I have just spent a week staying in the Smaragdi Studios with my partner and we both thought they were very good.  Our apartment was basic but good enough for the time that we actually spent in it.  Our balcony faced the sun for most of the day, which was great, and we had a small bath as well as a shower, which is uncommon in Greek accomodation.  The only downside for me was that we had two single beds instead of a double-but then that wasn't so bad when the nights were hot.  The location was great-10 mins to the beach and approx 15/20 stroll to the harbour and there were plenty of bars and restaurants to pop in on the way.  It was also very quiet and we often left our balcony door open during the night without any disturbance.  We only had one problem while we were there (a smell started to drift from pipes under the kitchenette sink) but after my partner informed the owner the plumber was called and the offending pipes were cleaned and sealed up by the time we got back after a day out.  All in all we think it is a very good place to stay and we would go back there again.

Lambi beach was a convenient 10min stroll from the Smaragdi Studios where we stayed.  We went in Oct so it was fairly quiet but I wouldn't like to be there when it is high season, as it's not that wide and the sunbeds are packed together.  I never went in further than to paddle here as I thought it shelved off very quicky and I was a bit scared but my partner went in for a swim and he thought it was nice and warm-but was disappointed that it was very calm as he likes to play in the waves.  I was a bit disappointed at the quality of the beach as it was mainly pebbles and covered in dry seeweed.  I found it quite difficult to walk along as the stones kept going in my flip flops and it was too painful to go bare-foot.  We much preferred the east coast of Lambi beach (near the army training base and towards Tingaki) as we basically had the beach to ourselves and it was a lot sandier.  The waves here were great and the water quite shallow so we both had a good time playing around and gettin swept along.  It was also great for a tan as it was very breezy.  My scores are for the main Lambi beach though...

Kos Town doesn't actually have a beach (it has a harbour) but it has Lambi beach on the left of the harbour and Psaldi beach on the right.  Lambi beach is the better of the two and is a lot bigger.  Psaldi beach was tiny and was mainly pebbles.  My ratings are for the latter... 

I wouldn't bother with this beach...the stretch on the left of the harbour was tiny and full of pebbles.  Lambi beach on the other side of the harbour is much better and has more tavernas/sunbeds.

I walked past the Old River restaurant on the way to the beach one day with my partner and the owner Josef came over to chat to us and give us his card.  Thought he seemed a nice guy and the place looked nice so we went back that night for a meal.  The food was really nice-my partner had the Bekri meze, which tasted to me like a chicken curry and I had the lamb kleftiko, which was like a hot pot with carrots, lamb, potatoes and feta cheese melted on top of it-fab!  Josef was really friendly and jokey and came over to chat as he did with all of the customers.  He also called a taxi for us when we had finished, which arrived straight away.  Shame we were going home the next night or we would have gone back again.

Bought our takeaway Gyros Pitta here twice during our week stay as it was on our way from the beach.  The first one was fab (at a very cheap 2euro) but the second wasnt as nice as it had little red onion and all the sauce was on the top.  Still, one of the cheapest we had seen and we got free use of their sunbeds.

We had no problems with Olympic Holiday tour operators.  Before we went to Kos we were a little unsure about something and kept forgetting to phone Olympic customer services before they closed so my patner emailed them one night, not really expecting a reply, but they phoned him the next day at home and when they couldnt get hold of him, at work, to tell him the answer personally, which we thought was very nice of them.  We liked our accommodation, the price was decent and the coach transfer from the airport to our resort was quick with few stops.  Our rep was available to talk to at reception most evenings, around 6pm, but as I say, we had no need to as everything was great.

The inbound journey was fine-straight off the plane, cases out quickly and straight out the door onto the coach. The journey back was a bit slower, when we pulled up at airport the queues were outside the building.  Inside was tiny and we had to rush upstairs to grab a seat in the cafe section because there werent many chairs in the departure lounge.  Coffee was crap-the guy serving them put the sugar in for you, for some reason, and he put wayyyyy to much in.  Our flight was actually 20mins early, which was a relief!

Fantastic views of the castle from the harbour and particularily nice when all lit up at night.  We had a walk around the outside walls but we didnt bother going inside when we realised we had to pay, as there were lots of other free historical sites to visit around the town.  Shocked to see adults (and children!) stood on the walls of the castle, overlooking an unprotected and very steep fall!!!  Very dangerous!!  Again, no old drawings of castle as it used to stand, no details as to what it was built for, how long it had been there etc etc which would have made it a lot more interesting to look around.

