| Pleiades | |
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Agrioleukes Ski Station 38110 Pelion |
find it on the map |
Here is the one hotel in Greece that is literally right on the ski slopes. It was built some years ago by a young couple with the idea to offer guests a combination of ski-(or hike-)in-and-out facilities, attractive bedrooms, lots of spaces to relax and excellent traditional food. They are doing it slowly and still don’t consider the hotel as ‘finished’, but when I stayed here with my family (winter 2009) we were already perfectly satisfied guests. Our suite was done in good taste, spacious and comfortable (though perhaps missing a few personal touches); the meals we had were rich and quite delicious; we enjoyed the quiet of the spaces that were reserved exclusively for hotel guests, as well as the lively atmosphere of the cafeteria, which during the skiing season doubles the lunch and coffee hang-out for the skiing crowds. During the winter months this is a wonderful hotel for anyone who takes skiing seriously, but also the rest of the year, if you want to enjoy nature, quiet and great views, this is the place to go to.
What makes it special to me:
The amazing location in the mountains right on the ski slopes. Great for lots of fun in the snow during the winter, and blissfully quiet the rest of the year. To me perhaps the best part was the ride in the hotel’s snowmobile when we arrived (see directions).
But what you should keep in mind:
It’s quite a big building (for my standards), and even though there are only 11 rooms, I found it lacked the intimate atmosphere of a truly small hotel. Also beware that if you arrive during the skiing season during the hours the ski lifts are operating, there is no transfer from the parking and you have to walk about 400 metres up the slope to get to the hotel.
| Owner | Gerasimos Klaoudatos and Athena Politopoulos |
| Address | Agrioleukes Ski Station |
| 38110 Pelion | |
| Tel. | 24280-74211 |
| Fax | 24280-74211 |
| info@pleiades-hotel.com | |
| Website | http://www.pleiades-hotel.com |
| Opening period: | All year |
| Children: | The hotel is relaxed and child-friendly. |
| Dogs: | Allowed upon prior agreement |
| Credit cards: | VISA, MASTERCARD |
| Accommodation | 4 double/twin rooms (extra single bed possible) 2 rooms for up to 3 persons 2 rooms for up to 4 persons 1 suite for up to 4 persons 2 suites for up to 5 persons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prices: | 20 Jun - 14 Dec Twin bedded room with mezzanine
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| Room facilities | En-suite bathroom |
| Other facilities | Sitting room |
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The hotel has a small restaurant where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. Breakfast (served from 7h30 to 10h30) is help-yourself style, not overdone, but you can be sure that you won’t start your outdoor activities on an empty stomach. For lunch and dinner there is a daily varied menu, with a few different choices every day. The pork marinated in oranges and cooked in the oven I had was absolutely delicious. (And I don’t say that easily about meat dishes). Some great deserts too. There’s also a cafeteria, used mostly by the snow crowds, where you can get easy fare like soups and sandwiches. And if you want to try some other places as well, you can go to Hania (2 km away) where you will find several traditional tavernas. |
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Hotel Pleiades is in the mountains of Pelion, at an altitude of 1340 metres, right on the ski slopes. It has great views all the way down to the sea on both sides of the mountain. As I said before, it is an amazing location, not only when there is skiing to be done, but throughout the year, if you enjoy being in nature and total quiet. The village of Hania is 2 km from the hotel. |
 find it on the map
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From Volos, follow the signs for Portaria and Hania. Drive through the village of Hania staying on the main road, and just after you leave the village you will see a sign on your right for the ski centre. There are three parking spaces; you should leave your car at the third. From here you can either walk up the slope (almost 400 metres) or call the hotel so they can pick you up (with a snow mobile when there is snow!). Keep in mind that this is not possible during the skiing season during the hours the ski lifts are operating.
