Byron Apartments

Maria and her husband were so kind during our seven nights at Byron's. Our room for two was clean, with a balcony looking out to sea, and it was cleaned nearly every day. Maria also shared ideas for places to visit, and there was air conditioning. The kitchen had the basics, though it isn't set up to a high standard. Thanks for a lovely stay.

I left after three days and paid to stay somewhere else. The service was poor, really there was none, and the apartment I was given was filthy. I had tried to contact the property twice by email and once by phone before arriving, as the booking instructions said, but got no reply. There was no reception, so I still don't know who the main contact is meant to be. The beachfront setting is quiet and has real potential. The pool area and bar looked beautiful, although their opening hours were restricted. But the rooms fell well below basic standards. I was in ground-floor Room 5, where there was no privacy at all. On arrival I had to ask for a bath mat, kitchen towel, teaspoons and a spatula. The kitchen towel in the photo I took was completely unacceptable for basic hygiene. I raised this with the only person on site, “Maria,” the next day. She blamed the laundry service and gave me another stained item. When I pulled back the bed covers, the pillowcase was covered in disgusting stains. I don't know what they were, but it was unacceptable and I couldn't sleep there. I reported it and was handed another stained item. The kitchen sofa was worn and stained all over. The bathroom shelves had used soap and shower gel residue, so we had to clean them ourselves. The sink plug didn't work, the towel rail was coming off the wall, and there was a horrible smell from the toilet and shower drains. The bedside socket only worked when the light switch was on. The old stove struggled to heat, and the only pan had an unsafe handle and wasn't usable for frying an egg. There wasn't a suitable utensil anyway. The single beds were worn out and brick hard, with springs you could feel, making sleep difficult. The fixtures and fittings were tired and needed a complete refurbishment. The outdoor furniture was dirty and stained too. Maria, the cleaner, was rude and dismissive. We were told there was an agreement to move rooms, but it never happened for some reason. Maria didn't speak English and dismissed us. In my view, the property doesn't match its description or meet a basic level of hygiene. Don't be swayed by 9, 10 or five-star reviews, or by the beach location. A clean, comfortable room should be the minimum. The place has huge potential, but the rooms and guest comfort need attention even with the sea just steps away. People work hard and spend their own money on a holiday, and deserve better. Awful experience.

We had a good first stay here. The quiet setting felt like an oasis, with direct access to a private beach where parasols and sunbeds were free, plus a pool and outdoor showers. Tigaki itself has plenty to browse and enjoy, from restaurants and Greek tavernas to live music, souvenir shops, Greek delicacies, liquor stores and hammams. We found the people lovely too. The apartments have Greek-standard comforts: a kitchenette, fridge, bathroom, bedroom and terrace. Maria at reception can help with things like car hire, excursions to the main attractions, laundry, or contacts for travel agencies and taxis. We booked without paying much attention to the reviews, and were pleasantly surprised by how close the amenities were and by the hospitality.

We booked seven nights but lasted less than 12 hours. Within half an hour of arriving, I contacted booking.com to ask to be moved, though we had to wait until morning. The place was a dump and even the shower head fell apart. It's nowhere near the pubs and other places, so without a car it's at least a 20-minute walk to town, maybe longer. Honestly, the place was terrible. Don't be fooled by the pictures.