I stayed in the house for three weeks, and loved my time there! It doesn't feel like a generic, soulless Airbnb at all – lots of nice old features and personal touches, like the ceiling, the doors, and the carpets on the walls. The best thing about the house is probably the terraces, it's amazing to have different places to sit and eat/work outside, with cushions and nice plants. There were a couple of things that could maybe do with replacing/fixing, like some of the outdoor furniture. And the ladder down to the bedroom/bathroom takes a bit of getting used to. Everything in the kitchen and bathroom worked fine, and there were plenty of utensils/towels etc. The owner, Maria, was a pleasure to communicate with – always quick to respond to any of my messages, and super friendly. The location is quite a walk up from the harbour, but for me this was ideal – you're really staying where the locals of Symi live. There was some occasional noise from the neighbours – a dog that barks when people walk past (which is rare as you're at the end of the street), and a neighbour who played loud music, but just for an hour or two per week, and not late. You're facing away from the main harbour, with a nice view of a mountainside, olive trees, and a monastery. The nearest beach is 20 mins walk, but I recommend walking a (brisk) 30 minutes to Agios Nikolaos (past Pedi), it's super beautiful. For a proper hike, take the footpath at the back of the old town to Xisos, then follow the sign to Agios Vasilios beach – about 2hrs walk each way, with fantastic views along the way. Georgio and Maria restaurant, a few minutes walk from the house, has good and reasonably priced food, and the cafe next door to it has a very friendly owner. Haritomeni restaurant is also very good, and has a great view. I also recommend the Poseidon boat tour around the island, with slap up barbecue. I hope I can come back to Symi some time, and stay at Maria's again!