Come spend a few days at a real Oasis: at Oasis Scala Beach Hotel in Agistri, Greece!
The Island
Paradise is just around the corner from Athens. And the name of the island where you can find the little piece of Heaven is Agistri. Quite close to being on par with the stunningly beautiful water of La Maddalena, Italy, Agistri’s beaches offer calm, tranquil moments of zen. Tucked away on a little island far from the hustle and bustle from any big city (or even small town), you will find yourself beyond relaxed by the time you have to head back to reality.
The island is only accessible by boat or ferry, and for those looking to spend some quiet time away from it all, then this is the place. Going for a stroll or even a drive through the tiny Greek isle will leave you feeling like you’re the only person in the world. Especially if you go for said tour during low season, when you are literally the only tourist around! Exploring Agistri is quite unforgettable, with sights of a volcano, a stunning and endless sea, and the small villages. Driving around the island in its entirety can take as little as 30 minutes, or upwards of 2 hours. It all depends on how fast you want to go, and how much you want to see.
But where should you stay while you’re in that little shred of Paradise? The Oasis Scala Beach Hotel, of course! And you’re about to find out why it is in itself a little piece of Heaven.
The Hotel
The Oasis Scala Beach Hotel isn’t just a hotel, it’s also a spa, a restaurant, a tour service and basically someplace you will never want to leave. You’ll have to eventually though…once the season is over.
From April to mid-November you can stay as long as you want (as long as you book in advance) at this magical hotel that leaves you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and positively removed from the idea that problems exist.
When I arrived at the hotel, I was greeted by the friendliest and warmest staff you could imagine. From the time I got there until the time I left the vibe was calm and collect. Everyone made you feel at ease, welcome and of course the top priority is to make their guests feel relaxed. I was offered a massage right on the spot, and I took advantage of the service, after I was given my own bag and beach towel to go sunbathing on the beach.
After the massage, I went upstairs to my beautiful and terribly comfortable room which had all the modern conveniences one could ever ask for. The room not only had a wonderful mattress on the bed, but also boasted the most beautiful view of the sea with a patio with table and chairs. Each morning I stayed, I ordered room service to bring up my breakfast (which was more than plentiful).
The hotel is in the process of getting ready for next year with plans to open two additional buildings on either side of the current main building. The owner, who has been operating the hotel & spa since 2007, says that he has seen a lot of growth in the past 12 years. With guests typically coming from within European countries, he says the majority of his clientele outside of Europe are Israelis.
Dining
Lunches were delicious as well as the dinners in their hotel’s restaurant. The restaurant’s chef is highly talented and is also one of the friendliest people you will meet in Greece!
The dining area has a sophisticated cocktail lounge vibe to it, with excellent music each day and night, even the ambiance in the restaurant is soothing. With high quality traditional Greek dishes and seafood, you will fall in love with everything you taste here. Don’t miss out on their wine and cocktails either. I was not only highly impressed with their red wines, but also given the chance to mix my own drink the first night! Ask them to make you a “Lisa’s cocktail” and they’ll know what to do.
The Spa
It’s not every day that you get a massage. But while I was at the Oasis, I had one every other day. Their masseuse Tatyana will put you to sleep. Literally. Granted, upon my arrival at the hotel the first day, I hadn’t slept for over a day, so I was pretty well exhausted from my long journey…but still. The massage didn’t hurt. It only helped. Helped knock me out about three times while I was lying on the massage table, and then knocked me out again once I went up to take a long nap on one of the most comfortable beds in all of Greece!
The spa doesn’t just offer massages, but an array of other treatments as well. I’m a simple gal though, I like my massages – as you should all know by now.
Prices & Value
Prices? It varies. The owner jokingly says that depending on how full they are, if the hotel has no guests you might be able to snag a room during the high season for 1 Euro. But since there’s very little chance of them not being full during the summer, the likelihood that you’ll pay something closer to 300 Euro a night is much higher. Typically though, he says prices stay at an average of 100-200 Euro per night for a sea view room.
And what about those tours? The hotel is affiliated with other businesses on the island who organize walking and driving tours. Not only that, but there are also boat excursions to neighboring islands and day trips to Athens to see the famous sites.
I was also lucky enough to have the owner himself drive me around the island to show me what it looks like in its natural state, i.e. no people. If you have the opportunity to tour the island either with a group or with a private guide, take it! Agistri is spectacularly beautiful and is worth exploring.
So, what else do you need to know about this hotel? It’s just as relaxing in every way as a deliciously strong cocktail by a beach with turquoise waters. Oh, yeah. You can do that here too.
Want to know a really simple and luxurious way to get to the port in Athens from the airport so that you can get to Agistri easily? Check out Greece Private Transfer which actually organized a private tour for me in Athens!
Get Lost with Lisa 