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Villa Elli - A magical garden retreat with private pools and curated spaces

Photo gallery for Villa Elli - A magical garden retreat with private pools and curated spaces

An aerial view of a swimming pool with lounge chairs and a person swimming.
A pool area with a pergola, outdoor seating, and a view of the surrounding landscape.
A kitchen with a wooden table, a sink, and a window.
A modern outdoor seating area with a flat-screen TV, a chair, and a table.
A modern living room with a wooden ceiling, a green armchair, a white sofa, and a round wooden coffee table.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • On-site fitness centre
    A rare find - enjoy convenient access to fitness facilities during your stay.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.

Popular amenities

  • Balcony or patio
  • Private pool
  • Waterpark access
  • On-site fitness centre
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Rethymno, Crete
  • Place, beach near Gerani
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, University of Crete
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Fortezza Castle
    ‪11 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1 - Ensuite, ground floor

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2 - Ensuite, ground floor

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3 - Ensuite, ground floor

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4 - Ensuite, first floor

Toilet · Shower only

WC

Toilet

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Rethymno

Located in Prines, a neighbourhood in Rethymno, this villa is in a rural area and near theme parks. Great Gate and Fortezza Castle are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at St. Anthony Gorge and Municipal Garden. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with ecotours and mountain biking.
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Map
Rethymno, Crete

What's nearby

  • beach near Gerani - 6 min drive - 3.5 km
  • University of Crete - 7 min drive - 6.5 km
  • Rethymnon Municipal Garden - 10 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Fortezza Castle - 11 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Rethymnon Town Hall - 11 min drive - 8.8 km

Getting around

  • Chania (CHQ-Ioannis Daskalogiannis) - 65 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪To Stsvrodromi Restaurant - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Barrio - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Secret Gorge - Restaurant & Wine Tasting Experience - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Sunset - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Τα Σουβλάκια του Γαγάνη - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Villa Elli - A magical garden retreat with private pools and curated spaces pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Villa Elli - A magical garden retreat with private pools and curated spaces?

As of 7 Nov 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Villa Elli - A magical garden retreat with private pools and curated spaces on 2 Jun 2027 start from £3,271, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Villa Elli - A magical garden retreat with private pools and curated spaces?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Villa Elli - A magical garden retreat with private pools and curated spaces?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Villa Elli - A magical garden retreat with private pools and curated spaces?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Villa Elli - A magical garden retreat with private pools and curated spaces located?

Located in the mountains, this family-friendly villa is within 6 mi (10 km) of Rethymnon Court House, Paleontological Museum, and Petres Beach. Episkopi Beach and Blue Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great

Very good stay in this house. Matches the description perfectly
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Property in a quiet village

We booked this villa for a trip with our three teenagers. The house is lovely and very clean. We loved the pool and the lounge chairs. The air conditioning worked extremely well and we only had to run it for a few hours in the evening for it to be cool all day and night. The location is great. You are within a 10 minute drive for numerous fantastic beaches and restaurants. You can also walk to restaurants in the village if you don’t want to drive. The host was very responsive and sent a number of recommendations to us.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Lovely little villa, perhaps a little too rustic

The location is okay, a little noisy with baking dogs and perhaps not the prettiest drive past the scrapyard. We had a few issues with dead flies/mosquitos across the floor of the apartment on the first few days as I believe a door or window has been left open before we arrived. That all being said the exterior of the property is gorgeous and the garden is lovely.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely relaxing holiday in Villa Elli

