Hara Studios and Apartments

The shower in Room 3 was the reason we left after two nights. Water sprayed out and soaked the whole bathroom floor, while the tiny curtain kept sticking to my skin. It looked filthy, as if it had never been washed. When I mentioned the problem, the woman at reception replied that the cleaner brought fresh towels every day. Maybe she didn’t understand what I meant. The next morning, we found bugs in the shower because it never fully dried, even after the cleaner had been in. My wife and I chose Hara Studios & Apartments in Paros for five nights because it was fairly cheap. We knew it wouldn’t be luxurious, and had stayed in budget places in Greece before. Still, this was the first time it felt like a real case of getting what we paid for. We had even stayed somewhere better in central Sicily without AC. The room was at the top of the building. They said it was three flights, but it was five. That didn’t bother me, since it’s a Greek island and I wasn’t expecting a lift. The room itself wasn’t what made us leave. We didn’t want to spend more money finding somewhere else, and it was the end of our trip, so we tried to put up with it. But when we checked out early, I told reception again that the bathroom was why we were leaving. The receptionist was nice, and I have nothing against her. I asked for a refund for the unused nights and said they could keep the deposit. She called the hotel manager, who flat out refused, calling it a “last minute check out.” I didn’t argue, just left and emailed them. No reply. It felt wildly unprofessional. I’d have expected a hotel manager to speak with a customer and try to resolve the problem. I’ve traveled a lot and love Greece, but the customer service here was so bad that I had to write a review. The bedding was poor, with sheets like stiff dryer sheets, flat, overused pillows, and towels that felt ancient. There are better places on the island for the same price. We found a nice AirBnB on the other side for about the same cost, with a prettier view. I also found Naousa gross in general, with intensely touristy crowds, dirty streets and beaches, and locals who weren’t very friendly, though I understand why with all the tourism. Let’s see if anyone from Hara Studios & Apartments management ever gets back to me.

We left the same day we arrived and booked another hotel in Parikia, since it had fewer stairs and was closer to the port. This place is quite pretty and seems to have potential, and the staff were genuinely lovely, but I wouldn’t stay again. We’d booked through a travel agent and were given a top-floor room. The stairs were manageable for me, but difficult for my mum. The man at reception kindly helped with our bags and was friendly. He also pointed out that the booking clearly mentioned the top floor and the steps, which we had overlooked. The room was small, and the tiny bathroom had no shower curtain, which was inconvenient. I also found a couple of ants in there. The balcony had a beautiful view of the beach below, but no shade or cover from the sun. The hotel is within easy walking distance of the center.

We had a weather delay that extended our visit, and the staff promptly found my friend and me another room for the extra night. They were so kind, went out of their way to help, and shared plenty of useful recommendations. Hara is an affordable, wonderful option, with a beautiful view and just a short walk from Naoussa.

The rooms are rustic but impeccably clean, and the hotel sits right on the beach. Gianni, the hotelier, was amazing, always ready to help and offer great tips for Paros. Such a beautiful spot for switching off and relaxing on one of Greece’s most gorgeous islands.