Irene Studios

Worst Experience Ever - Bait-and-Switch Downgrade. Avoid at All Costs ! I never intended to stay at this hotel, but that's exactly where we ended up after a shady relocation from the better property (Kontessa Apartments) we actually booked and paid for through Agoda. We had reserved a 5-day stay at a superior hotel (Kontessa Apartments - with a pool and higher standards), paid in full in advance, and received confirmation. Instead, this nightmare unfolded and ruined our vacation. We arrived at the original hotel around 11 PM to find no reception—just a sign directing us to call a number. A man named Nikos (who manages both properties, as his phone number is plastered on signs at each) showed up in a fancy car, gave a curt "welcome," and immediately claimed a "problem" with our room. Without explanation or apology, he rushed us into following him to this place, pushing to load our luggage into his vehicle. When we said we had our own car, he snapped, "Fine, follow me." The 5-minute drive felt like a trap, leaving us uneasy and suspicious. Once here at Irene Studios, Nikos demanded to scan our passports before even showing the room. I refused, demanding to see it first—he smirked and grumbled that things were "complicated" with me. The room was smaller and cleatly outdated compared to what we paid for, with a grimy shower hidden behind a flimsy curtain, no functional Wi-Fi (he lied about it being available with instructions—we hunted and found zilch), and a TV that wouldn't turn on (probably dead batteries). Zero attention to detail. The whole place screamed neglect, cheap maintenance, and low-rent vibes. No pool, unlike the original booking. It was clearly an inferior property, and as I later checked on its own website, rooms here go for about 85 EUR per night during our stay dates—that's 30 EUR cheaper per night than what we paid for the better hotel. No refund or compensation offered, of course. When I voiced my frustration, Nikos turned arrogant and defensive, claiming he had no contact info from Agoda—no phone, no email. He sneered : "How could I contact you then?" It was an obvious lie since he knew about our booking. He then admitted we'd have to switch rooms daily if we stayed at the original, but blamed it on "stupid technology" handling reservations, refusing to own up as the host. He ranted about how "humans should always keep control over technology," even dragging in that Google Maps is unreliable and he warns his son against it. Anything to shift blame ! This man is the definition of manipulative and egotistical : nothing is ever his fault. With no alternatives at that hour, we had no choice but to stay. Nikos was dismissive the whole time. No apology, no compensation for the downgrade, not even proper checkout instructions (just "you have my number, contact me"). He scanned our passports at his across the road car rental office and waved us off with, "You must be tired, go rest." It reeked of a well-practiced scam, funneling guests from his nicer listings to this dump to pocket the difference. This isn't just subpar lodging, it's fraudulent. We paid premium rates for a superior experience but got stuck in this place. Zero stars if I could—do NOT stay here, and beware of Nikos and his various business. Save your vacation, money, and peace of mind : book somewhere else !

A cosy holiday from start to finish and the most famous accommodation credo is also true here: Location, location, location! 😎 You can reach Irene Studios straight from the airport or Kos Town by public bus (5.-), small supermarket across the street (open from 8am-1am in the morning!), car rental across the street, excellent Greek restaurant next door that rents umbrellas for 7.-/day! If you manage to rent a studio on the ground floor you maybe don't even need to pay for an umbrella because you have your own little terrace with natural shade and sunbeds just a few steps from the water! The restaurant next door sometimes hosts parties until late at night, but thanks to the studio's shutters and windows you can sleep despite them ;) Daily cleaning and clean kitchen where you can easily prepare breakfast and small meals (no oven, no regular coffe machine but Greek coffee mug available). I am sad to leave my cosy little house on the beach 🌴😎

5 stars for this little place? Of course. Yes, the apartments are tiny. A grown man would have one foot in the toilet while taking a shower... But anyone who flies to Kos spends the whole day lying on the beach or exploring the surrounding area. And for that, an apartment at the Irene Studios is ideal. The mattresses are good, there's a small kitchen with a fridge, toaster, and kettle, air conditioning, and a TV, which normal people don't even need on vacation. Cleaning is done every day except Sunday, and it's also quite good. The balcony is big enough for drying laundry and having breakfast for two. And if you have any questions, the people you contact are always helpful; there was a quick and effective solution for every (small) problem. So, it's not a 5-star hotel, but for the purpose and the experience, it gets a definite 5*****! I don't have any photos; the ones on the website are just fine.