"Villa Samitos"

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Villa |3 bedrooms |Sleeps 8

Amari in Rethymno

from £96 / night

This is the estimated nightly price based on a weekly stay. Contact the advertiser to confirm the price - it varies depending on when you stay and how long for.

£666–£910 / week

2 nights minimum stay

Changeover flexible

5 out of 5

2 reviews | Write a review

Key info  Beach or lakeside relaxation, air conditioning, balcony/terrace, car essential, private garden, no pets allowed

Check availability and book

About the home

"Amari Villas" are luxurious, traditional style villas, located in Amari village, built and furnished to a very high standard. Completed in September 2011, they are registered with an official licence (EOT).

The restoration and renovation of our grand parents house, created 2 separate properties; "Villa Idi" lies to the north, while "Villa Samitos" lies to the south (beside Samitos Mt). Both feature breathtaking views of Psiloritis Mt. (Idi), overlooking the village and the surrounding countryside.

“Villa Samitos” is very ample (180sqm) offering kitchen/dining room, lounge with fireplace, entrance hall with old stone arch, 3 double bedrooms (2 of them with a wooden attic), 3 bathrooms and storage room. The house takes advantage of the perfect climate, allowing daylight and fresh air to enter through the large windows.

The old building has been exceptionally restored and all of its basic elements have been carefully preserved, giving evidence of a eras gone by. The use of natural materials like stone and wood, mixed with old and new furniture items, create a traditional yet contemporary style. The decoration includes many genuine pieces of handicraft and embroidery taken from our family tradition, resulting in a totally relaxing atmosphere of peace and comfort.

Outside there is a garden, but the exceptional features are the large, private terraces (60sqm, in total) which offer outstanding views of the mountains, the village and the valley.
• You are invited to watch the sun/moon rising over Psiloritis while enjoying your dinner outdoors, or
• Relax under the sun, breathe the light air and feel the natural tranquillity of the environment.

There is, also, a swimming pool and a barbecue area which serve the neighbouring “Villa Idi” (please, see the advert of "Villa Idi" - home ID 193571).
• The guests may have access to these facilities (for free), only when “Villa Idi” is vacant (please, ask for this information during your stay).

The villa comes, at no extra cost, with air-conditioning, wi-fi and almost everything you will need for an unforgettable holiday plus a welcome basket with complementary supplies upon arrival.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
• Baby equipment can be provided, upon request, at no extra cost.
• Full airconditioning, solar water heater, wi-fi, at no extra cost.
• Wood supplies for the fireplace, at no extra cost.
• HotBird Satellite offering plenty of european TV and Radio channels.
• Terrestrial TV.
• DVD - CD player along with stereo system. We can provide (for free) movies and music from our collection.
• Inside the villa you will find maps, books and information about the area and the Crete island.

Further details outdoors:
• Three private terraces (60 sqm in total) with open air dining areas and a garden.
• Beach towels provided.
• Sun loungers are available in addition to outdoors furniture (tables, chairs, etc.).
• Open air dining.
• Free public parking areas, 30-50m from the house entrance.
• Possible use of swimming pool and barbecue area, at no extra cost, (only when the neighbouring “Villa Idi” is vacant). Please, ask for information during your stay. For swimming pool/barbecue description refer to "Villa Idi", in the same advert of co-located properties.

Further details

• Upon arrival you will find as a welcoming present some initial supplies in a basket and in the fridge, in order to make your first days easier. Also, you will find olive oil from our production, local wine and "raki", even Cretan mountain herbs to infuse.
• The housekeeper lives nearby, so if you need anything you can just ask for it.

Conditions

“Villa Samitos” will be available on the day of arrival from 4:00 pm.
• In case of no previous booking, an earlier arrival can be arranged, at no extra cost.
We would be grateful if the villa is vacated by 10:00 am on the day of departure.
• Should there be no further booking on your day of departure, vacation at a later time can be arranged, at no extra cost.

The changeover dates are flexible.

“Villa Samitos” is a non smoking villa. Smokers are kindly requested to smoke outside.

Photos

 

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The entrance arc

 

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Amari fields in full bloom

 

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The entrance hall

 

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Open dining - lounge area

The Crete region

Lying between the Aegean and Libyan Sea, Crete is the largest island in Greece and the 5th in the Mediterranean. Famous for its bright sun, clear blue seas, healthy diet and Minoan civilization sites it has been very popular among tourists for decades.

