Villa Haroupia

General Description

Conveniently close to the village of Kokkino Horio (15 mins walk) and Plaka (20 mins walk) where you will find mini-markets and tavernas, Villa Haroupia is a modern, air-conditioned, 3 bed villa with fantastic views across Souda Bay and to the White Mountains.

The villa boasts a lovely, mature garden which provides plenty of privacy and is a particularly good choice for families with children as it has a shallow end to the pool and the villa is set within a walled and gated plot. There is parking for 2 cars within the gates.

To maximise the spectacular views, Villa Haroupia has been built with the bedrooms on the ground floor and the living accommodation on the first floor. This has the added advantage of keeping the bedrooms naturally cooler in the very hot months.

Please note - children must be able to sleep in a normal sized single bed (a bedguard is provided free of charge). Infants or very young children requiring a cot, high chair or stairgate cannot be accommodated at this villa. 

Ground Floor

All of the bedrooms have a sea view and are comprehensively fitted with plenty of wardrobe space, drawers, dressing tables and mirrors. There are two double rooms, furnished with king size iron bedsteads, both of which have doors opening up to a large, covered terrace. There is also a twin bedded room. The master bedroom has a modern en-suite shower room with a large shower cubicle. The other two bedrooms (one with a king size bed and the other with twin beds) share the family bath/shower room which has a large walk-in shower, hand basin, small corner bath (suitable for younger children only), wc and bidet.

First Floor

A marble staircase (with a safety handrail) leads to the spacious open plan lounge/dining room with the kitchen off to one side. The kitchen is equipped for all of your self catering needs and includes a range of stainless steel appliances (see amenities list). Apart from those wonderful sea views, the other focal point in the comfortably furnished lounge is the stone fireplace in one corner. The large L shaped sofa provides plenty of comfortable seating around the coffee table. For your entertainment needs there is an Amazon Firestick providing BBC, ITV, Sky channels and movies, a bluetooth speaker and a selection of books and games.

In addition to the large furnished balcony at the front, which runs the length of the villa, there is also a small balcony at the rear which gets the early sun and so is an ideal spot for breakfasting. The front balcony is fully furnished with outdoor tables and chairs and provides the perfect place for soaking up the sun during the day and enjoying the fabulous sunsets for which this part of Crete is renowned.

External Areas

Accessed from both double bedrooms, a large partially covered balcony with rattan furniture provides a comfortable place to sit and read to escape from the midday sun. Tiled steps lead directly from this balcony to the large 50m2 tiled swimming pool which has roman steps leading into it and a shallow end for children.

The pool is surrounded by sunbathing terraces and a well planted garden all of which have glorious views across Souda Bay. In the evenings the pool area is a lovely place to unwind and savour the views; this whole area benefits from soft lighting and spotlights in the pool.

Facing west so that the cook can enjoy watching the sun go down, there is a large BBQ with a working area and sink (cold water only) plus 3 tables for al fresco dining and a useful outdoor fridge and kettle; great for drinks at any time of the day.

There are so many furnished balconies/terraces at Villa Haroupia that you may find it difficult to choose the perfect place to chill out and relax. The garden has a number of mature olive and haroupia (carob) trees which provide privacy as well as natural, dappled shade. The "lower" garden is a very private little spot with an abundance of colourful shrubs and flowers. 

The 2024 prices for this villa reflect the fact that the plot to the front (between the villa and the sea) is under development. Currently the construction of two villas has ceased awaiting the sale of the frames (NB: as at 31st Dec 2023 these frames have been bricked up ready for masonry rendering). The view from the large upstairs balcony is uninterrupted. Please refer to paragraph 5.3 of our booking terms to see what we say about building work - https://www.crete-escapes.com/terms-conditions.   

Update 18/3/24 - we understand there has been no further progress on the new villas since our last update at the end of Dec 2023 (see above) however this could change at any time. We are currently waiting for the villa owners to visit Crete during April/May. 

The colours of some furnishings in the living area and bedrooms may be different from those shown. We are expecting new pictures from the owners in late spring/early summer 2024 which will be uploaded to our website in due course.

Internet Access

Unlimited download via fixed telephone line.

