The Private Amazing Retreat, is part of an Elite group of ThinkVilla bespoke stays, where hand-picked exceptional properties of outstanding 24/7 service, incredible tailored experiences and unique cultural charm await to inspire you. The Villa has been certified with the Seal of Approval, a 300’ Criteria Rating, for the unique design, innovation, individual quality & inspiring offerings only with ThinkVilla. The license number of the Greek National Tourism Organization is 1041Κ050Β3177600
An Overview of the Impeccable Retreat A stone build iconic house is ideally located in the center of Episkopi Village. The owners of the House have restored a unique sanctuary with care & authenticity. This is a destination that combines the class of a renovated mansion and the true Cretan environment of the village heritage. The location is perfect for keen walkers or those who just want to switch off from the hustle and bustle and reconnect with nature. A surrounded by nature retreat, this home is as perfect for romantic holidays, as it is for a family escape. Enjoy the country-luxe interior designs and the romantic isolated garden area with its unique revivification country Aroma.
Enjoy your mornings with hands wrapped around a warming mug of fresh coffee in the kitchen, gazing out onto the garden & the pool area as the dusky hues of dawn brighten to seize in the day. Everything in this warm designed House has been considered for your best comfort and luxury. It is ideal for big families or groups of friends, as it can accommodate up to 9 guests to rejoice. The light wood and stone elements of the house makes the whole exterior feel spacious and private with a free-flowing sense of harmony, peacefulness and calmness. The serenity of the village makes the high walls that surround this property fairly unnecessary, but to guarantee the utmost privacy, it features a romantic and grand courtyard of outstanding beauty, hidden from the sight of anyone passing by.
External Living | Pool, BBQ & Garden Furthermore, beautiful flowers make the terrace even more appealing and the surrounding big trees offer shade during the mid day heat. The ample outdoors sitting and dining areas and barbecue facilities at the terrace provoke you to avoid the interiors and try al fresco dining! From the courtyard, an external stone-built staircase leads to a decent sized terrace on the upper floor. A wooden pergola offers partial shade and a small arrangement of garden furniture allows guests to retreat from the rest of the group, if preferred.
Internal Living | Rooms & Bathrooms Ground Floor Entering, you’ll be welcomed intro a world of authenticity & heritage, featuring a fully equipped, open plan kitchen with the adjacent dining area. Also complimented with a living room area with an open fireplace, which creates a unique atmosphere. On this level you’ll find one double and one twin bedroom, both with en-suite bathrooms. All rooms of the ground floor offer direct access to the pool & courtyard.
First Floor From the terrace, guests enter another open plan living area that consists of a small, but very tastefully decorated and fully equipped kitchen, a dining table for four guests and another bathroom. The living room area consists of two comfortable sofa beds and a lovely loft-type bedroom with a double bed.
Mod Cons Welcome basket included courtesy of the owner • Housekeeping service with fresh towels and linen changes every four days (included for stays of 6 nights and above) • Pool and garden maintenance twice per week • Sun-beds and umbrellas available • Pool towels provided • Baby cot and high chair available if needed • Air conditioning in all bedrooms and living room area is included • Air conditioning units serve heating purposes • Complimentary free Wi-Fi coverage is available throughout the house • All in-house electronics are available, including a washing machine, dishwasher, TV with satellite reception, CD and DVD players, large fridge with freezer, electric kitchen, kettle, toaster, espresso coffee machine, iron and iron board • Smoking is allowed only outdoors • Pre stock service available upon request • 24h/7 days ThinkVilla concierge service included
Location Overview. Eleni’s stately Home is located in the village of Episkopi. The village, with its ancient history and traditional ways of life, is an ideal place to learn about customs, traditions and experience an authentic rural life. Also in the villages and within a few meters guests will find a regional taverna as well as a traditional cafe. Throughout the area the visitor is invited to walk in a region of particular natural beauty, to admire important monuments and to experience the customary local hospitality. We are pleased to offer our delightful region for excursions or holidays, combining naturalist and archaeological routes that, in their total, constitute an important 'map' of experiences. In Garazo village, which is 10 minutes away by car, guests will find a super market for their daily needs. Perama town which is within 15 minutes driving you will find everything that you might need like shops, bakery, grocery store, butcher’s, taverns, cafes, supermarkets, ATM machines, pharmacies, gas stations and post office.
