A perfect little paradise a few steps from the harbour. The friendliest and most helpful host. Would definitely stay there again! Not the classic Greek style - a more luxury feeling - stylish and cozy at the same time.
Cannot say much about Paxos, since we only stayed one night before going to Antipaxos. But definitely perfect place for finding the water taxis for Antipaxos.
− The bed was a bit to the soft side for me - but then again - I'm used to a rather hard bed, so probably not a problem for most people :) A warning - watch your head when going down the stairs!
Pleasant accommodation for those seeking a local flavor
9.0Paxos Fairytale Lovenest gives guests a prime location in Gaios whereby they feel a part of the community. Steps from the seafront, town square, coffee shops, bakery, and other community amenities (supermarket, post office etc.) - this is a truly local experience.
The building itself is a wonderful relic, renovated inside for all the modern comforts but with the charms of Paxos retained! (Note: there are a flight of stairs to travel with bags to access the unit).
The unit features beautiful stone work and a very functional space where we felt we had enough room to unpack, spread out, store our bags, and access the bathroom, shower, and safe easily. A small kitchenette allowed my husband to enjoy a morning coffee, and we utilized the refrigerator and dishes for some basic drinks and snacks. There is a common area outside the front door - a small patio with a pergola where my husband held his nightly cigar and morning coffee, and we could have easily taken time for a glass of wine or pastry from the bakery around the corner.
The owner was out of town during out stay, so Androniki (Niki) was our hostess. She was responsive through WhatsApp and answered all questions and gave recommendations, also helping us with money exchange and arranging laundry services.
Each day a housekeeper came by and refreshed our linens, emptied trash, swept the floor, and tidied the kitchen area.
If you are a traveler looking for a traditional hotel with amenities like a pool, beach, restaurant, or breakfast buffet, this is probably not the fit for you. But, if you want charm and a local experience that helps you feel the pulse of Paxos, this is a property worth exploring!
− We had some communication challenges with the owner. He did not reach out proactively to discuss much about the stay. In fact, I had to initiate communication within 24 hours of our reservation, as we had not heard from him yet about check-in, wifi etc. Upon our check out, we also didn't receive instructions about leaving keys or what to do, so I had to initiate that process as well.
Unfortunately, we had a miscommunication about the laundry services. I had understood it was included based on our email exchanges, but that was not his intention when he mentioned the laundry accommodation. We were asked for $30 Euros upon check out to cover laundry. I told Niki this did not align with my understanding, however, we left the payment. She graciously came and found us at the port to return the money, only for the owner to message me later in the day requesting the payment. From my perspective, it was a misunderstanding, likely due to language barrier. We told him we'd be willing to pay again through a link, but after several messages back and forth, they fell out of communication, and it sounded like he was angry with Niki for her attempts to return our money. This situation left an unpleasant mark on our stay.
A few logistical tips:
-There is a very bright fire alarm light above the door. We had to stand on a chair and cover it with a piece of clothing as it really disrupted our sleep the first night.
-The housekeeper did not clean our toilet once during the stay. This felt unhygienic.
-The wifi is very inconsistent. It did not work for us at all the last 24 hours of our stay. This could be very frustrating for travelers relying on wifi for their phones, laptops, ferry reservations, flight information etc.
-Providing a small guidebook with local recommendations for restaurants, how to book a boat trip, local beaches and beach clubs, how to get to Antipaxos, best supermarkets, money exchange process, etc. would be very helpful.