Asteria

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Villa |4 bedrooms |Sleeps 8

Almyrida in Chania

From £730 per week

Short stays welcome

Changeover flexible

Be the first to write a review

Key info  Swimming pool, beach or lakeside relaxation, air conditioning, balcony/terrace, car not necessary, private garden, no pets allowed

About the home

Villa Asteria is designed with comfortable double & twin bedrooms. It has a private swimming pool which is GATED to help with child safety.

Located in our St Basil Olive Grove, only 3 minutes drive from the beach at Almirida, on the Apokoronas Peninsular in North West Crete (35 minute drive from Chania Airport). Also nearby, only a 12 minute walk away, is the 1000-year old Greek village of Gavalochori with tavernas & shops.

The villa shares the Olive Grove with only 4 other villas (also owned by us) but is not overlooked by them so your privacy is protected. Unusually for Crete, there is at least 60 metres between each house, and separated by colour full private gardens. The olive grove is huge (4.5 acres, 17,000 sq metres) and is fully fenced and gated. The road to Almyrida has only light traffic during the day and occasional vehicles at night, yet you are never far from civilisation and the bustling cafe culture and nightlife of nearby villages.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: only a few steps up to house, (roll-up ramp available). Downstairs 2nd bathroom (professional commode/shower-seat available) and double bedroom with immediate flat access to patio and outside dining area overlooking pool. Call us to discuss - 0161 980 6754

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Villa Asteria sleeps groups in comfort, with parties of up to 8 people each having their own bed - no need for pull out or camp beds in the living room. When comparing our villas to others you see online you should ask the agent/owner the following questions:

1) How far away in metres is the nearest neighbouring house? ... What separates us?

2) Do I have to share a BBQ or pool with another house?

3) Is there easy access between kitchen and outside dining area? ... Or do I have to climb up and down a flight of stairs?

4) Will everyone in my party have a proper bedroom? ... Will some have to sleep on camp beds in the living/dining room?

AND if you are a parent with young children: Is the pool easily visible from the kitchen/living room area? ... Are there any safety gates around the pool?

The house is also suitable for wheelchair users. There are only a couple of steps to negotiate from the road up to the house. Downstairs double bedroom with shower room and W/C next to it.

Each bedroom also has a private balcony with breathtaking views over open countryside (and sea views in the distance from some balconies).

Further details outdoors:
Thoughtfully designed and extremely comfortable, this house is one of only 5 exclusive properties on our private olive grove - all owned by us. Each benefits from being not directly overlooked - having beautiful colourful gardens among 100 olive trees and literally acres of outside space to explore.

Villa Asteria has a very large patio area (fenced) which makes it ideal for poolside games.

Further details

Price is based on occupancy - lower rates apply if you have fewer guests. See our website for details, or call and speak to us direct - 0161 980 6754 (+44 161 980 6754 if calling from outside UK)

Conditions

Pay by debit / credit card, PayPal or Bank Transfer. UK pounds or euro equivalent

Photos

 

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Family villa, sleeps 8, own pool, NOT OVERLOOKED - walk to shops and beach

 

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Impressive private gated drive and private parking

 

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Plenty of space around this villa

 

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Good place to watch the kids play in the pool

The Crete region

Crete, blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine every year and has over 25 million olive trees and a population of less than 600,000 living on its 8,300 square kilometers. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean that lies at the point where the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa meet. The island has an elongated shape, 260 km long from west to east and is divided into four prefectures Chania, Rethymnon, Iraklio and Lassithi, which are between 15 and 60 km wide. The coastline is over 1000 km long and consists of both sandy beaches and rocky shores. The rest of the island is sparsely populated, with large tracts of mountainous areas frequented only by shepherds.

"Out in the dark blue sea there lies an island called Crete, a rich and lovely land, washed by the waves on every side, densely peopled and boasting ninety cities."
Homer Odyssey 19, 172-174

Together with all the former attractions, the island has a rich archaeological heritage in the prefecture of Heraklio and eastward, are the remains of the palaces and cities (Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, etc.) which are of the Minoan settlement, who developed one of the great civilizations of the ancient world, which flourished between 1700 - 1450 B.C. Then with the invasion of the Achaians and later the Dorians (11th century B.C.), new cities were built, such as Aptera (17 km. from Chania) and Lato. Among the remains of Byzantine culture on Crete are the masterful mosaic floors and the churches decorated with frescoes dating from the 10th to the 16th centuries.