Also Panormo, is a friendly sea side village, approximately 20 minutes away by car and well known for its sandy beaches. The two main beaches are Limanaki and Limni. Both of them are sandy with clear blue water and ideal for kids, as they are shallow and well protected from winds. The beaches are organised and equipped with sun beds & umbrellas. Water sports are also available. The harbour beach in front of the village is the port of the area, where the boats tie up, this beach is unorganised. The village has all the facilities and amenities one would need : well-stocked mini-markets, post office, pharmacy, a doctor’s office, a butcher's shop, bakery (hot, fresh bread every morning from 9 am), various gift shops and traditional seaside shops at very reasonable prices.
Further, there is a good selection of cafes and excellent traditional tavernas, overlooking the harbour and the sea, which offer a warm welcome and a beautiful setting to enjoy some traditional Cretan food, fish as well as international dishes. Distances to Important Locations Restaurant & Cafe : 30 meters Super Market: Garazo village, 5 km Panormos Beach: 15 Km Rethymno Port & Town: 35 Km Heraklion International Airport:63 Kms
Car rental is essential to explore the nearby villages and unique sandy beach locations!
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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Prior notice, extra fees, event contract required.
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Pets
No pets allowed
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Smoking only allowed outdoors
Climate Resilience Fee
A €5/night/villa tax (subject to change) isn’t included in booking prices. It must be paid in euros at check-in to your Host.
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number 1041Κ050B3177600
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 9
Note from host: Prior notice, extra fees, event contract required.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Mylopotamos
Located in Mylopotamos, this villa is in the city centre and near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Melidoni Cave and Sfendoni Cave, while Wooden Sculptures Museum and Museum of Grylios are cultural highlights. Travelling with kids? Consider Reptisland and Rethimno Kart. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain climbing and horse riding.
Does Eleni’s Stately Home, Picturesque Location have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Eleni’s Stately Home, Picturesque Location?
As of 8 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Eleni’s Stately Home, Picturesque Location on 21 May 2026 start from £144, 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.
Is Eleni’s Stately Home, Picturesque Location pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Eleni’s Stately Home, Picturesque Location?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Eleni’s Stately Home, Picturesque Location?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Eleni’s Stately Home, Picturesque Location?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Eleni’s Stately Home, Picturesque Location located?
Located by the sea, this family-friendly villa is within 9 mi (15 km) of Reptisland, Melidoni Cave and Sfendoni Cave. Varkotopos beach and Sfagia Beach are also within 12 miles (20 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The property is absolutely beautiful. A little slice of heaven.
Helen C.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Aug 2023
Dear Helen, Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful review about our villa. We are glad hearing that you cherished our Villa and services, as your satisfaction is our highest priority. We look forward welcoming you again in the future! Travel Regards, ThinkVilla Team
We truly enjoyed staying at the villa. The property manager was very friendly and very responsive. However, the location was somewhat isolated and the lighting in the home was very dark.
Barbara G.
Stayed 8 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Jun 2023
Dear Barbara, we are glad to hear that you truly enjoyed a wonderful time in our villa and we would have been delighted to assist you with anything you might had required in addition to make the most of your stay. We would be happy to welcome you back on your next vacation in Greece! Travel Regards, ThinkVilla Team
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Christian S.
12 Sept 2018
Lovely house - lovely place - lovely people
We really enjoyed our stay at the house and had an absolutely relaxing week.
The house, the garden and the pool are beautiful. The meals, you can order every day in the taverna just round the corner were always delicious.
And all people we had contact with were so kind.
In one word: a perfect holiday.
