Aphea Village

The trip was meant to celebrate a birthday and anniversary, but the disruption seriously affected it. We were told just an hour before arriving, while already driving from the airport, that our room was unavailable. The explanation was that it had been “flooded,” though American Express later told us the actual issue was overbooking. We had booked and paid for a one-bedroom apartment with a sea view. Instead, we were sent to a basic studio at Ledra Maleme Hotel, with no view. Booking sites showed it was worth about £100 less for the same nights. We were assured this alternative was “better” and that we'd get “the best room,” but it was a downgrade, in a remote and hard-to-find location. On arrival, local children made threatening “slashed neck” gestures. We felt we had no choice but to accept, since we'd just landed and were already on our way to the original hotel. A few days later, I called to complain. You offered a 50% refund, which we accepted because it roughly matched the difference in accommodation quality. In a later call, you said we'd “misheard” and that the offer was only 15%. That is unacceptable. The replacement did not match what we booked, paid for, or were promised, and the way the situation and refund were handled felt misleading and dishonest. I don't recommend booking with this company, and I won't be advising any of my clients to stay with you. I have photos, screenshots, and the full correspondence available as evidence if needed.

The rooms could use some updating, but the photos had already shown us what to expect. The location was perfect, with the beach down the hill and plenty of restaurants along the shore. We spent a lovely week at Aphea. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful. When we asked for a kettle and extra bedding, they sorted it out straight away. Rooms were cleaned daily with fresh towels and bedding except on Sundays. They still took our bins, and would bring fresh towels or bedding if asked. The pool bar run by kostas and loanna was amazing. They made everyone feel welcome and were happy to help. Their cocktails were the best and reasonably priced, and the food was lovely, with homemade dishes every day. We'll definitely visit again.

The manager was friendly, and people seemed to enjoy the pool, though we never used it. Our apartment was high on the hill, so it came with a beautiful view, but getting there meant about five minutes of stair climbing. With those stairs, I wouldn't call the hotel child friendly. The place needs urgent repairs. We got a very old, poor apartment, and the dishes were still dirty. The stairs inside the two-floor apartment were steep and dangerous, with no handrail at the top. I would never return or recommend it.

The view was lovely, the apartment clean, and the manager very nice and polite. Still, the place was very hard to find, and we had cold water all week. The manager said it was fixed, but it wasn't. There were brown stains on the bath and the shower head was dangerously loose. Kitchen equipment was scarce: a few pots and pans, just one teaspoon, and only one hob that worked properly. There was no microwave. We weren't allowed to take our own food or drinks to the pool, which is unacceptable for a self-catering stay. It is what it is.