Neilson Messini Activity Beach Club Hotel in Kalamata

We like most of everything about this hotel except for the shower water. The pressure of the water in the shower was very weak and the temperature of the water was not consistent. It went cold then hot constantly during our shower times.

Great Neilson holiday - activities, food and staff were excellent as always. We stayed in a garden room which was lovely although not much clothes storage or hanging space (and my two daughters sharing a room didn't appreciate the semi-transparent bathroom doors!) As elsewhere in Greece, it's no loo paper down the toilet which is tricky to navigate and could do with a better solution than a standard pedal bin (better sealed unit? Bidet?). There are a couple of reasonable options nearby for non-inclusive nights (Golden Sand, Olive) - 10 euros one way taxi ride. However our first night was rather spoilt by a couple of things: 1) There was a new app that we were told we had to use to book onto activities but could only do this once room numbers were allocated on the transfer bus. As we were the last arrivals of the day, everything we were interested in doing was fully booked (including yoga, social evening activities we never previously had to book). My husband was particularly disappointed not to be able to get onto the green sailing course as it was his sole reason for coming. He eventually managed to get onto a course starting much later in the week which was not ideal. I worked out from Day 2 onwards that no-one cares if you've booked yoga/zumba or not - just turn up at either Messini or the next door Buca yoga sessions and you will be welcomed in. No-one checks bookings at all. Social activities didn't need to be booked either - the app is totally misleading and gave us an unnecessarily poor impression on our first night when we were just about ready to go home, thinking that there must be a huge shortage of places. This was followed by a very poor dining experience. We were assured by Neilson ahead of arrival that the restaurant would be open when we arrived. However it was non-inclusive BBQ night. We dumped our bags and were asked to pay £20 per head for the last dried up dregs of the BBQ and they cleared away desserts before we had a chance to get any. I think when guests have just arrived from travelling all day, Neilson should make sure there is an easy and reasonable food option offered. By the time the next day's great food had arrived and we worked out just to forget the useless app, all had been forgiven and we had a great week but shame the first night had us all fuming! Neilson - I'd be very happy to give a detailed review of the app functionality - it could be so useful but doesn't match customer needs at all right now.

Update: We mentioned the first night food experience when checking out and they refunded us, which was a great response. Thanks, Neilson!

Travelled with Neilson to Buca with two > 15 year old children. Very enjoyable holiday. Rooms are a bit small but you don’t spend much time in it. Went cycling, sailing, played pickleball and tennis. Food is good.

A little disappointed to find out there is a 15% climate levy per room at checkout.

Neilson Messini is a fantastic resort for those who like an active holiday. The Kids clubs are insanely good, as are the activity options. Food is great and it has a fantastic vibe. Been 4 times now, and will definitely be back again.

The hotel may be a bit outdated (the rooms though well renovated), but it truly strategically located by the sea. The biggest advantage is that it has its own private (relatively small but very nice) pebble beach and very nice sea right in its front. In the pool bar right over it, there are some very tasty local lunch options as meatballs with freshly made “French” fries and piglet etc It still reminds me of nice Greek, traditional vacations from the 90’ by the the sea.

Loved my staying at Messinian bay
Everything was wonderful

Thank you!!
Absolutely a wonderful place witj the best beach bar next door

The food is excellent, and the sailing and windsurfing opportunities are generally great. I went from not knowing how to sail to confidently sailing on my own in moderate winds—huge progress! One of the best parts of the sailing experience is how safe you feel on the water. There are safety boats stationed all around the shore, and if you fall or anything goes wrong, they’ll quickly check on you to make sure you're okay.

Windsurfing conditions during the first two weeks of May weren’t ideal, unfortunately. There was either not enough wind or strong wind with waves that made it difficult, especially for beginners.

The water sports instructors are outstanding—knowledgeable, supportive, and always eager to help you improve your technique.

However, the tennis experience was a letdown. My partner, a beginner, was put straight into doubles matches without any real instruction, which isn’t a great way to learn. I joined the intermediate group and had a similar experience: just playing doubles with no feedback from the trainers. The tennis program would really benefit from more structured lessons and one-on-one coaching to help guests progress (I‘m guessing the private lessons will offer this).

We stayed on the first floor of the main building. The room and view were excellent, but the entrance door offered very little sound insulation. We were often woken up by delivery trucks between 6 and 9 a.m. I had to sleep with swimming ear plugs, as reception didn’t have any available—something they should consider providing.

Cleaning and reception services were excellent. Restaurant service was also top-notch—very fast, efficient, and always quick to clear your plates.