Christian S.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Dear Christian, thank you so much for taking the time to write such an amazing review about our house! It was our pleasure having you as guests! We hope to see you again on your next trip to Crete! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
Eleni's was just as advertised, a lovely and secluded place for a quiet holiday. The kitchen is well furnished, which is essential given the isolated location, and the shaded patio with pool is all one could ask. When we had problems, which mainly involved locking ourselves out, the property manager came quickly to help us. Note: the pool is unfenced, which might be a concern for a family with small children, who in any event might find the village a bit boring. But for our party of adults it was perfect. I would gladly return.
Marc L.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Oct 2021
Dear Marc, thank you for this amazing review and we would really love to host you again in our Villa! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
My husband and along with our friends had the most amazing time . The house is in a very small village but was a welcome place to return after exploring Crete. The little touches like being able to order in meals was wonderful. The yard of the home is incredible. It is a welcome oasis with so much character. It absolutely added to our Greece experience. We had all of our questions answered very quickly and any issues were solved right away. We would absolutely love to return one day. The separate little apartment allowed a perfect space when travelling with friends.
nancy s.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Aug 2022
Dear Nancy, thank you very much for reviewing your stay with us. We are delighted to read your wonderful feedback. We would be delighted to welcome you back any time you wish. Travel Greetings, ThinkVilla Team
The house is beautiful and the gardens stunning - with lots of trees it meant there was sun but also shade so the children didn't get sunburn. I wish I had read the description more carefully as we hadn't realised the third bedroom was in a totally separate section so with little children, we didn't feel happy being apart from them but the owners were extremely helpful and we put a zip bed in the downstairs room so all the children slept together - so they were very happy and we were in the room next door. Thank you for making us feel so welcome and very well looked after.
Alex G.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Dear Alex, we are truly happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and we are looking forward to welcome you "home" again! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
This villa is set in the center of a peacful and scenic village. The villa is an old building that has been tastefully modernised. The courtyard and pool give the place that "wow!" factor. The tree offers shade, but there are plenty of sunny areas. The villa manager left us alone, but was always at the end of a text with any questions we had and she was very quick to respond. A car is needed here as the village is in the hills and a 5 minute drive from the nearest main road which leads to the nearest supermarket. The villa is next door to the tavern and I recommend the food (Which they deliver). Being next to the tavern is not an issue as it is very quiet. We have rented villas with pools most years for the last 16 years, and this one is up there with the best, if not the best, we have stayed in. Thank you for a perfect holiday.
Roy F.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Dear Roy, we really appreciate your great review and we hope to see you again on your next trip to Crete! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
We stayed here for 2 weeks in mid June.
We were super impressed by the cleanliness of the property inside and out. The cleaner came very regularly, changing bedsheets and towels a number of times during our stay.
The courtyard garden is an absolute delight! Centre piece is a huge walnut tree which provides shade throughout the day, but there are enough spots to sunbathe as well!
Internally, the villa is comfortable, though the bathrooms (all 3) are in need of maintenance/ updating. Upstairs is separate to the downstairs house, with a small second kitchen, living area, bathroom and mezzanine king sized bedroom.
From the house there are some lovely walks to be had with special views and all that is to be enjoyed in rural Crete. We found a couple of really good tavernas - one mentioned in a previous review, Carob & Olive, and another slightly further away but the best taverna we visited by far - Kafenieo Filio, located in the ancient monument site, Eleftherna.
We would thoroughly recommend this villa as a fantastic holiday location!
Sarah D.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Aug 2022
Dear Sarah, we loved reading your review and truly happy that you cherished the singular and unique features of our bespoke stay. We would be thrilled to welcome you back any time you wish. Your will always have a home in Crete awaiting to welcome you. Travel Greetings, ThinkVilla Team
A traditional Cretan home, tastefully converted as a holiday villa
I think this has to be the most relaxing villa I have ever stayed in. The property is so evocative, the courtyard is a Venetian styled Cretan area with its own fruit trees shading it. Every one of the locals was friendly, the area is stunning. We really enjoyed this beautiful villa.
