Irilena Hotel

I cant BELEIVE some of the comments about the Irlelena Apartments.

Me, my friends and family have stayed there two years in a row, and thoroughly enjoyed our holidays BOTH TIMES.

Irelena Apartments boast the most amazing views on Lassi, the balconys allow you to watch the beautiful Kefalonian sunsets every night. That "agonising and painful hill" (as someobdy wrote earlier!!) is hardly a mountain!! Jesus! Yes, it is steep, but its not an absolute trek and i actually beleive it could have been part of the reason i lost half a stone in two weeks. Our bed linen and towels were clean and fresh. They were changed every day.

The accomodationis basic, yes, but it IS 2*. If you wanted the Ritz then you should've booked the bloody Ritz! The accomodation is clean, with lots of storage space, somewhere to cook, a fridge, seperate bathroom area with shower, toilet, sink etc... There is also a large dressing table with a mirror( good for getting ready to hit the town)
The shower is SO powerful- it really wakes you up in the morning and is also a good hangover cure!!!

Overall i would say that Irelena Apartments are an excellent two star accomodation, we were ALWAYS out and about but Irelena had the essentials for when we got back.

A fridge for our beer and a beautiful view of Kefalonia

What more could you want?!?!

Recommended.

Although we were not guests at this hotel we became friends with a few couples who were. Some of the guests had read the negative comments and had been worried about what they would find. On leaving the hotel not one of the guests had a bad comment to make and i found Athena and her daughter and staff wonderful, nothing was too much trouble and the decor and cleanliness looked just fine to me and believe me i am FUSSY. The bar at night has a lovely atmosphere and the lowest prices in drinks. Like us there were lots of people who were not guests but called in every night. We have stayed in Lassi twice and i would not hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone. Hello to Irilena if you read this from Lisa, Bill & James.

My wife and I have just got back from a week in Kefalonia and had agreat time. We saw all the comments about Irilena on this website before we left and were expecting the worst. However, we found the apartment quiet, very clean (cleaned everyday) and an amazing view (espacially from No.4!). I can only think that some of the previous visitors must have been expecting too much for their money. Good value and wolud go again, even with the walk up the hill!

My husband and I stayed at the Irilena Apartments at the beginning of June 2004 for one week. The apartments were located at the top of a hill so there was quite a hike but the view from our balcony was well worth it. The apartment itself was not that nice, the room did have some windows but it was really dark, the bathroom was so small the toilet was practically in the shower and the bed linen was well worn and not that clean.(Probably best to take your own towells!). We hired a car and visited the other resorts and in our opinion Lassi is probably one of the better resorts to stay. We would not stay at Irilena again but would definately visit Kefalonia as we had a fantastic holiday.

Yassou to all who are wondering what this Hotel is really like. Here is my version. Myself and a friend who has visited the Greek Islands 11 times stayed here for one week in May 2004. It was my first holiday in Greece. Traveling with Olympic Holidays, we were located in a front first floor room with a balcony (twin). The room was basic, clean and linen/towel change was regular. Although we expected the road to be busy and noisy, we had such a great holiday that we slept every night so I couldn't really tell you if there was a great deal of traffic through the night or not!! we had no problems with it at all. In fact, it was nice to be up in the morning to view the people of Kefalonia starting the day. We tended not to notice the traffic until we awoke at about 8ish, even with the balcony doors open all night. Breakfast was as stated on other postings, the same each day, ie boiled egg, bread and preserve, orange juice and coffee/tea. I had no problem with this but we did try our breakfast in the taverna opposite and enjoyed that also. We found fellow guests to be friendly and the bar was ideal, in fact people from other apartments and hotels were using the bar instead of the ones in the hotel they were staying at. Athena and the staff were wonderful. Not having a pool is no problem as we used the pool across the road or the Long Beach which is just minutes away. All in all we had a great week there and we would certainly go back and would be happy to stay at The Irlena Hotel again. Lassi is a lovely resort. The people of the Island are so genuinely friendly. I was very impressed all round and would like to take this opportunity to thank my lovely friend Marilyn for organising a memorable and fabulous holiday. Efharisto poli Mal.

we stayed in the irilena hotel in sept 2003 and on arrival we thought it was drab,especially as we were in room 1 next door to reception,but i have to say it was clean and there was minimum noise considering,we found the bar in the hotel was the cheapest in lassi always ended the night there, we met 3 other couples and we made everything a joke especially the boiled eggs every morning but it was enough.The lady that owns the hotel is such a character she made our holiday and her daughter was lovely.I would stay there again definetly it was central to everything.

