Tucked away at the end of a country track and surrounded by a pastoral landscape of rivers, fields, and olive and citrus groves, with the magnificent White Mountains serving as a stunning backdrop, Villa Adelphi has to be a dream retreat for nature lovers and anyone who likes to escape from the crowds. This secluded location, however, belies the fact that Villa Adelphi is just a short drive from the foothills of the mountains, the national road, and the popular coastal villages of Kalives and Almyrida that are well known for their beautiful, family-friendly sandy beaches, small fishing harbours, numerous shops and tavernas, and good choice of activities including water-sports. Even closer to Villa Adelphi, at only 1.5kms flat walk, the nearest tavernas and mini markets are conveniently located in the laid back farming villages of Armeni and Neo Horio. During the summer months the usual gentle pace does change at night in one of Armeni’s riverside tavernas when things come alive with the sound of live music and energetic traditional Cretan dancing.
Villa Adelphi is a wonderful choice for a stress-free island holiday. Kitted out with every modern amenity including WIFI (up to a maximum of 9GB's per week), a fully equipped kitchen, modern tiled bathrooms, a washing machine, a DVD player, TV, air conditioning throughout, and pool towels. For the cooler nights early and late season, the A/C units can also be used as heaters, and there is central heating but oil is not included in the rental price. All of the rooms have white aluminium doors, windows and shutters, and there is solar powered hot water and a back-up immersion heater.
The English owners have sympathetically chosen decor and furnishings that are both comfortable and colourful in order to create a cheerful and informal ambience which is ideal for a holiday home. Sets of double French doors open out from the downstairs living room and kitchen/dining room onto garden patios made from local stone, and from the upstairs bedrooms onto a spacious sun terrace which takes prime position overlooking the large garden, the pool terrace, and acres of countryside to the majestic mountains. There is no better place to sit back and enjoy a lazy breakfast or an early evening cocktail whilst taking in the sweeping rural view.
Outside there is an abundance of space to spread out. Adults can relax and unwind in peace whilst children can safely play in the electric-gated grounds. In spring and early summer the glorious scent of orange blossom fills the air, and guests can help themselves to the delicious fresh fruit from the villas’ 23 orange trees. In addition to the fruit trees, the front and side gardens have been planted with a multitude of typically Mediterranean bushes and flowers including yucca, Hottentot Fig, geraniums, wild garlic, hibiscus, and cacti, which can all be easily admired from the raised pool terrace and the adjacent, shaded dining terrace. There is one villa immediately to rear of Villa Adelphi but this does not overlook the front terraces or the pool so privacy is therefore good.
The kidney shaped pool is bound to be the focal point of holiday enjoyment and family fun. Your biggest dilemma will perhaps be whether to top up your tan on a comfortable sun-bed, cool off in the crystal clear water, play in the pool with your happy children, or just relax with a good book and the gentle sound of the leaves on the poolside trees rustling in the breeze.
Whilst you might not want to leave this serene setting, ramblers and and cyclists will be spoilt for choice when choosing from the network of rural tracks and ancient donkey paths (known as “kalderimi”) that criss-cross the valley surrounding Villa Adelphi. Nothing refreshes the spirit like a leisurely walk across the incredible Cretan countryside, through fragrant olive and orange groves, past historical sites, along clear mountain streams, and under giant platanos trees. A memorable time, with many photo opportunities will be had by all, and why not take a delicious picnic lunch made from delicious locally grown organic products to quench your thirst and your appetite.
Villa Accommodation
Ground floor (1.5 steps up from the parking area, 2 steps to the pool terrace): Open-plan living room with an archway to the kitchen and inside dining area, 1 wet room/shower room.
The entrance door opens into the living room which has a stone feature wall, 1two person deep red leather sofa, 1 matching red leather three person sofa/bed, 2 bamboo armchairs with red cushions, a dark wood coffee table, a dark wood TV table with a TV, a DVD player, a WIFI router, and an internet android box with foreign TV channels, a hifi system that is compatible with mp3 players, a small teak wood side table, double French doors that lead out to the front terrace, and windows that look out to the side garden and private gated parking area, and the dining terrace respectively. A door leads off the living room to the downstairs shower room/ wet room which has white/grey and blue/grey tiles, a shower, a shelf with a round basin, a round mirror with spotlights, a toilet, a washing machine, cleaning equipment, and a frosted window. An archway from the living room leads through to the modern, fully equipped kitchen/dining area which has reddish wood and glass built-in cabinets, a dishwasher, a cooker with a ceramic hob and cooker hood, a fridge/freezer, a microwave oven, a kettle, a toaster, a full kitchen inventory, a mosaic tile topped dining table and 4 comfortable white rattan dining chairs. There are 2 windows that looks out to the side garden with orange trees, and double French doors to that open out onto the covered dining terrace. The dining terrace is equipped with a grey metal and grey glass topped dining table, 4 comfortable matching grey dining chairs, an adjacent metal barbeque, and has wonderful views across the countryside to the white mountains, and 2 steps to the pool terrace.
First floor: 1 double bedroom, 1 twin bedroom, 1 bathroom, a large sun terrace/balcony (17 steps from the ground floor).
The double bedroom has a feature stone wall, a cream rattan double bed, 2 matching bedside tables with lamps, a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a round coffee table, and a window that has a view over the driveway to the surrounding fields and countryside. The double bedroom has double French doors that open out onto a large sun terrace that is equipped with a 2 small mosaic topped tables and 4 dining chairs, and a sun bed. Since the photos were taken some material has been placed on some of the pergola over the sun terrace to give some shade. The sun terrace has panoramic views over the pool terrace to the White Mountains and the surrounding countryside. The twin bedroom also has double French doors onto the sun terrace. The twin bedroom has dark wood single beds, 2 matching bedside cabinets with lamps, a dark wood wardrobe with drawers, a hanging rail, and a shelf, and a dark brown rattan armchair. The bathroom has cream marble effect tiles, a bath with a shower attachment, a sink with a dark brown wood vanity unit, a mirror with a matching dark wood frame with a lamp, a toilet, and a frosted window.
*** As of January 01, 2024, the Greek government have replaced the old “bed tax” with a new tax that is applied to all stays in short-term rental accommodation in Greece. The Climate Resilience Levy is a response to the devastating forest fires and floods that Greece has experienced in recent years, with the government hoping to generate extra funding that will go towards financing reconstruction, supporting victims, and increasing the country’s defences against future natural disasters.
The owners of all short-term rental accommodation are legally obliged to collect the Climate Resilience Levy as a separate tax for all overnight stays (per villa) as follows:
€10.00 per night on stays between March 01 and October 31, and €4.00 per night on stays between November 01 and February 28/29.
The Vrbo system does not yet have a section for collecting the Climate Resilience Levy and we have, therefore, had to add it to the billing section as an extra fee which will show on the booking as a Host Fee (until Vrbo update their system).
Whilst we understand the potential budget concerns of our guests, this tax/levy is beyond our control and we encourage our guests to see this as a way of contributing to the protection of the planet and the beautiful area where they are holidaying.