In the surrounding area we took in the castle at Rethymno (nice views and a good walk, but more a pile of rubble than a castle these days). The town is a bit touristy but the old bit is nice to wander around. The beach at Perama was a good place for the kids. We also walked the Mili Gorge (well worth it only about 4K but a beautiful walk). We had lunch as the Banana restaurant at the bottom where they called us a taxi to take us back to our car..
Not far from the villa is Melidoni where we found a well-rated restaurant on Trip Advisor (Carob and Olive) which was excellent. The drive there was also stunning and the village is very beautiful. We also spent an hour or two in Margarites village. There is loads of really nice local pottery - some modern, some traditional as well as a monastery on the hill with spectacular views and a beautiful garden.
We also visited Elitherna - an archaeological site of major significance. It was pretty disappointing. I think you’d need to be a real archaeology buff to find much of interest.
By and large the whole experience was wonderful, not least Eleni’s Stately Home.
David Y.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Dear David, we really appreciate your great review and we hope to see you again on your next trip to Crete! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
In dem 20 Seelenort erwartete uns eine sehr gut ausgestattete, topsaubere, wunderschöne Villa mit einer gemütlichen Aussenanlage.
Bei 38 Grad wurde der Pool gut genutzt. Uns war bereits bewußt, dass wir zum Einkauf und für Unternehmungen das Auto bewegen müssen, aber das war kein Problem. Der Service ließ nichts zu wünschen übrig. Wer also eine entspannte Familienzeit genießen will, ist in diesem Haus richtig.
Thomas S.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Aug 2023
Dear Thomas, we are truly happy that you enjoyed a relaxing family holiday break & our villa left nothing to be desired for a perfect stay. Being there and caring for our guests is what we take pride in, and we are thrilled to know you cherished our hospitality & took advantage of the refreshing pool during the hot summer days. We would love to welcome you back during your future travels to Greece. Travel Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
Wir haben das besondere Ambiente und die Ruhe genossen. Die Menschen im Dorf sind freundlich und aufmerksam. Die Villa hat alles was man zum entspannen braucht.
Esther S.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Jul 2023
Dear Esther, we really appreciate your beautiful review & are delighted to hear you enjoyed such a wonderful relaxing holiday break in our villa. We hope to welcome you again as our guests! Travel Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
Dear Madeleine, thank you for taking the time to review your stay with us. We would be delighted to welcome you back. Travel Greetings, ThinkVilla Team
Dejlig ferie ro i lækker gårdhave, i lille bjerglandsby.
Lækkert udeområde med dejlig pool, og afslapning i både skygge og sol. Hus med alt det nødvendige, og super support fra værten. Bjerglandsby med total ro, kun forstyrret af chikadernes sang, og gedernes bjælder når de passerer igennem. Vigtigt med bil, strand, indkøb og hyggelige spisesteder er i ca 20-30 min afstand.
Lisbeth H.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Aug 2022
Dear Lisbeth, thank you for taking the time to review your stay with us. Thank you once again for choosing our villa for your recent holidays and we hope to welcome you back in Greece in the near future! Travel Greetings, ThinkVilla Team
It was great! The house and the garden are wonderful! We enjoyed every minute! The Kommunikation with the owner is super! We will come again!!
