Aria Boutique Hotel

Coming back from the sea and watching that sunset from our balcony was wonderful. The room and view were fantastic, and the service and breakfast were lovely too. Morning coffee with Mr. Odysseas was a highlight. He told us how he'd lived there and helped with the island's development, and gave advice on choosing a beach for the wind and where to eat. We tried local food, and matchata is a must-try. A great choice for anyone wanting a quality, relaxing holiday.

The staff were always willing to help, including suggesting which beaches would suit the weather, and the rooms were neat and very clean. The hotel gives you privacy but is still close to lovely shops and restaurants. It has a wonderful sea and sunset view, and we spent plenty of relaxed time by the pool listening to well-chosen music at just the right volume. From our research and experience, there are only a few lounge hotels on Folegandros with this combination. The people, visitors, and atmosphere were lovely, and it brought back memories of holidays decades ago, when the world and circumstances felt very different. A clear 10/10 recommendation!

The view is lovely and the pool is nice, but the room had a cramped bathroom, a leaking toilet, and a shower corner that was far too small. The staff were friendly, though there was nobody to help with luggage. Breakfast wasn't included, so we ordered it, but at €15 each it was very poor. They rate themselves 4*, but we'd give it a maximum of 2*. The so-called boutique style just meant old, outdated furniture, and the balcony was too small for two. It has potential, but it isn't coming together right now.

Penelope, the owner, was worth her weight in gold. She kindly looked after us and was full of useful information and sound advice throughout our stay. We had room 22, with a huge private front terrace and a raised bed overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Without seeing the other rooms, we still thought it was probably one of the hotel's best. Aria was clean and right in the heart of Chora, among lively streets, lovely shops, and great restaurants. You're in the middle of it all, yet it's very quiet. A perfect spot for us, with nothing bad to say. It ticked every box, and Folengandros didn't disappoint.