Relaxing stunning villa, wonderful views , large pool, short walk to village Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

Q: Does Relaxing stunning villa, wonderful views , large pool, short walk to village have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Q: Is Relaxing stunning villa, wonderful views , large pool, short walk to village pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Q: Where is Relaxing stunning villa, wonderful views , large pool, short walk to village located?

Situated by the sea, this villa is 0.4 mi (0.7 km) from Historical - Folklore Museum of Gavalochori and within 3 mi (5 km) of Kera and Almyrida Beach. Kalyves Beach is 2.8 mi (4.5 km) away.

10/10 Excellent

Tracey M.

Jun 17, 2019

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

Perfect relaxing break

Villa Adriana is a beautiful villa, has all the amenities you can need, with a good sized pool and peaceful location. Penny is the perfect host, on hand if you need anything but otherwise very discreet. The location is great if you like a countryside setting within walking distance of a traditional village with a couple of decent tavernas

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sally M.

Jul 16, 2023

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

Stunning property, highly recommended

We had a wonderful stay in the beautiful Villa Ariadne. The owner is very welcoming and friendly with excellent communication before our stay and was always available if we needed her during the stay. The villa was very clean and comfortable with everything that we needed provided. The views from the balconies are magnificent whether looking at the mountains with a morning cup of tea or watching the sun set with a glass of local wine. The swimming pool is lovely and surrounded by flowers so you can swim surrounded by butterflies! The local village (15 min walking distance but a steepish track on the way back) is beautiful with 3 different places to eat, two mini supermarkets, a bakery and a local craft shop. It’s a 10 min drive to the local beaches which are ideal for swimming and snorkelling or just building sandcastles. We loved our time in this stunning villa and would highly recommend it.

Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Mair J.

Sep 18, 2015

The Luxury of your own Private Pool

Villa Ariadne is very private with wonderful views of the White Mountains. We have known Gavalachori for over 20 years and it is a perfect central location for Georgeopolis, Kalives, Almerida and Chania market on a Saturday morning. Visit Kissamos for a traditional fish restaurant and up to Falassarna for honey raki and wonderful swimming. You need a car! Ariadne has a good kitchen and a BBQ in the garden - get your meat from the brilliant butcher in Kalives. The property is a 10 to 15 minute walk to the village, mainly along a rough farmyard track which is very dark at night. Good tavernas with friendly staff. Overall, a good place to stay, clean, well- maintained and very private. We may well return at some future date.

10/10 Excellent

Andreas R.

Oct 20, 2021

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

Sehr geplegte, liebevoll eingerichtetes Haus mit wunderschönem Garten.

Sehr freundliche, entgegenkommende Vermieterin

Stayed 14 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

John N.

Oct 2, 2021

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

Tranquil luxury

If you want a restful spot this is it. A brief - country walk- to the village and 10 minutes from the beach by car. Everything works and is in excellent condition. Balconies for breakfast and sunset and two tavernas in the village. You need to be fit to walk to the village- we enjoyed it. You need a car. Penny is great and provides a good welcome pack. We had a great stay.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

STEVE F.

Sep 5, 2021

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

Would go back in a heartbeat!

Villa Ariadne is everything you would want for a family/friends holiday. It has everything you need, excellent wifi, brilliant pool - kept beautifully clean, as was the rest of the villa. Plenty of places to keep out of the August sun. We went as a family of 6 and cannot fault it. Penny, the host, was on hand if you needed anything - including locking ourselves out of the villa! - but very discreet. It is an easily do-able walk to the nearest village of Gavalachori where there are 2 small supermarkets and two very good tavernas plus a bakery selling the biggest pain au chocolate! Kalives is nearby for a larger supermarket plus a clinic for Covid tests should they still be needed. It is very peaceful and not surrounded by other properties, apart from Penny's and the views from the many balconies are all superb, especially at sunset. Only slightly further afield are very good tavernas in the surrounding villages of Vamos and Douliana. If you want a change from the beach or mountains try the excellent cookery course in Vamos for an afternoon - details are in the villa. The two larger towns of Chania and Rethimnon are both less than an hour away and well worth visiting. We had a wonderful holiday and will definitely be going back. The Cranleigh Six

Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Paul H.

