Iriana Village Inn

A basic but lovely stay. The hosts were attentive, and gave us a lovely ithaki tea towel. The room was cleaned every day, and the pool was nice.

The house comfortably fits five people. It could do with a few small changes and better Wi-Fi.

The pool was pleasant in the evening, though we didn't use it during the day because it was in full sun. That small plus couldn't rescue what became an almost traumatic stay on a magical island. Our family of two adults, three girls aged 9, 12, and 14, and a large Bernese Mountain Dog chose Iriana Village Inn on Ithaca after reading positive reviews from eight months earlier. For €2,900, we expected comfort and a warm welcome. Instead, the girls had an old, sagging couch and two uncomfortable armchairs, covered with three stained, unhygienic mattresses just 2 cm thick. The cramped room had to serve as kitchen, dining area, and restroom, and felt claustrophobic. The kitchen was nearly bare. It had no basic utensils or ladles, just one pressure cooker and a scratched Teflon pan, nowhere near enough for a 15-night family stay. I had to buy ladles and a pan myself. There was no dishwasher, oven, microwave, or washing machine, and nobody even offered laundry help. The small metal table and two chairs outside couldn't fit us all, and there was no umbrella or shade on the balcony. We saw an Italian family eating on the sofas with plates on their knees. At the back, a fence of wooden boards with protruding nails was dangerous. Mosquitoes and wasps were constant, and without mosquito nets we couldn't enjoy the sea breeze with the windows open, so we stayed indoors with the air conditioning. One evening, thousands of ants appeared. The owner gave us a broom and refused to help us deal with them. The owners' lack of care and attention to detail showed through, and to us it reflected a complete lack of hospitality. That's a shame in such an enchanting setting, where even a modest property could have made a difference with a little more care. I wouldn't recommend it to families, especially for a long stay. It might suit couples or short trips if expectations aren't too high. The location may look promising, but Iriana Village Inn needs major work on both the property and guest service. The island deserves a stay that leaves a pleasant memory.

The best things were the charming village, the views across both sides of Ithaca, and a five-minute drive to one of the island's most beautiful beaches. But the beds and furniture were worn out and dilapidated, including a 1960s dresser and wardrobe. Any sofa beds were uncomfortable and worn too. Hot water often had problems, and there was no washing machine or dishwasher. They say there's a kitchen, but the furniture was old and dirty and it had only two old, scratched pans, with no other pots or pans. We had to buy our own, so bring yours. If you book through Booking.com, the owner may call offering to cancel the reservation in exchange for a discount. We then found we were being charged for services that didn't exist. I'm grateful to the local police for handling it so well and preventing what I felt was an attempted scam. We found much better maintained properties on the island for lower prices. I strongly advise against Iriana Village Inn.