Ostria Studios

The picturesque village of Katarraktis is the perfect setting for a relaxing Greek island holiday in unspoilt surroundings, but with enough facilities within easy reach so that car hire is by no means essential here. A village of mastic farmers and fishermen, Katarraktis is not just a summer settlement, but a proper, year-round community where holidaymakers are welcomed, but not depended upon. There are just two sets of holiday accommodation here, of which our choice are the lovely Ostria Studios, peacefully set at the far end of the village, with only a small dead-end street separating them from the sea.

There's a total of 22 studios, each with a balcony or terrace facing the sea. Whilst not excessively luxurious, they are attractively decorated in subtle shades of blue, cream and white, and very well maintained. Each has twin beds, a table and chairs, a TV, a simple kitchenette with a two-ring hob and a fridge, the all-important air-conditioning unit, and a shower room.

Although the nearest small shingle beach is literally just below the accommodation, Ostria also boasts its own seawater swimming pool. Those who enjoy exploring different beaches can walk to the unspoilt beaches of Pigadia (1.5 km) and Vokaria (3 km).

Katarraktis is the perfect setting for those who enjoy peace and quiet, but don't want to be car-dependent, for there is a bus service to Chios Town (13 km away) around four times a day, and the village itself is appealingly self-contained. There are three mini-markets (the nearest is just 150 metres from the accommodation), three kafenions and five tavernas, which primarily specialise in fresh fish but also cater to meat eaters and vegetarians. Ostria's friendly owners, Nikos and Christina, will happily advise their guests about the local area, and even organise occasional guided walks, for example to the nearby ruins of the original village, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1880.

For a thoroughly relaxing seaside holiday in an authentic Greek fishing village, Ostria Studios would be hard to beat.