Just returned from a last minute two week break at the Martisa Studios and currently working our way through My Travel complaints procedure! When we first arrived at the studios, our initial reaction was we wanted moved. Our feet stuck to the floor and generally the room did not feel as clean as it should be. However, after a trip to the supermarket and a few cleaning supplies later we decided to stay where we were as the room is really only a base.

The first week was great, Kefalos is lovely and the people are really friendly. We hired a quad, tried out different places to eat, spent time at the pool and generally chilled out! One week into the holiday there was a power cut which lasted most of the day. As we had no cooking facilities, we headed out to explore the place a bit. When we came back later on in the afternoon, we discovered the power had returned, however our hob had been turned on and a pot left sitting on top had started to tarnish. My boyfriend went downstairs to let Maritsa know what had happened and Maritsa came upstairs and flew into a rage. Now, it was not a big deal, an accident which we felt best to let Maritsa know happened. I now honestly wish we had just washed the pot and forgot about it. We were subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse from Maritsa in Greek-as she forgot how to speak English. She demanded we pay 20 euros for the pot (which we were willing to do), 70 euros for the apparently broken hob and 150 euros for the fridge (still can't get my head around that one?). We called the reps who were great, came up showed Maritsa that everything was working and there was no reason to ask us to pay any money as nothing was broken and it had just been an accident. But Maritsa was adamant nothing was working and called an 'electrician', who took the hob away for 20 minutes and when Maritsa brought it back to us we were told it was broken. Naturally-we weren't going to check it and get electrocuted, as far as I was concerned this person could have done anything to it! Maritsa continued to demand money for the hob, which our reps told us not to pay as it had been working when they had checked it prior to it being taken away. They came out a few days later, neither my boyfriend or myself were present, but they went into our apartment, switched on the hob which was- and still is- working. They asked Maritsa to go in the room with them to see the hob working and she at first refused. We were offered other accommodation in another resort to move into that day, but we were so close to the end of our holiday and were friends with neighboring holiday makers we decided against it. However Maritsa's attitude changed and once again she was smiley and happy until on the last day she tried to start an argument with my boyfriend in front of another family and then with the two of us as we left for breakfast.

I did not feel safe/comfortable in the apartments. On 'cleaning' days she would just let herself in the room without knocking and start demanding money. I was worried about our belongings so we eventually lived out of the suitcase which we locked every time we left. Her mother, a lovely little woman, would not even look at us or acknowledge us if we said hello. We honestly felt like criminals, but to move would take at least half a day of our holiday, add further stress not to mention a cut of our spending money. Even at night if I was fussing over the cats on the driveway - she would stand at her front door and stare at me, deliberately making me uncomfortable. Now there were issues with the behaviour of other holiday makers when we were there-far worse than a rescued pot, however we were the ones victimised.

I will never return to or recommend the Maritsa Studios to anyone. I can appreciate that people have had good experiences there from the previous postings, but I wouldn't want any other individual to be at the receiving end of the abuse we received from Maritsa. Had we been younger, less stubborn (!) that woman would have ruined our holiday and emptied our purses.

On a much lighter note - the cats are little darlings and I think I've seen a description of Minnie (black and white, extremely friendly, with a black patch on her front left leg) the proud mum of 3 kittens, Donald and Daisy -black and white twins - and Pluto, an adorable mainly white kitten with black patches over her eyes which give her this little innocent look!  We also have Mickey, a big black and white Tom with bad congestion. I'd love to take both him and Nala to a vet, we know these are minor problems that could be fixed with some TLC. Nala is a tortoise shell and white cat with a sore eye and Mufasa, same colourings but female competition to Minnie! . Simba, a dark brown stripy small cat who loves being cuddled once he's become used to you, although you have to be careful if Minnie's around as she'll chase him away. Can you see a Disney theme here! They all adore milk and chicken! I wish I could have brought them all home - but I'm sure they will find another poor family staying at the Maritsa who will fall in love with them and take care of them during their stay.

Well peeps - I didn't mean to make this as long at it is! But if it helps people to make a better informed decision then my bleary eyes and now cold tea was worthwhile. Kefalos is great, not too quiet but not that busy either. Maritsa Studios are OK as a base, if you're like me buy some cleaning stuff when you are stocking up on your water. But if anything does happen to your room, please make sure you call the reps straight away before you see Maritsa just to keep yourself covered. On the day we checked out another family checked into our room, surely Maritsa would not check them into a room with a broken hob in self catering apartments?! Here endeth my grumble and thanks for taking the time to read this.

We hired a quad twice from Manolis, but the car from elsewhere. The fuel and speed gauges did not work and we learned a lesson to check the fuel when you hire the quad as we made it as far as Paradise Beach (4km) and it ran out of fuel! Thank goodness we were with someone who had a car to take us to the petrol station - forever in their debt!   Also the acceleration in the second quad cut out on us a few times which was a bit scary when we were on the main road to Kos Town!

Great place to eat with choices of pastas, chicken, lamb, pork, beef, pizzas, traditional Greek...definitely a place you could visit every night and enjoy never having the same thing twice. The guy who runs it is really friendly and helpful. Although you can have a wait sometimes and I wished the plates were cleared a bit sooner, it is always busy which is a good sign. It got to the point that everyone at our apartments was eating there at night and we'd arrange to go at the same time to eat together. It's family run and conversation covered the history of Greece through to restaurant wide debates about 'little green men'. Definitely recommend Hub's and if we go back it will be the first place we head for! 

These guys do a great breakfast roll, I highly recommend an egg and crispy bacon roll with a pot of tetley!

We ate here a couple of times and the food was great - Chicken a la Creme and Kefalos Chicken were both winners! It's lovely to sit there on the verge of the beach at night listening to the waves. Love to John if he's reading this and hugs to Rocky! And not forgeting little Cleo/Cleopatra the cat!