Villa Empeiria

The location was great. About a 10 minute walk to Paleros which is really lovely. Quiet and charming with a handful of really good restaurants and bars. The villa is very Instagram friendly so if that's what you're looking for, you'll love it! The swimming pool is heated and, although it's not a big pool, it seemed to be one of the biggest ones in Paleros. The host was very responsive during the booking process and while we were staying in the villa. The view really is beautiful

There are quite a few practical problems with this villa. It really should have been a two bedroom villa but squeezing in a third bedroom means that there are now three very small bedrooms and even smaller bathrooms. None of the bathrooms have a toilet in - there are only two toilets, one opposite the bedrooms and one off the kitchen upstairs. This was annoying but as a family group it wasn't a disaster, however it really wouldn't work for a group of friends. Because the bedrooms are so small there is nowhere to put anything. There is one small wardrobe in each bedroom which really isn't enough, we had to keep our suitcases outside as there just wasn't anywhere else for them. It would be easy to at least have bedside tables with drawers but fashion has come before function and instead there are two lovely, but entirely useless, wooden blocks. It's obviously too late now to turn it into a more practical two bed villa but some shelves and hooks would help a little. It's the same in the kitchen - all the cupboards are full of pots and pans so there is nowhere to put any groceries. Unfortunately, the beautiful outside space is also compromised by a lack of practicality. Between about 5.30 and 8.30pm there is no shade at all. For us, this is definitely time for a cold drink outside before heading off for dinner but this was completely impossible. There is a very stylish, enormous parasol but it isn't on wheels and can't be tilted or adjusted in any way so it's just an ornament.

Everything - especially the pool and the view

the wall up the hill - but without it, you don’t get the view…