Rex Hotel in Kalamata

Room was nice but the toilet/ shower room was tiny.

What to make of the Rex? It should be better than it is. Situated in a building with a splendid historic facade, the interior is drab and tired. Our greeting was cordial, our reservation in order, and we were pleased the desk seemed to be staffed 24/7. The elevator worked most of the time. There is much to like, and much that could be improved. If location is everything, the Rex has this in spades with no viable competition anywhere near. The fun bars and small shops of Old Town, such as the amazing spice store, are almost just out the door. The castle is a ten-minute walk, the fabulous farmers market is barely five. Plentiful and inexpensive city parking is available in the lots across the street. My fee for overnight was €4.50. An unexpected off-season bonus was that with so few guests, instead of the buffet you get a table-served breakfast virtually made-to-order. But the room was very clean and totally charmless. Amenities included a safe, a tiny TV, a fridge and an antique hair dryer with a hose like a vacuum cleaner. And that’s it. The wardrobe had excellent drawer space but three hangers as if resigned to only short-term stays. Free wi-fi with a good signal, but a shocking lack of outlets for your devices. The marble bathtub was deep, but the towels were thin. No coffee service. The mattress was the hardest I’ve slept on in a long time; however, surprisingly, I got a good night’s rest. The streets were quiet, the heat worked. The modest room rate reflects all these things, and in the end goes a long way to my rating that the Rex is in fact a good, economical choice. They know what they’re working with and charge fairly for it. Don't expect a luxury stay, but if you want to be downtown, this is an easy place to be.