* Owner-designed, highly rated "home from home" - not just another holiday let
* Wrap around pool
* Private, gated grounds & gardens
* Dishwasher, Fridge/Freezer, Washing machine
* 3 shower rooms, 3 WCs
* Air con/wi-fi/house keeping/solar pool heating included in rate.
* Family & Couples friendly
* Walkable to tavernas & shops
* Stone BBQ & Pizza oven
* Suitable for reduced mobility.
An exquisitely designed single-storey modern villa, set on a semi-rural hillside with stunning panoramic views all year round, to the mountains and the sea. Situated in its own grounds on a quiet lane, with olive groves opposite and open field adjacent (which we also own), the villa is only a few minutes gentle stroll from the pretty, traditional village of Gavalohori with its bakery, shops, folklore museum. and excellent tavernas.
Villa Mia was built and equipped primarily as our family home and therefore offers year-round comfort and a higher level of specification than you would ever normally find in a rental. You can confidently book with us knowing we pride ourselves on personal service, quality, integrity and attention to detail. Many guests become friends, and book with us year after year.
Designed and built to our own standards and specification, this beautiful property features a unique and distinctive design feature of a wrap-around pool that runs all along the front of the house - making the pool directly accessible from the living areas. kitchen, covered terrace/veranda and the main bedroom.
For ease of getting ready for beach, pool or evening out, the villa has three shower rooms: a fully tiled main family shower room with "floating" WC and large walk-in shower, an en-suite to the primary bedroom with WC and shower, and a further shower room with additional WC which is accessed off the pool terrace (and therefore ideal to use whilst outside or by the pool)
With the living spaces all on one level, each room leads smoothly to the next.
The open-plan, well equipped Italian kitchen features a large, stainless steel fridge freezer, ample for every family's needs, dishwasher,kettle, toaster, microwave, a sizeable, pull-out storage larder and a full oven with halogen hob and fan extractor. Copious cupboard storage, plenty of glasses, plates, bowls, casseroles, pans - ideal to cook at home.
Serving food, or that sunset cocktail, is so easy out of the kitchen hatch that opens directly onto the poolside eating areas. There is also a separate outside cooking area with large stone-built BBQ and adjacent stone pizza oven.
The kitchen leads directly to the large, open-plan dining room then out to a covered dining area or continue directly to the large lounge with its comfy sofas, large TV and views over the pool.
Off the central area of the house, we come next to the laundry area with washing machine, iron, ironing board and vacuum cleaner.
The main bathroom is next, with large walk-in shower, further storage, baby and child equipment, and featuring large illuminated vanity unit and sink. Also off the central corridor, the large bedrooms split off, one to either side - the primary bedroom with king-size bed, and its own ensuite shower room - the other bedroom being a family bedroom with double bed and a single divan, so configured to the needs of the kids, teens, a baby or an adult couple, enabling two couples to stay, or grandparents to come along . This bedroom has its own private patio for that time away from each other or a change of scenery, as this looks out on the White Mountains!
The primary bedroom also has double doors opening onto its own stone terrace, equipped with its own patio furniture, umbrellas/shade, terracotta pots, planting, and fantastic views over the olive groves and the village, each completely private from the other.
The house features air conditioning to all bedrooms and lounge.. The bedroom air conditioning can be set to good sleep mode to guarantee a cool night in the Cretan summer.
Both the double and king beds have bespoke hand-made high quality mattress toppers for that extra luxury and comfort.
The large tiled pool is low-chlorine, cleaned by an ionising robot, and heated ecologically using solar power. Designed by us for playing games with our own children, the pool has a flat shallow end of 1.1m and a flat deeper end of 1.5m for swimming.
Surrounding the pool, house and driveway, well maintained gardens feature mediterranean plants such as hibiscus, yucca, oleander, citrus trees, bird of paradise, canas, aloes, olive trees and several palm trees, one of which is a notable feature at the end of the pool.
At the far end of the pool, adjacent to the large palm tree, a set of steps leads up to the capacious tiled roof terrace with further eating, seating and sun bathing opportunities, and more extensive views of the village, the mountains and the sea.
Understanding how difficult it is to find suitable accommodation for people with restricted mobility and wheelchair use, we have equipped the property for people with restricted mobility - just contact us about your specific needs.
If you can tear yourself away from the villa, pool and grounds, within a few minutes walk you'll find cool, ancient wells, wooded walks, open countryside and the picturesque history of the village of Gavalohori. Secluded but not isolated, we are surrounded by groves of olive, almond & orange trees, with the tinkling of goat bells & the calling of birds of prey and ravens circling in the vivid blue skies above you. The area provides ample walking and hiking opportunities with a tourism board waymarked route literally passing our gate.
From February to June the fields around Villa Mia abound with native wild flowers, anemones and orchids. The field next door to the villa features olive trees, orange trees and wild flowers, and is managed for ecology and bio-diversity, safeguarded from development (same owner).
Seven minutes easy drive and you are in the family-friendly (Blue Flag) beach resort of Almyrida, with many other beaches and coves close by. Boat trips, kayaking, sailing and snorkelling are all available locally.
Within ten minutes drive (and visible from our kitchen window), the ruined Roman city of Aptera continues to astound with new finds every archaeological season and spectacular views of Souda Bay and to Chania beyond
Within an hour's drive lie deserted beaches, rocky coves, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Turkish castles (including one in clear view from the pool terrace), Minoan ruins, caves & gorges to explore, Venetian harbours & bridges, a fantastic water park and two of the most picturesque towns in all Crete (Chania & Rethymnon).
A good day trip is the world-famous Minoan site of Knossos, & several more Roman cities, as well as one of the most idyllic shallow, sandy beaches in the world at Elafonissi.
If you've read this far on several adverts you are probably, by now, not knowing who to believe, and struggling to choose. Please be assured we are, above all, transparent, truthful and accurate. We have only ever had feedback that we undersell - the property, the amenities and the beautiful views.
Anything we've missed that you need to know just contact us and we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Greek tourism licence (EOT) number MHTE 1042K10003252401
PLEASE NOTE - NEW SUMMER 2024 - Your invoiced holiday price includes all taxes except the newly announced climate levy which will now be charged on all villa and hotel rentals across Greece. This is directly payable locally to the Greek government at €10 per villa per night. We can support you to pay this nearer the time and can undertake the process on your behalf as required.
