Golden Mare - All Inclusive

I have read good and negative reviews about the Golden Mare. After our visit in early Sept 2023 I can understand why. The Golden Mare is a good hotel set on a hillside with the most fantastic panoramic views you could wish for. We stayed in the main body of the hotel in a large sea view room. Lots of storage space. Very comfortable bed, good sized loo with large shower. Spotlessly clean fresh towels every day. Large balcony unfortunately not a covered balcony, it absolutely poured down first 2 days so could not sit out and read have a coffee or drink. Hotel staff were excellent, friendly helpful, especially staff on reception. People had complained about the pool why I don't know, plenty of sunbeds and a really good pool. Staff out every morning cleaning pool and pool area. Maybe better quality and more umberellas would be good. Entertainment on offer was average. The negatives with the GM relate to the "all inclusive" offer and the climb from the drop off point to the hotel. The "climb" is approx 60 yards up a very severe incline. We struggled to pull our cases but were helped by a member of staff. Others much younger and fitter also struggled with their luggage. So if you do have mobility issues or get breathless easily I would think twice about booking the Golden Mare. As the GM was a four star hotel we did expect decent quality food and drink sad to say this was not the case. The alcohol on offer was "local" but not the best quality. Wine was a poor nameless white or rose not sure what the beer was. Asked for 2 gin and tonics one night got gin and lemonade no ice or lemon both were served in small throwaway plastic glasses. Yuk! In our 2 weeks there we only had about four drinks in the all inclusive bar. However there was a saving grace a magnificent panoramic bar on the third floor. Service was great, the server was most obliging came and took your order and served it and offered to take photos. You did have to pay for the international brands on offer but it was worth it given the service and magnificent nighttime views. Food in the hotel was indifferent, some was decent, other offerings were less so. Overall I would say the food offering was way below what we expected, the restaurant had a "Butlins" feel about it. We ate out a few times esp lunch evening meals in local restaurants tavernas. Found a great little bar near the drop off point for the hotel called Skala spent a lot of time there in the evenings. Staff there brilliant, booze high quality brands and excellent food. Also a found great coffee shop called Coffee Lovers just as you enter the Barbati stretch.Do visit if you stay in the Barbati area. Would we return to the Golden Mare? Unlikely If we went back to Corfu we would more likely stay at a hotel on the west coast.

Mir hat das Hotel ehrlich gesagt nicht besonders gut gefallen, abgesehen davon, dass das Personal sehr nett und hilfreich war. Das Hotel befindet sich neben einem kleinen Strand, der jedoch kein Sandstrand ist. Im Zimmer war das Waschbecken defekt, und das Essen ließ zu wünschen übrig. Es hat noch nach nichts geschmeckt, und es gab nicht viele Auswahlmöglichkeiten.

We were a party of 5 friends and we had a fabulous time. The hotel rooms were spacious, bright and clean. The staff on reception and the bar were so friendly and helpful. The food was really good everyday. There was plenty of sun loungers available. We would all recommend this hotel and we will definitely be back.

Great getaway! Loved the pool area & the entertainment at the hotel, rooms were nice and clean and staff was amazing! Big shout out to Mario who helped organised a special cake and wine for my birthday and was just so warm and welcoming to my family and I. Great vibe overall, would definitely visit again!

absolutely loved this hotel. so clean, friendly and helpful. wonderful spa and massage. even cleaning staff do such a good job and are so polite and friendly. highly recommended. i would definitely stay here again. cannot recommend it enough

One of the best hotels I've ever visited. It was so clean; the scenery was beautiful and the food was amazing. We went on our honeymoon and we couldn't have picked a better place. Mario the assistant front office manager made it all the more amazing and we will be going back as soon as possible. The drivers who took us to and from our room were superb also and the staff couldn't have done enough for us

It looks nice and shows promise but a few things wrong On arrival the hotel looks lovely. The bedroom is clean and has plenty of space to unpack. The views around the pool are gorgeous and the backdrop of the mountain beautiful. All staff have been helpful and friendly. The white wine and lager are ok. Ice cream at meals is lovely, and the salads are nice. The little shop on site has snacks and water and toiletries. Only here for 3 days - so the hotel is good for our trip but I wouldn’t want to stay longer. The smell in the bedroom is quite horrendous - drains and urine smell. The safe buttons are broken so it doesn’t work. The coat hangers are wider than the wardrobe so pull clothes when closing the doors. The sunbeds around the pool look really comfortable but some have water in the fold, which you only find out since you’ve sat down, wetting towel and bum. Some secrete water as you sit. The towels are rather thin. The electronic system outside bedroom doors doesn’t work.

We went from 1st April to 8th April inclusive, opening week of the season. Food - breakfast was the best meal of the day; lunch and dinner both consisted of the same selection of 4 or 5 meals all week. Struggled to find meals for our 7 year old. Noise insulation between rooms very poor, could clearly hear neighbouring rooms conversations. Very much a club 18-30 feel with banging room doors and shouting and singing in the corridors until the small hours. Daytime entertainment was mainly drinking games, so not really family orientated. Issues with hot water for showers, none between midday and midnight, and regular periods of no water whatsoever, hot or cold. Not really a 4-star experience - would recommend you spend an extra few hundred quid to get a better place. That being said, bar and waiting staff OK Room cleaning / towel replacement very hit and miss. Pool was nice. Fortunately we had good weather and extended family with us so we ended up laughing it off, bit we were all glad to get home at the end of the week.