I must say that of all my stays in hotels (many!), this was by far the most memorable arrival. We drove up to Pelion on a Friday night, through a grey, wintery landscape, to be welcomed by almost two meters of snow as we approached Hania. (Fortunately, the roads had been cleared.) We’d been told to leave the car at the parking of the ski centre, where the hotel’s own snow vehicle was waiting for us. It was not exactly limousine service – the ride up the slopes was pretty bumpy – but I enjoyed it as much as the kids did. |
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Pelion is a destination for any season. Verdant and mountainous, and blessed with a beautiful coastline, the peninsula is wonderful for touring around and exploring, no matter what time of the year it is. It is great in the winter, when the mountains are covered in a thick and powdery layer of snow. It is great in spring, when the green is greener, the flowers are more fragrant and birds sing louder than anywhere else in Greece (or at least, so it seems…). It is great in the summer, when the mountains offer relief from the heat to those who don’t want to spend all their time on the many beautiful beaches. And it is great in the autumn, when the colours of the forested mountain slopes are the most intense, while the apple, walnut and chestnut trees shed their fruits.
Pelion is particularly famous for its perfectly preserved villages, marked by their tall mansions, the so-called arhondika, constructed during the commercial boom of the 18th and 19th centuries. These are typically three-stories high, their first two floors built out of stone, originally used as storage space and winter rooms, and a third floor for the summer, a larger construction with many large windows on three sides. Many have been converted into guesthouses, varying from plain and simple to stylish and luxurious.
You could drive around most of Pelion in one day, but if you have the chance you should take more time and split your stay between the west side, the east side and the mountains in the north, and explore as many villages as possible. You will enjoy strolling through cobbled lanes past old stone mansions, tiny churches and numerous water fountains, buying local products in tiny shops, and tasting traditional meals on village squares.
Starting with the north, you should go and see Makrinitsa and Portaria, two villages situated at an altitude of about 600 m, halfway between Volos and the ski centre of Mount Pelion. Easy to reach, blessed with a ravishing setting and magnificent architecture, and offering many different places to stay, they tend to attract a fair amount of visitors. Makrinitsa has sweeping views of Volos and the Pagasitikos Gulf. The main square is a great spot to stop for a meal.
About 12 km after Portaria is the village of Hania (another cute one) and a bit further on is the Agriolefkes ski resort. It is small (five lifts), but it is known for the good snow quality, and it is quite something to ski with a sea view! It also has a particularly attractive trail for cross-country skiing.
The eastern (Aegean) side of Pelion features the best beaches and beautiful scenery. Zagora in the north is the largest village; Horefto, set along a long sandy beach, is nice if you are interested in pure beach holidays; a bit further south Mouresi is quiet and charming; Damouchari, a tiny fishing port, is a good choice to stop for lunch.
Further south, you reach Tsangarada, a group of communities set amidst greenery and overlooking the sea. One of those, Agia Paraskevi is known for its magnificent 1000-year-old plane tree (with a perimeter of about 17 m!). Reputedly, it is the oldest and largest in Greece. The communities are linked by cobbled paths – so bring your walking shoes!
The main road continues down for another 15 km or so, until it bends towards the west taking you to the other side of the peninsula. You could leave the main road and drive further south to Argalasti and Lafkos. The area is not as impressive and mountainous as northern Pelion, but it is green and quiet and there are nice beaches and small seaside communities to explore. Otherwise, turn off the main road towards Milies, the first (or last) in a string of villages built along the south western slopes of Mount Pelion, overlooking the Pagasitikos Gulf. They are among the most authentic and picturesque villages of Pelion, and popular among Athens weekenders, especially during the autumn and the winter.
In Milies, you can visit the craft museum and the library, though most people come here to have lunch in the taverna at the old railway station. During the summer season, on Saturday and Sunday, you can take a ride on the old train on the narrow gauge railway line (it takes you past breathtaking scenery); if you come another time, go for a walk along the tracks. The road continues towards Vyzitsa, Pinikates and Agios Georgios, one even prettier than the other. Vyzitsa offers most choice in terms of accommodation and places to eat or drink, while the other two are perhaps a tad quieter on weekends. Go and see them all. |
Did you stay here?I'd love to hear how you liked it