AMAZING! Staying at Roula's apartment was like being at a five-star hotel with a dedicated and knowledgeable concierge.

The location is simply perfect--a couple of short blocks from Athens' stunning new Acropolis Museum and only five minutes' walk from the Acropolis itself. The neighborhood is safe and quiet, and a convenient grocery store and a wonderful bakery are located right across the street. (Don't miss the croissants--they're as good as in Paris!)

The apartment itself is beautiful, immaculate, and thoughtfully outfitted. Fixtures, linens, and blinds are of high quality. The living room couch, which converts to a double bed, was extremely comfortable for my husband and me (we are in our 50s)--a far cry from the usual saggy pull-out couch! (Our children slept in the bedroom, where the king-sized bed can be separated into two singles.) Air conditioning and wifi worked perfectly, as did everything else.

As if this weren't enough, Roula is possibly the world's best host. Due to my own incompetence, I failed to communicate with her during the days prior to our visit, when we were on an island with our cell phone stolen and only spotty Internet service. She waited several hours for us at the apartment before I could reach her, and when I finally contacted her she was forgiving and more than gracious. What's more, when our hot and tired family finally reached the apartment, we found the refrigerator stocked with cheese, fruits, and vegetables, including some of the sweetest, juiciest plums I've ever tasted. We were overwhelmed.

Roula left detailed directions and recommendations for restaurants, attractions, and outings. We followed several of her suggestions and found all of them worthwhile. In the course of our visit she emailed us with further suggestions based on that week's calendar of events. Thanks to her tip, we took a memorable evening stroll to listen to the strains of *Tosca* from outside the Odeon (ancient open-air theatre at the foot of the Acropolis)--a magical experience. We also bought a beautiful gift at an art/craft gallery she recommended.

I cannot recommend this incredible place highly enough! It was a luxurious oasis in our European adventure. If I had business in Athens, I would never stay anywhere else!