More Information

Use the different tabs to view the villa's features and amenities, actual location (a live link to google's most recent satellite map of the area) and distances to the nearest beach, shop and taverna. The prices tab contains details of the weekly rate together with discount information and additional charges where applicable. You can check "LIVE" up to date, availability using the availability tab which will also confirm the price for your selected dates ***. If you want to book you can then follow the online prompts. Also see https://www.crete-escapes.com/booking

*** In some cases relating to the low occupancy discount, the price may need adjusting by us. Please see the note on this page for more details https://www.crete-escapes.com/about-our-discounts

Holiday Rental Licence

 Villa Haroupia is licensed for holiday rentals with the Greek Tourist Authorities (EOT). Licence number AMA 00000135107.

General

Chania airport ­- 45 mins drive. Heraklion airport - 1 hr 55 mins drive.

Nearest Beaches ­- Almyrida - 40 mins walk / 7 mins drive or Kalives - 15 mins drive.

Nearest Tavernas and Shops ­- Kokkino Horio - 15 mins walk / 3 mins drive or Plaka - 20 mins walk / 5 mins drive.

NB; all times are approximate and based on average driving and walking speeds. Some walking and/or driving may be on unlit and unmade track roads. Please refer to the map tab to view satellite images of the area.

Booking Information

Change-over days are totally flexible but are subject to existing bookings taken either side. If a booking means that the owner would be left with too many "void" days we might not be able to accept it. If this is the case we will contact you without delay to discuss alternatives.

Payment can be made by bank transfer to our sterling account or by debit or credit card (Mastercard or Visa) only.

Our travel information provides details of how to get to Crete including flights to both Chania and Heraklion airports.

If you want to book, please use the availability chart above to check your dates, you can then either book on-line, email or call us on 0330 111 0061.

Please note: although the calendars show live availability and you can book on-line, please note that your booking is not confirmed until we have issued a confirmation of booking. You may prefer not to book your flights until we have confirmed the booking.

Low occupancy discounts - unfortunately the online booking system automatically calculates the single couple or small party discount based on the number of people entered onto the booking form and the start day of your rental. There are 2 problems with this:-

a) If you are 2 people but not a single couple, or 3 or 4 people but not 2 + 1 or 2 + 2, the system will have automatically calculated a discount when it is not due. Please make use of the "additional notes" box on the booking form to tell us and we will adjust the price accordingly before we confirm your booking.

b) If your rental overlaps from a discounted period to a non-discounted one (or vice versa), the discount calculated will be wrong. In these cases we have to make the adjustment manually. You can still book on-line but we will need to change the price on receipt of your booking request. If the price increases we will contact you to confirm the new price before we confirm your booking and take your deposit.

Please don't let either of these issues put you off making a booking. The discounts are genuine and our villa owners welcome couples and smaller parties out of high season. We just can't fine tune the booking system to account for these 2 circumstances - sorry.

 

 

Ten years since our last fabulous visit and stay at Villa Haroupia! The standard has not changed and is still fantastic with improved outside sitting areas. Everything you need and more is here with wonderful comfy beds! We didn't venture far - a day in Georgioupolis and another at Kalives beach - both excellent.  Most of our time was spent relaxing by the pool and eating and drinking! We have not had a poor meal - our favourite was Dimitris in Almyrida (book a table by the sea) - fabulous location and great food and service. A good time was had on a Sunday night at Takis in Plaka square where they had live music and good food. We also had a take-away from there and the food was excellent with a free bottle of wine!! Absolutely fabulous time was had by all four of us and lets hope it's not another ten years until we return. Thank you - June 2023. 

We have had an excellent stay in this villa, everything needed is here, so clean and tidy. The pool is excellent for the kids and ourselves to relax and chill in and around. We ate at most restaurants in Plaka, all good quality and them being only a 15 min walk away at 'flip flop' pace was ideal. Days out - we went to Chania, Rethymno and the boat trip from Almyrida Bay was really good. Also the waterpark just past Chania was great fun for the day. Will definitely recommend and come back to this villa on our next trip to Plaka - August 2022.  

We have had a fabulous week at beautiful Villa Haroupia. We have stayed in many villas around the world but this is our favourite! The many different covered terraces, the fabulous large pool and the stunning views. Thank you for letting us share your little corner of paradise and we really hope to return very soon - August 2022. 

