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Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool

Photo gallery for Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool

The entrance of Villa Spiti Athina
Siting area
The stone table and bench on the terrace
Outdoor dining
View from inside on the terrace and pool

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 7220 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1 (upstairs)

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Outside shower

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool

Spiti Athinà is is a wonderful holiday house with a large swimming pool (6x10m) in an authentic village, only a few miles from the coast. This traditional Cretan village house has been tastefully renovated into a cosy vacation villa for 6 persons. The 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (1 down and 1 up) all have an individual character. During the restoration works, many of the original authentic elements were kept. In the living room the original natural stones are still visible. There is a wonderful shaded terrace, which adjoins the house towards the swimming pool. Under the shady vines is a magnificent stone table and bench, where you could spend many happy hours: for a chat, for a drink, with a view of the pool and garden with olive and citrus trees and enjoying the splendid mountain views. Here you can also enjoy a siesta on the sunbeds in the shadow, or spend delicious long evenings in the open air when the pool is lighted. The Mediterranean climate and the crickets does the rest.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 6
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number 1042Κ92003002101

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 500, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Apokoronas

Located in Apokoronas, this villa is in a rural area and by the sea. Old Venetian Harbor and Ancient City of Aptera are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Port of Souda and Dourakis Winery. Art of Living Glass Factory and Greek National Football Museum are also worth visiting. Scuba diving and snorkelling offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and hiking nearby.
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Map
Gavalochori, Crete

What's nearby

  • Historical - Folklore Museum of Gavalochori - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Almyrida Beach - 7 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Port of Souda - 24 min drive - 19.4 km
  • Lake Kournas - 24 min drive - 15.9 km
  • Agia Marina Beach - 35 min drive - 37.2 km

Getting around

  • Chania (CHQ-Ioannis Daskalogiannis) - 44 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Στου Μπανανα - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Καφέ Ουζερί Καλή Καρδιά (Kali Kardia) - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪KOHILI - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Nektar - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Παρασιά - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

How much does it cost to stay at Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool?

As of 24 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool on 16 April 2026 start from NZ$486, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

What time is check-in at Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Tastefully renovated Cretan traditional house with large private pool located?

Situated by the sea, this villa is steps from Historical - Folklore Museum of Gavalochori and within 3 mi (5 km) of Almyrida Beach and Kera. Art of Living Glass Factory and Kalyves Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 10 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 10 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 10 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 10 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 10 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Geraldine M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful villa

We have stayed in many villas but this one was by far the best. The pool was amazing, the views were breathtaking and the accommodation just perfect for our much needed family holiday. The local village is just a short stroll away and we soon settled into village life. Our week ended with an amazing event of traditional Cretan music which we were privileged to attend with all the villagers. Just perfect
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Archival

4/10 Poor

John O.

Could do better!

The house is charming, but not well maintained. It is in need of a deep clean; dust balls in all the corners and under the beds, the bed linnens were stained, the towels smelly, the fridge leaked, cockroaches, you get the picture. There was no internet, despite the advert stating that there was. On our second night the roof in the downstairs bedroom started to leak...straight into the bed. Needless to say, we didn't stay and were relocated to simple functional, clean villa with help from Spiti Athena's owners. Gavalohori is a great village though, well worth a visit.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vincent B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful house in a quiet village

It is is 2nd time we went to this house. Always a great pleasure to spend time in this quiet village within a nice typical house. Thanks Sabine
Stayed 18 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ella d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heerlijk huis in gezellig dorp

We hebben een fantastische vakantie gehad in dit heerlijke ruime huis waar alles aanwezig was wat je nodig hebt. Genoten van het mooie grote zwembad, het gezellige dorpje met twee goede restaurantjes, even een frappe drinken op het dorpsplein. Strand is vlakbij. Het heeft ons werkelijk aan niets ontbroken!
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Traumhafter Urlaub

Ein sehr schönes Haus, traumhafter Pool, kleiner idyllischer Ort. Die Vermieter jederzeit erreichbar und Sanja- die Hauskeeperin- eine Perle. Wir haben das Haus bereits zum 2.mal gebucht und waren wieder begeistert.
Stayed 17 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Jenny E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

An oasis in the middle of Gavalochori

This is a lovely unusual house very close to the centre of the village of Gavalochori. The outside terrace area is a delightful space to relax in and the large pool is wonderfully refreshing and clean. Inside the house there is a small but functional kitchen/dining area. The beds are very comfortable and there is a balcony off the upstairs double bedroom. The only suggestion I would make would be regarding the showers in both bathrooms - it would be nicer if they were more powerful! Apart from that it is a great house to relax in and is well located, being a few minutes walk from the tavernas and shops in Gavalochori.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vincent B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Très jolie maison

Séjour très agréable, maison bien équipée, et propriétaire très disponible, et de bons conseils. Nous recommandons vivement cette location. Corinne et Vincent
Stayed 17 nights in Aug 2019
Verified

6/10 Okay

Andrew W.

