Wow, where do I even begin?! My boyfriend & I started & ended our Greek island trip in Athens with Sakis & Spyros, staying in 2 of their flats, Athena & Artemis. We met a lot of amazing, kind, warm & welcoming people during our 2 weeks in Greece, but no one even compares to them; we still talk about them every single day & we have been home for nearly 3 weeks.
From the start of booking, Sakis was top notch in communicating. He arranged for all of our transports to & from the airport & ferry port, which was sooooo helpful (the man they use for transport is also incredibly kind, punctual & polite!). Our welcome to Athens couldn’t have been better & set such a lovely tone for our trip... we were greeted with hugs, a tour of the flat, then a tour of the area around the flat, a picturesque neighborhood of Plaka (honestly, the location is so ideal we couldn’t understand how the flat was so economically priced!). They showed us some of their favorite places to eat & drink, and they are clearly neighborhood favorites. The flat was equipped with snacks, fruit, wine, & even homemade olives. Combine these gestures of hospitality with the fact that every detail of decoration, style & comfort is thought of, and it couldn’t be more perfect... yet there’s more! Then, you have the rooftop terrace! Comfortably set with tables & chairs, you take your complimentary bottle of wine up there, & just sit under the acropolis in awe of all the history around you. From the terrace you can clearly see many Greek historical sites & all of the lights of Athens; we ended every evening on that terrace & it was just magic & romantic. In addition, every single space is spotlessly cleaned & well maintained. The care & pride they take in every one of their spaces, from the bathrooms to the rooftop, is apparent in every glance.
Briefly mentioned above, location cannot be beat. My boyfriend & I saw every historical site & never once got on the metro or took a cab. Plaka is idyllic Greek life and is very safe... & regardless, the flat feels extremely secure even if you did have concerns.
Of all the beauty & history we took in during this phenomenal trip, Sakis & Spyros remains one of the top highlights, so if that doesn’t speak volumes, I’m not sure what will! I had heard so many mixed reviews, many negative, on Athens as a city, but after this experience, it ranks as one of my favorite cities in the world, & I’m fairly well traveled. Not only did we have a memorable stay, but we feel as though we made lifelong friends. My advice: stay here & embrace everything the Greek people & culture have to offer; you will leave with a full heart. :)