Hostel Geodi is the kind of guesthouse where everything has been done just right. It has a large and truly inviting sitting room, six romantic bedrooms, a lovely garden, and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Four elegantly decorated bedrooms are on the first floor of the house, while one more room and a family suite with a more cosy, rustic look are accessed from the garden.
The 80-year-old house was in such a poor state when Eleftheria and Christos bought it, that the interiors had to be redone from scratch. They did not attempt to recreate something old looking, nor did they come up with something fashionably modern. Instead, they created interiors with a timeless look and a homey atmosphere.
The generally warm feeling is further enhanced by the welcome you get from Eleftheria. She keeps the house in an impeccable state, and serves a breakfast that is almost too good to be true. Guesthouse Geodi is situated on the mountainside a few minutes’ walk from the village of Arna, and far-reaching mountain views are spectacular.
Opening period : All year
Credit cards : DINERS, VISA
Children and extra beds :
All children are welcome. Children's cots/cribs are not available. There is no capacity for extra beds in the room.
Pets : Pets are not allowed.
What you should keep in mind :
While the village square is a wonderful place to sit out and eat, the choice of restaurants is limited.
Accommodation :
3 double rooms, 2 rooms for up to 3 persons, 1 garden cottage for up to 4 persons.
Meal :
Breakfast, a rich buffet (omelettes, smoked meat, homemade marmalades, yogurt, dried fruits, cake and fresh orange juice…) is served from 8h00 to 11h00. Later in the day, you can ask Eleftheria to prepare something like a cold snack for you. There are two or three traditional tavernas in the village, at walking distance.
Location :
Hostel Geodi enjoys a fantastic, quiet location just outside the traditional village of Arna, at an altitude of about 800 m in the mountains of Lakonia, with exhilarating views over the mountains and hills stretching out to the sea.
Getting there:
It is an approximately three-hour drive from Athens to Arna (via Korinthos, Tripoli and Sparta). From Sparta you should follow signs for Gythio. About 18 km after Sparta, turn right towards Potamia, and follow signs for Liantina, Gorani, Vasiliki, and Arna (22 km on secondary road). If you come from Gythio, you should follow signs for Sparta, and after roughly 8 km (in the village of Egies) turn left towards Petrina and follow signs for Arna (you will pass through Melitini and Agia Marina).
The Area:
Arna is a small historical village on the eastern slopes of the Taygetos mountain range. It is situated at an altitude of about 800 m. and enjoys exhilarating views over the mountains and hills straight out to the sea. It has a charming platia (central square) which most of the year looks rather dozy, especially in the winter when it is often covered in snow, but comes to life during the summer months, when entire families with roots in Arna come for their holidays and spend late evenings on the platia dining and chatting.
The area is great for outdoor action, but there aren’t many organised activities as of yet. With a good map at hand and a pair of good walking shoes, however, you will have plenty of opportunities for wonderful walks and hikes. You can explore rivers, gorges and caves, and visit churches and monasteries. The picturesque seaside town of Gythio is about half an hour by car; go for a meal by the sea. The remains of the Byzantine fortress-state of Mystras is about 45 km from Arna – allow yourself a full day to visit the beautifully frescoed chapels and churches, monasteries, the ruined fortress and remains of the palaces.