Aug 2, 2021

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

Beautiful luxury villa with incredible views on the edge of a lovely village

My family and I loved our stay here. It is located on the edge of a pretty village which has 2 tavernas, a couple of general stores and a small museum. The villa is modern and was so clean we thought we might have been the first visitors, but no, our host has been running it for years, she's just meticulous. The rooms were well sized for our needs and each bedroom and living space has its own generous sized balcony. The beds are very comfortable and the bathrooms are modern and well sized. All appliances work well and there is an extensive range of cooking and serving utensils in the kitchen. Check-in and out couldn't have been simpler and the host responded quickly to all messages before and during our stay. The living areas are upstairs and the views from the living room balcony will live long in my memory; in the morning the position of the house at the top of a small hill provides views of olive groves in the valleys below leading up to the distant neighbouring villages with the white mountains in the distance. At sunset though is when this really comes alive as the panoramic views of dusk settling in are postcard perfect. The pool is a good size and extremely well kept. There is a little more land around the house than shows in the photos which is very much a part of the wider landscape. It is a 10 minute drive to the beach which is in a small town that has a wider range of tavernas and shops. There is a supermarket about 20 minutes away from the house which is well stocked with everything you would expect in any supermarket (including all the gluten free/ lactose free/ vegan bits that is not universally available in the med) but also with local produce. The house is a great base to get around the island as it is close the national road and you can be in two of the island's three cities within an hour but is sufficiently remote to allow you to cut yourself off from the world if the mood takes you. We were a group aged from 2 (and a half) to 74 and we all found the house to be comfortable, convenient and enormously enjoyable. A real treat.

Stayed 16 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

andrew c., Barnet

Sep 9, 2020

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

Great Villa Great stay

The description and photos do not do justice to this villa Excellent communication from the owner Penny Who is there to meet You upon arrival with a great welcome pack ! Penny is on hand for any help and advice but extremely discreet This villa is all about the outside space and location The villa is a true 7/8 minutes walk into the local village which has 2 great traditional tavernas in which to eat plus a couple of small grocery shops and a bakery but is also just a 10 minute car ride from Almyrida where there is a small beach but a far greater choice of restaurants Or another 10 minute car ride to Vamos where there are another couple of tavernas plus 3 cafes and bars The pool area is perfect with a great size pool ample space for the sun loungers and umbrellas plus a couple of outside eating areas with table and chairs The views from the villa and gardens are fantastic with the valley in the fore and the mountains in the background We genuinely did not hear another voice whilst sunning by the pool true tranquility We thoroughly recommend this villa and location to all and we hope to return soon Thank you Penny

Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Nov 2, 2019

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

Great villa in a great village

Lovely villa with all the facilities you need for a perfectly relaxing holiday. We took the short walk to two tavernas in Gavalochori, which both had great atmosphere and food, and often drove the 10 minutes to Kalyves Beach which is ideal for swimming and beachside tavernas. Penny was very helpful throughout our stay and we'd certainly recommend this villa and area of Crete.

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas S., Altrincham

Oct 1, 2019

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

Perfect!

It's magical to wake up to a view of the White Mountains glowing in the morning sunlight. As you sit on the balcony eating breakfast, you can't help but relax into the quiet and calm surroundings of the olive groves spread over the landscape. We have been coming to this area of Crete for a number of years and this is one of the best villas we have stayed in. It is comfortable, well-equipped, extremely clean - in fact, it has everything you could possibly need. The large pool is set in a beautiful garden surrounded by colourful flowers and a choice of places to enjoy a meal outside. There are a couple of very good tavernas within walking distance in the centre of Gavalochori where you are made to feel very welcome and plenty more within an easy driving distance. Penny has been an absolutely lovely host. She has provided lots of information about the villa and the surrounding area. She gives you complete privacy but is only a text away if needed. It all adds up to a perfect holiday!

Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Xavier R.

Aug 31, 2019

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

Vacances de rêve

Nous te remercions Penny pour ta gentillesse et pour tout. La propriété est splendide, bien orientée, très propre et au calme L’extérieur est superbement fleuri et la piscine répond à nos attentes. Penny, un tout grand merci.

10/10 Excellent

Des N.

Aug 16, 2019

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

Lovely villa in quiet country setting

Very well equipped and clean villa with fantastic pool in pretty gardens. Amazing views over mountains and just a very short walk into local village with two great tavernas. Very helpful property owner who respected privacy and gave us some good local restaurant recommendations. Villa was cleaned during stay and pool was kept in great condition. Perfect for a couple of weeks in the sun with two teenagers.

Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Linda T.

Jun 28, 2019

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

Wonderful stay in Crete

Villa was all that we needed. Spotless and well equipped. Plenty of outside spaces to chill and enjoy the lovely gardens. Pool was great especially as the weather was so hot. Short walk to village to some nice tavernas. Would recommend a car for sightseeing. Penny the owner was friendly and helpful. Would come back.

10/10 Excellent

Dave C.

Jul 3, 2018

Superb, quiet and peaceful Location in a luxury Villa

Four of us stayed at this villa in June 2018 and had a great time. Penny the owner lives next door but was very obliging in being available when needed but away sufficiently that we had plenty of privacy. The Villa is 400 metres up a track and surrounded by olive groves. There are lovely views of the White Mountains to the South West and we saw some lovely sunsets. The villa itself has all mod cons including air conditioning and balconies to each bedroom. The outside space is fabulous, with a large pool, sun or shade patio and BBQ. Go back down to the track and a few hundred yards further along the road is the village, with a choice of Tavernas & small shops including a bakery. The coast and beaches are only a few miles away and are lovely and sandy in many areas. Overall this villa is well recommended for staying in and touring to, the western side of Crete. Fab!

Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Karen F.

Jul 29, 2015

Excellent

We have stayed in many a villa on the beautiful island of Crete and Villa Ariadne is up there with the best of them. Situated in a quiet country location so stunning views, yet within a 10 minute stroll along a dusty track to the village of Gavalochori which has a couple of superb tavernas. We found this a really enjoyable bonus with this villa. The villa itself was very clean and equipped with all that was needed plus, the beds and pillows were really comfy so took no getting used to which must be a first !! Penny the owner also did a very thorough clean of the villa during our stay. We all enjoyed the large pool and was particularly impressed with the wide, non slip steps into it. No dodgy metal ladders to negotiate plus there was a shallow ledge even in the deeper end. The pool is surrounded by pretty gardens which attracts lots of butterflies. The beach at Almyrida is just a 10 minute drive away and so to is the village of Douliana which also has a great taverna. Penny was on hand if we needed her but otherwise we were completely left to enjoy our holiday. We have no hesitation in recommending. The Freeman family & The Buzwells.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca jones

May 7, 2015

Relaxing, stunning location, lovely villa

We had an amazing stay. The photos just do not do it justice! Immaculately clean with lots of thoughtful touches - especially things like bread, milk, wine and loo rolls! Great rural location within walking distance (with a torch at night) of a couple of fantastic tavernas in the beautiful picturesque village of Gavalochori.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Gerhard P.

Aug 7, 2014

Danke für den schönen Aufenthalt

Es war ein sehr schöner Super Urlaub. Die Villa war sehr schön, es hat an nicht gefehlt. Super schöne Lage und toller Pool. Wenn wir Fragen oder Wünsche hatten war Penny stehts zur stelle. Wir werden mit sicherheit die villa nochmals Mieten.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Brod Bass

Jul 5, 2014

Exactly as described and expected but more so

Just two of us stayed for a week. We felt guilty and not having two more to share the lovely experience! The property is immaculate and well kitted out. We enjoyed drinks and breakfasts on the upper terrace and downstairs in the shaded part of the very private garden. Chania Airport was easy and the owner's most precise directions got us to the villa without a hitch, even in the dark, in 40 minutes. It is in a charming location just outside the village, but not too remote, along a virtually unused track. The walk through the Olive groves to get to the two tavernas was a genuine leisurely 11minutes and a part of our holiday which we really enjoyed every day. It is quiet here, we weren't aware of any midges or mosquitoes. There was no passing traffic. We drank the local wine, sampled the local olive oil and enjoyed the local food. If possible shop before arriving, Penny the owner will have told you where; we were just too late. It is a good base from which to explore this part of Crete, with beaches, noisier towns, delightful old villages, archeological sites etc all never too far away. The satellite TV is not what one might expect at home but then we never switched it on. Also there is no WiFi, but again it was little bother as every taverna and even some entire town areas all offered free WiFi. Mobile phone reception was very good. Everyone including the owner here were very friendly and we would certainly recommend it to like-minded travelers.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Marcus L.

Aug 16, 2013

Great villa

Family of four spent two weeks in this great villa. The kids loved the pool and the location is great since it is just a 10 minute walk down to the village and a 15 minute drive to the beaches. A rental car is probably needed though. /Marcus

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Val F.

Sep 25, 2012

Lovely holiday in a beautiful villa

We have just returned from a lovely holiday in this beautiful villa. The villa is well situated, in the country but within walking distance of the nearest village.The villa was spotless and well equipped with everything you could possibly need, including a large swimming pool. It was so peaceful and the views all around were magnificent. We enjoyed sitting on the balcony in the evenings watching the sun set. Although you can walk to Gavalochori which has some very nice restaurants, a car is really needed to explore further afield. Penny, the owner lives next door and was very helpful with advice on places to visit, local restaurants etc. We enjoyed every minute of our two weeks holiday, just wish we could have stayed longer. I can highly recommend this villa to anyone planning a holiday in Crete.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ewa C.

Sep 15, 2011

Book it if you can!

What you get is better than what you see on the website photographs. 'Ariadne' made our holiday - comfortable, clean, beautifully mantained villa set in an idyllic location with breathtaking views. Penny is very friendly and welcoming, offering many useful tips on the area. Two excellent tavernas are within a few minutes walk. We highly recommend the one on the village square next to the monument, and the one past the two small village supermarkets on the other side of the road. Good strong car is advisable to tackle those country roads.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mark S.

Aug 11, 2011

Simply delightful

Many a time the photographs and description of a location are designed to lure you in, not so with Villa Ariadne!. What you see is TRULY what you get. The location and facilities are SUPERB for a peaceful and relaxing holiday. And Penny makes an excellent host. WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND. The only downside would be the walk into Gavalahori, a little difficult for elderly or very young. But this should NOT detract you.

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Relaxing stunning villa, wonderful views , large pool, short walk to village

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