Kodrou Plaka in Athens

My wife and I always try to rent an apartment for a stay longer than a few days in major cities. We were not doing well for our recent trip to Athens, GREECE, June 8-14, 2007, until we found a one-bedroom flat on the Internet.

Kodrou Plaka (Kodrou St. 5, Plaka, Athens; phone owner Stefan Järhad at 011 32 479 414 910 or visit www.yourstayandtravel.com) is in an excellent location. It was an easy walk (with our roller suitcases) from the Syntagmatos Square metro station — no small matter for us, what with the poor reputation of Athens’ taxi drivers!

In somewhat of an older building, it was clean and comfortable, with a separate bathroom (with a washing machine), kitchen and living room. Two in-wall air-conditioning units worked well.

For central Athens, it was very inexpensive. We paid €420 ($575) for six nights plus a €100 ($137) deposit and €30 ($41) for linens.

The owner lives in Brussels and was helpful and prompt. He e-mailed in excellent English. I did a wire transfer for the full amount, he mailed the keys to us, we mailed the keys upon our return and he mailed the deposit back.

A luxury hotel it is not, but for the money and location, it can’t be beat.

EDDIE JOSEPH

Los Angeles