Oniro Studios

“We fell back in love with Greece”

We booked back in April because the family run nature of the hotel and reviews appealed. We got worried a few weeks before coming due to the change in ownership but there was nothing to worry about. The staff were fantastic. The hotel was lovely. Never any issue getting sunbeds at any time of the d… more

We booked back in April because the family run nature of the hotel and reviews appealed. We got worried a few weeks before coming due to the change in ownership but there was nothing to worry about. The staff were fantastic. The hotel was lovely. Never any issue getting sunbeds at any time of the day. The poolside bar did some lovely food when we didn’t feel like walking to one of the nearby restaurants. (But if you do, we highly recommend Amboula). The two small beaches were perfect for us - we go to swim and snorkel in the sea and not sit. We booked a hire car through reception for our second week and it’s a brilliant staging location to explore the island. I haven’t been back to Greece since I was a teenager and this holiday made me realise it’s my favourite destination in the world.

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“⭐ Asking for a Friend: Does "All-Inclusive" Mean "Punishment" Here?”

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the true glamour of feeling like a second-class citizen on a stunning Greek island, look no further than The Dream section of the Mastrali Hotel. Funny story: we actually booked a place called "The Dream Studios Onorio" via TUI, who proudly referenced TripAdviso… more

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the true glamour of feeling like a second-class citizen on a stunning Greek island, look no further than The Dream section of the Mastrali Hotel. Funny story: we actually booked a place called "The Dream Studios Onorio" via TUI, who proudly referenced TripAdvisor reviews for it. Imagine our surprise on arrival to find that the "Dream Studios" listing has vanished from TUI entirely—presumably erased from the internet to protect public health. Instead, we were dumped here as guests of the Mastrali. If you want a holiday where the main ambient soundtrack is overhearing fellow travellers sharing horror stories about how badly TUI has treated them, you are absolutely in the right place! Amboula Beach and The Alpine Trek Let’s start with the location. You’re near a handful of shops, a couple of bars, several tavernas, and a beach (Amboula Beach) that is technically a 10-to-15-minute walk away—assuming you enjoy a steep, alpine descent on the way down and a cardiac workout on the way back. Once you arrive, you’ll find a majestic strip of sand initially so narrow and cramped with rental sunbeds that there’s barely room for casual beach dwellers to breathe. Want to cool off in the sea? Delightful! Just survive the 3-meter gauntlet of large, incredibly slippery rocks at the shoreline. If you don't break an ankle, a lovely sandy seabed eventually greets you. Think of it as a fun, high-stakes obstacle course. Survival Tip: If you actually like using the beach, buy yourself a parasol from one of the shops on day one and head for the furthest end of the coast. We managed to find a sandy spot to set up camp there, which also happens to be the only part of the beach that doesn't require rock climbing to get into the water. (We donated our parasol to a young family on our last day, which felt nice, if only to prove that someone on this island can provide good customer service). The Hotel Grounds & The Great Fanta Marathon To be fair, the landscaped gardens and pools are genuinely well-kept and easily the highlight of the place. Good luck ever seeing them from a sunbed, though. At busy times, finding an open lounger requires the kind of cutthroat strategy usually reserved for Olympic athletes. The real comedy routine, however, is the bar setup. TUI happily sold us an all-inclusive holiday boasting three pools and two bars. What they conveniently left out of the brochure is that your magical plastic-cup wristband only works at one of them. If you’re relaxing at the Dream (front) pool, you get to trek all the way down to the Mastrali (rear) pool bar to claim your two-thirds-full tumbler of fake Fanta Lemon. By the time you trundle back up to your chair, the trek has worked up such a thirst that you down the drink instantly and have to turn right back around. Pack your hiking boots, folks; you'll be doing 10k steps just staying hydrated. The 5-Star Plastic Experience (Featuring Gordon) Now, onto the "All-Inclusive" package—or as we like to call it, the "We Regret to Serve You" program. If you are a grown adult who wants a non-alcoholic drink that isn't syrupy, carbonated kid-fuel, you are fresh out of luck. Zero-alcohol beers? Precious bottled water? Absolutely not. When we confronted the General Manager, Gordon, about the total lack of mocktails or alcohol-free cocktails, he defensively disputed it, did absolutely nothing to help, and promptly shut down communication. Classic Gordon. And if you have a wild, decadent desire to drink out of an actual glass, please lower your expectations. All-inclusive guests are strictly confined to plastic tumblers. Gordon personally confirmed that this, along with charging full menu price for a premium beer with zero allowance for your upgrade, is strict hotel policy. Because nothing says "luxury holiday" like sipping lukewarm liquid out of a plastic cup while Gordon and TUI financially penalize you for wanting glass. Pro Tip: Do not sit at the tables to the right of the bar unless you enjoy a nostalgic waft of raw sewerage drifting across your table every 5 to 10 minutes. It really adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the ambiance. Food & Chronological Snack Scheduling The food is aggressively "okay." The meats are uniformly lukewarm and dry enough to use as drywall, a feature that was especially noticeable during the evening dinner service. Also, breakfast apparently outlawed cereal on day one, though it thankfully reappeared after we complained. In fairness, we did have another chat with Gordon about the catering. We complimented the salad bar but pointed out that the meat and fish were vastly superior at lunch compared to the evening dried-meat lottery. Gordon rolled out the classic line that "no one else has complained," but by pure, miraculous coincidence, the subsequent dinner service featured a vastly improved choice and quality of food. It was such a shocking turnaround that we actually went and let Gordon and the chef know. Credit where credit is due. The "all-inclusive snacks," however, received no such upgrade. This culinary extravaganza consists of a sandwich, available exclusively between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM. While civilized hotels offer crisps, nuts, fruit, or cake throughout the day, here you must meticulously schedule your hunger to strike in that precise 60-minute window, and you better bloody love sandwiches. The Bathroom Comedy Hour (With Special Guest: The Shower) The bedroom itself has plenty of floor space, presumably to give you room to cry about the bathroom. The bathroom is a microscopic joke. It features a half-round shower cubicle so violently small that it’s physically impossible to wash yourself without pinning your backside either against the freezing glass or directly onto the massive mixer tap. Even better, the shower is entirely temperamental. It alternates between ice-cold, volcanic hot, and just completely stopping all water delivery without warning. There is nothing quite like being left entirely covered in a thick lather of soap, blindly praying to the Greek gods for a single drop of rinse water. Add to this a toilet roll holder placed mockingly behind your right shoulder, and a foot-pedal bin—where you are expected to deposit your used toilet paper—that is entirely out of physical reach of your foot while you're seated, and you have a masterclass in chaotic design. Interactive Housekeeping Shoutout to the maid service, who clearly believe in teamwork. On sheet-change day, instead of actually making the bed, they stripped it, slapped the bottom sheet on, and left the top sheet and bedspread in a pile for us to DIY. My wife did a fantastic job of making it up beautifully, only for the maid to return the next day and maliciously tuck it in so badly that your feet stick out the end of the covers. You truly cannot win. TUI: Totally Useless Insiders Finally, a round of applause for TUI. We contacted them on day one and a half hoping for support. Their stellar advice? "Speak to the hotel yourself." Brilliant. Thanks, TUI. Since then, TUI has spent more energy repeatedly trying to close our complaint ticket than they have helping us, claiming they "can do nothing about hotel policy." Funny, because you had no problem taking our money for a holiday you mis-sold. Verdict: Come for the pretty gardens and the surprisingly improved post-complaint fish, stay for the plastic cups, the bathroom acrobatics, and the absolute abandonment by your holiday provider!