Dr. Alexander Baier
Alexander B.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Sept 2021
Dear Alexander, thank you for taking the time to review your stay with us. We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. It would be our pleasure to have the chance to welcome you back for your next holiday experience in Greece! Travel Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
Ein wirklich wunderschönes Haus mit einzigartigem Garten. Für uns war es eine Erfahrung, beim nächsten Mal die Lage noch näher ins Auge zu fassen und zu wissen, dass wir uns nun einmal im Leben so ein großes Objekt geleistet haben aber beim nächsten Mal definitiv etwas anderes buchen würden. Der kleine Ort selbst war etwas gruselig, vier Familien leben dort glaube ich und der halbe Ort ist zerfallen...dazwischen diese Villa ..ein wenig komisch kam man sich da vor...Das Auto war voller Farbschmiereien und immer wieder klopfte es von außen an das Tor. Freundlich sprachen wir die vier Kinder des Ortes darauf an, danach gab es keine Zwischenfälle mehr. Der Ort wirkt leider trostlos und auch die nähere Umgebung ist nicht für Unternehmungen geschaffen. Es gibt allerdings einige Häuser und Ruinen im Ort die einen gewissen großen Charme versprühen. Spazieren gehen und Sport ist aufgrund der engen Straßen praktisch unmöglich und sogar gefährlich, andere Wege gibt es nicht. Das nächste attraktive Ziel ist mindestens 25 min durch sehr kurvige Straßen erreichbar, hier primär das Meer. Einkaufsläden sind ca. 10 min entfernt, dort auch eine Taverne die sehr zu empfehlen ist. Für die Kinder war natürlich der Pool genial. Nächstes mal würden wir wieder etwas buchen, das nicht GANZ so ab vom Schuss ist und auch andere Kinder in der Nähe sind. Die Kommunikation mit der Agentur war sehr zuvorkommend und schnell, teilweise auch ein wenig überfordert ;). Das Haus für eine einzige Familie war Luxus pur und traumhaft im Sommer, weil es auch kühl war im Garten unter den hohen Bäumen. Zu einer anderen Zeit als Sommer stelle ich es mir dort allerdings höchst trostlos und kühl vor und der Pool wäre dann auch nicht benutzbar mit Sicherheit. Das Haus innen ist sehr ansprechend eingerichtet. Sollten sich zwei Familien das Haus teilen, wäre es für die Familie im OG allerdings wieder relativ eng und man hört durch die Holzdecken jedes Wort. Neben dem Objekt ist eine meist geschlossene Taverne die augenscheinlich die Umgebung mit Essen versorgt (wird gebracht mit Mofa/wir könnten uns vorstellen, an alte Leute) und zum essen gehen nur so halb geeignet ist und nur öffnet beim vorbestellen. Ist aber OK und preiswert. In etwas weiterer Entfernung natürlich sehr schöne Ziele, wie ZB Rethymno 45 min. Mit kleinen Kindern alles natürlich schwieriger. Trotzdem danke für alles und alles Gute.
Tim G.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Sept 2021
Dear Tim, Thank you for taking the time to write a review and thank you for choosing to stay with us this summer. Episkopi Village, has around 100residents. The village is of major historical significance and has a temple since 1568 and a tower which was build back in 1671. It is extremely safe, and it is a well know Hidden Gem all over Crete, with cultural visitors joining us throughout the years. Eleni’s Stately home, where you were staying is also a historical building since 1800 and was renovated with respect to the history 6 years back by the Kokkinou Family. As the building is preserved the construction and renovation has to follow certain regulations, including preserving the wooden floor. The village is considered of significant cultural and historical importance and it is preserved by the local legislations. Usually locals are thrilled to welcome travellers and most likely the children of the village wanted to invite you to play. It is very common during summers that children go to the villages to spend time with the elderly and with a carefree environment. The area is iconic for jogging, cycling, horse riding and plenty of other activities to reconnect with nature. There are enormous lands around where olive oil, herbs and vegetables of all kinds are cultivated. It would have been a great opportunity to explore those wonderful options during your stay with us and we would have been delighted to assist you. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in our wonderful village and provide you with a second opportunity to explore this unique extraordinary village in its authentic form and explore all the magical elements of another era it has to offer. Travel Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
Wonderful stay in this gorgeous villa. It is beautifully presented. Lovely quiet village. Our children loved Bali Beach.
nichole d.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Sept 2021
Dear Nichole, thank you very much for sharing your lovely review. We are overjoyed to hear that you enjoyed your stay. It would be our pleasure to have the chance to welcome you back for your next holiday experience in Greece! Travel regards, ThinkVilla Team.
La maison est splendide, tout en pierre avec beaucoup d'authenticité, située dans un petit village calme au pied des montagnes.