Crete fell into the hands of the Arabs In 824 till 961 which was when Handak today known as Iraklio was founded. In 1204 the island was then passed to the Venetians who reinforced older fortresses, such as Koule in Heraklio, and built new ones in places such as Gramvousa (45 km from Chania), Spinalonga (near Aghios Nikolaos 200 km from Chania), Frangokastello (85 km), Lerapetra (250 km), and Paleohora (70 km). We can still admire Venetian edifices such as the great walls of Chania, inside which we find narrow streets with squares, fountains, churches and Venetian houses. In 1645 the Muslim conquered the island for the first time and in 1669 the whole of Crete fell into the hands of Turks, it was not until 1913 when the island of Crete was united with the rest of Greece.

The spirit of Crete is reflected large in the island's landscapes, its soaring mountains and fertile plains, in the palaces of the Minoan area and the castles, mosques and minarets of Venetian and Turkish conquerors. Above all it is in the traditional hospitality of its people with their infectious love of life and enjoyment of simple pleasures. Thus Crete is a land for all temperaments, blending fascinating layers of history with a proud and thriving folklore in a powerfully beautiful setting.

The Chania / Almyrida area

VILLA ASTERIA is situated 2 km inland of the fishing village of Almirida (sometimes spelt Almyrida) on Crete's north west coast. This is to the east of Souda Bay on the Apokoronas peninsular, about 20 kilometres from the city of Chania and its airport.

OUR LOCATION is ideal if you want a quiet family holiday with plenty of sun and sea, yet you are never far from civilisation and the bustling cafe culture and nightlife of nearby villages.

Nearby ALMIRIDA VILLAGE has around a dozen restaurants and tavernas, mostly along the seafront, so you can enjoy your meal just a few metres from the waves. We have personally eaten at every restaurant and have never had a poor meal, although perhaps some of the local village wine is a acquired taste! Cooking is invariably home-made Cretan (according to long-handed down family recipies) so you will find that the same dish will differ between restaurants. Variety is everywhere. Nightlife - there are several quite trendy bars open until silly hours, and there is often a disco in Nikita's bar on a Sunday night. You can also expect impromptu musicians to turn up at any time and entertain you with traditional Cretan music and dancing.

GAVALOCHORI VILLAGE, only 12 minutes walk away, dates back over 1000 years and offers your closest restaurants and minimarkets - plus interesting attactions such as the ancient Roman Wells.

BEACHES are sandy and safe, with crystal waters, and offer good opportunities for swimming, fishing, snorkelling and scuba (PADI) diving. You can also hire wind surfers and pedaloes - even a large sailing boat for day trips around the peninsular

Nearby KALIVES is a working town as well as being a tourist destination. So in addition to the beaches, tavernas, bars and tourist shops there are local shops plus a good-sized supermarket. Banking, post office and petrol station are available.

CHANIA, the second city of Crete, is a cosmopolitan city voted the most beautiful on Crete. With the White Mountains as a backdrop, it has a Venetian harbour, museums, a fascinating indoor market and an old quarter of narrow streets packed with interesting shops. It is a vibrant place steeped in Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish history. The harbour area is a great place to sit and watch the world go by at one of the sea-front tavernas. You can take a boat trip, visit the nautical museum, or just wander around the narrow back streets. The Agora market has fish, meat, bakers and fruit stalls. The Saturday street market which runs down towards the sea, close to the Agora is the best place to find produce straight from the fields.

WALKING/HIKING. The famous Samaria gorge is just to the south and there are also many more peaceful gorges such as Imbros Gorge, which runs parallel to Samaria. The Apokoronas area is wonderful for walking & cycling, especially in the Spring & Autumn. Inland, the countryside offers spectacular hills and winding valleys. May and June are the ideal months to see an astonishing display of wild flowers - including huge carnivorous plants growing wild! An ideal way to explore on foot is with local walking experts Faragi Tours, a family-run company of enthusiasts who specialise in offering walks of various length and difficulty, from beginner to expert. They are based in nearby Vamos, only 5 km (3 miles) from our villas.

