Rustic Greek Village Life at The Juicy Olive (The Brave Stays)

The Juicy Olive is part of a small collection of properties called The Brave Stays. Please familiarize yourself with the concept before booking - www.thebrave.online/stays.

The Brave Stays are all about:

Doing things differently, breaking down barriers to ethical and alternative travel for budget conscious travellers by offering unique, authentic and ethically managed holiday homes away from home which promote disconnection, wellbeing, rehabilitation, rejuvenation, quality time with loved ones, cultural immersion and appreciation of the natural surroundings.

The Juicy Olive is located in the small, traditional village (perhaps best described as a hamlet) of Kalivea Theologou, 15 minute drive from the large town of Sparti in the Southern Peloponnese, Greece.

As with most of The Brave Stays, this is a perfect place for people seeking to get off the tourist trail, relax, unwind and enjoy some peace and quiet immersed in traditional Greece.

The house is available and accessible all year round because you can fly into and drive from Athens in less than three hours, 2.5 on a good day. In the summer months it is possible to fly into Kalamata. Kalamata is less than an hour's drive away. The roads are fantastic, it is just three, smooth roads to the house from Athens :-) you can even break up the journey in some of the lovely places en route such as Tripoli or Nafplio.

Even though the property is relatively isolated, the roads are good and you can be in the town of Sparti that has all of the amenities you are likely to need within 15 minutes, you are a 40-minute drive from the coast and the beautiful beaches of the Peloponnese and within a few minutes drive of some larger villages that feature small shops and tavernas. Kalivea itself has no amenities apart from nature and cats :-)

It is a perfect location for those who have an interest in archaeology on account of the vast number of archaeological sites located in and around Sparti and the Peloponnese. At the coast there is a Shipwreck, caves, and beautiful sandy beaches to explore and enjoy, making this also a very suitable option for families. The loveliest beaches within an hour’s drive are Gytheio. Mavrounni, Skoutria, Vathi, Mikries, Krities. Within the immediate area there are beautiful mountain villages to explore. I recommend the circular route Vresthena - Vamvakou - Varvitsa - Caryatidis - Sparti/ or Tripoli.

Again bear in mind that to book this property without your own transportation or a car hire is advised against. You could get to Sparti by coach from Athens but then would be severely limited in getting on to the property and then enjoying the surrounding area.

Please bear in mind that there is no Wi-Fi or TV at the property. This is purposive, but also if we did add in Wi-Fi it would result in a much higher price per night, as would an end of stay cleaning fee. Our objective is to keep our prices as low and affordable as possible based upon our costs. There are a growing range of games and books at the property, but, given the wealth of activities in the local and surrounding areas, we are sure you will have more than enough to do.

NB This is an OLD property; a traditional olive farmer’s house. Therefore there may be dust, bugs, random drips, smells, and animals. The downstairs is rustic and authentic. The upstairs sleeping quarters are basic yet clean.

The property would comfortably sleep five people across the two bedrooms. There is also an additional single bed in the kitchen downstairs (so sleeping 6 maximum). The bedrooms are located on the upper floor and the kitchen, cooking facilities, fridge, washing machine and bathroom on the ground floor. There is a large yard and a first floor terrace where you can sit outside, enjoy the sunshine or the shade of the grapevine and also cook outside (BBQ provided).

Please exercise general common sense that it gets incredibly hot in Greece in the summer and there is no air conditioning or pool at the property. Window shutters when closed keep the interior relatively cool and an inflatable paddling pool is provided. As well as direct sunlight in the garden there is also a large area of shade provided by the grapevine. The house is within an hour's drive of at least 5 different beautiful beaches, Glyfada (Shipwreck), Vathi, Skoutria (all sandy) are simply gorgeous. The town of Sparti offers a public swimming pool and you may even be able to persuade a nearby hotel to let you use the facilities. I have spoken to a number of hotels and they offer a day pass system (details shared in the Welcome Pack), but please do contact them on the day to check availability.

It is a 5-minute drive to get from the village to the main road into Sparti. As you start to approach Sparti, within 10 minutes, you will start to see more and more amenities including supermarkets, coffee shops, fuel stations and banks. Sparti is incredibly well catered for with a wide range of supermarkets, restaurants, bars and eateries. It's a lovely town with nice architecture and also a number of archaeological sites so is definitely worth a visit in any capacity.

Cooking facilities at the property including a gas stove, all pots pans and utensils, a fridge can be found downstairs along with a dining table and additional bed if needed. There is also a BBQ for outside use.

If you are cold please feel free to light a fire/ use the upstairs log burner. There is also an electric fan just in case :-)

Please use what you need and make yourself at home :-)

Clean linen can be found in each bedroom.

Please, however, bring your own towels with you.

The low price and no cleaning fee accounts for the fact that the experience differs to that that you may experience in other holiday homes (although probably not drastically from many rentals). That means that there is an expectation you'll keep the place clean and tidy and at the end of the stay ensure that everything is clean and put away, that the sheets are stripped, laundered and dried. There is a new washing machine in the kitchen for this and any other purpose. Use the ‘express cycle’ which will take 28 mins. You will find cleaning products and equipment in the kitchen downstairs.

At the end of the stay and throughout please use any of the available cleaning equipment to ensure that the property is left as you found it and please ensure that all shutters, windows and doors are shut and locked, the outside property gate locked and key returned using the instructions given.

Accessibility and Suitability:

This is a two story property located in a rural village in Greece. It is arranged over two floors with approximately 20 steps leading up to the first floor. Bathroom and kitchen are downstairs. The bathroom has a sink, toilet, half bath with shower over it. There is one single/ day/ bed in the kitchen. The main bedrooms are upstairs. You can drive right up to the property’s gate but must park a short walk uphill from the property. Paving in the yard and the road outside is smooth. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, one with a double bed, the other with three single beds.

Who is the property suitable for?

Solos, couples, friends, families who enjoy travelling off the beaten track and experiencing the ‘authentic’ Greek destination, yet within easy reach by car of lots of amenities. People who want an authentic, basic yet affordable base from which to explore the surrounding area and its natural, historic, archaeological, cultural and beach based attractions. It is a good base also for those who arrive by bike or car, having their own transport to explore the area. There are a number of significant religious sites close by (Vamvakou etc). People who want basic yet functional amenities and are not bothered by a bit of dust, some insects and the local cats. People who want to disconnect and do not need wifi, Tv or technology to enjoy their holiday.


** Best deals and availability available by direct enquiry - fayethebrave@gmail.com www.thebrave.online