Melissa Hotel

I stayed for a couple of days in mid-September and was happy with the stay. I arrived close to midnight, and a friendly woman at reception got me checked in within ten minutes. The room was fairly large and cozy, with two beds, and both it and the bathroom were clean. There was air conditioning, which was welcome in the September warmth, plus cable TV and WiFi. The tap water was drinkable, though I bought a couple of bottles anyway. My window looked out onto the street and its local character. There’s a supermarket nearby, and the beach is a ten-minute walk away. Breakfast was continental.

The staff are warm and welcoming, and there are lots of little side streets, coffee shops, and restaurants nearby. Some ancient ruins are close too, and orange and lemon trees grow along the sidewalks and in people’s gardens. The oranges are very tart, but good for jam or a vitamin C boost. Inside, the place is very basic and set back from the Main Street. There aren’t breakfast facilities, just a sandwich bag, probably because of the Covid rules in effect. €62 feels steep for what it is, but it’s a decent option if you’re stuck looking for somewhere to stay.

The reception girls were friendly and always willing to help, which is why I’m giving two stars. Otherwise, this was the worst hotel experience I’ve had, and I travel and stay in hotels a lot for work. The furniture was old, breakfast was poor, and there were hardly any choices: cheese, low-quality salami, and boiled eggs. One morning I asked for scrambled eggs, but was told those were the only options. I also had problems with mosquitoes.

The cafe just in front of the hotel is very good, and there aren’t many other hotels in this area. From outside, this part of the hotel looks nice, but inside it’s quite old and not well maintained. The price-quality ratio is poor. You’d be much better off renting a flat apartment with r&b.