Ifigenia Apartments, Plakias, Crete, Greece

http://interkriti.org/hotels/plakias/ifigenia
(the pictures displayed are of overly manicured rooms - not quite what we found)

Rating

Gnash - I'd only return if nothing better was available (how does the rating work?)

Description

Last visited in 2005.

4 apartments in one building. A taverna in a separate building. Our apartment consisted of a living room with a kitchen and two beds and a separate bedroom with a double bed. The bathroom had a tub/shower. No meals were included. Located outside east-Plakias. Parking is free on the land around the building (reasonably secure).

The apartments seem to have been built and are run by a slow-moving, dour man called Manoussos. He seems to be the only person onsite, taking care of both the taverna and the rooms (which would be quite a feat would there ever be any guests in the taverna). Air conditioning and a baby cot were included.

Smudgy, unclean. Bad hospitality, friendliness and customer orientation (showing Manoussos the unclean parts of the room, he replied "it's clean". Pointing out the air-condition which didn't work, he said "it works". An extra towel request took till the next day to be delivered). Mail queries are handled by Nora, who asked for a 75 Euro advance payment (I guess she's a commissioned agent).

Pros

• Spacious rooms
• Equipped kitchen
• Not directly on main road
• Nearest beach is at east Plakias, about 5 minutes by car

Cons

• Smudgy impression, resulting from careless cleaning. The toilet, kitchen, floors, bathtub, balcony all needed re-cleaning (mostly by ourselves)
• Dour, uncaring host
• Road noise from main road which runs about 30m on the back of the facility
• Noise from the Taverna till late at night when the owner entertains some of his friends
• Advance payment required

Main Room, entrance is at rear left, kitchen rear right, small balcony is out of the door to the right, as is the a/c. The second bedroom is through the door on the left, which has it's own little balcony.

Main Room, looking towards the kitchen area. The entrance, not visible, is to the right.

Rating Details

• Cleanliness: Poor
• Emissions: Mediocre, road nearby, Taverna noises in evening to night
• Spaciousness: Great
• Friendliness: Poor
• Location: ok, car recommended (a kilometer or two from Plakias centre)
• Amenities: split a/c ok, no TV, fridge, oven