We have just returned from a wonderful 14 days holiday at Villa Armonia. Don’t be put off from the very few reviews because it is wonderful and we have every intention of visiting next year.
Firstly the villa itself is beautifully furnished and equipped to a very high standard as can be seen in the pictures set out on the owners’ details. There was a lovely welcome pack for us and the owners were there to greet us on arrival albeit we were late. They showed us around and then left us to it.
The beds are really comfortable, the bathrooms immaculate, and is with everything else, spotlessly clean. The kitchen has everything you could ask for and more and the sitting area has a good L shapes settee in front of a large flat screen TV which you don’t need at all as the view is so mesmerizing.
The pool gets the Sun most of the day and when it is shaded there is plenty of space in the garden on the verandah to sit in the sun. The gardens have Lemon, Carob and Mulberry trees and a fantastic hedge of Jasmine and Honeysuckle.
But the view from the Verandah: breathtaking, you can see for miles and miles. We spent hours just watching. The sky was full of Swallows and we even had a visit from two Owls most nights who perched a few feet from us.
The Village is tiny but each of the two Tavernas, both very different, are equally good. The one which is very close was our prefered place to eat and the owners were charming, friendly and generous. The other has a charm and is rustic: it makes a good walk, too, being almost exactly one mile’s stroll up the lane. Without exception, the villagers were all friendly and welcoming as indeed they were in Therisso where we also ate a couple of times.
But I must mention Agapi and her husband Georgios who are the most perfect hosts. On our first day, and despite being late arriving, they happily escorted us into Chania so we could find the best supermarket. (There is a local mini market five minutes away which is OK but not adequate for a major shop). On the way they pulled over at a roadside stall, nipped in, and bought us some natural yoghurt and this with the local fruit and honey became breakfast routine. On a separate occasion, we managed to lock ourselves out and again meeting them both to collect another set of keys seemed to be no issue at all. Our Son joined us for the last part of the holiday and travelled having been unwell. Unfortunately, he became worse so we called Agapi for the number of a doctor. She directed us to a clinic, met us there with her Son to help us and waited until we were ready to leave. Georgios is a Doctor and he arranged for test results to be emailed to me and explained clearly about the prescription etc: he even visited that evening to see how our Son was doing. Simply amazing. But aside from this, simple generous things: a bowl of Nectarines from their garden, lovely cakes and homemade stuffed vine leaves given purely with Cretan warmth. This lovely couple is by far the best host we have met.
This is comfortably the longest review I ever have written on Tripadvisor but excellence needs to be shared. Thank you Agapi we had the best time and really hope to see you and Georgios next year, and as Grandparents too!