We enjoyed our stay in Villa Elli in Prines, the villa was lovely, the village was a short 20 minute drive from a few beaches. There were 3 very good tavernas within 10-15 minutes walk and a small supermarket that had pretty much all we needed. The villa is charming and quirky and very clean, it has 3 private verandas where you could sit in the sun or shade, 2 sitting areas indoors large dining table and a smaller one outside. Miss Elli and her family live next door and are available to help if needed but do not intrude, also Etouri customer support were a text or phonecall away if needed and they kept in touch with offers and advice.The kitchen had everything we needed whether making a cuppa to a 3 course meal.The pool was perfect size for us not too deep and plenty room for sunbeds.There are several cats who are regular visitors and very friendly and quite polite too!Overall a very nice holiday I would happily return to and recommend.
Stayed 14 nights in May 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Einrichtung ist in die Jahre gekommen. Bad/ Toilette renovierungsbedürftig.
Stayed 18 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Nov 2025
Dear Klaus, Thank you for staying in our villa and for sharing your feedback. We truly appreciate it and are excited to let you know that the villa will undergo a full renovation for the 2026 season, a transformation designed to bring it to an entirely new level of comfort and style. The bathroom and other areas will be upgraded to meet even higher standards, and we look forward to welcoming you back to experience the refreshed and enhanced villa. Kind regards, etouri team
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wir hatten eine gute Zeit in der Villa. Wir wurden herzlich empfangen. Ca. alle 3 Tage wurde gereinigt, auch der Pool. Innerhalb von 15 min (mit dem Auto), kann man am Strand sein. Der nächste kleine Ort ist, 10-15 min zu Fuß entfernt. Es hat uns sehr gefallen, wir würden wieder buchen.
Stayed 15 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Sejour très agréable tres bon accueil.Villa tres tranquille et proche de Rethymno
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Es war sehr schön

Ein sehr schönes Objekt. Etwas ausserhalb aber alles war sehr gut zu erreichen. Sehr freundliche und zuvorkommende Vermieter. Sehr hilfsbereit aber auch sehr zurückhaltend. Das Haus war sehr liebevoll vorbereitet. Danke dafür. Wir hatten eine sehr schöne Zeit
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely holiday

Villa was as expected, great location ( must have a car) with a great garden space and everything we needed. Elli lives nearby and was wonderful! She left us in private yet regularly left us some of her fruit and veg, as well as some great stuffed peppers :) Thanks Elli! Cleaners came every three days which was much appreciated too. Pool was small but fabulous, especially since we had a 5 year old with us. It wasn’t too deep which meant he learned to swim there too. Luckily, we love cats as there are lots of them :) It was also useful having an Etouri rep on the other end of the phone- quite useful when one of our party broke their ankle and we needed doctors. Etouri also booked us into the Baja beach club on our last day and we didn’t have to pay a penny so thank you guys! Two lovely tavernas and two small supermarkets within 10mn walk from villa too which meant we could have a nice meal without worrying about driving. Fab villa,people and holiday!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

An excellent villa and fantastic garden

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Villa Elli. We were welcomed by Elli, the pleasant lady who lived next door. The house was comfortable and very well provisioned and the garden was exceptional, always a delight to relax in before and after our various trips out. We are very happy to recommend this villa.
Stayed 10 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful holiday

We had a lovely holiday at Villa Elli. We are a family of 5 (2 adults, 11 year old, 8 year old & 3 year old) and the Villa was perfect for us. When we arrived Elli’s daughter was there to greet us and show us around the villa. The villa is just as described. It was clean (they cleaned the villa for us 3 times during our 2 week stay), and had everything we needed. There are 3 tavernas which are a 10 minute walk away (which are all excellent), and a small supermarket to get basic bits. Elli the villa owner lives behind the villa and was a lovely lady. She brought us fresh vegetables from her garden and cooked us a lovely lunch. She even bought the kids some animal toys to play with. If there was a problem with the villa then she sorted it very quickly. You do need to hire a car to get around (or get a taxi). The main town of Rethymno is a 10 minute drive away, which has the beaches and a wide selection of shops and restaurants. The management company were also very good and WhatsApp’ed me most days to check if we were ok or needed anything. They booked us into the Baja Beach a club one day which was a great day out with complementary drinks. They provided us with recommended medical centres to get our Covid tests we needed to get home. We will definitely come to stay at Villa Elli again. It was a very relaxing holiday for us and provided everything we needed.
Stayed 15 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Aug 2021
Dear Louise, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review for our Villa! I really appreciate your kind comments and I will send them to the owner as well! I wish you all the best and please keep us in mind for future travel, as we would love to have you again as our guests! Have a nice evening! Best regards, Kostas.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect stay in Greece