Je recommande sans réserve
Isabelle P.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Aug 2021
Dear Isabelle, thank you so much for recommending our villa to other travellers and we hope to have you back soon! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
La maison est belle, bien aménagée pour accueillir 3 familles de 2 ou 3 personnes. L'extérieur est très agréable est bien ombragé. Elle est située dans un endroit très calme dans la montagne. Par contre, il faut absolument les coordonnées GPS pour y aller.
Vincent P.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Jul 2021
Dear Vincent , thank you for giving us a perfect rating and we hope to welcome you again in our Villa! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
Das im kleinen Bergdorf gelegene Haus mit Pool war für unseren Familienurlaub perfekt. Wunderbarer Garten, alles sehr gepflegt. Gute Einkaufsmöglichkeiten ca. 8km entfernt. Absolut freundlicher Service!!!
Kerstin A.
Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Oct 2020
Dear Kerstin, thank you for this amazing review and we would really love to host you again in our Villa! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
villa très sympa mais un peu éloignée, idéale si on cherche le calme
très jolie villa, un petit bémol la baignoire du haut a très peu de débit d'eau au niveau du pommeau (un maigre filet) et du coup nous n'avons pas pu l'utiliser.ce qui est dommage car trois salle de bains c'est bien quand on est nombreux.
Géraldine B.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Aug 2020
Dear Géraldine, thank you so much for your great review and feedback. It would have been our pleasure to further assist you with the water flow of the upper bathroom if we were informed in advance, as it would have been a temporary issue and directly resolved. We are truly happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and we are looking forward to welcome you "home" again! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
Valia is a super host, the pictures show exactly how the house is in reality. A lot of spaces, nice rooms, everything is cool. It's a real pretty village, rent a car is an obligation if you want visit this fantastic place, creta ! I will return, as a well-known movie's character
marc i.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Dear Marc, we really appreciate your great review and we hope to see you again on your next trip to Crete! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
Verified
8/10 Good
Deborah S.
30 Sept 2019
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Rustic, pretty house but a little too remote for us.
Despite a few negatives we did enjoy our stay here. The garden is lovely and the house is rustic but dark inside and fairly basic. The village is mostly quiet but apart from the taverna next door there are no other facilities and it's a good 10 minutes drive to get even basic provisions. The house doesn't have a welcome book and whilst Dora is available any time for problems or advice, it would have been good to have a book to refer to for information on where to take rubbish, recycling, washing machine instructions, etc. We didn't realise that someone was coming to clean and when she opened the gate and walked in we had no idea what was going on. The photos could do with updating as there is no longer a lovely view of the mountains from the upstairs terrace, just trees. There is no vegetable garden (area is now fake grass) and it's a case of moving every so often to chase the sun if sunbathing as the garden is, whilst very pretty, very shady with lots of trees. The fruit tree over the sunbeds at the top of the pool is a bit of a hazard as the fruit hangs low and it's difficult to easily access the area. The pool is a good size for just dipping in to to cool off but as we only had 2 days at the house we didn't get to use it much. The kitchen is more basic than I expected, no microwave as stated and the filter coffee machine needs looking at as the glass jug easily falls from the handle. There is also an open drain on the floor in the ensuite bathroom covered with a mat, which we weren't aware of till we stood on it. The self contained apartment upstairs is much lighter, has a good sized bath tub and lovely seating area. You should also be aware that you will probably get bitten by mozzies and perhaps ants but appreciate there's nothing that can be done about that. We were covered in repellent and burnt the smoky rings and still got some impressive bites but after a few nights stayed away from the house on an evening to minimise the chances. Fortunately our second week in another area didn't have any biting pests.
Aware that there are a few negative issues, and I'm coming across as a real moaner, but we still enjoyed our week here! The area is beautiful and well placed for good days out exploring. There is a lovely village called Melidoni a short drive away with a great restaurant called Carob and Olive. We ate here a number of times and the food was great.
Deborah S.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Dear Deborah,
Thank you for having chosen our Villa for your holidays and for having set aside some of your valuable time to share your feedback with us and with fellow travellers online.
