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1. Syros, Greece - Sea View Studios
We booked this through Booking.com for Eur 79 per night for a 4 night stay. We took advantage of an off-season free upgrade to a 2 bedroom apartment.
It took us half an hour to drive from the port at Ermoupoli to the apartment near Finikas. The route to the apartment was very well signposted by the owner and there is ample car parking space.
The owner (Manos) met us and showed us our apartment. It was in pristine condition and well equipped.
The only negative was that one bedroom didn't have an exterior window. The other only had a small window high up on the wall. Both bedrooms had large openings onto the lounge. This made the bedrooms suitable for families, but perhaps not for 2 couples.
There are about 6 other apartments. I think they are all studio apartments. The one with the best location seemed to be number 5 on the upper floor. It was a corner unit with an additional side window and an extra terrace on the side.
None of the other apartments were occupied while we were there so I can't comment on noise. It was certainly very peaceful when we were there.
We really liked the location of the apartment. It is in one of the more unspoilt parts of southern Syros. I highly recommend these apartments.
2. Naxos, Greece - My Family Home
We booked this property for 5 nights through Booking.com at a rate of Eur 75 per night. It is in the small village of Galanado, which is a 10 minute drive to Naxos Town.
This was our favourite property so far. There is nothing above it and only one end is attached to another building. It has 2 spacious bedrooms, a kitchen/dining room and a modern bathroom. Outside is a large private terrace with some shade and distant sea views.
The property is in pristine condition and well equipped. It has a new washing machine and there is air conditioning in both bedrooms. All windows had mosquito screens and shutters.
We thought parking might be a problem but there are 2 good sized car parks about 100 metres away. There was always plenty of space in both of them.
We really liked the village as it wasn't touristy and the locals were friendly. The only downside was that the church broadcast their Sunday morning sermon on a loud speaker. It was atmospheric to start with, but it went on for at least 3 hours.
3. Tinos, Greece - Lefkopetra
We booked this apartment for 4 nights through Airbnb and it cost Euro 70 per night. When I booked it, it seemed that there was only one unit. Unfortunately there are actually 5 apartments, but they are all listed separately on Airbnb.
We had apartments on either side of us and the balcony of the upper apartment was above us. I always try to avoid this scenario due to noise issues. The apartment next to us was occupied for the first 2 nights and we could hear them through the wall. For the final 2 nights the top apartment was occupied and we could hear them as well.
The accommodation felt a bit neglected. In particular:
The floor was painted concrete and some of the paint had worn off.
The bathroom was small. The shower was so small that it was impossible to avoid making contact with the shower curtain.
There was only 1 bowl and 2 plates for an apartment advertised for 3 people.
On the positive side:
The terrace was very nice and had good sea views. It had an adjustable awning for shade.
The beds were comfortable.
It was a 10 to 15 minute drive into Tinos town.
4. Andros, Greece - Lorentzia House 2
We booked this house through Booking.com for 4 nights at a cost of Eur 65 per night. It is spacious as it has 120 square metres of space consisting of 3 bedrooms, 2 living/dining rooms, a kitchen, bathroom (with a washing machine), a large terrace and a parking area.
The house is rented out by a very welcoming family. The mother and daughter met us and only the daughter spoke English. They gave us a pack of bottled water, fruit, eggs and raki.
The house is a bit dated, except for the modern bathroom, but it is very comfortable and clean. There are excellent sea views from the terrace.
The house is reached by driving up a steep paved road for about 10 minutes. The entrance to the driveway requires a sharp turn off the steepest section of the road. I found it a challenge. There is a popular taverna about 5 minutes' walk away. The main coastal resort of Batsi is about a 20 minute drive.
We prefer more modern accommodation and didn't like the approach, but it is very good value for money.
5. Parga, Greece - Tresor Apartments
We booked this apartment for 1 night through Booking.com for Eur 79. The cost per night would have been less if we had stayed longer.
We really liked the apartment and it exceeded our expectations. There are 4 apartments in the building and we had half of the top floor. It is shown in the photo below and our apartment had both the balconies shown in the photo.
The apartment has been built and furnished to a very high standard. It is in pristine condition. The main living room has a kitchenette and a sofa bed. The bathroom has an excellent shower. The bedroom is very comfortable and has its own balcony. There is parking on site
It is a 10 minute walk down to the waterfront. We really liked Parga even though there were a lot of tourists. It was a nice change to be in a bustling town after the quiet Greek islands.
I highly recommend this apartment.
6. Gjirokaster, Albania - Artur's Apartment
We booked this apartment for 1 night through Booking.com for Eur 38 and it included a good breakfast. Incredible value!
It is a bit old fashioned but was clean, spacious and comfortable. There was a terrace off the bedroom and a seating area outside the entrance to the apartment. Both areas had shade if required.
The apartment was on the ground floor, but we didn't have any problem with noise from above. All windows had mosquito screens so no problems there either! There was parking on the street just outside the apartment.
It is a 10 minute walk to the centre of town and half an hour to the castle on top of the hill.