KNOSSOS PALACE - famous dwelling of the Minoans and the Minotaur
www.ancient-greece.org/archaeology/knossos.html

PHAISTOS was one of the most important centres of Minoan civilization, and the most wealthy and powerful city in southern Crete. It was inhabited from the Neolithic period until the foundation and development of the Minoan palaces in the 15th century B.C.
www.odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2363

ALLIED WAR CEMETARY
In a beautiful location at the head of Souda bay, a poignant memorial to the young lives lost in World War 2. A lovely garden and a very peaceful place.
www.cretanvista.gr/soudawarcem.htm

GERMAN WAR CEMETARY
It is a tribute to the people of Crete that they help to maintain the cemetery of those who invaded them in the May of 1941. Like the Allied cemetery, this is also beautifully maintained, but totally different in design. To find it you drive out to Maleme, and look for the turning on your left as you drive West. It is on one of the hills over-looking Maleme airfield, where many of them died as they came in by parachute. More than 4000 German troops are buried here. The headstones are in fact tablets laid flat on the ground, one tablet for two men. At intervals there are also small stone crosses. There is also a small visitor centre on the path up to the cemetery. When he was alive George Psychoundakis (The Cretan Runner) tended the graves at the cemetery
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleme

How to get there

Asteria What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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The nearest airport is Chania (sometimes written as Hania). This is an easy half-hour drive away, depending on traffic.

Chania airport is your easiest option because there are regular flights on a Tuesday from most UK main & regional airports (except Scotland). Most of the villa rental market in West Crete is geared towards Tuesday - Tuesday bookings because of this. If you can organise your holiday to start on a Tuesday you are more likely to get the availability you prefer.

The alternative airport is Heraklion. Compared to Chania, flights may be slightly cheaper, and there is a wide choice of arrival dates. However, the drive is longer - just over 2 hours - but it is an easy straight road across the island and gives you the opportunity to see more of Crete.

Tuesday flights to Chania from: Birmingham, Gatwick, Manchester & Newcastle airports

Tuesday flights to Heraklion from: Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Humberside, East Midlands, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Stansted & Exeter airports.

If you cannot manage a Tuesday, of course we will still try to accommodate you, especially in the early and late times of the season. Please email or phone your requirements and we will try to be as flexible as we can.

Activities near Chania

Guestbook for Asteria

We thought the villa was in an ideal situation - peaceful but not isolated and within walking distance of the taverna and an easy drive for a quick dip in the sea . It all looked very well cared for and had everything we needed.Mark was very helpful and we did appreciate the mid week clean.We found all the pre-holiday information excellent and all in all a pretty professional and friendly experience .We would recommend you and certainly hope to repeat it ourselves.
Robin, Sept 2011


We certainly had a lovely week! It was a beautiful setting and a lovely villa and the boys enjoyed the pool. We really enjoyed eating at the taverna next to the war memorial, thank you for that recommendation. It was a lovely clean and well presented villa. The olive oil was delicious so we will be ordering some of that, such intense flavour.
Jo, July 2011

I don't think "enjoyed" our holiday actually covers it, John. From the first class service from Marcus at the booking stage.. the first class attention of the entire staff looking after my brother and myself..I can honestly say that those two weeks were the best holiday weeks' of my life. The villas are exceptional, the olive grove a haven of peace and quiet, the surrounding scenery spectacular..thank you and all of the team for making our stay a fantastic experience. Dave Wilson, June 2010

Rental prices

Prices for group size 8
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Early Spring	6 Mar 12	31 Mar 12	780£ 780	0-	0-	1 Week
Easter	31 Mar 12	17 Apr 12	880£ 880	0-	0-	1 Week
Spring	17 Apr 12	5 Jun 12	780£ 780	0-	0-	1 Week
Half Term	5 Jun 12	12 Jun 12	880£ 880	0-	0-	1 Week
Summer	12 Jun 12	17 Jul 12	1030£ 1030	0-	0-	1 Week
High Summer	17 Jul 12	4 Sep 12	1430£ 1430	0-	0-	1 Week
Autumn	4 Sep 12	2 Oct 12	980£ 980	0-	0-	1 Week
Late Season	2 Oct 12	30 Oct 12	730£ 730	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

PRICES BASED ON OCCUPANCY.For fewer than 8 guests, please deduct 50 UK pounds per person per week.

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Contact the owner

* Required fields Please check the following errors: First name * Last name * Email *   Did you mean ""? Yes / No Phone number Arrival date Departure date   Ignore calendar - enquire anway No. of adults No. of children Message * Email me special offers and holiday ideas T&Cs

1 years listed You are contacting John Dunn Landline +44 0161 9298787 Mobile n/a Web Visit site Payment accepted Credit cards accepted PayPal accepted Languages spoken The owner is based in the United Kingdom and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2011. This villa has so far received 0 reviews.

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