Pension Efie

The air-conditioning problem turned our stay into a mess. When we arrived, we were told it was broken. We understood that repairs can take time, but the owner kept unloading the technician’s difficulties and her own stress on us, then suggested we find somewhere else. On a small island, finding a last-minute room isn’t easy. There were other rooms available, but they didn’t want to disrupt plans for arriving guests. We were put in two different rooms for the first night. At 10am the next morning, staff opened our doors while we were naked and rudely told us to leave so the rooms could be prepared for the next customers. We had nowhere to stay that day and didn’t get back into our room until around 8pm. The organization was a disaster, and the service felt like they were treating us as friends instead of paying customers. The room itself was far too small for the three people we booked for, with hardly any space for luggage and no outdoor area to sit. The price was high for what we got, especially when you could rent an entire flat with a kitchen for the same amount. I’ve visited Hydra every year for the last 15 years and have never had an experience like this. I can’t understand the “value for money” comments. The location is good, but it’s not the only well-located place on the island. The worst stay I’ve had in Hydra. They don’t know how to treat customers, and they were so rude.

The church bell starts ringing at 7:00am and goes on until late, so keep that in mind. Otherwise, these rooms are good value for money. We were close to the port, and rooms on higher floors have better views. Ours was clean, the bathroom seemed newly renovated, and it had the basics: air conditioning, a fridge, TV, and decent internet. Recommended if you want affordable, decent accommodation.

The view from my window, which shows most of the city, was lovely. This felt like a fantastic, authentic place, and the woman running it was lovely too. She could tell I was dying from the heat and handed me a bottle of water when I arrived. I liked the church bells as well.

The balcony view is the highlight here, really beautiful. A room with a view costs more, but I think it’s worth it. I’m sure you’ll spend plenty of time sitting there with a glass of wine and taking in the surroundings. I can recommend this place with confidence.