7. Himare, Albania - Mihalis Apartments
We had booked a Penthouse Apartment for 3 nights through Booking.com for Eur 50 per night. The Penthouse Apartments are on the top floor (4th). They don't have a kitchen and are the smallest apartments (30 square metres).
When we arrived we asked to see some of the other apartments. The normal apartments are double the size of the Penthouse Apartments and they were very spacious and looked very appealing.
We were then shown a Delux Apartment which was fantastic. There are only 2 of them and they are both on the top floor (4th). They are 70 square metres consisting of a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
We were shown Delux Apartment 403 (Lizeta) which is a corner unit with 2 huge balconies. The other Delux Apartment isn't a corner unit and only has 1 balcony. The Booking.com price for a Delux Apartment was Eur 105, but we were offered it for Eur 80 and took Delux Apartment 403.
The apartment is a 10 minute drive from Himare along a dirt road. The road is a bit rough in places, but we didn't have a problem with our Ford Focus. We did drive carefully as we had broken a front spring in Greece.
It is a 12 minute walk down to Livadi beach, which is one of the best beaches in Albania. It is a long pebble beach with restaurants, umbrellas and sun loungers. The sea is great for swimming.
I highly recommend Mihalis Apartments and its location is much better than scruffy Himare.
8. Berat, Albania - Luis Penthouse
We rented this apartment for 1 night through Booking.com for Eur 45. It is a penthouse apartment on the 7th floor.
It is amazing value as it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large open plan living/dining/kitchen area, a huge terrace and underground parking. It is really well furnished and even has satellite TV and Netflix. It is a 20 minute walk into the centre of Berat.
The underground parking is down a steep ramp and a bit tight. The host directed me in and out of the space and we had no problems.
Unfortunately they have just started to build on the site next to the apartment. It didn't disturb us as we were there at the weekend. It is very likely there will be daytime noise on weekdays. It is probably not a big issue if you are sightseeing during the daytime.
9. Kruje, Albania - Hotel Panorama
We initially reserved a standard room with a balcony for Eur 66 with Booking.com. Shortly before our stay they advised us of upgrades and we paid an extra Eur 2 for a standard triple room with balcony. It is very good value for the best hotel in Kruje.
The front desk clerk kindly offered to show us the room. We were delighted that it had a fantastic view of the castle and bazaar. The room was not close to the elevators, nor did it have a connecting door, two of my pet hates.
A couple who checked in shortly after us weren't so lucky. They had been given a room facing the street. They requested to be moved to a room facing the castle but there were none available. Everyone wants a room with a castle view. The later you check in the less likely that you will get one.
There is free parking in an underground car park opposite the hotel. It was very busy when we arrived as it was a Sunday. A friendly attendant helped us find a parking spot and helped us with our luggage. I gave him a couple of Euros for his efforts and he was delighted.
A Tripadvisor review mentioned that the food at the hotel was good and very reasonably priced. We don't normally eat at hotels but gave it a try. I can confirm that the reviewer is right. It can get busy so it is probably best to make a reservation.
A few hotel reviews mentioned that the early morning call to prayer from the nearby mosque disturbed them. We certainly heard it, but for us it added to the atmosphere and wasn't a problem.
We found that there was very little to see in Kruje. There is the reconstructed bazaar, consisting of an alley lined with shops, and a ruined castle. It was disappointing, but we really liked the hotel and the great view from our room.
10. Kotor, Montenegro - Fortress View 2 Apartment
We booked for 6 nights at Eur 77 per night through Airbnb . It is a 2 storey apartment in a separate building. This building is at the rear of the owner's house and there is another rental apartment on the top floor of their house called Fortress View 1.
The apartment is a very short walk to the estuary and we went there several times to swim. It is possible to relax on small concrete piers. It is very convenient but close to the road and there is a bit of algae in the water.
The centre of Kotor is a 20 minute walk away along the road running along the estuary. Initially there isn't any side walk and we didn't particularly enjoy the walk. Most of the time we drove in and parked for about Eur 1 per hour.
The ground floor of the apartment comprises a living area with a sofa bed, dining table, kitchen and bathroom (with a washing machine). There is a staircase to the bedroom and balcony upstairs. The upper bedroom is open to the lower floor.
The apartment is very comfortable, quiet and has an off-road parking spot. The only negatives were:
There was no shade on the balcony until the afternoon.
The ground floor doesn't have enough natural light.
There is no place to eat outdoors as there isn't a table on the balcony.
The parking could be a bit tight when there is another car in the carport.
The Fortress 1 apartment above the owner's premises would have better views, but one reviewer stated that there was some noise from the owners.
11. Trogir, Croatia - Apartment Roko
We booked this apartment through Booking.com for Eur 69 per night for 3 nights. The apartment has:
Covered parking
A living area with a sofa bed, dining table and kitchenette. There is an air conditioner in this area.
A bedroom with a 5 foot bed. There is a fan but no air conditioner.
A bathroom with a washing machine.
A balcony with a retractable awning.
The apartment is in a very convenient location as:
It is a 10 minute walk into the centre of Trogir.
It is on the coastal road so it is convenient for getting out of Trogir by car.