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“Lovely pool and garden”

Like previous reviewers, we had chosen Dream Studios based on last year’s glowing reports, so were disappointed to find that the previous owners were no longer there. It must have been a great place before. It is still a lovely small complex with a nice pool and beautifully tended gardens, and spot… more

Like previous reviewers, we had chosen Dream Studios based on last year’s glowing reports, so were disappointed to find that the previous owners were no longer there. It must have been a great place before. It is still a lovely small complex with a nice pool and beautifully tended gardens, and spotlessly clean. The new owners, Maestrali do not have the same standards of customer service. Reception staff vary in charm and helpfulness. When we first arrived at night there was very loud live music by the pool until gone 11pm which was not what we’d signed up for. However after the second night the music entertainment stopped. The pool is next to quite a busy road but actually we didn’t find this a problem. The supermarket is just opposite and well stocked. As others have mentioned there is a charge for air con and kitchen crockery/utensils are minimal and not matching, plus there is no washing up liquid etc. However we asked for two wine glasses which were supplied from the bar. Although it is still possible to have a very nice cooked breakfast in the Dream bar with table service, we were initially directed to the next door Maestrali buffet service, which had a less calm atmosphere. The food was plentiful and varied but poor quality (mostly tinned fruit, orange squash instead of fresh juice etc). There was never enough cutlery, although staff were trying to do their best. Our room was cleaned every day and fresh towels supplied by very cheerful cleaners. If we were going to Tragaki again, we would probably still choose Dream Studios for the pool and gardens but cater for ourselves.

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“Dream Studio’s is a beautiful quiet accomodation”

Dream Studios has been taken over by the neighboring Hotel Maistrali. I booked it for the charming accommodations and gardens, and because it was small and family-run. TUI never informed us of the takeover. We found out the day before our departure. The reviews have deteriorated considerably in rec… more

Dream Studios has been taken over by the neighboring Hotel Maistrali. I booked it for the charming accommodations and gardens, and because it was small and family-run. TUI never informed us of the takeover. We found out the day before our departure. The reviews have deteriorated considerably in recent months, so we were worried. Upon arrival, we received a warm welcome from receptionist Johanna. The entire location is still beautiful, with a lovely pool, clean towels every day, and beds made by the lovely housekeepers. Bartender Janis and barmaid Poly were always up for a friendly chat. Lots of families visit, so my son quickly made friends. The food isn't exceptional, but it's not terrible either. We always eat out, so this wasn't a problem for us. A few minor drawbacks that do require attention: The kitchen utensils are very limited, not enough for three people. I don't think charging €10 a day for air conditioning is customer-friendly. You can't live without it, and you're already paying enough for the accommodations. In my opinion, this is making money at the expense of your guests. Zakynthos is a beautiful green island, beautiful sea! I would recommend Dream studio’s for surely!

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