We appreciate the description of the Villa service and facilities, we are glad to know that you had a great time staying with us. We thank you for your feedback on the points that require our attention and we will continuously intensify our efforts to enhance our services and ensure the complete satisfaction of our guests and for this we count on the constructive and valuable feedback from each one of our guests.
The house has a Cretan signature rustic design layout and there is sufficient light and warmth inside whilst, location and layout is in detail described in all our online channels for all our guests. Welcome book will be implemented the soonest possible, and in regards to the photos we regularly update them prior to the season however, the tree structure in Crete changes fast. We have replaced the garden area with grass to ensure a wider lounge area for our guests and we have a gardener available and the trees in the villa has been one of our distinctive advantages in regards to nature and natural shadow. We would have been able to support you immediately with any queries or additional support, concerning the filter coffee machine, the microwave and the drain maintenance in the en suite bathroom, and we feel sad that we could not been given the opportunity to satisfy you with the above. For the mozzies and the ants it is as you mention, something beyond our control as Crete is rather rich of them.
We hope that you will return for another visit in the not so distant future and allow us the pleasure of offering you our services once again.
Kind regards,
ThinkVilla Team.
Beautiful villa in a rural location. Cretan people all extremely helpful and friendly.
Lovely clean and well equipped villa. Local taverna that delivered meals was a welcomed extra. Brilliant pool and bbq area. People all amazingly helpful and friendly. Outside area excellent but seating needs updating. Great holiday had by all.
Patrick G.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Dear Patrick, thank you for your kind review and we really appreciate the feedback. It was our pleasure having you as our guests! I am glad to reassure you that we will certainly update the seatings ! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
Dear Thierry, thank you for giving us a perfect rating and we hope to welcome you again in our Villa! Regards, ThinkVilla Team.
About the host
Hosted by Valia Kokkinou
ThinkVilla Bespoke Stays, is a Luxury Villa Rental Agency which was launched back in 2009, featuring a collection of 300+ Inspiring Retreats, for the Independently Minded. Our Curated Private Villas are in the most Iconic Greek Destinations (Crete, Santorini, Zakynthos, Rhodes, Skiathos), where each ThinkVilla Escape blends comfort & awe in equal measure.
ThinkVilla Team believes that surpassing expectation knows no bounds. Independent Minds who transform any stay from “so-so” to superb. We are a team of Hospitality Professionals (Nikki, George, Despina, Marianna, Nikos, Alexandros, Elia, Stelios) who together with our Managing Director - Maria Gkonta and our ThinkVilla CEO & Founder - Valia Kokkinou share the same passion : building, detail by detail, amazing holiday experiences for our guests all over Greece. Our dream team of on-the-ground experts is on hand 24/7 to ensure you book a better experience than you had in mind.
Our ThinkVilla brand reflects who we are at our core. Our standards for conscious travel, formalise our commitment as a business to sustainability. We embrace the distinctive, celebrate the unconventional and champion the one-of-a-kind. Seeking out Villas and experiences that have individual character, creativity and place our travellers at the heart of an environment. We promote cultural-environmental sensitivity, encouraging travellers to explore Greece with intention.
Small wonders await you, escape to a place where togetherness comes first. Enhance your stay with our Premium Family oriented service offering, designed with our youngest guests in mind.
We are looking forward to welcoming you soon in Greece!
*Please note that ThinkVilla is acting solely as a Booking Agent in the name & on behalf of the Property Owner, for the rental of the property.
Why they chose this property
It's a unique place to explore Crete and get involved with the real Cretan life! The house is really comfortable and offers peace and utmost privacy! Unique for families or a group of friends!All you need is to choose our home as your holiday home and we will take care of all the other details...
What makes this property unique
- Private swimming pool - Spacious outdoor area - Outdoor Dining area with BBQ facilities - Spacious Indoor Area of 130 m2 - Bespoke 24/7 Concierge Services to assist you explore the best hidden gems of Rethymno
Languages:
English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Greek
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests