Danaides Bungalows

There were some thoughtful practical touches in the bungalow, like a bin, broom, mop and bathroom hooks. We also had plenty of room, two TVs, two air conditioners, and a lovely balcony with a large table that stayed shaded most of the day. It was nice to eat outside there. But the upkeep let the place down badly. The furniture was old and neglected, the kitchen sofa was broken, and the mattresses were very old. There was lots of dust, and it didn’t look as if many areas had been cleaned at all. The shower handset was old, the water came out erratically, and the short curtain let water spill out. The internet was so slow that we had to use our own connection. The fuse sometimes tripped when both air conditioners were running. Neither the shutters nor the windows locked properly, so we couldn’t leave them open for air at night and had to use the AC. Even tightening a few screws could have fixed some of these little things. At first I thought perhaps the lady who greeted us didn’t know about the problems, but she said she has a son. It would be good if someone younger took a more active role in looking after the place, instead of just taking the money. Or the price should be at least €10-20 less per night to make the stay worth putting up with.

The room was clean, fully equipped and a good price for high season, and the hostess was kind. There’s parking right outside, and the place itself is lovely. But the mosquitoes were a huge problem. We had to buy repellent for the room, and it was noisy, so we still struggled to sleep. The new, very powerful air conditioner at least made the stay bearable.

We paid a lot for two nights, but the room was really old and broken. I wouldn’t give it even one star, just zero.

It was okay. I arrived early one afternoon in the last days of hot July 2022, after a long drive across the hot plains of the eastern Peloponnese, and was glad to find some coolness. Walking into the courtyard felt like going back to 1990. Both the accommodation and Tolo seemed caught in that nostalgic decade of private television, glamour, illustration, multiculturalism, the internet, mobile phones, emails, gaming consoles, CGI and easier travel. Mitsotakis then, Mitsotakis now. Not much seems to have changed since the 90s, which taught us about an endless present. The bungalows have more to offer than a pretty place with cicadas making their own music in the backyard, or a Danaid hostess tucked away in a corner of Argolida, away from the troubles of the world and time. You’ll find all of that, along with plenty of things and values waiting to be discovered. See you later.