Hercules Studios

Hi, This is our first holiday in kefalonia.We realise its quiet at this little fishing village but how quiet? .

We visited Katelios in the last two weeks in July. We were very happy with the Hercules studios which were conveniently located just across the road from the beach and near to the tavernas and the little shop. The shop was like Ronnie Barker; "Open All Hours" and stocked everything we required for a self-catering holiday including home grown produce from the owner. The blue flag beach about ten minutes flat walk from the apartments was very good with easy access to the water for young and old alike.  Sun beds 6 euros for the day.  There is a shower on the beach but we needed pliers to turn it on or off.  Hopefully they have a new tap now. It was the only place we could get a breeze and sit under the parasols as the temperature was too high even for Greece 42C and at night it was 34C in the apartment.  So without the fan 1 Euro per day and hourly cold showers we really would have expired.  The locals only came to the beach at 7 in the evening which made sense.  We were there to see the fires raging across the hills and the nearby resort of Skala was evacuated one night.  It was amazing to stand in the sea and see helicopters filling up with water and spraying the fires.  We hired an air conditioned car for three days thro' the rep 180 euros and saw most of the island.  There are many pretty resorts but we felt Katelios was the most un touristy and simple and were pleased to be there.  Prices are the same as here or higher and a meal for 2 with a couple of beers was on average £20.  The fish at Captain Jerry's was good especially the whitebait and sardines caught locally.  The nearest ATM is in Skala a 15 minute boat ride 11Euros return.  There is a good Lidl towards Argostoli the capital and we got enough stuff for the week but the local grocer was adequate really especially his Feta and tomatoes.  Newspapers are £2.50.  Hercules has a pile of novels which were ok.  Good for children if they like the sea but in that heat any little blondies will fry!  And they will get bored too!  So take toys pens paper.  Happy Holiday.

This was a fantastic holiday - Kefalonia is really a beautiful island and Katelios was really an ideal resort for us.  The Hercules Studios are based on the main street in Katelios and has a good choice of restaurants on its doorstep.  We went in June and the restuarnts tended to close by around 12.00 - 1.00am at the latest.  The studies were clean and tidy - they have a small bathroom, main bedroom and balcony.  The have a small fridge (with freezer compartment), cooking rings and provide washing up liquid, salt and pepper and plenty of toilet roll!!

These appartments were absolutly fabulous.  My room was opposite the beach, they got cleaned every day to a very high standed except sundays as it was a day off. I will definatly say here again. I have been to alot of Greek islands in my opinion these was the best ever.

One of the best holidays we have EVER had - the beach is a stone's throw away - our balacony looked over the small main street - great for people watching - the taverna's were lively enough to enjoy but quiet enough not to disturb us from sleeping.  We went in the middle of June - the weather was perfect - a lovely breeze kept us cool on the beach and let us have a good nights' sleep - and yet we still got a good tan.  The people of Katelios (and everywhere in Kefalonia) were friendly and helpful.  Katelios is unspolit and I hope it stays that way - if you want a slightly livelier night - Skala is only a short taxi (or bus ride) away.  However the best thing was watching the silvery full moon shining over the calm crystal sea from the peaceful and romantic "Beach Hut" bar - we could have been in the Caribbean.  Our Manos Rep was young but very friendly and helpful - we wish her well and hope to be back again soon. PLEASE DON'T LET KATELIOS BECOME OVER DEVELOPED - its simpleness is its charm - if you just want to relax and unwind - this is THE place.

hi everyone we are going to hercules at the end of may, can anyone tell us if tavernas etc stay open late at night?? worrying about noise, also is the place clean??? do the hve all the basic needs? kattle? cooker? freedge and shower??? thanks

Hi Gary, I was the rep in Katelios for Manos last year. Hercules is a very small accomadation, having only 6 or 7 rooms (if I remember rightly) all on the first floor, it is family owned (the family live on the second floor above the rooms and the accomadation is actually named after Kirios Herakles who is the aged father of the acting managers: twin brothers Giorgos and Dimitris, and you might see him playing backgammon with his friends on the porch). It is quiet apart from noise from the next door tavernas which only a few very noise-sensitive people found a problem last summer. It is well located, is is separated from the beach only by a small street and the small outdoor Hercules beach bar, and is next-door to a number of excellent Tavernas which stretch all the way up the Katelios front street. The rooms are very basic, which is typical of Kefalonia, but comfortable and clean. There is no air conditioning, but the mini-markets do hire out fans at a reasonable price. The cooking facilities supplied are again basic and can be used for storing food and preparing light snacks but very little else, however katelios has wonderful tavernas and restaurants (the best I felt in the whole of Kefalonia) and it is really worth making the most of that whilst you are there. Katelios is a lovely village and I lived just down the road in a very basic accomadation with very few facilities, but being by nature quiet and studious (and perhaps not at all suited to repping) I loved the village and people and enjoyed the quiet and (very) slow-paced lifestyle very much. It might not be the most modern and efficient of places but it is one of the few holiday resorts in Greece that you can experience a taste of real Greek life, so enjoy!

We have booked a family holiday in August 04 at the Hercules, what is it like? rooms, catering facilities, cleanliness, sleeping arrangements etc. Any help would be very much appreciated.Thanks.

We have stayed at Hercules three times but not for the last 2 years when we have stayed at Mythos which we prefer. Hercules was fine, the room of a reasonable size and comfort, I think linen changed only once a week and towels twice. Also breakfast was included downstairs in the beach bar. The best part of Hercules we thought was the balcony overlooking the street and tavernas. Lovely view and great for people watching even though it could get a little bit noisy late at night, from the bar. Also the people there were very friendly.

size? comfort? frienliness of hosts? access to beach?