Let me start out by saying that the property suited our family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens) perfectly. The view is as spectacular as it appears in photos! The courtyard is small but for a family, a lovely place to sit and have a coffee or glass of wine and enjoy the stunning views. Feels very private as well, despite the design of cave houses being nested so closely together, because it has a massive cantilever umbrella anchored to the ground which covers much of the seating area. Perfect! I think the location offers the best view on the island, so much so that at the entrance to the pathway that leads you to the various cave houses below, there was always a line of people waiting to take a picture (the classic blue domed buildings are part of that view-just magnificent). Just push through them and be on your way to your apartment below-no need to wait in line to get to your own flat.
The cave house is quite nice inside. Very clean and comfortable. Well-appointed with glassware, flatware, dishes, a coffee maker and electric kettle for tea. Could have used a microwave or mini stove to heat up milk for morning coffee-the other Airbnb’s we stayed in all had this. But that’s a small thing. No napkins or paper towels, oddly, but also a small thing.
The master bedroom is perfect. Nice king bed, comfortable and fresh. Looked beautiful when you walked in, like an oasis. Peaceful and very welcoming. There were 2 twin sized mattresses elevated on a base serving as lounge areas in the living space. That’s actually where the kids slept and it worked out fine. The bathroom had hot water and is cave-like as well. The lighting is too dim but again, a small thing. Beware of entrance ways, btw, if you’re over 6 feet. They are low.
The one complaint I have about this cave house is the 2nd bedroom. First, it is separate from the main house with its own entrance. Not ideal for younger children. Also, and more importantly for our purposes, it had a dank, mildew smell. It seemed like the air quality was poor. Didn’t want my kids sleeping in there. Thank goodness for those twin bed lounging areas. Worked perfectly for our purposes…but for another couple who wanted privacy? Obviously not so much. Also, there is a 2nd bathroom in the courtyard with the entrance outside. A bit awkward if you’re not a family staying together to have to get to your bathroom by going outside. But we didn’t use the 2nd bedroom at all. The 2nd bathroom was a big perk.
Of note, during some times of the year (like when we were there), you have no direct view of the sunset, so if that’s a priority, you’ll have to plan accordingly. Be prepared to fight the crowds for a sunset view elsewhere. Or be sneaky and avoid the crowds by bypassing them and finding all sorts of creative spots to enjoy it elsewhere, even if you can’t get in a restaurant. Lots of less populated areas if you walk around. Those crowds of people can (and should) be avoided.
One final note was our disappointing check-in and check-out process. The caretaker Mary appears to manage multiple properties. She appeared harried which made for some inefficiency. She told us to meet her at the post office, which was a disaster of a parking lot. Wifi was terrible there, a detail which would have been helpful as we tried fruitlessly to get in touch with her. Had to leave the car and walk up the street to do so. We didn’t hear when the porter would be arriving, just that he was “on his way” so we stood around for a half hour not knowing what to do or where our apartment was. All of this could have been remedied with simple communication. She finally showed up, and acted irritated with us for our lack of understanding of the process and what she perceived as impatience. It was frustrating. The porter, fortunately, was super nice and really impressive with the suitcases, literally hiking them over his shoulder as he navigated the pathways and stairs to our place. Definitely worth the tip for this help! Check-out, another disappointing experience. The caretaker apparently forgot to alert the porter of our departure time. He never showed. We managed the bags up on our own, but again, poor communication on her part. I hope the owners take this feedback in the spirit in which it is intended and see about improving this process because it was a frustrating one.
Overall, though, we loved the place and recommend it with the above considerations (about the 2nd bedroom issues) in mind. We would definitely return.