We decided very last-minute to go to Greece over the Easter holidays. Our first time in Athens... first time using Airbnb... a lot of unknowns, and barely 24 hours to arrange it all. After browsing the Airbnb site for a while, I found myself drawn to Ilias's place based on a combination of the photos, description and reviews. We're a family of 4 (kids aged 9 and 12).

Ilias responded to my numerous queries virtually immediately. This continued throughout our 5-day stay, from reassuring me that we had not cracked the glass in the front door (it was a preexisting condition), to giving advice about day trips from Athens.

Ilias arranged for a taxi to pick us up at the airport. Since he was away for the holidays, he had his father Nikos meet us at the house. Nikos was wonderfully friendly and helpful. He walked us through the neighbourhood (late on Saturday night) looking for a place to eat. Because of Easter, most places were closed, so Nikos contacted Ilias for a suggestion, then drove us in his car to a taverna that was open. It was excellent (and walking distance back to the house).

The house is in a residential area -- an easy walk (10-15 min) to the Acropolis Museum and ancient sites. It was really nice to return to a non-touristy neighbourhood each day. People were remarkably friendly, we felt safe, we marveled at the heavily laden orange trees lining the urban streets. We had some excellent meals at restaurants nearby.

The house is spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped. With the windows and shutters closed at night (the weather was cool in April) it was very easy to sleep. Granted, Athens empties out over Easter, so maybe it was quieter than usual. While Ilias allows smoking (a detail that I only noticed after making the booking), the house itself didn't smell smoky at all, which was a relief to us.

One caution: NOTHING extra can be flushed down the toilet (there's a bin to throw paper into). If you are not wiling to negotiate a delicate toilet, this might not be your ideal place!

One regret: we wish we'd had more time with Ilias! We met him only when we departed -- he came by at 6am to meet us and get the keys. What an effusive greeting -- a great way to start the day! An added extra: he gave us 2 tickets for the #15 bus (trolley) that stops down the block and connects to the Petralona metro station, to go to Piraeus port.

So overall I highly recommend By the Hill. Perhaps it's not for everyone--see plumbing note above--but if you want to meet some great people, enjoy a comfortable home, and feel like you're getting a glimpse of Athenians' Athens and not just the tourist circuit, this is a super option.