Pilot Amphora Boutique Hotel - Adults Only in Georgioupolis

The hotel is very inconsiderate.

We are a family of three, and our original plan was to check out from Santorini on September 19 and take a ferry to Crete to check in at this hotel. However, due to severe weather, the Aegean Sea Authority issued a sailing ban, and all ferries were canceled, including ours. We immediately checked the flights on that day, but all flights required a transfer in Athens and the earliest arrival in Crete was on the 20th.

We called the hotel right away, explained the situation, and asked to change our check-in date and get a refund for the night of the 19th (we had booked through Ctrip and already paid in full). Over the phone, the hotel said they agreed to change the date and that there would be no charge. Later that same day, we sent an email to request written confirmation of the refund and date change, but the hotel replied refusing, saying that according to the booking policy, no changes were allowed. We had no choice but to wait until we arrived the next day to negotiate with the hotel directly.

After checking in, we reviewed the Greek legal terms and learned that in cases of force majeure, if guests inform the hotel in a timely manner, they are entitled to a refund. When we raised this with the hotel again, the manager first said that even if we didn’t arrive, the room had already been prepared and costs were incurred. Then they claimed that because our booking was made through a third-party platform (Ctrip), only Ctrip could negotiate with the hotel’s reservations team. We understood this point, but even after Ctrip’s customer service communicated with the hotel for two days, the hotel still refused any refund, insisting that our booking was “non-refundable.” This was despite us providing all documentation proving we had booked the ferry and it was canceled due to force majeure — not because of personal reasons. We were also victims, as the weather disrupted the rest of our travel plans! At the end Trip cover our loss by themselves.

As for the room itself, the front desk staff said the hotel was new, but there were no USB or Type-C charging outlets. Many other hotels, even older ones, provide these, so this was very inconvenient for travelers without European adapters. Each guest was given only one pillow, with no choice of height. For me, who can only sleep on a flat pillow, this was very uncomfortable — I woke up with neck pain the next morning. The bathroom design was also poor, as water from the shower would flow into the toilet area.

We booked a room with a private pool, but the pool was dirty and the water was cold. The staff told us it was only temporary and that it would be cleaned and heated the next day. However, by the time we checked out, the pool water was still cold and dirty, so we could not use it at all. I would strongly advise future guests not to waste money on a private pool room here, as it is pointless.

The room was also very dark. There was no ceiling light, and in the evening the only lighting came from dim wall strips, making it difficult to find things.

In conclusion, I would caution anyone planning to stay at this hotel: check the weather carefully and pray that no force majeure prevents you from arriving. This hotel shows absolutely no flexibility or consideration for guests, and you should not expect any solution or understanding from them.