We have spent a wonderful week in Villa Eli. The house is very well maintained and looks exactly as in the pictures. we also had the feeling, they take the COVID-19 measures very serious. Everything was perfectly clean, disinfection spray, masks and gloves are provided in the house! Cleaning service once a week was really nice to have included. It is perfect to spend some time with the family or with friends. Great porch and terrace to spend your evenings on... The kitchen is fully equipped and even if something is not working correctly, it is replaced within 24 hours. We were really amazed by the level of service offered, contact with Stella was very easy going, we received a lot of good tips and things to do and for every question we always got a quick answer. The location near Prines close to Rethymno is something we really enjoyed. There are enough really nice restaurants nearby and if you want to visit the city you are there in under 15 minutes. You definitely need a car if you are staying at Villa Eli, and it is better if you like cats as there are quite a few of them around. We would 100% recommend staying here. For us it was the first time in Greece, but thanks to this wonderful stay it will not be the last.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great holiday in great villa

Villa Elli is the prettiest villa we have ever seen. The garden is full of flowers, palm trees, cacti and shrubs. The veranda is so welcoming and the villa is well equipped and comfortable. A quick walk to the village centre and there are 3 tavernas, all good, a shop and pharmacy along with a snack bar. A great base to explore Crete or just laze by the pool.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

TERRIFIC

Very well equipped home, nice neighborhood, very attendant property manager and owner. No negatives.
Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful greek villa

The Villa is a beautiful green oasis, full of trees and pot plants with a nice pool, which make the place really special. The house has a nice Greek vibe and lots of space around the house. Great dinning area is also in the terrace outside and every room has its own little balcony if you need some privacy. You do need a car to move around, but we also do recommend the car rental because it is easier to move around the Island and visit the best beaches the Island has to offer. Cat lovers will love the company of spoiled cats that are walking around the property. The communication with the host and the manager is nice and easy. We had the best Greek lady host who has a beautiful heart and we really felt like at home in Villa Elli. So, we definitely recommend this house if you are looking for a nice Greek experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

2 Wochen auf der wunderschönen Insel

Wir verbrachten 2 erholsame Wochen in der liebevoll gestalteten Villa Elli. Alles ist sehr gepflegt und von einem wunderschönen Garten umgeben. Mit dem Auto ist man in in max. 20 min an den schönen Stränden der Nordküste, zur Südküste sind es etwa 40 min. Zu Fuß nächsten erreicht man schnell die nächsten Tavernen und Einkaufsmöglichkeiten. Die Inhaberin wohnt gleich nebenan und ist bei Fragen oder Problemen schnell zur Stelle. Auch die Betreung durch die Agentur war hervorragend. Als kleiner Hinweis: die Straße direkt am Grundstück wird gern als Abkürzung genutzt und ist daher doch etwas mehr befahren , als erwartet ! ... und man sollte Katzen mögen ;) Alles in allem aber eine klare Empfehlung !
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and comfortable, easy drive to many beaches and nature walks

Elli and the etouri team were fantastic. Communication leading up to arrival was timely, clear, and helpful. We arrived to a delicious meal prepared by Elli for 3 adults and 6 children, with leftovers. Thank you! The villa grounds are peaceful and beautiful, well kept. There was always a comfortable breeze. We enjoyed multiple sandy beaches with 10-20 minute drive, also drive to a wonderful southern beach 45 mins, and visited some museums (60 mins). Multiple grocery stores were close by, although need a car. We also very much enjoyed the day at the “beach club” arranges by the etouri team. Again, thank you! Note for those with allergies: there were tame cats on the property, which necessitated we close some of the doors during meal time. Our hosts were very accommodating and we are grateful.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful villaat a nice location

We stayed in Villa Elli for two weeks with our two adult sons and the girlfriend of one of them. The villa is a very spacious traditional greek house with a very beautiful garden and swimming pool. The area is quiet and the location is excellent as starting point for numerous trips. When we arrived the fridge was already filled with some drinks, fruits and feta. The owner Elli is very friendly and cooked a delicious cake for us. A very nice place to eat is Giannikos Taverna in Prines. The owner is friendly and has plenty of touristic advices.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely villa, friendly reception

An absolutely lovely villa in a quiet, picturesque location. Miss Elli gave us a very warm welcome and made us feel totally at home. Thank you for a brilliant stay!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Sehr schöne Villa, sehr netter und herzlicher Empfang

