Amari Villas: calm and comfort in the real Crete – Home 193570 Villa
- 6 bedrooms
- 17 sleeps
- 4 nights min stay
Amari Villas: calm and comfort in the real Crete – Home 193570
- Villa
- 6 bedrooms
- sleeps 17
- 4 nights min stay
Key Info
- Beach / lakeside relaxation
- Nearest beach 25 mi
- Swimming pool
- Child Friendly
- Car essential
- Air conditioning
- No pets allowed
- Private garden
Description from owner
Description
An idyllic retreat for families and groups in the delightful Amari Valley
Overlooking the terracotta rooftops of the village of Amari, Amari Villas comprises two interconnected properties - Villa Idi and Villa Samitos - which date back to the mid 19th century. The property includes a swimming pool.
THE VILLA
Amari Villas is a traditional stone-built dwelling and was the former home of the owner’s grandparents. A typical rural residence built in the mid-1800s, today the property exudes a unique charm, with its sensitive renovation carefully blending original features with contemporary comfort.
With spectacular views across the Amari Valley to Mount Ida, and a location that guarantees peace and tranquility, Amari Villas offers guests that most elusive of experiences - a beautiful refuge in which to unwind and recharge, enriched by the traditions of "the real Crete".
The property has been in the owner’s family for generations. In his childhood, Manolis spent his summer holidays here with his “papou” and “yiayia” (grandfather and grandmother). Decades later, Manolis restored the building for the sake of those sweet summers and transformed it into one of Crete’s most delightful and sought-after holiday homes.
Amari village ('Nefs Amari') is a small traditional village in the heart of Rethymno province in central Crete. A 40-minute drive south of Rethymno town, Amari Villas is set on high ground just below village’s Venetian church, with marvelous views across the Amari Valley to the highest mountain in Crete - Mount Ida (Psiloritis).
The interiors of the Villas comprise a combination of traditional furnishings and historical artefacts - including wood-burning fireplaces - with contemporary kitchens, central heating, air-conditioning, and modern appliances.
The two villas - ‘Idi’ and ‘Samitos’ (named after the mountains which cradle the village of Amari) comprise a total area of 320 square meters. Each has its own well-appointed kitchen and large living room with fireplace, and together provide six bedrooms and five bathrooms. Up to 16 guests can be housed comfortably in the villas, though additional capacity with extra beds is possible. Wi-Fi is available throughout the properties and each villa is supplied with a flat-screen TV and a device-compatible DVD/CD player/home cinema system.
The private swimming pool is part of Villa Idi’s terrace. With superb views to Mount Ida and across the valley, the terrace includes a BBQ and dining area. A second terrace, part of Villa Samitos, provides another larger dining area.
Amari Villas is a unique property in the region, combining luxury and comfort unparalleled in the Amari Valley. The village of Amari, located centrally in the Valley, is ideal for hikers and visitors wishing to explore the landscape and surrounding communities.
Equidistant from Crete's north and south coasts, Amari Villas is perfectly placed, allowing guests easy access to the south coast's beautiful (and less-used) beaches, as well as the more developed north coast. The Old Town of Rethymno is less than an hour's drive away, so visiting this popular location - one of the most intact medieval towns in Greece - is easy.
GUEST SERVICES
The villa is looked after by "Mrs Rumy" (pronounced "roomy") who lives nearby and she is available to take care of any guests’ needs, including changing of linen and cleaning services. As a highly skilled cook, Mrs Rumy also offers guests an exclusive range of authentic Cretan and Mediterranean dishes. All the meals provided are homemade, using fresh seasonal ingredients - all from local suppliers. Prices for meals are available on request.
CHILDREN
For youngsters and the young at heart, Amari Villas has a range of toys, games, books and movies to choose from in each villa. Baby cots and highchairs are available. The village has a basketball and volleyball court plus open spaces for games, and the lack of traffic in the village offers a safe and friendly environment for children to explore.
