set for a week at the beginning of June which worked out cheaper than going through the cattle market of the travel agents. This would be our first visit to Corfu in 25 years and our first time in Roda.

And guess what? – Ninos had everything we wished for and more. The owners are the husband and wife team of Nino and Lindsay, a Greek/English combination giving you the best of both cultures in one package. They are one of the most friendly couples we’ve met, always ready to have a chat and do their utmost to help you have a wonderful holiday. Additionally, Danny, their Son (who ran the pool bar and anything else that needed doing) was a great character who was always happy to chat or help.

Our second (top) floor room has been recently refurbished and was smart, clean, and airy with a balcony that looked over the sea to the right and the panoramic mountains on the left. Although small, it was enough for our needs and had all of the usual trappings like a fridge, hotplates (not used), kettle, nice wetroom/bathroom, etc. Aircon and/or heating were available at a small additional cost if needed. The daily maid service was excellent. Our only minor complaints were not enough shelves in the wardrobe for non-hanging clothes and we would have liked more pillows – although we’re sure that if we had asked these would have been provided.

The pool has to be the best in Corfu, if not Greece(!?), a wonderful 50 foot (?) contour jobbie with an attached Jacuzzi that just begged to be used on the hot, lazy days we encountered. With the temperatures in the mid eighties, the temperature of the pool was wonderful and we just didn’t want to get out.

The food at Ninos, be it the daytime snack menu or the full evening menu, was great, cheap, and served to you wherever you wanted it, be it on a sunbed or sitting at one of the numerous seating areas either on the (non-slip) pool patio or the main restaurant area.

BTW, a pint of beer was only 2.50 euros!

The beach in front of Ninos was very small and pebbly but there was sand if you walked left towards Roda (5 minutes away) or right towards Acharavi (15 minutes away). However, we liked this as it kept the tourists away from our little patch of paradise!

Having said that, there were people in the know from other accommodations who would spend their entire day at Ninos (which was open to the public) for the swimming and the food as it far surpassed what was on offer at their own hotel/studio (many returned on a daily basis).

One further endorsement for Ninos is the fact that the Greeks themselves used the facilities at Ninos and ate at Ninos regularly – enough said!

Roda itself was lovely, probably no more than a large village, but it had some quaint little streets to explore with enough shops (touristy stuff) and restaurants to entertain you for at least a week. Roda also seemed to be much cleaner and better looked after than many of the other Greek islands we have visited in the past.

There were plenty of relatively cheap eating places to choose from, ranging from English food (at places like Pirates for a superb British fry up for breakfast or Maggies for real British ‘home-cooked’ dinners – fish, steak, chilli, burgers, etc - that were so huge that you were given a t-shirt if you ate it all) to trad Greek food (at places like New Port and Ninos itself for Klefados, Moussaka, Escallops, etc). All of the staff were inevitably more than friendly and would remember you on your next visit.

On our last day we were allowed to keep on our room until our evening flight at no additional cost.

The sunrises and the sunsets were well worth watching as well.

Nightlife tended to be restricted to Greek dancing and singers (Elvis is alive & well in Roda!).

All in all, a great holiday in a great location and we want to return as soon as possible. Our personal endorsement is the fact that this is the first holiday ever that we want to return to the same accommodation in the same resort. A week is just not enough!!!

Probably not the place for teenagers or people looking for a hectic nightlife, but it suited us two forty-somethings just fine.

Hi to Nino, Lindsay, Danny, Becky (their friendly Roda Terrier), and all of the people of Roda and here’s to our next visit!