Welcome from Kevin to lovely Orchard Villa!
For all about the villa click "View More" (below next line).
But please DO NOT click yet on "Check Availability" or "Request Booking" until you've clicked "Contact Host - KevinVivienne" to tell me your dates/party size, so I can check bookings from all adverts before I send quotes and Rental Agreement.
Also ignore the Vrbo site refund "Policies" tab, see mine by Pg-Dn to "RENTAL AGREEMENT"
Check with me - descriptions and photos are NON-contractual unless in the Rental Agreement (some amenities have been replaced over time - and spring photos show flowers not there midsummer!). But the view's the same !
ORCHARD VILLA SKIATHOS is classic 'Traditional Greek Island' style - blue shutters, red-tiled low-pitch roofs, and - rare on Skiathos - a Cyclades roof sun-terrace. It's one of just a few villas and 3 tavernas on one of the best Skiathos viewpoints, the low Katsaros ridge overlooking sandy beaches and the spectacular '7-island' view across Skiathos Bay. Its peaceful setting has a gated entrance shared with one villa (with separately fenced garden/pool), with parking for 4 cars for you.
There’s a large cool flag-stoned living room, split-level to the winter log fireplace and sofa, and open-plan across the 'pub' bar and stools to the fully-equipped kitchen. Four air-conditioned cosy twin or double bedrooms with exposed wood sleep 2-8, with 3 shower etc. rooms (one en-suite). The child-fenced private pool (more for kids than adults as below) is set into the terraced garden slope with the same stunning views across Skiathos bay.
... and page-on down for ...
- Bedrooms - Dining - Kitchen
- Pool - Garden/parking - Sun-terraces
- Services/supplies - Internet - Licence
- Tavernas and Countryside at your gate
- Skiathos village/harbour (10 mins)
- Beaches (5-25 mins)
- Travel to Skiathos
- Reviews
- Rental Agreement, insurance, cancellation)
- Base prices
BEDROOMS - there's a double (or twin) master with en-suite, wc, and double vanity unit; and three twins plus two shower rooms each with wc and small vanity unit. They're all air-conditioned, with exposed wood ceilings and beams (so "No Smoking!").
DINING - inside, or (mostly) outdoors on the courtyard patio. The split-level lounge is open-plan across the bar and stools to the well-equipped kitchen, with doors to master and guest wings with 4 air-con bedrooms. There’s a wine rack - for you to fill! (see Orchard Villa Guest Guide Part 3, Food & Wine), a full cookery library, and lots of books for rare rainy days - or on sun-loungers.
Four French windows open onto a vine-covered split-level courtyard patio with tasteful wood furniture for outdoor living (no 'white plastic'!), overlooking a ½-acre hillside olive-grove garden with views from three terraces for sunbathing, partying, and drinks above the pool. You enjoy the unmatched '7-island' view over Skiathos bay and its 60+ mostly sandy beaches and hidden coves. The courtyard patio is your extended living-room, sheltered from breezes and warm enough for dinner and drinks 'til after midnight; with the garden lights and moonlit sea views across to the lights of the villages on Skopelos and Evia Islands.
KITCHEN - open-plan across 'pub' bar and stools, with modern ceramic-hob cooker and hood with fan oven, microwave, toaster, electric kettle, filter coffee, two fridges with small freezers, work surfaces, double sink, dishwasher, and loads of storage. And there’s a washing machine, ironing board, steam iron - and large outdoor ‘umbrella’ dryer.
SUPPORT and SUPPLIES - Greek guest protection law is for an unserviced villa (NOT hotel-type "serviced lodging"), but the price includes provision of support/supplies you request simply by booking the villa.
They are: welcome pack; weekly bed- and bath-linen; domestic supplies; end-clean, and (if not 'issues beyond reasonable control’ excluded by the Rental Agreement as ): maintenance of amenities inc. pool and appliances. Locally paid services like extra cleaning, barbecue party, shopping delivery, etc. may be possible
INTERNET - perfect signal for your 3-4-5G mobiles as wi-fi hot-spot to your tablet or laptop (sorry, NO fixed-line Wi-Fi router; billing not practical) ... and free wifi access at nearly all tavernas and bars in village - beaches - countryside.
CERTIFICATION - Orchard Villa was on 'Owner’s Direct' site from 2005, and 'S-Times' 1990; and certified by the Tourism Ministry.
GARDEN/PARKING - the villa and grounds are quiet and not overlooked, fenced, with parking for you of 4 cars.
SUN-TERRACES - 4 terrace areas, all with superb views ... rooftop; split-level dining courtyard/patio (by 4 French windows from dining room/salon); top ‘party’ terrace w/ sun-loungers; pool-side terrace with slate-top drinks table; grassed picnic slope below pool. The large rooftop sun-terrace (not overlooked) has 360-deg view, from the ‘7-islands’ across Skiathos Bay to the wooded Kechria valley and Skiathos north channel.
