Elvetia

The map pin for hotel Elvetia (Helvetia) is misleading. It isn’t in Panagia’s quiet center, it’s right on the main road, where the noise carries even at night.

A good spot.

We arrived to find that the keys weren’t there, so we had to wait for someone to bring them. When we entered the room, there was a smell in the kitchen like spoiled cheese. We reported it and someone came to deal with it, but when we got back the odor was still there. I tried cleaning with detergent myself, and that didn’t get rid of it either. We kept the doors shut through the next day. The owner then said it wasn’t his problem and that we were lucky to find a room at that time of year.

The booking listing showed a different location, so we were looking for the hotel up in the hills before we finally found it. When we arrived, nobody was there to greet us. We got a message saying the key would be on the door, but we hadn’t even been told which door. It felt like an escape room, with no puzzle solved and no key in sight. We called the owner, who sounded polite at first and said he’d sort it out after asking his wife about the key. A woman eventually came, searched for the key, then opened an unlocked drawer full of keys and took one marked “passepartout,” apparently a master key. It was left accessible to anyone, residents or passersby, since no one was there to keep an eye on it. She used it to open the door into the hall and kitchen, with our rooms to either side. As she opened the doors, she herself remarked on the smell and said they probably hadn’t aired the place out. The smell was awful, like a mix of mold and a dead mouse, and it stayed through the two days we were there. Sleeping in the room was torture. We told the owner at about 4 pm we were going to lunch and asked him to fix it while we were out. He said he’d send the cleaner, but when we came back, the odor was still there and even stronger. We called again. He said there was nothing he could do and became more aggressive. We asked him to come in the morning at checkout, but he didn’t show. When we called before leaving, he was furious and said he was far away. His wife took the phone and shouted that they’d done all they could and accused us of blackmailing her. We ended the call and said we’d contact booking and post reviews so future guests might be spared, since the owner didn’t seem willing to fix the situation. The bathroom shower fixtures were broken, and the electrical sockets were broken and dangerous, especially if you have a child. I also doubt there was an anti-electrocution device. I wouldn’t have mentioned those issues if the rest had been fine, but the exposed keys and the terrible smell made the stay miserable. I wish the smell could be captured in a photo. This “hotel” needs an immediate visit from the health department.