LOCATION INFO
The Amari Valley lies between two mountain ranges - Mount Ida to its east and the Kedros range to the west. The Valley is one of a few regions of Crete where the traditional Cretan rural way of life is still present. It is a place of unique nature and of cultural traditions which are central to the lives of its people today.
The village of Amari is set on the eastern slope of Samitos mountain. Peaceful and with little traffic entering this tiny hamlet (average resident population 200), the only sounds likely to break the silence are the tinkling of goat bells and the ringing of the village’s church bells.
Surrounded by ancient olive groves, vineyards and citrus orchards, the area is a gentle hiker’s paradise. The nearby landscape, dotted with tiny, often hidden, byzantine chapels, is a joy to explore by foot, while the Amari Valley lends itself to lazy exploration by car along its latticework of beautiful tree-shaded lanes and mountain paths.
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Families
- Great for children of all ages
- No pets allowed
- 3 Cribs
- High chair
Bed & bathroom
- Bedroom 1: Full bed
Bedroom 2: Full bed 2 Twin beds
Bedroom 3: Full bed Twin bed
Bedroom 4: Full bed Twin bed
Bedroom 5: Full bed
Bedroom 6: Full bed Twin bed - 4 Full baths, 1 Attached (ensuite)
Amenities
- Wireless Internet
- Air conditioning
- Private outdoor pool (unheated)
- Mountain Views
- Private garden
- Grill
- Patio
- Solarium or roof terrace
- Balcony or terrace
- Bicycles available
- Internet access
- Central heating
- Fireplace
- Safe
- Stove
- Fridge
- Freezer
- Microwave
- Toaster
- Kettle
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Iron
- High chair
- TV
- Satellite TV
- DVD player
- Stereo system
- Linen provided
- Towels provided
- Housekeeping Included
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Access
- Parking
- Not suitable for wheelchair users
Getting around
Interaction with guest
Policies
- Payment
- This rental can only be paid for online through FlipKey using your credit/debit card or PayPal (never by bank or wire transfer).
- Smoking
- No smoking at this property
Cancellations
Change of plans? No problem. You could receive a partial or full refund, depending on when you cancel.
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Booking confirmed |
100% refund within 24 hours after booking (provided the stay is at least 60 days away).
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24 hours after booking |
50% refund of the amount paid (minus the booking fee*) if cancelled at least 4 weeks before check-in.
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4 weeks before |
25% refund of the amount paid (minus the booking fee*) if cancelled at least 2 weeks before check-in.
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2 weeks before |
No refund if cancelled less than 2 weeks before check-in.
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Check-in date |
* The booking fee is stated in the cancellation policy information on the payment page. This fee helps us run our secure platform and enables us to provide 24/7 customer support
House rules
Usual check in / out at 4.00pm / 10.00am. Any other time is possible (no extra cost) depending on the schedule of previous / next bookings.
The villa might not be suitable for people of restricted mobility. There are stairs, no lift and no wheelchair access. Please check with the owner.
All kids are welcomed.
Smoking allowed only outside.
Guests are encouraged to recycle using the special bins provided on site
About the owner
Manolis P.
Tourist License
MHTE:1041K91002894301
- Calendar last updated:
- 08 May 2024
- Years listed:
- 12
- Based in:
- Greece
- Overall rating:
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
These are the details provided by the business owner.
Business Name
Business Address
Business Telephone
Business Email
Other Applicable Information
Map
Reviews
Excellent
– based on 21 reviews
Excellent
21 reviews
- Excellent
- 21
- Very Good
- 0
- Average
- 0
- Poor
- 0
- Terrible
- 0
“Not simply any villa rental more a total experience-Villa Samitos combines ancient tradition with modern comfort.”
