Dear fellow travellers,

I absolutely love voyaging! And one of the most important aspects of visiting a new area is the accommodation it provides. And not simply because I also love sleeping and therefore enjoy a comfortable room!

More importantly, the place where one stays is also the place where one most intimately interacts with its inhabitants. And its inhabitants are of course the place's spirit and soul!

This is why I like to stay in small, family-run hotels, guest-houses, B&Bs. I love to be welcomed by the owner himself/herself and cherish the feeling of being a client-guest, not simply a client.

I know that I am not alone in this search for authentic hospitality and this is why I am providing the following list of cosy places to stay. These are places that I have been to and liked for their location, architecture, decoration, breakfast (another VERY important aspect!) and above all, for their warm, friendly, real welcome.

If your route takes you anywhere near these places, I think that they are worth a visit! And if you do go, I honestly hope that you will enjoy them as much as I did!

Bon voyage!

Daphne

P.S. All the accommodation listed here is also reasonably priced, especially if you travel in the mid or low seasons!

Kambos, Chios

Perleas traditional accommodation

An old elegant stone mansion set in a well-kept citrus orchard. A great place for holidays spent relaxing in the lusg gardens, reading and walking around. Simple and authentic welcomg provided by the owner herself, Claire Xydas.

Oia, Santorini

Delfini Hotel and Villas

It is not an easy task to find a reasonably-priced, yet really nice accommodation in Oia, one of the most sought after destinations on the planet! But thankfully, there is Delfini! Delfini started out as a modest hotel overlooking the famous "kaldera". It soon was successful enough to allow its owner, the always helpful Mrs Rena, to rent, renovate and sublet nearby cave houses, the so-called Deflini Villas. These are tastefully decorated self-catering apartments, all overlooking the famous volcano. Of course, the original hotel still exists, and although the rooms are pretty basic, they are clean and provide what you go to Santorini for: views of the breathtaking sunset over the volcano!

Milia, Crete

Milia Mountain retreat

Milia is a a real village that was found abandoned and reconstructed with love and care to become an authentic eco "hotel". Hotel is not the right word though, although there is accommodation for daily rent. In Milia you feel transported outside time and space, as if you have found yourself all of a sudden in another dimension. This is so because the village is completely hidden from sight and only once you have parked you car and started approaching it, does it appear. And once you are "inside", you are in fact inside the mountain, protected from view by the lush vegetation. The buildings are also hidden from view, thanks to the fact that they are built with stone from the area which blends perfectly with the landscape. The rooms are furnished with local furniture, real "reclaimed" antiques! There is little electricity, provided by sun and wind harnessing technologies. So be prepared to really relax, love and sleep! The village's food is grown on the spot and there are also animals which provide milk and meat. The group of friends who brought Milia back to life (I met Yorgos and Zoran during my two trips to Milia) are always around, taking care of the houses, the animals and their guests!

Limni, Evoia

Vateri Agrotourism

Evoia is a big island near Athens. Its Northern part is well known for its old spa facilities, but the rest of the island is less well known. Vateri is perched on a hill on top of the small port town of Limni. It is surrounded by olive trees and vines and looks over the Gulf of Evoia. From the spacious and comfortable rooms you can see the sea, as well as the extensive fertile grounds. We visited Vateri in winter and had the immense pleasure of a fireplace in our room, steaming hot mountain tea with honey and tsipouro, that most merry of Greek alcohols! The breakfast was great and the owners really nice and hospitable! If you go there, don't miss the taverna of Kokkinomilia, with its exquisite lamb chops!