Review Rating: 4/5
Website: https://www.yialosioshotel.gr/
Date of Visit: July 2023
Introduction
Yialos Ios is a small/medium-sized, family-run hotel located in a quiet spot just a short walk from the main port of Ios. I spent ten nights here as a solo traveller in July 2023 and had a great time.
Location
The hotel’s location is a big selling point: just 5 minutes’ walk from the port, it’s also close to the large and sandy Gialos Beach. A bus stop just opposite provides convenient and frequent access to Chora, Mylopotas Beach and other locations during the summer tourist season. Alternatively, a steep pedestrian path leading up to Chora can be found just across the road from the hotel entrance.
Also nearby are the cafes, shops and tavernas around the port and bars behind Gialos Beach. I recommend Da Luigi Pizzeria just off the roundabout near the port and Coral Kitchen behind the south end of Gialos Beach for excellent food.
The hotel has a small car park for guests, but the adjacent central resort car park offers plenty of space if you hire transportation.
Rooms
Rooms at Yialos Ios are modern and well-furnished, with comfortable beds, excellent air-conditioning and lavish bathrooms. Rooms have a small fridge and decent storage for luggage and clothing. My room was on the ground floor and had a reasonably sized veranda with soft, cushioned seating overlooking the pool.
Service
My room was cleaned daily, with linen and towels changed on request. The staff were incredibly friendly at reception, breakfast, and the pool bar.
As it was my fourth visit to the island, I didn’t require much guidance on sightseeing or getting around, but I felt confident that the staff were on hand for anything I might have needed.
Facilities
Despite its proximity to a wide, sandy beach, one of the main reasons I chose Yialos Ios was its large pool and spacious surroundings, with plenty of sun loungers. I wanted to relax and soak up the sun; this hotel doesn’t disappoint.
Although the island is popular with young visitors keen to experience the nightlife in Chora and down at Mylopotas, the hotel is more suited to couples and families. Its higher price and more upmarket appeal meant I was correct in assuming there wouldn’t be any issues with rowdy guests.
Food and Dining
Breakfast at Yialos Ios is buffet-style in a small indoor area behind the reception. Food can be consumed outside, either at the front of the hotel (a few small tables overlooking the road) or by the pool bar overlooking the pool.
The selection is fairly typical but of a good standard and fits the hotel’s overall quality. Shade can be at a premium when finding a table to eat at, though, so I tended to arrive early as it was incredibly hot during my visit, and I didn’t want to get burnt before the day had even started!
During the day, the pool bar serves a good selection of hot and cold drinks, beers, wine and cocktails. Prices are reasonable: slightly higher than you will pay at nearby tavernas, but you expect a small premium for the convenience factor.
You can also order food. The range of items is quite limited, but the quality is decent, and I prefer a smaller selection of nice food than a wide variety of average or poor-quality items.
Price
I paid just over €150 per night for my 10-night stay during peak season. It’s more than I typically spend on accommodation in Greece, but I’d booked quite late and availability on the island was incredibly limited.
Reflecting on my stay, I would say it was reasonable but not fantastic value for money. It’s probably one of the nicer hotels on the island and certainly in the local area (most upmarket hotels are nearer to Mylopotas Beach). Had I booked earlier, I suspect I could have achieved a better price, so if you can get a good deal, then it’s worth considering.
Overall Experience
I had a good time at Yialos Ios and have no regrets about choosing it. For anyone new to Ios, it’s a great location to explore the island and has a sense of luxury reminiscent of Mykonos or Santorini. The downsides for me were an occasional lack of sunbeds around the pool plus a small issue with ants getting into my room under the veranda doors, but they never really caused a problem.
Conclusions
Yialos Ios is a great hotel, and I would recommend it to anyone considering staying on Ios.
Links
Find more Ios Accommodation or check out our Ios Island Guide.
