Posts Tagged ‘holidays’

7 Top Crete Villas

Monday, April 19th, 2010

A list of a hundred top villas available for holidays was published in The Times recently, and no fewer than seven Crete villas were mentioned – they were:

Talisker
Sleeps 8

Got a bonus to spend? Then slap a deposit down on this palace near Elounda immediately. Everything about it is ravishing: the sharp, contemporary lines, the enormous, airy interiors, the terraced garden, the elevated sea views. You’ll never want to leave. Heraklion airport is a 75-minute drive. £8,500/£6,500

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Villa Olous
Sleeps 16

Here are some things you never thought you’d need on a Cretan villa holiday: grand piano, antique snooker table, tennis court, croquet lawn and private Greek Orthodox chapel, looking out to sea. Elegant and enormous, Villa Olous has the lot — topped off by magnificent sea views. Heraklion airport is a 55-minute drive. £24,545 year-round

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Haniotena Cottage
Sleeps 2

A couple of history-heads will love this place in the village of Kritsa, above Agios Nikolaos. It’s said to be one of the oldest surviving villages in Crete, and there’s no doubt the ground floor is pretty ancient, with a higgledy-piggledy front door and enormous stone walls. Nearby is Lato — one of those neglected but wildly romantic classical ruins that litter the Cretan countryside. Heraklion airport is an hour’s drive. £1,430/£930

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The Stonemason’s House
Sleeps 4

If you’re serious about finding “the real Crete”, this is where to come — a simple house, full of antiques and hand-sewn fabrics, in the tiny village of Embrosnero. The owners, Maria and Yannis, live nearby, and are part of the appeal, as Maria is an excellent cook. Chania airport is an hour’s drive. £625/£599

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Villa Galania
Sleeps 4

It might lack architectural grace and Cretan atmosphere, but this well-equipped hilltop house near the north coast would make a superb setting for go-nowhere family holidays. It’s the array of outside spaces that make it special: a children’s pool next to the main one, shady terraces and balconies, a big deck with wicker armchairs and table football, a barbecue area with a traditional oven and a herb garden. Chances are you’ll never get bored. Chania airport is 45 minutes by car. £1,775/£660

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Haritakis House
Sleeps 6

It’s a simple proposition: a stone house in the middle of nowhere, with lovely sea views and a shady terrace for meals. There’s no pool, no air-con, no fancy sinks in the bathroom — and even in high season, it works out at less than £115pp a week. The nearest beach is at Ligres, five minutes away. Chania airport is two hours by car. £680/£385

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Villa Svega
Sleeps 6

In the 15th century, they used to store acorns and carrots here — under two arched stone vaults. Now one of those vaults provides dramatic high-ceilinged rooms on the ground floor, while the other is the perfect place for shaded alfresco meals. The house, in the middle of the village of Gallou, near Rethymnon, also has a pretty garden, a rooftop terrace and its own pool. Heraklion airport is 90 minutes by car. £1,450/£930

A full choice of Crete villa holidays is available with James Villas

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Greek Island Gets Hot

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

The Greek island of Mykonos has been mentioned in the top ten destinations by Thomson Holidays they anticipate will do well in 2010.

They say:

Greece is still as popular as ever with its picturesque islands and stunning beaches attracting the masses. Last year’s film ‘Mama Mia’ set on the islands of Skiathos and Skopelos, made Brits go gaga over Greece and the trend is sure to continue into 2010. Thomson is set to add to the Greek islands on offer by launching its first ever weekly flights to Mykonos (from Manchester and Gatwick). The island boasts a fantastic range of accommodation that’s sure to see the island become a hit with our customers seeking that little bit more from their summer holiday. Whilst Mykonos’ central hub and capital, Mykonos Town, plays host to a mass of bars, nightclubs and restaurants, the island also has its measure of fine sandy beaches and coves dotting the coastline. For the more adventurous holidaymaker, there is a range of water sports on offer and for those looking for a cultural experience, the World Heritage-listed island of Delos is just a couple of kilometres off-shore. Thomson Holidays offer seven night holidays in Greece staying at the 3T+ Hotel Vanilla in Mykonos, on a bed and breakfast basis from £375 per person based on two sharing. Departing on 14th May 2010 from London Gatwick Airport, the price includes return flights, accommodation, transfers and all taxes and charges.

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A Crete Holiday In 2010

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and covers more than 3,000 square miles. So you can vacation in Crete multiple times and still stay in an area that you have never visited before. Moreover, the island is 160 miles long and varies from 8 to 35 miles in width. No matter where you stay, you are not far from ocean. Most people take their holidays within walking distance of the endless sandy beaches.

Crete is, of course, steeped in a rich and varied culture and history. With little effort on your part, some of that history and culture will be absorbed during your holiday. It is a delightful bonus of spending time on the island. But frankly speaking, most people who are contemplating where to spend their holidays are primarily interested in the accommodations, the beaches and the food. For exactly those reasons, you should take a close look at Crete.

For those who act quickly, the entire range of accommodations can be reserved at good discounts. From hostels to high end hotels to villas, discounts are available. Hostels, which appeal to young tourists and the more adventurous older tourists, can be reserved with a 5 to 7 euros per night discount. Most hotels in the moderate price range are offering 7 to 10 percent per night discounts. At some establishments, you can stay seven nights for the price of six. The high end hotels are offering as much as 12.5 percent discounts per night. With a little intensive investigation, you may even find better deals than these mentioned.

Villas are also being offered at discounts of about 10 to 12 percent per night. This is where you can see some really interesting savings, particularly if you have a large group and are planning on sharing expenses. Many five and six bedroom villas are available in different parts of the island when you look at a Crete map

Villas are quite attractive because many of them are in prime locations: close to towns and sandy beaches. They also feature lovely pools and stunning patio views.

Virtually every town in which you find yourself, taverns and restaurants abound with delicious local fare. Obviously there is a distinct Mediterranean influence in most of the local cuisine. But like the rest of the world, other cultural cuisines can be found as well.

If sunshiny, lazy days by the seashore appeals to you, give Crete a good look and take advantage of the discounts that can be had. The only caveat is that you must act quickly to reserve your dream holiday. As you get closer to the holiday, fewer discounts will be available, and can Crete really wait another year?

Alcudia Pollensa

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