Hello Eggy,
We have only stayed in Annas and Mathraki, both to be recommended, but Annas is up a hill so that one is out!
Well you've read all I can say about the Mathraki, I've written about it often enough
I've never known it to be noisy, that is one of the reasons we keep going back, it's such a 'chillout' zone
within an easy walk to the beach.
There is also Thetis Hotel just around the corner from the Mathraki, it looks gorgeous, but I don't think that it is with a tour operator, your friends would have to book it independently. Last year another member had booked up The Thetis and was requesting information, it would be interesting to find out how he enjoyed it.
Harold, are the apartments you are talking about called Katerinas, set back a little off the road?
Eileenx