The Amari valley and particularly Amari village is steeped in history and blessed with truly awesome scenery -breathtaking mountains to climb, dramatic gorges to explore and expanses of olive trees to… More
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
“Paradise in the Cretan mountains”
First of all there's the location. Perched overlooking the pretty village of Amari, and then with one of the most breathtaking vistas I've ever seen, across the Amari Valley and dominated by the stunning Mount Ida, stunning from each of the numerous terraces. Then there's the hospitality. Beautiful meals cooked on demand by the housekeeper Rumy, the personal care for every aspect of your stay and beautiful products and useful items in the welcome pack alongside details about the area, walks, historical info, everything you could imagine. Finally, there's the villas themselves. Perfectly combining the traditional Cretan home with all mod cons, stylish art and decor. Luxurious and everything you'd ever need. Each terrace has it's own personality and exquisite views. It's my second visit in two years. Once with my small family. Then again with 14 of us of all ages. I can't want for my next visit.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
“Outstandingly beautiful place to stay”
Manolis Papadakis's grandparents' house, in Amari, now divided into two separate villas, is without any doubt one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed. It is near the top of the l… More
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
“Perfect Retreat”
Amari Villas - the perfect place to get away from the heavily touristed areas of Crete. The villas are located in the small village of Amari- up in the hills about a half hour south of Rethymnon. Ther… More
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
“What else?”
Cela fait des années que je passe mes vacances d'été un peu partout en Grèce en famille ou avec des amis pour l'accueil, le soleil, les paysages, la lumière, la greec dolce vita, les tavernes, les oliviers, les plages, les petits villages dans la montagne, les chèvres sur les routes, les gorges... Cet été, nous avons loué les 2 maisons de Manolis pour 4 familles : 8 adultes et 8 grands enfants. Et c'était parfait! Vraiment! Manolis a un sens de l'hospitalité au delà de la moyenne grecque (déjà exceptionnelle). Il a par ailleurs transformé l'ancienne maison de sa grand-mère avec un niveau d'exigence très au-delà de la moyenne : tout est rénové, confortable, grand, décoré avec gout, très bien équipé, le wifi fonctionne, il y a des prises électriques partout, la piscine est très agréable... L'endroit est tout à fait adapté pour un grand groupe, les cuisines sont grandes et bien équipées et la grande terrasse permet de faire manger tout le monde ensemble. Ce qui rend l'endroit tout à fait exceptionnel c'est aussi la présence de Rumy, très gentille et toujours attentive au bien être de tous. C'est du haut niveau de cuisine qu'elle propose (et j'ai plus de 10 ans d'expérience en tavernes grecques!) et cela permet de dîner tranquillement sur la terrasse avec vue sur le Psiloritis... Tout le monde a compris : je recommande sans réserve!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
“Griechische Ostern”
Im Frühjahr 2016 waren wir das erste Mal Gäste in Amari in der Villa Samitos bei Manolis Papadakis und Roumi. Es ist mit einer der schönsten Gegenden auf Kreta und die Herzlichkeit der … More
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
“Beautiful, peaceful and well hosted”
Tranquil surroundings, excellent accommodation and great hosting from Manolis and Rumy made for a fantastic holiday. The ability to rent one or two parts of the villa meant that we could holiday with … More
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
“An incrediblly beautiful villa in a beautiful spot.”
We stayed in the Villa Ida with its own swimming pool. The house itself is amazingly lovely in a typical Greek design. There are extensive outside seating areas where you can see the beautiful valle… More
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
“Everything you want and more”
I'm currently sitting here in rainy London reminiscing about the great times my friends and I had at Amari Villas and Crete. Let's start at the beginning, Manolis was always great at commun… More
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
“Perfect villa, delightful location, spectacular views.”
The house has been furnished to a very high standard. The terrace, with secluded swimming pool, barbecue area, and seating for meals is wonderful. Mrs Roumy made our food every evening, and we loved e… More
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on all reviews.
FAQs
- How do I find more info about the property?
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You can get in touch with MANOLIS (the owner) through the contact form on this page.
If you’ve already booked, go to Manage your booking to send the owner a message.
- What if I have questions before I book?
