Paralia Diamond Villa

“Not as bad as we thought I might be”

Review from Two Well-Travelled Adults Following a One-Week Stay (June 2026) Before arriving, we had read the reviews and were concerned enough to try to change our accommodation. Unfortunately, this wasn’t possible as the property required at least seven days’ notice. We arrived after 8:00 p.m., … more

Review from Two Well-Travelled Adults Following a One-Week Stay (June 2026) Before arriving, we had read the reviews and were concerned enough to try to change our accommodation. Unfortunately, this wasn’t possible as the property required at least seven days’ notice. We arrived after 8:00 p.m., and the main host, Alex, was waiting at reception to hand over the key to our room. We stayed in Room 202, which included a safe, air conditioning, a fridge, a few drawers, and a table and chairs outside. The room was basic but clean. There were some old marks on the bed throw that looked like pen stains. Soap, towels, and small bottles of shower gel and toiletries were provided, although we didn’t use them. The shower had a small shelf inside, which was useful for storing toiletries. While it wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing—the shower head was green with rust and dirt build-up—it worked well, was always hot, and had decent water pressure. Like all the taps, the water was salt water. The bed was acceptable, but the mattress and pillows were clearly old. The pillow filling had separated, making them lumpy, and the mattress dipped noticeably in the middle, meaning we tended to roll towards the centre during the night. There was no kettle or tea/coffee-making facility in the room, although a hairdryer was provided. There were no bins in the room or around the pool area, which seemed odd. The man who cleaned the rooms also appeared to be responsible for cleaning the communal areas and the pool. The pool was clean, although during our seven-day stay we never actually saw it being cleaned. There were plenty of sun loungers available. However, the fixed sun umbrellas create too much shade for those wanting to sunbathe and are positioned so low that you have to duck underneath them when walking around the pool. Bath towels were changed daily, and pool towels were provided, but they were very small, thin, and ours had bleach stains on them. Breakfast We only went to breakfast once, and it raised serious food hygiene concerns. There were boiled eggs in a bowl with cracked shells, allowing flies to get into them, and it appeared to be the same bowl of eggs brought out each morning. Cereal was left in dispensers 24/7, milk was left unrefrigerated, and the same tray of what was supposed to be Greek yoghurt and watermelon seemed to be put out every day, making us question how fresh it was. The coffee machine produced coffee that tasted as though it had been made with salt water. The juices were watered down, and the jams and marmalades never appeared to be refreshed. The bread was dry, and the cheese and ham were displayed on lunchbox-style ice packs that did not appear sufficient to keep them properly chilled. There were flies throughout the breakfast area, and overall the experience was disappointing and far below what we would expect for the price paid. Local Area There also seems to be an issue between the hotel and the bar immediately to the left when facing the sea. If they realise you’re staying at the hotel, you don’t appear to be welcome there. Directly opposite the hotel is another bar where you can use their beach sun loungers if you buy a drink. However, I would not recommend the cocktails, which we found unpleasant. We didn’t eat there, so cannot comment on the food. One of the staff members, Roy, is extremely persistent in trying to attract customers, stopping passers-by, drivers, and scooter riders. We found this off-putting. The area itself is pleasant, but not what we expected. It’s highly commercialised and expensive. We had hoped for a more traditional Greek atmosphere with small local restaurants, but there wasn’t much of that within walking distance. If you turn right out of the hotel when facing the sea, you’ll find much better restaurants and bars, many with pools that can be used if you buy food or drinks. Restaurants We Enjoyed * Acropolis * Mamma’s Food * Santa Irini Bakery (excellent for breakfast and lunch items) * The supermarket next door is useful for snacks and supplies. Recommended Activities Fira to Oia Walk * Take the bus to Fira. * Walk from Fira to Oia and spend some time exploring. * Return to Fira by bus and then catch the bus back. Ancient Thera and Kamari * Walk up to the Ancient Thera ruins. * About halfway up, take a detour to the church visible on the mountainside. * Continue to the ruins, then follow the mountain path down towards Kamari, passing another unique church built into the mountainside. * Spend the day in Kamari and return via water taxi if operating (they do not run in windy conditions). Quad Bike Day * Hire a quad bike and start early. * Have breakfast in Pyrgos. * Visit Fira and walk down to the Old Port. * Take the volcano and hot springs boat trip (around £25 per person for a half-day trip). * Visit the Black Beach, White Beach, Red Beach, and Akrotiri Lighthouse. * Return for a shower before heading out for dinner at Giorgaros, which offered the best sunset views and food of our trip. Booking is essential. Overall The accommodation is very basic. Replacing the mattresses and pillows, improving the breakfast offering, and adding simple tea and coffee-making facilities would significantly improve guests’ experiences. A small bottle of water in the fridge on arrival and a small carton of milk would also be appreciated. The trips and activities ultimately made the holiday for us. Had we spent more time at the hotel, our review may have been very different. If you’re looking to save money on breakfast and lunch, consider bringing a knife and plate so you can prepare simple meals in your room and eat them on the balcony. One final note for fitness enthusiasts: there is no gym nearby, so swimming and running are your main exercise options. One positive worth highlighting is the gentleman responsible for cleaning the rooms, pool area, and communal grounds. He is the unsung hero of this property and works incredibly hard to keep everything clean and running smoothly. From what we observed, he appears to be carrying out far too many responsibilities for one person and could really benefit from additional support. The cleanliness of the hotel is largely down to his efforts, and he deserves recognition for the work he does. In contrast, Alex appeared much less involved in the day-to-day running of the property. While he was present to check us in and was polite enough, it often felt as though much of the workload was being left to the cleaner, which did not seem particularly fair.

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