Villa Achilleas - 5* Verified review from Tripadvisor
Left on Aug 20, 2017 for a stay in Aug 2017
Whilst in Crete for the first time we spent a week on the west coast at Falasarna and a week in the north eastern part of the island near Kavousi in Villa Achilleas. Both experiences were almost faultless but Villa Achilleas had the edge for us due in large part to its incredible location. The approach road to the Villa is, we now appreciate, a typically vertiginous experience which although daunting on a first attempt quickly becomes less so with familiarity. Worth it though because one is rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Mirabello that is hard to leave, even for the short trip down to Tholos beach just below. The villa could be accurately described as a 'retreat', which is how we came to think of it. The furnishings are simple and uncluttered whilst being of a standard found in the best boutique hotels, super comfy beds and sofa. The interior is light and airy and pristinely clean. The kitchen is fabulously equipped with contemporary cooker and hob - we cooked a bit so that mattered to us. There are superbly maintained lemon and kumquat trees in the garden and we were able to harvest some ripened figs and herbs which we turned into breakfast, with fresh mint tea on a couple of days. There is a 'cottagey' vibe to Villa Achilleas which accounts for the instant feeling of comfort and does not detract from the sophistication of its organic Cycladic cave design and world class view. It is that combination that blew us away and encouraged us to think about breaking an unwritten rule about never revisiting the same place twice. For us the low impact of tourism on this part of Crete was an absolute delight. Tholos beach has a rustic beauty that we adored and was never overly busy. It has a laid back feel to it which is exactly all you want having ventured off your hillside perch away from the sanctuary of Villa Achilleas. Flanked by Tamarind trees it is easy to find shade on Tholos and the recently built taverna was great for a cold early evening beer. We chose not to explore a huge amount during our weeks stay, preferring instead to make the most of the peace and beauty at Villa Achilleas, however the Villa's owner, Oonagh, was really helpful with directions to a hidden gem of a cove near Kavousi. Information at the Villa also helped us to choose the ideal place for dinner on our final evening, a beautiful village on the E4 European walking route, just 15 minutes from Kavousi, home to Minoan ruins, whose name I would helpfully look up and include if I didn't risk losing the entire review...again!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Idyllic getaway - 5* Verified review from Trip Advisor
Left on Aug 28, 2017 for a stay in Aug 2017
Set above the beautiful Mirabello Bay, with stunning views, the villa is comfortable, very well-equipped and makes a great base from which to explore eastern Crete. The owner was very helpful before our holiday, providing info about supermarkets, restaurants etc and, once we arrived the local manager was in touch to ensure all our needs were met. Linens were changed midweek and a light clean undertaken. There is plenty to see and do in the area (recommend the island of Spinalonga, Mochlos, Sitia and the Ferryman Boat to Psira) though some days we stayed at the villa and just popped down to the beach 5 mins away. There are several good tavernas a short drive away, though the villa has a fully equipped kitchen if you feel like cooking. In summary, a beautiful place to stay.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Our vacation in Villa Achilleas is one of the best vacations we have spent in years.
The villa is located with the most beautiful view of the sea. Sun from morning to evening.
Morning coffee on the terrace, read a good book. When it gets a little too hot
you just slip into the pool. Bonus win, the world's most beautiful sunsets.
In these Covid 19 times, it's great to live a little secluded and yet there are only five to
ten minutes to the nearest small town where you will find a small supermarket, small cozy restaurants and bars.
Do you want a trip to a real city with lots of shops and international restaurants,
there is only half an hour drive to Agios Nikolaos. We give the villa our warmest recommendations.
Anette Drejer and Poul Kofod
Wir hatten das Vergnügen dieses Haus für 12 Tage September/Oktober 2020 zu bewohnen.
Es liegt abseits von „Jubel Trubel Heiterkeit“ – herrlich ruhig mit einem sensationellen Ausblick.
Wir buchen prinzipiell NUR Ferienhäuser – weltweit – Griechenland / Kreta hatten wir nur wg. Corona ausgesucht – aber nicht 1 Sekunde bereut. Die Gastfreundschaft ist beachtlich und in dieser Form sicherlich einzigartig.
Das Haus ist perfekt ausgestattet, wer selbst kochen will findet hier alle notwendigen Utensilien. Uns hat der Gasgrill völlig ausgereicht. Es stehen MTB-Fahrräder zur Verfügung (wohl eher was für Lance Armstrong wg. des Anstiegs) und Kanus was in der Beschreibung nicht erwähnt wird. Das Haus wurde alle 5 Tage komplett gereinigt und Bettwäsche / Handtücher gewechselt. Der Pool und Jacuzzi ebenfalls. Einzigartig, hier wurden WIR gefragt zu welcher Uhrzeit es uns angenehm wäre. Ein Trinkgeld wurde abgelehnt, noch NIE erlebt!
Zum Haus gehört ein großer neu angelegter Garten mit diversen Kräutern, Obst, Gemüse usw.. Zur Ernte für die kochwilligen freigegeben. Der Treffpunkt zur Hausübergabe erfolgte auf der Hauptstraße in einem Kaffee um uns dann den Weg zum Haus zu zeigen. Alleine wäre das Haus vermutlich nur schwer zu finden gewesen. Auf dem weg dorthin wurden mehrere 30 Sekunden Stopps eingelegt um zu zeigen wo ein gutes Restaurant, ein guter Strand usw. zu finden ist.
Es wurde auch während unseres Aufenthaltes mehrfach per WhatsApp nachgefragt ob alles in Ordnung sei oder ob wir etwas benötigen würden. Bei Anreise wurden ein paar Dinge wie, Kaffee, Tee, Getränke (mit- ohne Alkohol), Brot und einer 1,5 Liter Flache Raki aufgestockt – gratis!
Ein starkregenbedingter Stromausfall in der Küche wurde binnen 4 Stunden mit Hilfe eines Elektrikers behoben – der Hausmeister Manoli war bereits nach 45 Minuten vor Ort – sensationell.
Long story short – Thanks a lot for your amazing hospitality! Normally we never book a rental home twice, because we want to discover new destinations – exceptional Villa Achilleas. Pretty sure are going to join the “million dollar view” again.
Stay safe U & M from Bavaria Germany
