Santa Maura Apartments

The studio is spacious and comfortable, with a lovely elevated view over the main street, great for watching people go by. There may even be the island’s best tourist attraction right here, a Greek frozen-yogurt shop with some delightful treats. It’s a good spot for relaxing, beach time, hiking, or a few drinks.

We stayed for a week at the start of June. The location is ideal, right in central Nidri, with loads of places to eat and drink nearby. Our pool-view room had a pleasant mountain view, was quiet, and came with a spacious balcony. The rooms are large and have a small kitchenette, though there was no socket for the kettle. Air conditioning worked well, and Wi-Fi was free and reliable in the room and by the pool. The cleaner worked tirelessly to keep everything tidy. Having a car park at the back was very handy, since town parking is scarce or paid. The pool is large and refreshing on a hot day, but for the last few days it wasn’t topped up, so there were lots of insects and dirt on the surface. Then the pump broke, leaving us unable to use it for the rest of our stay. We’d specifically chosen somewhere with a pool, so that was disappointing. Most of the loungers were broken or needed maintenance too. The bathroom was basic, with plenty of hot water and good shower pressure, but the floor flooded and the shower curtain was strung on a wire and didn’t stop water splashing everywhere. The place is looking tired and parts weren’t well maintained. Some TLC, maintenance, updated furnishings, and fresh bedding would help, as our blanket was stained with suntan oil. With those improvements it could be perfect, and they might be able to charge a little more. It’s not a luxury stay, but for a basic, central place with a pool at a reasonable price, it’s a good option.

The one really good thing was Spiros’s hospitality. Beyond that, I can’t recommend this apartment. There’s no “L” of luxury in its name: the room didn’t look like the website photos, the bathroom was tiny, and there was little to no hot water. During our 15 days, the room cleaning seemed to mean changing the towels. The bathroom may have been cleaned before we arrived, but that was it. I’ll leave it there, I’m not planning to write an essay.

The garden and pool were lovely, and the rooms were clean. Everyone was kind and helpful whenever we had a question. It was our first time there, but I’ll be back.