We stayed at the Irilena Hotel for a fortnight in September 2003. At first we were in a room at the front of the hotel, which was quite dark due to the overgrown shrubs outside blocking the light. It was also a bit noisy because of the traffic on the main road just outside. However the Olympic rep was very helpful and arranged for us to move to an upstairs room at the back of the hotel. This room was much brighter and quieter. It was still very basic and not terribly comfortable, but for the price we couldn't complain really. The rooms were cleaned every day and we had new linen and towels twice a week. The breakast is just boiled eggs, bread and jam but we knew that before we went, so again couldn't complain. The bar within the hotel was relaxing and had a very friendly atmosphere. The owner, Athina, is a real character and proved helpful when this was needed. The pool at the Princess Hotel is lovely and just 5 minutes walk from the Irilena, so it didn't matter that we didn't have a pool on site. The beaches and restaurants in Lassi are all easily accessible, in our opinion the Irilena has a really good location and at least there are no steep hills to climb at the end of the night, which is the case with a lot of the self catering apartments in Lassi. Overall this is a good, basic hotel which provides an ideal base for exploring Kefalonia. If you want luxury then you'll probably have to pay alot more and it doesn't seem fair to expect it from a 2* hotel.

I have just read the message from Jon Trower (21 October)

We were there September 2002 and whilst our room and its location within the hotel were very poor, there were some rooms that were acceptable. Our room was so bad that we chose to move out. If you are on the ground floor and at the front of the hotel, it may be of benefit to pack your Mr Muscle for bathroom, your torch and ear-plugs for your room.

Having said all of that we hope to return to Kefalonia and other parts of Lassi but never to darken the doors of that place again.

If you need any more information then you can e-mail me on paul.tindall0@talk21.com

staying at the irilena next week and really worried by some of the comments. has anyone been there recently and how woried should i be ???
thanks,

I would welcome a discussion with Chris Chew (July 21, 2003, Jean Barton(October 07,2002)and Jeniene Wozniak (April 16,2003)about their rooms in this hotel.

I too visited Lassi in September 2002 and Jean must have been in the same room as myself - it was appalling !

We stayed at the Irilena Hotel in September 2003 for one week. The rooms are basic but fairly clean and the sheets and towels were changed mid week. We had a room on the first floor at the front of the hotel with a balcony. The view was pleasant but there was a lot of traffic noise which kept us awake most nights. The breakfasts were predictable with boiled egg every day with bread and preserves but it filled us up and kept us going until lunchtime. There was a pleasant bar area but we did not use it much. The local Tavernas were excellent for evening meals and with easy reach of the hotel as were the supermarkets. All in all we had a good holiday but if we return to Kefalonia I thing we would stay in a quieter location.

I wouldnt recomend the Irilena apartments, the climb up to them is so steep that after two days I was in agony and could hardly walk. The apartments were so small, dark and dingy, and basic is an understatment.and you need your bath towles as there not provided. The only good thing was the view, but you get a good view up any mountain and thats what it felt like. I would never go there again.

Irilena - location is spot on - just about the only good thing I can say about it. Room was dirty, dark and smelly. Breakfast is spot on if you like stale bread and hard boiled eggs...

Jackie Holtby where are you ?
You have given some lovely comments about the Hotel Irilena.
Look at my last message.
Can you reassure me?
We travel 3rd August. Help!

We are coming to Lassi Aug. 3rd with friends. The holiday was booked by them. We are staying at the Hotel Irilena. I have read one or two not so good comments. One grading gives it only 3/10. Should I be worried?

Me and my sister Priti just arrived back from Lassi last week June 2003 and we stayed at the Iri-elena studios for 1 week.
The rooms were quite basic but very comfortable and pleasant! Prior to out holiday we had read alot of comments about Iri-elena apartments which were not that positive and we were abit apprehensive about it, but when we got there we were very pleasantly surprised! think the comments made were abit extreme and OTT.
Studios are situated on top of a steep slope, which meant it was abit of a trek walking back up every day, but that walk was very welcome as it gave us daily exercise! also it is about 20mins walk to the beaches so be prepared for that extra hike :o) we did not mind this at all as it is a pleasant walk down. so all in all - a very plesant comfortable place to stay, and peace and quiet too!!

just read your note.. we stayed at Irelena last year and have booked to go back again in July. Its basic, but I have to say we never found it dirty at all. Like you, we said we only sleep in the room, so found this a great base for our holiday. The owner is fabulous and a really good host and the bar within the hotel is one of the cheapest in Lassi. If you want any more details you can email me at ladyboss@btconnect.com.
I read comments on here before going and was really worried before arriving, but had the best holiday ever! We have stayed at top flight hotles in Greece and rock bottom self catering, and this one is bang smack in the middle. Have a great time!

We've just booked to stay at the Irilena Hotel (through Olympic Holidays) in Sept. 2003.
After reading previous comments I am beginning to regret this!
We don't mind basic accomodation and don't actually spend a lot of time in our apartment when we are away on holiday....Do you think it will be O.K. for us?

We spent two week in the Irelena apartments last year and thought they were the pits would not reccomend them to anyone. Although we loved Lassi Kefalonia and are going back in June this year but definetely not staying in Irelena Studios.

Further Information regarding the Marina App at Skala as we are booked to go on 28.6.03

Just returned from this hotel 5th October 2002. Bathroom and bedroom was the worsed I have stayed in Dirty Dark and Smelly. A 40watt bulb in bathroom. Trees and bushes outside the patio prevented any sunshine into the bedroom. Black hole of Calcutta would be a good description. Lassi is excellent but NEVER would I stay at this hotel.

although we loved the island of kefalonia we have never experienced such disgraceful dirty accomodation our studio was nothing more than a cave no view whatsoever no decent towels or bed linen and crawling with ants couldn't even have a drink inside we would never recommend these appartments to anyone

I think with these apartments it depends what room you stay in, i.e. some are nice and some are average and so are dreadful. We stayed in a quite roomy one but there was no natural light really. There were fans in the ceiling with the lights so that kept it quite cool. Definately take along a bath towel as they only provided hand towels and they do not change them everyday. No splash pool available to us. Quite a steep walk but no a long one.

We stayed in this hotel from 03 Aug 02 to 10 Aug 02. The room was basic but had wonderful air conditioning. The bathroom was a bit dark and dingy, but hey what do you expect in Greece! The owners and their daughter were really friendly. Good location, easy access to pool, beach and night life. Would definately go back to the Irilena Hotel again.

We thought that the Irilena apartments were charming. They were slightly older than some other developments but that gave them character. Our apartment was quite roomy with a fantastic view over the bay across to Lixouri, and although there was no air conditioning the elevated position allowed the fresh breeze to blow through if you left you balcony doors open.(Also there are fans available to hire from the local shop for 13 euros a week)

Steep walk to the apts (as stated in brochure) Once at the top, the view over the bay is superb - excellent views of the sunset. Don't expect to cool off in the plunge pool as out of order! Very very basic standard of accomodation - worst we've experienced in Greece/Turkey. V.small, requiring modernisation. But don't let this spoil Lassi - we didn't! P.S. Might be worth taking a reasonable sized bath towel - as they only just reach!

Altogether the worst Greek apartments we have been in. Dark with no windows - roughly converted and horrible dark brown paint. Spiral staircase terrible to negotiate. A long hot walk up to it but the splash pool has not been available this summer. Lassi was a lovely town but I would not go back to these apartments.

Any information about the Irilena apartments

Have just got back from this Hotel and found it to be absolutely great! It is very basic, but the air condtioning and the owner,Athina, more than made up for this. Our rooms were cleaned every day and we had clean sheets twice a week (better than we get at home!) The breakfast is continental... boiled egg, bread butter & jam, orange juice, tea or coffee. Athina, the hotel owner is a great character and really did make my holiday. What a sense of humour and she is the Mayor of Kefalonia! All in all it was a nice hotel, central location and very very friendly.

Any information about the Irelena Apartments would be very helpful as we are going in August. This will be our first visit to Kefalonia.

THE IRILENA HOTEL WAS DIRTY, EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE HOLIDAY WAS FANTASTIC, WOULD RETURN TO KEF BUT NO IRILENA HOTEL