We spent an hour or so at the Ancient Town (near the harbour) and we thought it was a nice and interesting place to walk around in the sun.  Shame though that there was no info on the site whatsoever, as this would have made it much more interesting.  There were also a few little 'rooms' blocked off, probably for restoration or protection, which was a shame as they would have been fun to have a look around.  Spent ages after that looking for Hippocrates' tree-the map said it was somewhere around the site but there were trees all over.  Finally found some steps going up to some benches and a big tree with grafitti all over it, so we thought that must be it....and we were just about to waste a few photos on it when we saw a few couples walk past us, so we followed them and came out onto this lovely old square with a much bigger and more impressive tree...which was of course the real one.  Worth a look...

Just got back from a week in Kos Town (1st-9th Oct) with my partner and we thought it was fantastic!    We were really worried about the weather with it nearing the end of season but we couldnt have hoped for more-not a drop of rain, around 30 degrees, clear blue skies for six of the days with only one day being a bit overcast, not too breezy and warm evenings.  There was still a good choice of restaurants and pubs, though if it is a buzzing nightlife you want this is not the time to visit.  It was very quiet on evenings and the beaches were fairly empty during the day, but for us this was great as we wanted a nice relaxing holiday together to soak up the sun and enjoy each others company.  By the end of the week it seemed like most places were getting ready to shut down so I wouldnt go any later than we did.  As for creepy-crawlies, I only saw three cockroaches during the week (one actually ran across my foot when we were walking into town one night ) but other than that it was fine.  Do take mozzie spray/cream as they are rife this time of year and I found that out for myself on the last night when I took my cardigan off and woke up with about ten very itchy bites.  I would defo go back in October again though.  

After a week of pigging out on Greek meats myself and my partner really fancied some pasta and we thought an Italian restaurant would do it best, so we came here.  My partner had a spag bol, which was smaller than expected and didnt have much mince but was tasty nonetheless and I had a four cheese (feta, gorgonzola, mozzerrella and edam) calzone pizza, which was huge and also very tasty.  The bread they give you on the table before the meal was toasted and quite nice but again small portions and after we finished I fancied a dessert to fill me up, only to be told they were all off, except tiramisu.  The staff were ok but not as friendly as the others we met during the week, so I probably wouldnt recommend it, unless you really really want a pasta dish you cant get elsewhere.

If you do not have a car/bike during your stay I recommend that you ride the blue noddy train up to the Asklepieon, as its a 4km walk up a steep hill.  It is situated on the right of the harbour, under the castle bridge and opposite the police station.  It costs 3euros, takes about 15mins and is a pleasant way to view some of the town on the way up.  It leaves every hour from 9.15am to 1.15pm and the price includes drop off and pick up an hour later.  Be aware the train stand saying the last trip up is 2.15pm as this does not have a return trip and its a long walk back!  My partner and I thought the site was really interesting to walk around and we took some good photos.  Again, like the other historical sites, its a shame they dont have any info or guides as you have to guess what each section was.  Still, it was an hour well spent in our opinion.  Dont forget to wear tops and take your own drinks as the one shop up there is a rip off.   

My partner and I ate at the Fish House twice during our week and we were planning on going a third time, but ended up having an italian meal.  It was one of my favourites as the setting was traditionally greek, with white washed cobbles and blossoming trees and very romantic. On our first visit my partner had a mixed fish dish, which included Haddock, Squid and Perch and served with veg and potatoes and he really enjoyed it.  I tried swordfish for the first time and though the fish was a little bland (but then most are to me) I enjoyed my meal also.  You get a big wedge of crusty bread and butter loaded with garlic before your meal-which was yummy and the Greek Salad was very tasty.  The house white wine was also one of the best I had tasted during the week.  On the second visit my partner had another mixed fish combo, this time with shrimp and rice and I had shrimps in garlic butter with rice and veg....If you love garlic, like me, you wont be disappointed!  The staff were very friendly and the owner was a laugh,  serenading the women and picking flowers off the trees for them.  I would definitely recommend this restaurant for those who want good food, good drink, a romantic setting and a real feel of the greek life