| Rizes | |
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Simpotama 84005 Serifos |
find it on the map |
Serifos is a relaxed little island, not the kind of place where you’d go to show off your new designer bathing suit or where you should expect to find glamour of any kind. Hotel Rizes, a fancy complex of 16 spacious studios and suites, may therefore, at first glance, seem just a bit out of place. The architecture is typical Cycladic, combining natural stone and white washed walls, but the feel is modern. The entrance-lobby has a designer-look to it; the bar-restaurant is done in a fresh-contemporary taverna-style and on the terrace you have sun beds lining a large swimming pool (18x6m) awaiting you. The studios and suites have cool, minimalist interiors, with both modern and traditional touches. They are comfortable, nicely proportioned and well laid-out, with built-in beds and couches, private terraces, all ideal for ‘easy-living’. And that is also the general feeling of Rizes: friendly, relaxed and unpretentious. (And therefore, it does fit right in on Serifos!) This is largely thanks to the owners, Thanassis and Elena, who together manage the hotel, and have set exactly the right tone. He used to be a well-known TV journalist until he decided to turn the page and create his dream on Serifos, and she is a sparkling dance and gym teacher with family roots on the island. Both shine in their new role as hosts.
What makes it special to me:
Apart from all of the above, notably the style of the studios and suites and the relaxed atmosphere, the views of the hora of Serifos and bay of Livadi are also fantastic.
But what you should keep in mind:
Hotel Rizes is built in a spot that is not entirely protected from the wind. This can sometimes be a bit bothersome when you sit by the pool.
| Owner | Thanassis and Elena Athanasiadis |
| Address | Simpotama |
| 84005 Serifos | |
| Opening period: | From the Easter holidays until the beginning of October. |
| Children: | Welcome |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
| Credit cards: | AMERICAN EXPRESS, VISA, DINERS, MASTERCARD |
| Accommodation | 14 studios for up to 4 persons 1 junior suite for up to 4 persons with two bathrooms, a small swimming pool 1 superior suite for up to 6 persons with two bathrooms, a small swimming pool | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Prices: | 18 May - 14 June
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| Reservation policy: | A deposit of 10% of the total price of the stay is required at the time of booking. Hotel Rizes may ask for an additional credit card guarantee or deposit by bank transfer. The outstanding balance is to be paid directly to the hotel upon checkout. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cancellation policy: | The 10% deposit paid online at the time of booking is non-refundable. Hotel Rizes will charge a further fee if the booking is cancelled less than 20 days prior to your arrival date. This fee is calculated as follows: 20% of the total price of the stay is charged if a cancellation is made less than 20 days prior to the arrival date, 90% of the total price of the stay is charged in the case of an early departure. Jacoline's Small Hotels in Greece reserves the right to debit your credit card on behalf of the hotel in accordance with the above cancellation policies. 
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| Room facilities | En-suite bathroom with shower (the suites have two bathrooms) Telephone
Television Internet access Refrigerator Kitchenette Air conditioning Safe
Hairdryer |
| Other facilities | Sitting room Dining room Terraces Outdoor swimming pool
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For breakfast you can help yourself from a buffet (8h00 to 11h00). If you decide to spend the day by the pool, you can order snacks and light meals throughout the day. The restaurant of Hotel Rizes stays open all night offering nice Greek/Mediterranean dishes with a twist or two. The food is not bad at all; the setting is great. There are plenty of other places to eat on Serifos. In Livadi Kalis and Takis are the best for fish, Kiklades has excellent cooked food and Passaggio serves more modern food, nice starters, salads and pasta dishes. One place I am quite fond of, more for the setting and the atmosphere than the food (basic). is Margarita, all the way at the end of the bay. In the back street of Livadi there is a restaurant/club called Metallio that offers a more elegant setting and modern and traditional Greek cuisine. In the Hora you eat very well near the bus stop (where the shops are) at Petros (traditional Greek) and a restaurant called Platia (more varied). Several beaches have good tavernas; lunch at Mega Livadi is a must. There are two tavernas next to each other, both are excellent. Tables are set under the trees by the beach. |
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Hotel Rizes is situated on the hillside, a few kilometers from the port and Livadi, on the way to Psili Amnos. It's one of the best spots on Serifos, with fantastic views over the port and of the hora. Several beaches are walking distance (Agios Sostis is closest, just 5 minutes) and it is also no big deal to walk to Livadi, though you have to climb a bit to get back to the hotel. |
 find it on the map
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There is no airport on Serifos, so the only way to get there is by ferry. During the summer season, the fast ones go once or twice a day. They take about 2,5 hours. The normal ferries take at least 4 hours. If you inform the hotel on which ferry you arrive, you will be met at the port. Should you decide to find your way yourself, you should follow the waterfront all the way, almost to the end of the bay, where you turn left in the direction of the beaches of Psili Amnos, Agios Ioanis, Agios Sostis and Lia (there is a sign but it is in Greek). As you go up the hill, you will see Hotel Rizes on your left. |
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Most people who spend their holidays on the Greek islands end up having one favourite, to which they return year after year. It took me about ten years, and trips to almost 30 different islands, to find mine. Serifos it is. Beautiful beaches, wild landscape, one of the prettiest horas of the Cyclades and a pleasantly laid-back atmosphere. Too raw and forbidding for some, not enough nightlife or fancy restaurants for others, just perfect for me. As ferry routes do not connect Serifos to the more popular islands, it has stayed blissfully off the beaten tourist track, though of course, in August it gets busy. Most activity is in the main bay, Livadi where you will find several restaurants, a few nice café’s and bars, a handful of mini-markets and some small boutiques. There are beaches all around the island and most can be reached on foot or by bus, so renting a car is not even absolutely necessary. Psili Ammos is the most famous beach on Serifos and with fine sand, natural shade, shallow waters and two tavernas, it’s great to spend the day with children. The downside is that it gets crowded during the summer months. There are plenty of excellent alternatives, some with coarse sand (Agios Sostis, Vagia and Kalo Ambeli are among my favourites) and others with pebbles or a combination of sand and stones (Agios Yannis, Ganema, Sikamia, Lia). And also... go visit the monastery on the north of the island (in the morning the monk may give you a tour followed by a small tsipouro). Explore the mines at Mega Livadi (you can walk into the tunnels but don’t go in too far). And, especially if you go off-season, bring sturdy shoes and follow the endless trails all over the island – Serifos is among the best islands in the Cyclades for walking. And of course you shouldn’t miss the hora. Stroll through the allies just before the sun goes down, have a drink with some mezedes at Stratos’ little bar at the upper platia. It’s perfect. |
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