Svoronata, Elena Studios & Apartments Review

My wife and I had a wonderful time at the Elena Apartments in May 2010. Elena, Joseph and Maria were very friendly and welcoming and nothing was too much trouble for them. We had a studio on the top floor of the new block and it gave us a smashing view over the sea from the balcony and the local villages and mountains at the front door. We could see the airport from the balcony which, as it is not busy, was

quite fun and not noisy. There was nothing wrong with the apartment at all although the bathroom/toilet could have been cleaned a little better during the time we were there. We had the usual problems of a power cut and tepid water of course (we were told it is Greece!!) but we had no other concerns. The pool bar was small and not overpriced (large and small beer for 5 euros). They are building a new bar at a higher level at one end of the pool and it may be ready in 2011 (Greek time!).



The small supermarket up the road on the right stocks a lot of goods and whilst it could be said that it was expensive, we didn't find it so except maybe for bottles of water and supplies of beer. However there was no fresh meat but there was some fruit and veg and fresh bread every day except Sundays. Very friendly as well.



As far as restaurants were concerned, we had some great food - Svoranata is well served although not all were open at the time we were there (1st and 2nd weeks May). Muses, up the road from the apartment on the right, was easily the best. We

went there 3 times and on each occasion we both had something different so 6 meals all. They were local specialities such as mousaka, veal stifado (braised with onions) and lamb kleftiko and all were beautiful and not expensive. We weren't happy at Acropolis, up the road on the left although the food was quite good. They had no draught beer - "tomorrow", no garlic sauce - "tomorrow", no red snapper - "tomorrow", no credit cards - "tomorrow"! Very slow service and it wasn't busy. We didn't go again! Dom Spiros, at the top of the road turn left and near the petrol station, was quite good and the first restaurant at Avithos beach, Preview, was also very good. Don't believe the Manos brochure - the beach is at least 2km from the apartments! Fois restaurant wasn't bad (turn right down road and then left). Prices in all the restaurants we tried were very similar.



We went to Argostoli on the bus one day and thought it was very nice - the last bus back is 2pm. There is a good butcher and a number of fruit and vegetable shops, all good.



We hired a car for 3 days from Greekstones just up the road from Elena

and that cost 92 euros. We went up the coast past Myrtos beach, had a coffee

at Assos (over-rated in our view) and then went up to Fiskado which is very picture-postcard like. Had a great lunch in a taverna at Fokis Bay. Agia Efimia is lovely, Sami is fine and we also liked Poros very much. We were also able to visit a supermarket not far away from the apartments but overall we weren't that impressed with it. The car was well worth having - there are some wonderful drives and views and the road weren't busy.



We would go again to Kefalonia (it was our first time) and stay again at the Elena. We recommend it to anyone wanting a quiet holiday - the weather was pretty good as well!