Archontariki Suites

We liked the quiet, cozy area and the location, close to both the airport and Argostoli. The apartments look recently renovated, have a lovely view, and the lift to the second floor is handy with luggage or if stairs are difficult. Makis, the agent who seems to manage the apartments rather than own them, was friendly before check-in and explained how to get in, where to go, and where to find exclusive souvenirs. On arrival the renovation looked fresh, so we thought things would be fine. That first impression didn’t last. We stayed four nights in these “luxury” apartments, and spent much of the time trying to sort out basic comfort problems. Check-in is at 2 PM and check-out at 9 AM, the earliest we’ve ever had. We arrived after 2 and found rubbish left by the previous guests. The toilet hadn’t been properly flushed, or hadn’t been cleaned. The bed was made and the kitchen cupboards looked tidied, but that was about all we could see. Workers seemed to be dealing with the Wi-Fi on the day we arrived. There was no connection, so we went out and hoped it would be fixed by evening. When we got back, there was still no Wi-Fi, and no hot water either. We messaged Makis, but didn’t hear back until noon the next day. His reply was a long list of rules about no smoking, not staining towels, and checking out strictly at 9 AM, along with a warning that we’d cause extra costs. I’d never had someone communicate that way before. Neighbors on our floor told us they had the same Wi-Fi and hot water issues, and had stopped getting replies after they moved in. We only got the Wi-Fi working the day before we left. For hot water, we had to be told which button heats the boiler, and to switch it off right after using it. They offered to replace the towels the day before we left too, after I noticed noise in the corridor. The agent did eventually help, but only slowly and after several reminders, which I found unacceptable. The lack of things that were supposed to be provided, especially Wi-Fi and hot water, made the stay stressful and took away from our enjoyment of Kefalonia, which is a wonderful island. A few other details made things less comfortable: there’s no shower curtain, so the bathroom floor keeps getting wet; no bedside table to put a phone on while it charges; and the toilet door doesn’t close properly, let alone lock. The apartment’s main door has a glass panel that lets corridor light in at night. We saw neighbors covering theirs with a towel.