Stratos Villas

The villa is very spacious and offers stunning views. We really enjoyed having our own private pool. The surroundings are very quiet and rural – only nature, goats, sheep and chickens around us. The hosts were very friendly and welcomed us with Raki, olive oil and wine from their own production, which was a lovely gesture. On request we even received some more Raki, which we appreciated a lot.

The location is more remote than we had imagined, and it takes longer to reach beaches and villages. While the rural setting is beautiful, the animals nearby (chickens during the day, dogs in the valley at night) can sometimes be a bit noisy. The kitchen equipment was rather basic – for example, only one dishwasher tablet was provided for our 6-night stay, and coffee or washing powder were not included. These are small details, but they would make the stay even more comfortable. Overall we enjoyed our time, but personally we would probably choose a different location for a future stay.

One of the owners welcomed us personally and showed us around

We liked every thing

It is hard for me to think of a more relaxing holiday than the one we had staying in the Villa Fouli as guests of the Kapetanaki family. In these trying times of the corona virus, the villa, its garden and pool were spotlessly clean and sanitised. The family gave us a terrific welcome, and proved to be on hand 24 hours a day with as much help and assistance as we required. Advice on which towns to visit, the local tavernas to try, and the nearest beauty spots were always forthcoming, as well as advice on 'staying safe' as regards to the virus. Eva (mum) is a terrific cook, and with her daughters Maria and Fouli bombarded us almost every day with delicious, local and home made things to eat and drink left on our doorstep. This was a totally unexpected and delightful bonus to our stay! Stratos (dad) is the builder and gardener, and I spent much time enjoying the beauty of the gardens, the olive grove next door and the stunning scenery just opposite the villa on the adjacent mountainside. One of our abiding memories of our stay was the daily flying display of the swallows, who dipped and dived into the pool for a quick drink, before perching on a 'phone wire above the olive grove and chattering amongst themselves. Kaloniktis is a quiet spot, and the three villas are just outside of the village so you need a car to get around. The nearest supermarket is an easy drive and about four miles away, with much smaller 'quick stop' shops within two miles. The nearest town is Rethymno, and is a little further down the road from the supermarket. We found all the tavernas to be very good and very reasonably priced. But you will pay more to dine in town, and by the waterfronts. So, if you're looking for a relaxing holiday in a gorgeous villa in a beautiful part of Crete with kind and generous hosts...look no further! It would be unthinkable for us not to visit again!

The hosts are wonderful! Maria and her mother, Eva provided a very welcoming atmosphere. They even hosted us for Greek coffee and special sweet treats one morning! The pool was excellent and the villa was very private. Definitely would stay again!

Nothing!