Sunrise Resort Hotel

Odalar pis kokuyor, resepsiyondan odaya gitmek bile cok zor. Cok meğilli bir araziye yapılmış. 5 yıldız değil.

The Sunrise is a well-run complex of small blocks with a central reception/restaurant/bar, all set on a hillside with gorgeous views across the sea to the Turkish coast opposite. The grounds are full of trees and flowering shrubs with gardeners at work daily. Pools are nice - sparkling clean and well maintained, though the pool bar is a little overpriced for the food quality. There is a sauna, jacuzzi and gym next to the pool area though I didn’t investigate. When we went in September there were few Brits and less children, which were pluses in our book. A lot of visitors are Dutch. Rooms are good, we had a basic standard which was very clean and comfortable even though I paid for the deluxe (not sure if this was a hotel or Jet2 error). Staff bring your bags up for you - helpful as some are quite high with lots of steps. Lovely sea views from balcony. Beds are firm but comfortable with spare pillows and bedding in the wardrobe. Bathrobes, slippers, toiletries, tv, tea making facilities (bring your own if you like Tetley type!) and a well stocked mini bar. Rooms cleaned and towels changed daily if you wish. The hairdryer was not working when we arrived and was replaced the same morning when we mentioned it. Air conditioning and WiFi are included unlike many smaller Greek hotels where you pay extra. (Mandatory tourist eco tax is €10 per room per night.) Excellent self service buffet breakfast in roomy restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating options with all you could want - Greek and international: breads, pastries, cereals, yoghurt and preserves, cheese, fruit, salad, hot and cold meats etc etc. Evening meal is also a buffet but rather average - we only used it once (21€pp no drinks included). Useful if you don’t feel like going out but cheaper to buy as half board if you will use it often. However there is a free shuttle minibus 5 times a day to the nearby village Molyvos where there are many very good and reasonably priced tavernas - we especially liked the seafront Triena - and several by the harbour such as the Octopus (very popular) and the Sea Horse. Taxi is 7€ (from the same drop off as the shuttle) if you want to return independently. It’s possible to walk from the hotel to the sea in 10 minutes though it’s a very small strip of shingle, as is the beach in Molyvos - bring beach shoes. The sea is lovely though, clean and warm as it shelves slowly. Sandy beaches are at nearby Petra and Anaxos, and you can catch a ‘village train’ to those, though they are more touristy. Efthalou is said to have lovely beaches but is a 30 minute walk and it was too hot to walk there. Lesvos is lovely! Have no second thoughts about visiting if you are looking for sun, peace and authentic food.

We spent seven nights Half Board in early August 2024. It is not really a hotel but more of a holiday village on a hillside overlooking the sea, with a clear view to Turkey on the other side of the water. Being on a hillside there are many stone steps along the pathways to get to the rooms (over 40 from the lobby to our room near the top) and down to the pools, so bear that in mind if you are restricted in some way or find walking on slopes difficult. As we are no longer "a young couple" it was a bit of a shock on arrival, but we didn't let it spoil the holiday. The room, with free tea and coffee, and a fridge of pay-for soft and alcoholic drinks, was cleaned daily, usually quite early, so no complaints there. It is over an hour's drive from the airport and capital city Miltilini, but don't expect any fancy shopping in Molyvos, the village nearest to the hotel, which provides a free shuttle to the village a few times a day while taxis cost 6 Euro. Many of the island's attractions including the famous Ouzo distillery, the Olive Oil factory and Petrified Forest are also over an hour's drive away on winding Greek roads, so be prepared to rent a car or fork out on an excursion. Closer to home, a stroll round Molyvos harbour is very pleasant, with lots of waterside restaurants. The village railway is a fun and cheap way to get to the next beaches and towns up the coast, with a tireless and entertaining ticket collector and tour director, Alexandra, on board. The hearty breakfast was the best meal of the day, we didn't find the evening meals particularly appetizing, and even on the barbecue evening the food was burned dry. All the staff were super helpful at reception, in the bar and in the pool cafe, although immediately you sit down in the bar balcony to view the amazing sunsets, a waiter zooms in to take your order for drinks, which we found a trifle pushy. Still, business is business, I suppose. In short, it had all the ingredients for the relaxing holiday we were hoping for, and while no hotel is ever perfect, we give this one 4.5 out of 5.