We've had a fantastic week at Villa Haroupia! We have enjoyed the wonderful pool, beautiful views and sunsets and the mny lovely beaches. Had some amazing days out too - Elafonisi, Lake Kournas and a lovely evening in Chania. Aptera is worth a visit for some local history. We'd love to come back. Thank you so much - August 2022.

We had a really lovely holiday in Crete, the villa was so well equipped and the pool excellent - July 2022.

Can't believe it's 5 years since our last visit. We were hoping to be here last June for our 40th wedding anniversary but covid ruined that. Villa still superb. It was very hot for the last 4 days, not used to it not having been out of the UK for 4 years. Our two grandsons have never been out of the pool. Wen to the waterpark near Chania and also Lake Kournas. Ate out every night at all the usual places, local people still so friendly. It definitely won't be 5 years until we return, thanks again - June 2022. 

Just enjoyed a fantastic week at Villa Haroupia. Some brilliant sights and very good tavernas in Plaka and Almyrida. Chania definitely worth a visit for the port and shopping/eating. The villa is outstanding - views, accommodation, facilities etc. Very relaxing, will return - June 2022.

So glad to back at Villa Haroupia - two years later than planned thanks to covid! It was such a relaxing break, the boys are older now (6 and 10) so made full use of the fantastic pool. The villa is so well equipped and comfortable. We all enjoyed it and want to come again. Thank you Mark and Julie - May 2022.

Had a simply marvellous time - May 2022.

Thank you was a lovely place to stay - October 2021.

We have had a very enjoyable holiday in Crete and our time at Villa Haroupia. We stayed in the villa most days so we could make use of the huge pool and the BBQ area - August 2021.

We finally made it in what has been an extremely trying year due to Covid 19. We consider ourselves fortunate that we are able to have a holiday and relax in this gorgeous villa. Whilst we haven't ventured far on this occasion, we have had meals at Fotini's and The Loft in Plaka and Thalami and Makis in Almyrida - all excellent. Looking forward to coming back next year. Thank you Julie for all your help - September 2020.   

Sadly going home to a cold rainy England after a glorious week in Crete. Highlights in terms of trips have to be Samaria Gorge, Balos Bay and Chania Old town. Food good everywhere really but Elpis in Plaka is where we went most often. Villa has been so lovely, gardens beautiful and although cold, the pool was great too! Didn't use the BBQ but it's fantastic and so well laid out & equipped.  Second holiday this year with Crete Escapes. Thank you so much for everything Julie and team - October 2019.

We all had a really lovely holiday at Villa Haroupia, definitely on our list of favourites. The views from the choice of terraces are stunning, loved the depth and size of the pool, plus a great location too, especially if you appreciate a beautiful sunset. All correspondence, the travel itinerary and the villa info book were all very informative, loved the alternative rules about Greek driving ! None of us would hesitate to book with Crete Escapes again and would thoroughly recommend to others. Many thanls once again for all your help in arranging our holiday - September 2019.

We had an absolutely fabulous holiday at Villa Haroupia for the second time - August 2019.

We have just returned from two amazing weeks at Villa Haroupia, it was perfect. From the huge pool to the stunning views. The upkeep of the villa was exceptional and it had everything we needed. The surrounding area was great and we enjoyed many lovely meals out. A favourite being Elpis due to the fantastic food, Greek night and wonderful hospitality. Thank you so much for providing us with so many special memories. We look forward to arranging another holiday in Crete - August 2019. 

We have spent two wonderful weeks in your amazing villa and it has surpassed all expectations. We've sat on every balcony and terrace taking in the fantastic views, especially enjoying the stunning sunsets. We have had several lazy days around the immaculately maintained swimming pool but we did manage to tear ourselves away some days to visit some other places. All in all we had a really wonderful two weeks. Hopefully we'll get to return in the future - July 2019.

