Aelia Studios

Waking up each morning just to relax in that cozy garden was a treat. The place is beautiful, with an amazing garden and lovely people. The location is perfect, with the island’s best beaches within walking distance. It was a soul-warming stay.

The location was the best part, with easy access to several great beaches. The accommodation was fine and everything worked, though the furniture looked a little old. At around 100 euros a night in September, it felt a bit expensive. I’d recommend it mainly for the location.

The steep hill to the studios made getting there exhausting, especially with luggage or bottles of water, and it doesn’t seem suitable for older people. The room also felt old, the kitchen was very small, and there was an unpleasant smell under the sink, possibly mold, as well as in the bathroom. For the price, it wasn’t worth it, and I wouldn’t return. It was hard to sleep: you could hear everything from the neighbours, while the A/C and fridge were noisy too. There were no curtains to darken the room. The Wi-Fi was very poor in our room, and I couldn’t use it during our 11-day stay. The cleaning lady made the stay especially unpleasant. She came in shouting about a fourth pillow, although there were only three of us and she had confused our room with the one next door. She also shouted at us because the kids were playing in front of our door, saying we were disturbing other children who were sleeping at 10:30 a.m. We had been woken by neighbours at 6:30 ourselves. Ridiculous. She acted as if she were the boss and never said hello or sorry. Guests pay for her salary, and she should know how to treat them. Her behaviour is ruining their business. Shouting at guests like that in the 21st century is unthinkable. It’s a real shame.

There are a supermarket, plenty of tavernas, and Italian restaurants near Koukounaries beach, and the people and place are very good. The room facilities are poor, though, and the refrigerator makes constant noise. There’s nowhere to walk after eating because the cafes and hotels are always right on the highway. For that reason, splitting the stay between two days here and two days in the city center might work well.