Charming but could be better

First the positive things - this is a charming villa, conveniently situated at the edge of one of the prettiest villages in the area, within walking distance of all the tavernas, and with shops and a bakery nearby. The outside area is (with one exception) delightful and the pool is really excellent. The bedrooms are very good, and the beds among the most comfortable we've experienced in Crete, where mattresses tend to be hard. The seats and lighting in the living area were also good. Where the property is less satisfactory, at least for us, was in the bathrooms and kitchen. Although the bathrooms were efficient - the showers were good - they were rather down-at-heel, and the lack of plugs in either basin was not good. The kitchen was small and cramped - we didn't do any cooking, but even preparing breakfast and snacks was problematic, and the breakfast bar effect was very odd, as was the wooden latch holding the fridge shut. The biggest failure for me was that the sun-umbrella (the only one) was broken and couldn't be used, which meant that for much of the late morning and early afternoon I couldn't stay by the pool and had either to sit under the verandah or go indoors. I would really like to give Spiti Athini more than three stars because it's got a lot going for it, but there were just a few too many things which didn't quite measure up to expectations. I will say, however, that none of these are seriously difficult to put right, and I very much hope that they can be. A word of warning generally - the stairs are very steep - the property isn't suitable for people with even a mild mobility problem. Finally, I would like to thank Sabine and Dirk, who were friendly and helpful owners (thanks for permission to stay on later on the last day - it made a huge difference - and to the housekeepers, who looked after us well.
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2018
Archival

8/10 Good

M. B.

Wonderful place to sit back, relax & enjoy Crete

- the house was neat and tidy, very welcoming (lights were lit on our arrival). The owners really have put in the work in improving the house and providing a quality stay. - non-touristic village, in a relaxing environment, though not too far from the bigger cities in case you're interested. - incredible view on the surrounding mountains! - colorful plants on the terrace outside, a lemon tree in the garden, grapes growing above your head, providing cool shade - all the necessary shops are nearby: bakery + small supermarket + cozy, romantic and tasty restaurants @300m, small supermarket @ 10min drive. Chania Airport not too far. - internet has been provided for! No worries. - the property is surrounded with a 2m wall and a big, wooden gate (hooray!) - the pool water gets cleaned automatically + a guy came every other day cleaning the surface with a leaf skimmer. Plus, there are lights installed for an evening swim! - superb beaches nearby, 15min drive We had a very nice stay here and were able to roam freely through Crete, recommended! Perfect morning routine: wake-up, jump in the pool, breakfast in the sun, with fruits and fresh bread from nearby. Superb!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

WIEME P.

traditional charm and hapiness guaranteed

my wife and I decided to go to Crete to join the local Easter celebrations and tradition is definitely what we got! we were enchanted by the traditional and tasteful style in which the house has been refurbished, the cosiness of the different rooms,... very well located in the heart of a small village Gavalochori, at 100 meters of a local grocery store, 150 meters of a restaurant with an original and creative kitchen (other restaurants in the neighbourhood as well) and at a 10 minutes drive from the seaside (Almyrida) still a little bit too cold for me to have a swim (my wife was more courageous) - in a 15m pool (meaning long enough to really have a swim and not just paddle your feet) great view on the White Mountains, nice environment to go jogging if you don't mind running in the hills or perfect to go tracking in the hills needless to mention that Crete is a really cheap place to go out to have dinner, have a drink or whatever we already know where to go to, next time we want to relax and just sit back to enjoy life great value for your money

About the host

Hosted by Sabine

Host profile image
We are a Belgian couple with 2 kids and 3 small grandkids. We own the house now for 25 years and renovating it was a real adventure! We love hosting and each year we carry out renovations and improvements to ensure you a pleasant stay. We wish you a wonderful time in our holiday home! Enjoy!

Why they chose this property

Gavalohori is a lovely village with a typical atmosphere. It is situated about 3 miles from the sea, and the authentic Cretan atmosphere has remained. It is situated northwest Crete, between the 2 charming cities Chania and Rethymnon. Gavalohori has some nice kafeneions and tavernas, a bakery, 2 mini markets which makes your stay very pleasant and comfortable. There is also a small folklore museum. We guess you will feel at home ànd enjoy holidays at the same time!

What makes this property unique

Our restored house is a real authentic village house, renovated with modern comfort. It is situated in the traditional village where you can enjoy being surround by Cretan people and where you can experience the real Cretan life. Sometimes neighbors offer us olive oil, some eggs, oranges, grapes they cultivated themselves and they feel so proud about it! The Greek hospitality is amazing!
What is also unique is our large pool which is 6 x 10 m and we are sure you will enjoy it very much! The terrace with the stone table and bench under the vines is also amazing. Here you will certainly spend good moments, with the view on the pool and garden, the hills with the olive trees and the White Mountains behind (the mountain tops stay usually white until the beginning of May).

Languages:

English, French, German, Dutch
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