Had a really wonderful week in Crete. Everything about the place has surpassed our expectations. The villa (Haroupia) is fabulous and no matter how good the pictures are, they don't do it justice. The views of the mountains topped with snow and Souda Bay in front are picture perfect. The villa is superbly equipped and nothing has been left wanting at all. We've had a very busy week visiting Kournas Lake and swimming with terrapins, snorkelling at Octopus Bay, walking the Samaria Gorge (a real highlight) and visiting Elafonissi beach. All truly amazing. The 16 km gorge walk  is truly spectacular at the bottom and you can reward yourself with a dip in The Libyan Sea. We also had an evening in both Chania and Rethymnon which are each very different but really pleasant with some great little boutique shops and tavernas tucked away down shady side streets. - May 2019

Another amazing holiday at Villa Haroupia. Everything we need is here! Beaches at Almyrida and Kalives are lovely but Almyrida is better for young kids as the water is so shallow. Great for snorkelling too. We ate at Elia & Thyme (Almyrida), Takis (Plaka) and had a great night with live Greek music at Akrogiali (Kalives) - music Wednesdays and Saturdays. Many days spent lazing around the pool and enjoying the stunning views. Our second visit but not our last. Thank you so much - August 2018.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Villa Haroupia. The weather has been great all week. The facilities are outstanding. The pool area is also very nice. We had a BBQ and ate out many times and decided our favourite was Harokopos in Plaka. Our favourite beaches were Almyrida and Kalives. We went to the Roman ruins in Aptera too. We will go back with great memories of the villa and recommend it to our friends - August 2018.  

We had a lovely fortnight staying in Crete. Villa Haroupia has been amazing, exactly what we wanted. One of our favourite activities to do was sit and watch the sunset on the downstairs terrace - we managed to experience some jaw dropping views.  All in all we had a wonderful family holiday and would definitely come back again, thankyou - July 2018.   

We had an amazing week here in Crete. It was out first timeand will come back again one day. We could not have chosen a better place to stay, the villa is absolutely amazing and has everything that is needed for a great holiday. There is a nice taverna in Kokkino Horio (next to the village square), about a 10 min walk away, we went there for dinner and the sunset was amazing. All in all we had an amazing time - June 2018.

We have had a lovely stay here in this beautiful villa and enjoyed the fantastic views and wonderful feel of this area.  The weather has been mostly kind except for one day of thunderstorms and torrential rain.  Lovely time in Chania, Georgioupolis and Rethymnon and loved Almyrida - October 2017.

Lovely villa, fantastic pool and amazing views.  Extremely useful welcome pack - thank you.  Knossos a long trip but very interesting.  Samaria Gorge exhausting but awe inspiring.  Elafonisi is beautiful and the sea is clear and refreshing to swim in - another long trip but worth it.  Chania harbour is gorgeous and we enjoyed a great meal there.  Elpis in Plaka was good too and the staff very friendly.  All in all a wonderful time, thanks - October 2017.

We did indeed have a lovely time in Crete. Villa Haroupia was excellent....really well equipped and comfortable with stunning views. Debbie was very amenable on our last day and let us stay a bit longer as we had a late flight to catch. The villa wasn’t booked for the following week which helped our cause I think! The whole booking process was very good and we would book with Crete Escapes again - October 2017.

Here again, 4th visit for us and 2nd for brother and his wife.  The villa never fails to impress. The stunning views and tranquility makes for a great holiday.  Wish we could stay longer.  Roll on next May when we're back again - September 2017.

Thanks for a lovely stay here at Villa Haroupia.  Boys (aged 8 and 6) have loved the pool and we have all enjoyed the stunning views, garden and tavernas. This is our 4th visit to Crete and our 2nd to this villa so lovely to be back. Hope to return again soon -  September 2017.

What can I say? This has been our first time in Crete and we have not been disappointed. The villa is well furnished and decorated. The sea views are incredible and so are the beautiful sunsets to finish the day. The weather has been great and we've really enjoyed using the spacious pool.  The beds and air-con ensured we had a good nights sleep for the day ahead. We would definitely recommend the 2nd taverna on the left (Harokopos) as you go into Plaka from the villa.  They did amazing, traditional food with something for everyone - even the fussy eaters! Also their prices were reasonable and hospitality fantastic.  Other places we would recommend are the Botanical Gardens, Lake Kournas and Vamos village activities - August 2017. 

We had a brilliant time and loved both the villa and the area so much that we will return. Martin and Debbie were really helpful in resolving the problem that I inadvertently created with the safe and the whole two weeks sailed by without any problems. I would happily recommend both the villa and the service from Crete Escapes - August 2017.

Thank you for the use of your lovely villa, we've had a great holiday in Crete.  Some of the highlights have been - the views from the upper balcony, the pool, Samaria Gorge walk, Hellas Bike Tour, Takis taverna in Plaka, Elia and Thyme restaurant in Almyrida, coastal path walk, having BBQ's and the Cretan people.  I'm sure we'll be back - August 2017.

We had a lovely 2 weeks in this villa.  Going to miss the view.  Very well equipped. Went to Chania twice - drove to Souda, left car and got bus - easy!  Hired a pedalo on Lake Kournas - really good fun and beautiful area. Went to the nearest Waterpark - small but enough for a few hours of fun. Have had some lovely meals in Plaka. Lovely sitting at the BBQ area (at the villa) cooking meat from butchers in Almyrida.  Worth a walk up to Kokkino Horio - some of it was like stepping back in time. The weather has been good apart from 2 days when we had thick cloud and a bit of rain which the locals said 'was very unusual'.  Anyway thanks for the use of your villa - July 2017. 

We had a great holiday at Villa Haroupia - many thanks - June 2017.

We had a lovely holiday, our first time in Crete. We chose Villa Haroupia for the views and the size of the pool and were not disappointed. We did not use the pool much in the end because we loved the beach at Almyrida and spent five of our days there.  I am sure we will be returning to Crete and will recommend yourselves to any friends who are contemplating visiting -  June 2017.

This was our first visit to Crete and it has been amazing from start to finish!  We can't pick a favourite moment as the whole thing has been a dream.  Lots of fun in the gorgeous pool, breakfasts and lunch on the balcony and glorious sunsets.  We visited Almirida beach - really lovely with shallow water for the kids.  A lovely meal with stunning views at 'The Retreat' (though to be fair the ones at the villa are no less stunning).  Ate a few times at Takis in Plaka - big portions and lovely people.  Thank you so much for letting us stay here, it's been a perfect family holiay and we can;t wait to come back! - June 2017.   

The Woods back again to our favourite place.  First visited in 2008 and never disappointed when we return.  Upgrades to the villa are superb.  We had a new recruit with us this time (grandson Noah) and when we told him we can't stay here forever, he cried. Little bit quiet in resort, Retreat restaurant closed, but ate in all our other favourites.  Takis superb but be hungry and get ready for a free round of drinks. Hope to return again soon as this is a wonderful place and never tire of visiting - May 2017.

This is our 1st visit to Crete and we could not have picked a more beautiful place to spend two weeks holiday.  Over many years we have hired villas from various companies but we have to say that this villa is the best from the location to the quality of the villa inside and out.  This may be out 1st visit to Crete and this beautiful villa but I do not think it will be our last. We were invited by my brother and sister-in-law who have visited the villa twice before.  We think that says it all about the quality of the villa and the peaceful and tranquil setting.  Our 2 weeks have flown by and we don't want to go home. Thank you for sharing your villa - September 2016.

Our 3rd holiday in this beautiful area of Crete but first time in Villa Haroupia.  Yet again a fabulous holiday on this lovely island.  The villa was lovely and very well equipped.  We had a couple of BBQ's whilst watching the sunset - August 2016. 

Another great holiday in this lovely area.  Villa is really nice with an excellent pool and BBQ area. The Retreat taverna is definitely worth a visi, great view and food. As always this is such a lovely area to visit with everything you need for a great holiday - August 2016.

Our 3rd stay in Villa Haroupia and amazing as always.  Enjoyed the parasailing at Agia Marina this time.  All in all a lovely holiday in a beautiful villa - July 2016.

What a stunning villa with everything we could have wished for.  We were thrilled when we arrived at just how beautiful the villa was and could easily make this our home! Thanks for the welcome pack, especially the wine. We have enjoyed every second especially the views from the balcony.  We will miss it so much as we have loved relaxing by the pool and driving through all the many villages.  We are not ready to leave apart from missing our 3 children.  We can't wait to return to explore more of the island. Thanks for an amazing experience - June 2016.   

We have had a wonderful week in Crete.  The villa is amazing and exceeded our expectations.  It is well equipped, peaceful and clean with a gorgeous pool.  We love this villa and hope to return again - June 2016.

We have had a wonderful 2 weeks in this beautiful villa, our first time in Crete.  Our main requirement for this holiday was villa with a view - and what a view - absolutely stunning.  It will be sorely missed.  Hope to return in the not too distant future - May 2016.

