Words can’t describe how wonderful of a time we had at Mary and Vangeli’s home in Stenies. They were the most kind and hospitable hosts, always making sure we had what we needed and were comfortable. Mary even left some cookies and a homemade marmalade along with some peaches upon arrival. Our stay at Pigeon Cottage is probably exactly the experience the founders of Airbnb had in mind when they built the company!
A cultural experience in itself, the cottage is modeled after the “dovecotes” which were used to raise pigeons (for sport and food!) in the 13th century. You can see that they took exceptional pride in the building the Pigeon Cottage with meticulous attention to detail. I’m not sure when they renovated the house but they did an incredible job with beautiful tiling, woodwork, and a stunning marble countertop. The bedroom, with its stone fireplace and wooden shutters, is even more beautiful than what you see in the photos.
Stenies itself is a cute wonderfully kept little village, with beautiful views. The cottage is across from a small “kafeneio”, which serves great ouzo’s and small bites. We’re very happy to have chosen this location - as it’s quiet and serene but still very close to Chora and even closer to one of our favorite beaches - Piso Gialia. The beach is a 2min drive from the cottage and has a great beach bar and chairs (if you are looking for an organized beach). Wherever you choose to stay in Andros, I would definitely recommend a car.
My husband and I loved this place and Mary and Vangeli (they even - unexpectedly washed our car after we had gotten quite a lot of dirt on it trekking to one of the remote beaches of Andros). We highly recommend staying here and will definitely be coming back ourselves the next time we’re in Andros.