The POOL - for adults is more of a 'plunge-pool cool-off'! (Sophie’s 5* review “ ... Great for a refreshing dip” ) rather than serious swimming -from Skiathos’ 60+ safe and mainly sandy beaches, most within 5-25 mins drive).
It's a modern (2021) ‘above-ground’ pool (with wood decking new for 2023) from leading maker "Bestway" (1000s of happy users), attractively set in-ground on its own ledge landscaped into the hillside. At 7½ x 4m. it’s like most mid-size Skiathos villa pools. The new decking is just for a pool-side drink or sun-bathe ... not for a dive- or jump-in, as the pool is just a child-secure 1¼m. deep!
The pool-side and decking are child-fenced for 4m. along the lower terrace, with level access to the pool ladder by 2 steps down from the far end of the terrace, with its slate-top aperitifs table and bench - more space to sip your aperitif enjoying the stunning panorama over Skiathos bay, with an eye on the kids - or sunset.
TAVERNAS and COUNTRY at the front gate -
TAVERNAS-restaurants - 3 of Skiathos' top 10 (but affordable) 'dining out' are within 12-18 mins walk: 'Olive View' taverna - Trip Advisor 4.5/5.0; 'Anastasia' (Paradise Hotel), T-A 4.5; and 'Creative Greek Restaurant' (Kivo Hotel), T-A 4.5+) The hotels' scenic pool-bars are usually open to you. Other favourite Skiathos tavernas within 10-25 mins drive - see my "Orchard Villa Guide Part 2".
COUNTRYSIDE pursuits ... hill and forest hikes and drives, horse-riding, trail biking, country tavernas, and sight-seeing to restored Byzantine chapels and monasteries (sorry, no classical ruins!).
SKIATHOS VILLAGE and HARBOUR - classic Greek-island - are 10 mins drive (click 'Location' tab), and saw the 'Fathers' Arrival' in "Mamma Mia" (the wedding was in Agios Ioannis church, at Glossa on Skopelos).
Inviting traffic-free paved village lanes offer all shops and services, plus the old harbour and marina lined with tavernas and café-bars.
BEACHES, TAVERNAS, and SEA-SPORTS all under 5-25 mins drive (click 'Location' tab)
Skiathos has dozens of sandy beaches; the largest with water-sports, most with tavernas or bars. If you'd rather enjoy most of your time at Orchard Villa, there are reliable radio taxis and buses. But you really need a hire car - please ask me. Or, water-taxis from the old port to many beaches, and "Trips round the Islands" Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnissos, and the marine park (seals/dolphins); plus scheduled 'jet ferries' for mainland trips.
... and all this on an island barely 9 miles by 6, seen by many as the most attractive in all Greece.
TRAVEL to Skiathos - direct charters, with only 10 mins transfer to Orchard Villa.(or budget flights to Athens, then domestic flight or jet ferry to Skiathos from Volos port).
Or for a 2-in-1 holiday, take a car/ferry-cruise tour, with stop-over options in the Alps, Venice, and Athens. Shortest time 'at the wheel' from Calais to Volos is about 19 hrs, plus lux ferry over the Adriatic, then jet catamaran to Skiathos.
AIRPORTS, AIRLINES, FARES, or driving over, click above on "hosted by KevinVivienne" then "Contact Host", to message me for a lifelong experience of budget options and unfindable flights!
REVIEWS from guests from Owners Direct / HomeAway (both now VRBO) are under the "Reviews" tab on my other O-V listings -
sample from James and Sophie (Aug 2020) ...
" Thanks so much for such a beautiful villa, we’re having a lovely time. I thought your idea it has the best view in the Med. was exaggerated, but may well be true! Pool great for a refreshing dip, and we’ve enjoyed comfortable shady spots under the vine pergola and on the roof terrace. Wonderful 'Olive Thea' restaurant only 5 mins walk, said to be best on Skiathos".
AVAILABILITY 2022
- sorry, Vrbo don't show full "date/price" charts (see my summary below).
- so best: click "Contact Owner" to send me your dates and party make-up (DON'T click Vrbo "Request Booking" or "Availability" yet)
- Once we agree dates/prices, I send a formal Offer and Rental Agreement you confirm back to me,and pay via Vrbo.
RENTAL AGREEMENT inc. Insurance and Cancellation/refund
- book by confirming the Rental Agreement hit "Contact Host" above BEFORE you hit "Request to Book" and pay.
You need your own full-cover holiday INSURANCE (USA: with CFA), to include Force Majeure, owner's failure, cancelled flights, and medical (many insurers now cover covid).
I will reschedule cancellations free to next year if forced by restrictions for covid or similar. If I cancel, max refund is my base rental price below.
BASE PRICES 2023 (Vrbo will advise total) - 2024 probably the same.
Mid-2 8 Sep - 6 Oct 2023 £1,694
Low-2 6 Oct - 20 Oct 2023 £ 1,099