Thank you so much for recommending Villa Haroupia to us. It was perfect for our needs and what an amazing view, that was my priority and it surpassed expectations – as did the villa, probably one of the best I have been to. Everything was well maintained, clean and so well equipped. As holiday home owners ourselves we know the work that goes into letting properties and we could see that the owners had covered every detail to make it perfect so please pass on our thanks to them. We would love to return one day hopefully before too long - May 2016.

Just to let you know that we have returned from Crete. The villa (Haroupia) was how we remembered it. We had a lovely time and everything went well - July 2015.

Hi, we've just returned from a great week in Crete. The villa (Haroupia) is excellent, so well equipped with the luxury of the private pool and in such a peaceful, secluded location, yet not far from local shops and tavernas - July 2015.

Many thanks for your service and your kindness. We had as usual a marvellous Holiday in Crete!!!  - June 2015

We have had a great time here at the villa and Almirida.  We absolutely adore the views and the villa has been comfortable, clean and well equipped.  The pool area and pool itself are fantastic - it is so nice to have a spacious pool!  Thank you for renting your villa out - we will be back! - August 2014.

Our first visit to Crete and what a lovely time we have had.  The villa is superb and its been an absolute pleasure staying here.  We have enjoyed playing in the pool with our grandchildren and just can't get enough of the view.  We are sorry to be going home tomorrow but we are taking some very happy memories away. Thank you - August 2014.

We've really enjoyed our holiday here in Villa Haroupia.  The pool was great for the kids and they also appreciated the Wi-Fi.  For us adults, it has been lovely to enjoy the view from the balcony while drinking coffee and reading books.  We went on two trips to Lake Kournas, saw the turtles and rented paddle boats. It's a nice drive through the small villages to Georgioupolis.  The beach at Almirida was perfect for us, not too busy, but with many tavernas and shops.  Our favourite restaurant in Plaka was Elpis with a nice garden for the children to play in.  We also enjoyed the great view at the Retreat restaurant outside Kokkino Horio.  We had everything we needed in the villa and didn't miss anything.  The bakery in Almyrida is a good place to buy fresh bread for breakfast (and donuts!).  Thank you - the villa was great! - July 2014.

We have all had a very relaxing holiday and have enjoyed staying a Villa Haroupia.  Pool made the villa extra special, a welcome cool down at the end of a hot day.  We used many of the local tavernas and the quality of the food was excellent.  We found the beach to the west end of Kalives (just past the Inka) to be surprisingly quiet where we could play more energetic beach games without tripping over sunbathers. The butchers at Vamos is excellent for all your BBQ meat, it's called Jon's and is on the left as you enter the village (next to the petrol station).  Thanks for a great holiday...lovely villa - July 2014.

Had a wonderful 2 weeks in the villa.  After a dodgy start weather wise the sun came out and we basked in 30 degree temperatures.  The villa is very comfortable and has everything required for a pleasant stay.  Getting over the upside down layout of the villa takes a few days especially when using the BBQ but pays off during those hot barmy nights.  Had a great day in Chania at the harbour area with all its restaurants and myriad of small streets full of gift shops is absolutely wonderful.  Had good meals at '2nd on the left' in Plaka and Bicorna.  Also visited the Retreat where the food was great and the portions generous - May 2014.

Another holiday at Villa Haroupia and every year it never fails to impress us. It’s in a perfect location with an amazing view.  We had a fantastic meal at The Retreat restaurant above the village of Kokkino Chorio experiencing a magnificent sunset.  We also loved eating in Plaka with all the traditional Greek food.  We visited Lake Kournas one day hiring pedalos and enjoyed swimming in the warm water.  Can’t wait to visit again next year - October 2013.

This is our fifth year in this area of Crete and Villa Haroupia is a superb find.  It is a very well equipped villa with comfy beds in a great location with wonderful views.  The garden is beautifully kept and the pool is wonderful.  The beach towels provided were a helpful extra.  We have enjoyed all the tavernas in Almyrida as usual and the home cooked food at Elpis in Plaka. Went on a trip to Chania for our 32nd wedding anniversary and I can’t think of anywhere else I would have rather spent it! - Sept 2013.

The first time we have stayed at Villa Haroupia and hopefully not our last. The amenities have exceeded our expectations and the favourite part is sat at the BBQ terrace watching the sun go down whilst sipping a cold beer!  An ideal location, totally peaceful and great to relax by the pool.  Enjoyed eating out at Taman restaurant in Chania and in one of the tavernas by the lovely beach at Almyrida - August 2013.

