Archontiko Angelou

Rooms

This is a big old house with fine proportions, and an extremely sympathetic renovation has brought former glories back to life. The feel is warm, grand, nicely airy. You get high beamed ceilings, cast-iron beds, crisp white linen and original wood floors. Wander around and you’ll chance upon old rocking chairs, brass lamps, original murals on the walls. The same cool style runs through the house, but no two rooms are the same, and all the peculiarities of an old country house survive; one room has original alcove wardrobes, another has an 1895 tiled floor.

Rooms on both levels run off a central hall where you find sofas and armchairs to sink into. Only 2 rooms have air-conditioning, but thick walls and ceiling fans (or table-top fans in some rooms) suffice (downstairs rooms tend to be cooler). No in-room phones, but - much more usefully - small fridges (in all except Katikia) for keeping drinks cool. Simple bathrooms come in the English style, with showers instead of tubs.

There are 5 rooms on the upper floor (better views) and 3 rooms below (much cooler). All are similar in size except a Double with A/C (Room 3) on the first floor which is smaller. There are also 2 Suites with 1 double and 2 single beds. Two side rooms (Superior #2 and Double with A/C #4) have small balconies.

At the back of the house, in a separate building that once housed a wine press, is the latest addition: Katikia, a double room with an ensuite shower bathroom.

Features include:

• Fan
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

Much of what makes it to the breakfast table is home-grown, home-made and vegan; marmalades come from fruit plucked from the garden. You can choose a sweet breakfast, a savoury breakfast or a small breakfast, and you might get freshly-squeezed orange juice or lemonade, almond milk yoghurt, fruit and home-baked bread, rice pudding or vegan nut cheese. Marianna is extremely good at catering to dietary requirements (just let her know in advance). She doesn't make anything with gluten, and her cakes rarely feature sugar. Her specialties include gluten-free bread, raw flax seed crackers, cashew cheese, almond milk, chia pudding, gluten-free chocolate muffins, and more delicious healthy food.

If you want to head off for the day, Marianna can (with prior notice) fix you a picnic lunch (juice, sandwiches, fruit) or you can stop off at beachside tavernas (in Pandeli you can actually eat on the beach).

In the evenings you look after yourself. You can walk up to Alinda (a 5-minute stroll), where 8 or 9 restaurants are open each evening (simple taverna food, on the whole). Otherwise, just blow with the wind. All the villages have tavernas, and nowhere on Leros is more than a 20-minute drive.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• You can wander up the lane to Alinda beach (250m away), the best on the island. The town itself, strung out around a wide bay, is the pinnacle of development on Leros (eight restaurants, five shops, a couple of bars)
  
• The island’s beaches are mostly sandy, but tend not to be particularly deep; you can lie on your towel and have the waves lap at your toes - well, nearly. Mariana can prepare picnic baskets with one day notice
  
• The snorkelling is excellent, and you can go diving at Krithoni (1.5km) or Xirokambos (10 km). There is also a diving centre - Marianna can arrange for lessons and boat hire to explore the WW2 underwater wrecks
  
• Heading south to Xirokambos, keep left (for the southern tip of the island) and you’ll pass a tiny whitewashed church from the 12th century, Built into the side of a rock, its feet paddle in azure waters; there's wonderful swimming off the rocks here
  
• Agia Marina is your best bet for nightlife. Follow the road around the coast, then head over the mountain to Gourna. Try the Mylos Taverna in Agia Marina (make sure you book in advance), drop over to Pandeli for lunch on the beach, or drive up the hill and check out the castle that surveys the faded neo-classical capital, Platanos. The views here take in the whole island and stretch across the sea to Turkey
  
• Don’t miss the north: the untouched fishing village of Agia Kioura where absolutely nothing happens, but where you can watch fishermen land their catch and fix their nets. Keep to the coast roads and you can scramble down to tiny coves (sand or shingle) and have them to yourself
  
• If you fancy exploring on two wheels, Leros has e-bikes available for hire

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Scuba diving
• Scuba diving courses
• Snorkelling
• Swimming

Kids

Archontiko Angelou is an adults-only hotel.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Archontiko Angelou is on the island of Leros in the Dodecanese. Leros can be a little hard to get to but the hotel will help you arrange your travel and can provide helpful advice.

By Air
Either fly via Athens to the domestic airport on Leros (4km away). Or take a charter flight to Kos (Cos) or Samos or Rhodes, and then catch a ferry to Leros (90 mins sailing time from Kos).

From the Airport
From Leros airport or port, take a taxi to the hotel - it's very close - or you can hire a car if you want to explore the island during your stay.

By Boat or Hydrofoil
There are daily sailings from Rhodes and Kos to Leros - and then on to Athens. The hydrofoils are much faster and usually worth the extra cost - rough summer schedules are:
Cos (2- 3 daily, 90 mins)
Rhodes (2 daily, 2+ hours)
Samos, Ikaria, Fourni (2 daily, 2+ hours)
In high season there are also connections with Mykonos, Paros and Syros.

From the Port
Take a taxi from Lakki or from Aghia Marina. Or hire a car - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent once you book through i-escape.