It's difficult to know what I can add to the succession of five star reviews which have already been written on Trip Advisor about the fabulous Iapetos Village. Having just got back from a week there, I agree with every word that has been posted previously. In a nutshell, the apartments are beautifully appointed, spacious and spotlessly maintained. The owners of the complex just seem to have gone that extra mile to ensure that every detail relating to the accommodation and its surroundings is perfect. On top of that, the breakfasts are sumptuous, varied and delicious. Be prepared to put a little weight on!

Symi itself is a small but beautiful, picture postcard resort. With numerous luxury yachts moored in the harbour, it has quite an up-market feel about it. However, it manages to maintain plenty of authentic Greek character and doesn't fall into the trap of trying to be too showy and 'bling'.

I have to say the bars in Symi were a slight disappointment. We didn't want bustling nightlife - far from it - but most bars were rather quiet and not very inviting. The harbour boasts a good selection of restaurants, but beware one or two of the expensive harbour-side tavernas. If you try the Mythos fish taverna the food is good, but many of the dishes are unpriced on the menu and the fish platter for two cost us an eye-watering 85 Euros!!! Definitely recommended are the Neraida Restaurant, which is located just 75 metres from the Iapetos Village on the road down to the harbour and the Nireus, located in a beautiful spot on the edge of the harbour by the clock tower, with tables right alongside the water's edge. Both are really good and reasonably priced.

The Iapetos boasts just about the only swimming pool in Symi. However, the pool itself and the adjacent sun terrace are a bit restricted in size so it is a good idea to take advantage of the water taxis that leave late morning on-the-hour from Symi harbour and head for the island's small but picturesque beaches. We can recommend Agios Nikolaos, which is about fiteen minutes by water taxi. Paradise! Our tip would be to head for the far end of the beach from the jetty, where there is more sand and far less shingle -- it will save wear and tear on your feet! Agios Nikolaos beach has a nice taverna that serves a very decent chicken souvlaki!

All in all, Symi is a near perfect little gem of an island with a real charm and an atmosphere which most holiday destinations just cannot match. It really has that 'something extra' and is definitely worth paying a little more for in comparison with the larger more commercialised resorts. The only real drawback is the amount of travel time that it takes to get there. Once you have landed in Rhodes, you take a forty minute coach journey to Rhodes harbour. We then had to wait over an hour at the harbour-side with no seating or refreshments (and not much shade!) for the connecting ferry. After a forty minute ferry trip across to Symi there is a final short walk to the Iapetos. The journey took twelve hours, door-to-door, on the outward leg and fourteen hours on the return due to a delay with our flight. If you are going for just one week this is a big chunk out of your holiday. It is by no means a deal-breaker, it just needs factoring in and thinking about. We went with Olympic and they organised the whole thing really well. Hiya, Justine! Overall, a brilliant holiday. Bravo! and many thanks to the wonderful Iapetos Village!

We travelled to Symi with our two children for a few days in the middle of august and I am very happy I found this very nice hotel although I booked it at the last moment. I liked very much the garden area and loved the breakfast which included every day homemade breads, greek traditional cakes, jams, pies and puddings, not forgetting freshly squized orange juice, fresh fruit, and greek yoghurt. In the rooms you have flat TV screens, bathrobes and complimentary mineral water in the fridge. Our children of 4 and 6 yrs, have enjoyed the pool, which seems to be the only one on the island of Symi, especially in the afternoons after our beach trips and we could sit close watching them, sunbathing and sipping on our cocktails from the pool bar. The owners were very nice people and created a friendly atmosphere in their hotel.On the downside: We had to use the trashbins in the bathroom for toilet paper (I guess due to the island's poor infrastructure) and the rooms were a little dusty (bathrooms however were very clean). All together the experience was very positive and I would highly recommend this hotel to families with children who are used to high standard hotels and enjoy a more personal treatment and cosi friendly atmosphere. In the amenities included free wifi and transfers from-to the port. Very good value for money.

Terrific holiday complex, better than the website suggests - small and intimate. Pool lovely - Symi has no water source of its own so this is a REAL luxury. Landscaping intelligent and beautiful. Rooms well-designed. Beds roomy and firm. Showers powerful. Breakfasts - especially the home-made desserts fantastic. I'd like to bring the cook who makes them back home with me.. Try the marmalade and the lemon curd. Would recommend this hotel to anyone.

Beautiful island! Great hotel! Nice, spacious and very clean rooms. Delicious breakfast, kind people. We just loved Symi. The boats for the beaches are fairly expensive, but worth to go to Nanou and the last beach called Mara ... something. Clear water. No people (in june) and good food at the tavernas! You can also walk over the hill to the neareast beach on the westcoast. Just turn left outside the hotel, walk up the hill and you´ll have a beautiful view! When you come back you´ll understand why a cool pool is really something very nice! Try also walking up the stairs to the "old village". There is some nice tavernas up there.

We´ll be back!

Fam. Nordänger, Sweden