Irinna Hotel

This was the worst hotel experience. It's very cheap and right next to the airport, but the place is really old. The rooms were dirty, with broken drawers, crumbling walls and doors, and very old, vintage furniture. There were lots of ants and mosquitoes in the rooms, and they kept us from sleeping. The one positive was that breakfast and dinner were OK, a repetitive buffet but tasty. Drinks cost extra. There's also a pool, which helps a bit. Avoid it if you can!

I’d stay here again for the low price, but I wouldn’t go back to the pool bar or restaurant. The staff there were incredibly rude. They walked past us without acknowledging us, so we thought it might be self-service. My daughter speaks Greek fluently and asked at the bar for hot water to warm the baby’s bottle, but was met with hostility. The other bar staff member ignored us, so we left and went back to the pool. Later, when I asked for a plastic cup, he looked at me with disdain and practically threw it at me. My son, who’s staying here with friends, had the same hostile treatment. The hotel itself is dated, though it’s cheap to book even in peak season, which I knew from living on Kefalonia for many years. The mattress springs were noticeable and the beds could use replacing. The shower worked well, the fridge kept things cold, and the air conditioning was very good. We also had a great view of the runway from the balcony.

The hotel is a handy base for exploring the island, with a bus stop right outside the gate and the beach about a five minute walk away. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the place was tidy and well looked after. Our room was cleaned daily and the linen was changed. It’s an older hotel, but quite nice. The pool and gardens were kept up well. Breakfast was very basic, mostly bread.

Lunch was a highlight for me, especially the pizzas and omelette, and I enjoyed swimming laps in the pool. There were plenty of sunbeds, though they could be better quality. The rooms were spotless, with towels and sheets replaced every day. I found the staff unhelpful and not very welcoming. A smile or the occasional hello or good morning would have gone a long way, and I was able to say those things in Greek. The lunch was lovely, but there were no greetings or pleasantries there either. The bar felt awful, like a working men's club. We didn't use the old analogue TV with its four Greek channels, and washing my hair one-handed was awkward because there was no wall hanger for the shower head. Even so, I had a pleasant holiday at the Irinna and would return. Clean rooms, a nice pool and good lunches made it worthwhile.