Private villa, beach/town 2km. EOT No. MHTE 1040K91003094801

Details of the Villa

Key features of villa: - Traditional stone-clad Cretan home incorporating all modern amenities - Elevated position outside local village, with stunning views of Elounda Bay and beyond to front, mountain views to side and rear - One of only two privately owned properties on this site - quiet location, not on a tourist complex - Private pool with external shower - Single storey accommodation, detached, on large plot (800 sq m) - Plenty outdoor space offering sun and shade - attractive terraced gardens, pool-side sun deck, paved terraces & patios, built-in BBQ - Spacious accommodation with beamed vaulted ceiling - Fully tiled family wet-room with bath and rain shower, separate WC - Tiled floors throughout - Open-plan lounge/kitchen/dining area with feature fireplace - Patio doors in all rooms with mosquito nets & electrically operated shutters - Fitted kitchen equipped to high standard, with breakfast bar and ample storage - Air conditioning units available in bedrooms - DVD and local satellite TV available, including news, sports, films etc - Wifi - Secure wall safe - Secure electric gates on drive and private parking - Villa linen & towels provided - please provide own beach/swimming towels The villa offers well-planned accommodation for adult and family groups of up to 4. The pool is stepped at the shallow end for safe and easy access. The advanced pool filtration system ensures that the chlorination level can be kept safely at a low level, making it more pleasant for users. Young children need to be supervised, particularly in and around the pool, external steps and gardens. The family wet room makes showering / bathing quick and easy for children and adults alike. For any additional services or special requests, the owner may be able to accommodate these eg by making arrangements with local contacts, so let him know of any extras. Location: - Car hire is recommended, though local transport links are good - Easy access to/from Heraklion airport - approx 1 hour's drive/70 km, about 100 euros by cab/14 euros by bus - 2 km inland from the exclusive holiday resort of Elounda on north east coast of Crete - a 20 minute stroll downhill from the villa to the centre of Elounda - Elounda has an extensive harbour front, lined with bars, cafes and restaurants, and offers good local amenities, including supermarkets, bakeries, ATMs, post office, pharmacies, gift shops, laundrette, car hire and tour operator services - Agios Nikolaos is a short drive/bus ride away (about 10 km / 3 euros) - it is a lively tourist destination and ferry terminal with many hotels, tavernas, restaurants, night clubs, shops and beaches Things to do: - Nothing, just chill out! Relax by the pool, have a drink in one of Elounda’s harbour-front bars, and just while the time away! - Ideal location for activities such as walking, cycling, bird watching, water sports, fishing, boat hire, visiting archeological sites & museums - Elounda is well served by buses and cabs, and many excursions to other parts of the island are available from travel agents in Elounda & Agios Nikolaos, and from the bus station in Agios Nikolaos - If you don’t want to go far, Elounda has a lot to offer - an almost inexhaustible number of excellent places to eat and drink, and good shopping – Friday is market day when stalls selling local food, produce, clothes and gifts are set up close to the harbour. Elounda has a blue-flag beach with showers and toilets, the ancient salt pans of Olous are worth exploring, as well as the isthmus and peninsula which extends from Elounda into the Gulf of Mirabello towards Spinalonga Island (see more below) - Elounda has the best hotels on Crete - take advantage of their facilities, enjoy their cocktail bars, restaurants and pools, spend a day pampering yourself with their beauty treatments and spa facilities - Take a boat trip from the harbour to Spinalonga Island, which lies off the coast of Plaka, 5 km from Elounda. It has a fascinating history - it was the last leper colony in Europe (closed in 1953) and you can see the island’s massive fortress built by the Venetians in 1579. Spinalonga is also the subject of Victoria Hislop's international best seller The Island and a national Greek TV series, filmed in Pano Elounda, Plaka and other localities. This is a popular half-day trip and boats leave every half hour from Elounda harbour, price around 10 euros. Boats also go from Agios Nikolaos and Plaka. There is a charge for entry to the site (about 10 euros). Guides are available on the island (around 7 euros) or you may just want to wander round yourself and return when you feel like it. - Car drivers will be able to explore the area around Elounda more widely and find idyllic coves off the beaten track. The beaches beyond Agios Nikolaos on the coast road towards Siteia are worth exploring if you want to get away from the tourist trail. Dropping down from the main road onto dirt tracks which hug the coastline can often be very rewarding. - Plaka is small traditional fishing village just a short bus ride away (5 km to the west of Elounda, fare approx 2 euros). It has a stony beach which can make getting in and out of the sea without beach shoes challenging, but the water is crystal-clear and the swimming unbeatable, so it’s worth it! Boat trips to Spinalonga are also available from Plaka. Or eat at one of Plaka's excellent seafront fish restaurants and enjoy the views while you dine - Agios Nikolaos, once a small fishing village, has expanded into a thriving town and tourist centre. You can shop until you drop here! It has steps everywhere and seems to be surrounded by water – wherever you are, you can see the sea. It has several municipal beaches (see below) - these are safe for children and the water is good. Various boat trips leave from the harbour and excursions around the whole island are available. Dining in one of the smart restaurants overlooking the so-called enclosed bottomless lake, offering traditional and international cuisine, makes for a romantic evening. But if you’re looking for something more lively, Agios Nikolaos has a lot to offer, with a plethora of bars catering for clubbers, sports fans and those who just like music to drink to. For a spectacular view accompanied by music from the 60s, 70s and 80s, try Alexandros roof-top cocktail bar by the tourist information office and cab rank, (opens at 9.00 pm). Market day here is Wednesday when the car park near the hospital and surrounding streets (Ethnikis Andistaseos St which runs down to the bottomless lake) are turned into an open-air bazaar where you can buy local food, produce, gifts and clothing. - There are various beaches worth visiting in and around Agios Nikolaos : Ammoudi, Kitroplatia, Ammos, Municipal Beach Club, plus Almyros which is 1 km east where the river bringing fresh mountain water meets the sea. - Amoudara is further on, on the Siteia road (3 km / 2 euros bus fare) and has a safe, sandy beach, good facilities, particularly for children, water sports and several bars and restaurants, one with a pool for those who prefer this to the sea. - Beyond Amoudara, Kalo Chorio/Istron (7 km) has an extensive beach popular with locals, with good facilities. - 3 km yet further on is Vulissma Beach, an idyllic sandy bay lapped by turquoise sea. There is an excellent family-friendly bar just before you reach the bay with a good sized swimming pool plus separate children’s pool, with good food available prepared and cooked to order. - Heading inland and west, visit Kritsa, a small traditional mountain village just outside Agios Nikolaos (11 km, about 3 euros by bus) where shops sell hand-made lace, locally made carpets, olive wood and other traditional products - bit of a hard sell but a nice spot with pleasant views, tavernas and bars. - On the approach to Kritsa is an ancient chapel, Panagia Kera, famous for its frescoes, which is well worth a visit - Further afield is Ierapetr