UNDISCOVERED CRETE
But the real jewel lies inland. Away from the main tourist track, little villages hidden amidst beautiful valleys or perched on the mountainous landscape, enjoy an ideal climate and preserve the authentic Cretan lifestyle.

NATURE HIGHLIGHTS
High mountains, like Idi and the Lefka Ori, have created valleys, green plateaus, impressive gorges and unique coastlines.
• Amari Valley (see description of Amari, below).
• Samaria Gorge, a World Biosphere Reserve, is 16km long (5-6hr average walking), extending from Omalos Plateau to the Libyan sea.
• Lasithi Plateau, on Dikti Mt, overlooks Eastern Crete.
• Vai is the largest Palm Forest in Europe, lying beside a golden beach at the far eastern point of the island.
• The magnificent Southern Coastline is a major attraction where the mountains descend steeply into the transparent waters.

ARCHAEOLOGIGAL SITES
The Minoans graced Europe with its first civilization, 4000 years ago.
• Knossos and Faistos Palaces are the main sites of the Minoan Era.
• The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion houses most of the finds, including the Knossos Frescoes and the Faistos Disc.
The Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman periods left also significant monuments and hundreds of churches and monasteries.
• Rethymnon and Chania Venetian Towns and Fortresses.
• Heraklion Venetian Port and Walls.
• Rethymnon’s 4 mosques.
• The Loggia and St. Titus in Heraklion
• Arkadi, Toplou and Agia Triada Monasteries.

CITY LIFE
• Feel the up tempo rhythm of Heraklion, a non-stop melting-pot of old and modern styles.
• Experience an evening wander through the old town of Rethymnon's narrow streets, with its countless bars and taverns.
• Join the throngs of evening strollers in Chania’s Venetian port.

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
• Cretaquarium is a modern facility preserving all kinds of Mediterranean Sea life.
• The Observatory of the University of Crete, on Skinakas summit (1750m, on Idi mountain), opens to the public 5 Sundays each summer, giving the opportunity to get a glimpse of space, through the large telescope.

CLIMATE
The island is divided into two climatic zones, the Mediterranean and the North African. It is considered one of the healthiest climates in Europe, with temperatures around the high 20s (deg. Celsius) in spring and autumn and, sometimes, up to the high 30s (deg. Celsius) in the summer. Rain (and rarely snow) falls mostly during winter months, while in the summer, usually, there is no rain at all.

The Rethymno / Amari area

Rethymnon (city population 30.000) is located in the centre of Crete, offering easy access to the whole island. It combines endless sandy beaches and crystal clear waters along with amazing landscapes in the mountains.
Among a wide range of historical monuments, the most renowned is Rethymnon’s Old town. Being the best preserved Venetian town in Greece, it is a charming blend of Renaissance and Ottoman architecture with narrow streets, mosques, piazzas and fountains.
The scenic Amari valley, in the heart of Crete, lies between 2 mountains: Psiloritis (Idi) and Kedros, both belonging to the Natura 2000 protected areas. The clean environment and the healthy climate are ideal for relaxing, walking, climbing, cycling, or exploring by car. Numerous paths, starting from Amari and the nearby villages will guide you to magnificent natural sites (plateaus, caves, mountaintops, gorges, etc).
The coast is also accessible, due to the location of the village, in the middle of the island.
Amari village itself (altitude 450m) is one of the most picturesque and unspoiled in Crete, with interesting architecture and unsurpassed tranquillity. In the main square there is a “kafeneion” (coffee shop) beside the old school and the giant pine trees.

AMARI VILLAGE’S HIGHLIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS
• Experience refreshing walks through the fields and rest under the shade of ancient olive and oak trees.
• Climb to the Samitos summit (1050m, 1.5 hour easy walking). Find the cave “Bana”, once dedicated to the worship of Pan, the ancient God of nature. On the summit plateau there is a parachuting gliding platform.
• Discover all 7 byzantine churches, hidden in the countryside, dating from the 13th century.
• The old bell tower is the symbol for visitors, offering spectacular views of the area (located just beside the villas).
• Experience the slow tempo of life, sitting in the “kafeneion”, with a coffee or a “raki”, among the locals busy with their everyday talking.
• Children will be happy to use the schoolyard and the playground.

