Alypiako

Our first welcome was a rather unpleasant, “What are you doing here?” The host hadn't left dish soap or a sponge. When we called to ask, she said we needed to wash up because dirty dishes make the apartment smell, even though we had nothing to wash them with. She eventually brought some. When we said these should have been provided, she replied that she wasn't required to do that, or even to clean the rooms. Paying was another bad encounter. While we were figuring out how to split the bill, she laughed and called one of us a cheapskate. Every interaction with the host was awful. A few days after I posted this, the owner called to “thank” us sarcastically, then threatened to sue me for defamation. I never expected that. Instead of taking the feedback constructively, she lashed out at us.

The apartments were lovely and spotless, and the whole place felt cozy and peaceful. A perfect spot for a holiday. It's much prettier in person than any photo can show.

The place itself is beautiful, which made the trouble with the owners all the more disappointing. We had booked for two adult couples, four people, and could show them both our email request and their confirmation. But on arrival, one room had been set up for two adults and a child. It was a strange mistake, since there weren't other bookings for that setup, but mistakes happen. What was hard to accept was their response. They kept saying it was our fault, and the only offer was that we pay for another room each night. That would have doubled our budget and meant one couple moving rooms almost every night. We declined and ended up sleeping on two uncomfortable cots in the kitchen. The WiFi didn't work there and barely worked in the other room. For much of the trip it wasn't even turned on. We'd originally agreed to pay about 30% in advance and the rest after the stay. Halfway through, they made us pay everything, plus a “TOURIST TAX.” Once home, we asked for a receipt for our bank statements. They said no customer had ever asked for one and that having to provide it was embarrassing to them. That's not an exact quote, since it was translated from Italian.

The apartments sit in a peaceful, green setting, with Troulos and Koukounaries beaches close by. The rooms were clean, and the hospitality and service were excellent.