Wir verbrachten eine schöne Zeit in der Villa Elli. Die Mutter der Gastgeberin hat für uns griechisch gekocht, was super lecker war und uns sehr gefreut hat. Lediglich das Bett im zweiten Schlafzimmer mit 1,40 m Breite war uns zu klein.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018
Verified review

8/10 Good

Beautiful Villa Elli

We arrived at beautiful Villa Elli to a nice welcome by Ms Elli The Villa was well equipped with kitchen utensils etc.. and nicely furnished. Travelling with 4 children never easy but we were glad there was something for all of them, great pool, Xbox , toys for my 3 year old which she loved! Ms Elli cooked us a lovely vegeatable dish grown from her garden which was so kind of her. We enjoyed sitting by the pool and at sunset enjoying a bbq. We also had a beautiful beach 10 minutes away to watch amazing sunsets! And visited a fabulous taverna near by which was recommended by Etouri My family loved their stay here, one thing I would recommend is a shower curtain! Especially when children are staying but I do miss sitting in the beautiful garden ! I would recommend !
Verified review

8/10 Good

Skønt hus i landlige omgivelser

Det er et dejligt hus med fin plads til 5 personer. Skøn have og den sødeste vært. Vi fik endda serveret en god middag af havens grøntsager, som hun tilberedte på bedste vis til os. Lidt slidt hus - men rent og pænt. Tavernaen i Prines var bestemt også flere besøg værd.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Characterful villa on a beautiful island

I have booked many holiday houses in the past and have had access to a nice house and perhaps a welcome pack, but little more than that. The Villa Elli was different. The house is owned by Mrs Stella and her family who live in the house next door. We were welcomed on arrival and had a beautiful vegetarian (our preference) meal made for us in the middle of the week that lasted us for three evening meals! We arrived late at night and were able to request that some food was left in the kitchen for us to eat at breakfast the next day. The family were discrete but were there if we needed anything. The other unique thing about this holiday was the the support provided by etouri. The company provided information in the run up to the holiday about family-friendly activities that I specified we would be interested in. They were in contact during the holiday and booked a boat trip to Preveli for us and also arranged access to the fantastic Baja beach club. The holiday provided accommodation in a traditional Cretan home with the support of a welcoming family and the knowledge and efficiency of etouri which made the whole experience very easy. I travelled with my husband, three children (9, 7 and 2) and my mother. The villa had lots of toys and inflatables for the pool to keep everyone entertained. The kitchen was well appointed with plenty of utensils. The bathroom didn’t have an easy to access shower which was a bit of a challenge for my mum (who has had a double knee replacement) but otherwise the villa was fantastic and I highly recommend it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Wonderful family vacation.

A wonderful villa. Great location to explore Crete, or stay put & enjoy the pool and amazing garden. House is very comfortable and well-equipped. Outdoor veranda is lovely spot for meals & reading. Owner is so kind & generous - brought over the most amazing food for us. I will dream of those zucchini fritters for the rest of my life. Booking & check in were so easy. Really appreciated the attention & help in booking outings. Cannot recommend this property enough.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Excellent 12 day stay at Villa Elli

We were a family of 5 (including a 2 and a half year old) and we had a great time at the villa. As advertised it is a traditional villa with lots of character and superb gardens that the two year old loved investigating and going on a 'bear hunt'. We arrived to a welcome pack of food and drink and were made to feel welcome our whole stay by Elli who even cooked us a superb lunch of traditional Cretan stuffed vegetables which was the best meal we had throughout the holiday. We were able to eat out on the terrace every lunchtime and evening we were at the villa and loved BBQ-ing and preparing food. The pool was a great success with lots of learning to swim for the young one and splashing for the grown ups. The only difficulty we had was arranging the shower head from the mixer taps to not soak the bathroom so perhaps a longer hose and fixing to one of the walls will resolve that. Other than that minor inconvenience we loved the whole holiday and our trips into Rethymnon and along the coast to the superb beaches and the drive into the mountains. We would heartily recommend staying at Villa Elli for a quiet and peaceful Cretan holiday
Stayed 11 nights in May 2018
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