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Send MANOLIS (the owner) an email through the contact form on this page. Alternatively, if there’s a phone number on this page, you can call them.
- How do I contact MANOLIS (the owner)?
-
Send an email through the contact form on this page. Or if there’s a phone number on this page, you can call them.
If you’ve already booked, go to Manage your booking to view MANOLIS the owner's contact details or send them a message.
- What's the difference between 'Book your stay' and 'Contact the owner/manager'?
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Use the Ready to book? form to pay provisionally online and send MANOLIS (the owner) a booking request. You’ll find out within 24 hours whether they’ve accepted - no money will leave your account before then
Or send MANOLIS (the owner) an inquiry through the Contact the owner/manager form if you’d like a quote or more info first.
- What is a booking request?
-
When you pay online through the Ready to book? form, a booking request is sent to MANOLIS (the owner). You’ll find out within 24 hours whether they’ve accepted - no money will leave your account before then.
Only bookings paid for through our site are covered by our trusted Payment Protection.
- How do I know my booking is safe?
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To book this property you need to pay through the Flipkey website. Only bookings paid for through our site are covered by our trusted Payment Protection. This means that in the unlikely event that you’re prevented or denied access to the property when you check in, we’ll offer a full refund for the stay.
- How do I know what it will cost for my stay?
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Simply enter your dates in the Ready to book? form to calculate the cost of your stay.
Click Book now to see a full breakdown of the price.You can also request a quote from MANOLIS (the owner) through the contact form. The owner will email you the total cost for your dates and a link to book and pay online.
- How do I know if my booking request has been accepted?
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You’ll receive an email within 24 hours to let you know. Or you can check in Manage your booking. No money will leave your account unless it’s accepted.
- How do I pay for my vacation?
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Use the Ready to book? form to pay provisionally online. You can pay by credit/debit card or PayPal. MANOLIS (the owner) will have 24 hours to accept the booking and no money will leave your account before then.
If you’ve been sent a quote, simply accept it and pay online through the email we sent you. You can also do this in Manage your booking.
Only bookings paid for through our site are covered by our trusted Payment Protection.
- Why can't I call MANOLIS (the owner) before booking?
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You can exchange contact details with the property owner/manager once your booking is confirmed and you’ve paid in full. Paying and communicating only through our platform allows us to ensure that your booking is covered by our Payment Protection policy.
If you have any questions before booking, you can send the property owner/manager a message via the contact form on their listing. Once you’ve booked, you can discuss the rental and make arrangements for your trip by logging into Manage your booking.
- How do damage deposits work?
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In most cases, you don’t pay a damage deposit up front. Instead, we save your payment details securely and you’re only charged in the event of damage to the property.
Occasionally, you will pay a damage deposit up front as part of the total rental cost. In this case, the owner has 10 days after you check out to report any damage. If they don’t, we’ll return your deposit. If their claim is successful, we’ll deduct the agreed cost and return the remainder.
- How can I view and manage my booking?
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Go to Manage your booking to view all your booking details, pay the balance of your booking or cancel it if you need to.
- How do I pay the balance of my booking?
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You can pay the remaining balance of your booking at any point. Simply go to Manage your booking and click Pay now.
We’ll automatically charge the balance payment to the same payment method 10 days before it’s due. Go to Manage your booking to see when the payment will be taken.
- How can I withdraw my booking request?
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You’ll need to contact MANOLIS (the owner) to do this. Send them a message in Manage your booking or through the contact form on this page.
- How do I cancel my booking?
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Go to Manage your booking to cancel your booking. Here you can view your cancellation policy to see if you’ll be refunded.
- How do I make changes to my booking?
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You can request to change the dates or number of people on your booking via the Manage your booking page. To change your dates use the Edit booking button. If you need to change the number of guests staying then send MANOLIS (the owner) a message.
If MANOLIS (the owner) agrees, they’ll send you a revised quote outlining the changes. You can review and accept/decline this from the Manage your booking page. You’ll have 48 hours to take action before the revised quote expires.
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