SIGHTS
The area is rich in history, with several sites of the Minoan and Byzantine era.
• The Minoan town of Syvritos (meaning “sweet water”) near the village of Thronos (7km).
• The Minoan palace, discovered in the nearby village of Monastiraki (2km).
• The “Veni” monastery (10km) is located beside a unique plateau, featuring a temple in a cave with stalactites.
• Some of the major archaeological sites of Crete are within an hour's drive from Amari: Arkadi monastery (20min), Festos Minoan Palace and Agia Triada Royal Villa (55min), the Roman capital of Gortys (50min), Eleftherna’s Minoan city of the dead (30min), Preveli monastery (55min), Rethymnon's old Venetian town, fortress and Paleontological museum (45min).

NATURE HIGHLIGHTS
The layout of Amari lanscape is exceptional. It is a charming mixture of high mountains, hillsides, small rivers and green fields. The most common trees found are olives, oaks and cypresses and the whole scene is decorated in springtime with countless wild flowers.
Among the points of interest are:
• “Agios Antonios” ravine (20min drive) which begins beside an ancient temple’s ruins and crosses a dense forest, featuring waterfalls, bird watching points and pic-nic facilities.
• “Potamoi” lake (20min drive) is a refuge and immigration station for birds, suitable for walking or cycling.
• “Psiloritis” Mt. dominates the area, being the highest point in Crete and crossed by the international E4 path. Deeply immersed in myths and legends, it is the home of the last surviving bearded vultures and golden eagles. The “Timios Stavros” summit (2456m) is a challenge (3-5hr ascending), but you will need a special local guide for that. On a clear day, the view is unlimited, extending all over Crete to the Aegean and Libyan Sea.
• “Kedros” Mt. (1777m), also crossed by the E4, is wild and rocky near the top, traced by canyons and is a nest for falcons and eagles. But in its lower area it is peaceful, forming little valleys with springs and fruit trees.
• “Kourtaliotiko gorge” (30min drive) takes its name from “kourtala” a hand clap sound created by the wind passing through numerous caves. Go deep down (500 steps) to find the 5 sources of the river and the waterfall.

BEACHES
• You can reach Rethymnon's sandy beaches in 25-45 min or
• Explore the magnificent southern coastline (Plakias, Preveli Palm Forest, Triopetra, Ligres, Damnoni) in 60 min.

TAVERNS
• In the surrounding area (2-5km) you can find a number of small tavernas with genuine Cretan food.
• In almost every village there is a typical "kafeneion" serving coffee, refreshments, home made "raki", wine and little local dishes.
• In Amari village’s square (50m), there is a "kafeneion" and a new little tavern is expected to be in operation next year.

EVENTS HIGHLIGTHS
• The Agios (Saint) Titos celebration on 25th of August, features an open air traditional music and dance gathering, held in the main square with lots of food and wine. Similar feasts take place in all nearby villages during the summer.
• During the Easter period, a series of traditional events leads eventually to the impressive “Judas burning”.
• The Renaissance festival, held in Rethymnon’s old town (July-September) offers a lot of music and theatre performances.

CHILDREN
• The village is considered quite safe for kids due to its limited traffic. There is a playground and a basic basketball court.
• Also, the schoolyard is available for playing (and visible from the villas).

NEAREST LOCAL SERVICES
• In Agia Fotini village, 4km drive (town hall, medical service, pharmacy, gas station, 2 super markets, butcher's, local products).
• Police station in Amari village.

SUPPLIES – LOCAL PRODUCTS
• Fresh bread is delivered every day to the “kafeneion” and merchants with groceries, fruits and fresh fish pass through the village square several times a week.
• With the help of the housekeeper, you can buy directly from local farmers dairy products, eggs, herbs, nuts, wine, etc.

ACTIVITIES INFORMATION
• Amari has an unexplored character and we will be happy to provide information to make your stay more exciting. Ask us about car hire and destinations, sights and nature, activities and events, taverns and products, local guides, etc.
• If you are planning to rent a car (which is recommended) it would be an asset to choose a 4x4 vehicle, in order to explore the roads less travelled in the mountains.

How to get there

"Villa Samitos" What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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Nearest travel links
Airports: Chania (CHQ) and Heraklion (HER)
Ferry : Chania, Heraklion and Rethymnon

• Heraklion or Chania airport (about 100km/100min, either),
Charter flights operate from all major European airports to Heraklion and Chania airports.
Charter flight operators include; Thompsonfly, Fly Thompson Cook, Jet2.com, Easyjet and Ryanair.
Internal flight operators include; Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Athens Airways and Sky express.
• Ferries are operating to the ports of Heraklion (95km/90min), Chania (85km/75min) and Rethymnon
(37km/45min).
Ferry operators include; Anek Lines, Minoan Lines, Hellenic Seaways and Seajet.
• Car hire is recommended.
Major hire car companies operate from all airports and cities.
• Detailed directions on how to reach the property by car will be sent upon booking confirmation.
• In case you don’t want to hire a car, please send a request for alternative transportation options.

