Pansion Porto Tsi Ostrias

The owners made us feel so welcome that we could barely leave without taking home wine, grapes, jam and all sorts of things they make and grow. The rooms are simple, clean and comfortable, and worked well for our family of four, with children aged 15 and 13. The beach is about 150 m away, and Keri is an easy walk. We’d definitely stay again.

We left before moving in because we couldn’t even take a shower in the room, and cancelled the booking with nowhere else arranged. It threw our plans off in a lot of ways. I won’t stay here and would urge anyone considering it to think carefully. We booked through a large international booking company after reading the reviews, but what we found felt nothing like what had been described. Rubbish was piled in front of the accommodation, and as soon as we got out of the car there was a rancid oil smell. I can only imagine what the kitchen smelled like. The so-called lake across the road is a swamp. The elderly couple looking after the place were lovely, but when we asked why there was no hand shower or shower rose, their daughter lied to our faces. Our booking document listed air conditioning, yet the owner said we’d have to pay extra to use it. The decrepit TV wasn’t connected either, and she said we’d have to pay for TV as well. They made a point of warning us to be careful with the flyscreen, so we felt lucky there was one at all. We were upset by how the proprietor acted, laughing at our simple questions. In the two weeks we’d spent moving around Greece, this was probably the worst-equipped and most expensive place we’d stayed in. We told her the listing was false and that we’d report her to the authorities for misrepresentation. I’ve learned not to trust what I read in future.

The rooms are simple, as you’d expect in Greece, but they’re definitely clean and comfortable. It’s a family-run hotel, and they usually serve a really good traditional Greek breakfast. I’d recommend it.

It’s just a 2-3 minute walk to Keri beach, where I watched both sunset and sunrise. The rooms come with garden views, sea views, or both, and either view is lovely. It looks like they grow some of their own food here, and I think the place is family-run. A Greek grandpa works in the garden, while a Greek grandma makes the delicious breakfast, served by a 20-year-old guy, probably their grandson. The mother handles the organizing and administration. They were all lovely, and they also helped me find a cab, which was difficult because there was a festival on the Island.