Maria Rousse

"The apartment itself was very basic, although reasonably clean. The kitchen area, if you can call it that, felt a little sticky, there was no microwave, and the utensils provided were very limited. Food and drinks available at the bar were considerably more expensive than we are used to at home, without the quality to justify the prices. However, our biggest disappointment was not the accommodation itself, but an upsetting incident that ultimately led us to leave halfway through our stay. We travel extensively throughout Greece and Turkey, so we fully understand the ongoing issue with stray cats. Unfortunately, the romanticised images of cats on tea towels and postcards do not always reflect the reality of the suffering many of these animals endure. We immediately noticed signs around the property instructing guests not to feed the cats. A couple of days into our stay, we came across what appeared to be a piece of wasteland containing a broken blue car and various discarded items. We had been feeding stray cats around the town, as we always do when travelling, and here we found a mother cat and her two kittens looking desperately unwell. Beside the broken car lay a dead kitten. The remaining cats were huddled together, staring at the little body. It was heartbreaking. The weather was scorching, and the cats appeared severely dehydrated. I went to the supermarket and bought more food and water, along with a blanket, which I left in a shaded spot to give them some comfort. When I returned the following day, the dead kitten was still there, with the distressed mother and her remaining kittens nearby. However, the blanket, food, water and even the bowls I had used had disappeared. I was genuinely baffled as to why anyone would remove these basic necessities. My husband felt he had no choice but to remove the deceased kitten. He showed it to the mother cat, hoping she might understand, and we desperately hoped that food, water and a little shelter would help the surviving kittens. Later that day, I found a clean cardboard box, thinking it might offer them some protection and comfort. As I was about to leave it, a Greek woman began shouting at me from a balcony above, gesturing for me to go away. I explained that I was simply trying to feed the cats, which were clearly starving, and that one of the kittens had already died. When I asked whether she had removed the blanket, she put a phone in front of me, with someone on the other end who spoke better English. The message was blunt: this was private property, they did not care about the cats, and if they wanted cats, they would get their own. I was deeply upset by this response. I was not trying to cause trouble or interfere with anyone’s property. I was simply trying to help vulnerable animals that were thirsty, hungry and in desperate need of care. I continued to leave food and water where I could, but the items we provided were repeatedly removed. The cats had clearly chosen this spot as somewhere to shelter, yet even the most basic provisions seemed unwelcome. To be fair, we encountered plenty of kindness from both local people and fellow tourists during our travels. We recognise that no individual can solve the entire stray animal problem, and we do not expect one person or establishment to do so. But surely, collectively, we can all show a little compassion. Many hotels, including five-star establishments, encourage guests to help stray cats, and it is common to find water stations or bowls of kibble outside. Even small gestures can make a difference. Being told not to feed the cats, with no apparent alternative provision for animals visibly suffering nearby, left us feeling that we were being asked to ignore their distress and simply enjoy our holiday. The contrast between the charming images of cats used to promote the area and the reality we witnessed was particularly upsetting. On the morning we left, I hid a large bowl of food nearby and saw the tiny black kitten staggering towards it. That image has stayed with me. I have never witnessed such a distressing example of indifference to suffering, and it was heartbreaking to feel that we could do so little. The experience left such a bad taste in our mouths that we decided to leave halfway through our stay and move a few miles away to Enorme Blue Infinity. For an additional €300, we had a room with a jacuzzi and food included. We did not feel we had lost out financially; the peace of mind and relief of leaving a place associated with such an upsetting experience were worth it. Ultimately, our disappointment goes beyond a basic apartment, limited kitchen facilities or overpriced food and drinks. It was the lack of compassion we encountered in a situation involving vulnerable animals that made our stay so unpleasant. We understand that stray cats are a complex issue, but basic kindness and humane treatment should never be too much to ask. Sadly, this experience overshadowed our stay, and we would not choose to return."

"Do not go to this hotel if you want "self catering". The lack of equipment would make it difficult to prepare even the most basic meal.When I talked to Maria I was told you can buy what you want from the supermarket, this is not self catering.Both George and Maria left us feeling we were a nuisance and an inconvenience,so we muddled through by looking information up on line as there was no book giving general information about the area in the reception (which was unmanned).We thought the Greeks were meant to be warm and welcoming, not at this hotel."

"Hidden gem , absolutely lovely people run this fab studio complex lovely location and great value for money . Very clean and tidy and staff really know how to look after the guests I will definitely be returning! Should be at least 4 stars."