Activities near Rethymno

Reviews

Review: 1 to 2 of 2

03 Dec 2012

“A beautiful villa with breathtaking view” We had a wonderful stay in Villa Samitos. The contacts with the owner prior to the visit were very helpful, with useful info sent in advance and very good directions to reach the villa. The area... more

15 Mar 2012

“Excellent holidays in the very heart of Crete!” What we always desired was to have some peaceful time somewhere in Crete's inland, possibly in a distance from the most touristic areas. Villa Samitos in Amari fulfilled all our expectations about that. Arriving me and a friendly couple with our car in the port of Chania from Piraeus, we found easily the way to Amari, following the instructions of Manolis, the owner. The villa was in the edge of Amari, a picturesque village in the foothill of Idi mountain. We were immediately enchanted by the panoramic view terrace of the house, where we loved sitting and enjoying the refreshing herb-scented air. The villa was a stylishly restored, stone built village house with traditional, charming furniture, equipped with all modern devices, central heating system and air-conditioning. Everything inside was clean and comfortable, the service was excellent and Manolis gave all his heart to help us enjoy the place and the district environment. We had nice, long countryside walks around the village, where fields with olive trees gave place to green meadows, full of spicy herbs and wild flowers, indicating the early arrival of cretan springtime. We enjoyed our dining in some local taverns, providing home-made cuisine in very good prices. We also ejoyed car drives to some southern coast beaches (about one hour from our base) and the nearby lake, and we tried exploring a bit the great Idi mountain. Definitely a place to return and an experience we would like to repeat sometime in the future!

Review: 1 to 2 of 2

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Rental prices

Prices for group size 8
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
	17 Feb 12	1 Apr 12	700€ 700	-	-	2 Nights
	1 Apr 12	1 Jun 12	720€ 720	-	-	2 Nights
	1 Jun 12	1 Jul 12	800€ 800	-	-	2 Nights
	1 Jul 12	1 Sep 12	950€ 950	-	-	2 Nights
	1 Sep 12	1 Oct 12	800€ 800	-	-	2 Nights
	1 Oct 12	1 Nov 12	720€ 720	-	-	2 Nights
	1 Nov 12	21 Dec 12	700€ 700	-	-	2 Nights
	21 Dec 12	7 Jan 13	960€ 960	-	-	3 Nights
	7 Jan 13	1 Apr 13	780€ 780	-	-	3 Nights
	1 Apr 13	1 Jun 13	800€ 800	-	-	3 Nights
	1 Jun 13	1 Jul 13	880€ 880	-	-	3 Nights
	1 Jul 13	1 Sep 13	1050€ 1050	-	-	3 Nights
	1 Sep 13	1 Oct 13	880€ 880	-	-	3 Nights
	1 Oct 13	1 Nov 13	800€ 800	-	-	3 Nights
	1 Nov 13	21 Dec 13	780€ 780	-	-	3 Nights
	21 Dec 13	6 Jan 14	1065€ 1065	-	-	3 Nights

The property does not have weekend tariffs.

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

- Minimum stay 3 nights, daily rate is calculated on a pro-rata basis. - For the period (October - May), we offer a hire car with a discount from 25% to 50% (depending on car category). - Long stay policy : Please contact us for long stay discounts (2 weeks or more). - The above prices include full air-conditioning, internet access, all cleaning services, change of linen and towels towels weekly and all the facilities as described in the above sections*. *Central heating cost, from 1/Nov to 31/Mar, depends on the current petrol price and is not included in the prices. Please, contact us for details. - A 25% deposit will be necessary for booking confirmation, the remaining balance will be required four (4) weeks prior to your arrival. - Payments can be made by bank transfer in Euros.

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 anyway No. of adults No. of children Message * Send me ideas on where to stay

1 year listed You are contacting Manolis Papadakis Landline 30 28310 51003 Mobile 30 6973557081 Languages spoken The owner is based in Greece and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2012. This villa has received 2 reviews from previous guests.

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