There is a large supermarket about 200 metres away.
We received an extremely warm welcome from the family who own the apartment. On the day we left it was the wife's birthday. They gave us a big plate of various cakes that took us several days to eat. They take great pride in their apartment and it is very clean and well equipped. It was very quiet.
12. Brac, Croatia - Little House
We booked this apartment through Airbnb, but it is also available with Booking.com. Our apartment had 1 bedroom, but there is also a 2 bedroom apartment available on Booking.com. We paid Eur 292 for 4 nights.
The apartment is compact but very clean, well equipped and comfortable. It has a nice small garden to sit out in, but we were bothered by mosquitoes. Fortunately there are mosquito screens on most of the windows so they weren't a problem inside the apartment.
It is an easy and pleasant 10 minute walk to the centre of Supetar. There is a car parking spot opposite the apartment and the main road is easily accessed from the apartment. The main road is very close to the apartment, but the traffic noise didn't bother us.
13. Rab, Croatia - Apartment Stela
We booked this apartment from Booking.com for Eur 71 per night. It is a very spacious 2 bedroom apartment with 2 bathrooms and on-site parking.
When booking the apartment it appeared it would be the ground floor. I try to avoid booking ground floor apartments as I am concerned about noise from above. I booked it anyway as it was difficult to find a better alternative. It also seemed that the owners lived above the apartment. I presumed they would be quiet for their guests.
The apartment was on the ground floor as expected. Unfortunately an extremely noisy family was in the apartment above us. The owners were in the attic apartment at the top.
I complained to the owners and they were very apologetic. They had learnt how noisy this family was over the previous nights. They had never had such a problem before. They very honourably offered us a refund for the remaining 3 nights. Luckily I managed to find alternative accommodation on the internet.
Apart from the issue of the noise the apartment was good. It was only a 10 minute walk into the centre of Rab. The exterior of the apartment building doesn't look great but the inside is well done.
14. Rab Croatia - Palit Hills Superior Apartments
We booked this apartment through Booking.com for Eur 117 per night. It would normally cost more but there was a last minute cancellation and the rate was discounted.
The apartment is managed by an agency in Rab. The keys have to be collected from their office. There is parking and the agent was very pleasant and helpful. The rental must be paid for in cash, even though Booking.com states that cash isn't accepted!
The apartment is on the 1st floor with a 1 bedroom rental apartment below it and the owners' apartment above. We had no problems with noise.
The apartment is very modern, nicely furnished and spacious. There is an open plan living, dining and kitchen area with a balcony leads off it. Both bedrooms open onto another balcony and one of them has an ensuite bathroom. The main bathroom has a washing machine.
It is apparently a 15 minute walk into Rab but it looked further and we always drove in. There is parking in front of the apartment.
15. Rovinj, Croatia - Apartment Dado
We booked this apartment through Booking.com for Eur 61 per night. It was very good value despite it being a 10 minute drive from Rovinj. The apartment is on the top floor of the white building shown in the photo below. The owners live below and we didn't have any problems with noise.
The hostess was very welcoming and takes great pride in the apartment. It is spacious, very clean, nicely furnished and well equipped. There is parking in the carport of the building. I highly recommend this apartment.
16. Ortisei (St Ulrich), Italy - Apartment Salman
We booked this apartment through a German website called Bookiply.com for Eur 111 per night. The apartment is also available on Booking.com but costs about 10% more. It was a very good price for an apartment in the Dolomites in July.
It is a spacious 1 bedroom apartment with a modern bathroom, dated kitchen and a lounge/dining area with a sofa bed. There are 2 balconies on either side of the apartment so if it is sunny one of the balconies always gets the sun. There is a washing machine in a utility room by the apartment's entrance and it is shared with the owner.
It is a fairly steep 10 to 15 minute walk down to the centre of Ortisei. The walk back up was a bit tiring,especially after a long hike. An advantage of being higher up is that the apartment had good views of Ortisei, the surrounding mountains and Sassolungo.
We made a conscious decision not to use our car at all during our 6 night stay. There is good parking in front of the apartment.
The apartment is on the first floor and there are apartments above and below it. Noise was never an issue, but we could sometimes hear people walking above us. The hosts live in the apartment next door.
17. Metz, France - Kyriad Metz Centre
I booked the room for Eur 89 on Kyriad's website as members (free to join) receive a 10% discount. It would have cost Eur 99 if I had booked with Booking.com.
The hotel is in the centre of Metz. Fortunately it was in a quiet area as it was a Saturday night and Metz was buzzing. We stayed in a Kyriad hotel in Troyes at the start of our trip and it was excellent. The Kyriad in Metz wasn't as good and the rooms are small. It is a bit like an Ibis hotel.
The hotel has an agreement with an underground car park about 5 minutes walk away and it costs Eur 9 to park a vehicle overnight. It seemed fairly secure and we left most of our luggage in the car. We probably wouldn't have done that at the start of our trip!
The highlight of our stay was Metz itself. It is a very pretty town and it was packed with locals eating and drinking at the numerous cafes and restaurants.
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