This was my first experience using AirBnb, and Yannis and Helene have set the bar extremely high for any future hosts I might have! From the moment my reservation was accepted, they were literally "at my service", providing pertinent information about the accommodations, and answering the multitude of questions I had, considering this was my first trip to Greece. Not only did I receive information about the apartment and the surrounding area (stores, restaurants, etc.), they also gave me information on transportation options to and from their location, even offering to arrange a car service for me, if I so chose. They even provided a map of the numerous tourist attractions in the area in relation to the apartment, as it is located within walking distance of the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, the Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, etc. All of this useful information was put together in a user friendly Google doc. And that was just the beginning!
When I tell you that Yannis and Helene went above and beyond, I truly mean that in every sense of the word! For example, U.S. law required me have a negative COVID-19 PCR test prior to my return home, so I reached out to Y &H to ask if they knew where I could get one done in the area near the apartment. Without hesitation, they researched labs in the area that performed the test I needed, and provided me with a couple of options (one preferable to the other distance -wise). They also informed me of the cost, and sent me links to the labs' websites. They even followed up with me a few days later to see if I had any difficulty with making my appointment (I hadn't because Y&H had facilitated the process so nicely).
As part of my first visit to Greece, I decided to make a couple of side trips to Mykonos and Loutraki, so once again, I reached out to Y&H to ask if they could assist me with transportation information. In response, they gave me very specific details to help me navigate the trains that I would need to take to get to the ferry that I was taking to Mykonos, and when the bus information I found for Loutraki was all in Greek on the website, Y&H got the information, and sent it to me in English. They even sent me an easy to read bus schedule with symbols , rather than letters. I honestly felt like I was communicating with good friends whom I had known for years, rather than AirBnB hosts whom I had never met. Suffice it to say, by the time I boarded the plane to Athens, even though I'd never been there, I felt confident and comfortable in the knowledge that if I ran into any problems while I was there, I had someone whom I could call upon that wouldn't hesitate to help.
When I arrived in Athens, the communication with Y&H was just as good (if not better) than it had been before I left home. Because my flight arrived early, they graciously allowed me to check in an hour earlier than normal at no additional charge. Because they had provided me with transportation information prior to my arrival, the process of getting to the apartment from the airport was super easy, and the arrival process (for which they had also provided details) was smooth. The apartment was perfect! It was just what I needed...no more, no less. And that view of the Acropolis! Breathtaking! The apartment was spotless from top to bottom, and clean towels were laid out neatly on the bed, awaiting my arrival. On the counter at the entryway, there was a "welcome" note, which included instructions on controlling the AC, the TV, the wifi code, and where to find and extra blanket, among other things. Something I noticed immediately was that the outlets did not look like the adapter I had brought with me (I had a UK adapter, and assumed it would work in all European countries. Who knew? LOL!) II immediately reached out to Y&H to ask where I could buy one, and they told me to first check the cabinet near the door. There, I found a variety of adapters ad charger cords! I thought to myself, "They've thought of everything!". Unfortunately, they did not have the one I needed, so they told me where I could go to purchase one (which I did).
One final praise for Y&H. One night, as I was running out to the store, I was preoccupied in my thoughts and accidentally locked myself out of the apartment. I called Y&H (very apologetically), and explained what happened. Within about 20 minutes, Yannis was there to let me in. He was very friendly, and did not feel the least bit inconvenienced. I, on the other hand, felt horrible for dragging this man away from his family at 10:00 on a Sunday night because of my absent-mindedness. He reassured me that it was okay, and was grateful that it hadn't happened at 5:00 in the morning!
Suffice it to say, my experience with Yannis and Helene beyond amazing, and if I could give them more than 5 stars, I ABSOLUTELY would! The apartment itself was very nice and lives up to everything advertised, but the SERVICE provided by its' owners was UNSURPASSED! I definitely plan to return to Athens someday, and when I do, without question, I will be reaching out to Yannis and Helene for my accomodations. Based on my experience with them, I highly recommend you do the same, especially if you are a first time visitor to Athens, as I was. Thank you Y&H for making my first visit to Athens very comfortable and relatively worry free!