We had a lovely time at this villa.  Well-equipped and everything we needed for a great time.  BBQ area has excellent views and pool fantastic.  Great place for a family holiday - July 2013.

Wonderful 2 weeks at this well maintained, clean and beautiful villa.  A great deal of thought has been given to making this such a well-equipped and comfortable villa and is much appreciated.  The jazz festival in Vamos was very enjoyable as was the number of walks from the villa and nearby villages in the Apokoronas area - July 2013.

Had a great week at Villa Haroupia ­ everything you could possibly need is provided.  The weather has been wonderful, so the pool was very refreshing.  A very peaceful location and very well maintained.  Enjoyed nights out at Gavalochori eating at Monica’s in the square or the taverna above the supermarket.  We thoroughly enjoyed our stay - June 2013.

We have been coming to Villa Haroupia for the last 5 years and find this a bit of heaven to look forward to after a long winter.  We have found some very good places to eat but particularly like Fortinis (second on the left) in Plaka ­ great food and made to feel very welcome.  Our favourite place, however, is sat at the BBQ area in an evening watching the boats sail in and out of Souda Bay - April 2013.

Weather has been great, apart from one afternoon when it tried to rain, the rest of the time it has been sunny with a gentle breeze. The villa has been great, it's well equipped and there's a good sized pool for our party of grown up kids and adults. We've spent most of the holiday lounging around and sunbathing. In truth we have not tried the cooking facilities as all the tavernas we've visited have been great. Almirida and Plaka have plenty to offer although menus tend to be similar. For something different try the Italian restaurant in Plaka where they have real Italian pasta and meats. This was our first visit to Crete and we will be back; it has been a tremendously relaxing holiday - thank you!! - September 2012.

Have really enjoyed a relaxing 2 weeks which have gone all too quickly. Plenty of lazing around the pool and trips to the lovely Almyrida beach. Like other visitors, we also enjoyed eating out in Plaka and preparing tasty BBQ's by the pool. Can recommend Dream Adventure boat trips, the water park at Limnoupolis and Elafonissi which was like a tropical paradise with turquoise sea and golden pink sand - August 2012.

A very well designed villa in a lovely location. We've enjoyed lazing around the pool, having barbecues and just chilling in all the outside areas. We also enjoyed the tavernas in Plaka and would recommend the supermarket there too which is extremely well stocked for its size. We visited Rethymnon this time but prefer Chania which we visited on an earlier trip to the area. So sad that we have to go home tomorrow - July 2012.

4th time in Crete, and, as always, checked every de-luxe villa and after chatting to Jan we chose this one. It has been absolutely everything we could have wished for and more. The pool was fantastic and the gardens are beautiful. It was immaculate on arrival and we found it easy to keep that way. We enjoyed being left alone for the week - thanks! - June 2012.

We have really enjoyed our stay at Villa Haroupia and have appreciated the wonderful villa and beautiful views. As well as cooking up tasy BBQ's at the villa, we've had some great meals out at the tavernas in Plaka where the food is brilliant. The boat trip with Dream Adventures from Almirida was exciting and we loved the snorkelling opportunities. A great day out is the water park at Limnoupolis and the go kart track opposite - it was great fun! - June 2012.

We have had an excellent 2 weeks. Accommodation 1st class with excellent views of Souda Bay. The weather has been very hot so we have been thankful for the pool which is a good size and not too deep - perfect for all. The BBQ area is very good with an added bonus of the fridge. We found the tavernas in Plaka very good with plenty of choice. We would definitely recommend this villa. We are all sorry our holiday has ended - September 2011.

Had a brilliant time. The villa's great and the views are fantastic. Enjoyed watching the NATO jets coming in and out of Chania airport and the battle ships in Souda Bay (Libya conflict). It rained one day which had the locals flabbergasted. Best days out were Limnoupolis water park and Chania market and old town - August 2011.

Just want to say what a fantastic villa this is and what a pleasure it has been to stay here. The views are superb and the weather has been fantastic. It's been many years since I was in Greece and I can say I have definitely missed the people, the food and the atmosphere that is Greece! I will definitely recommend this villa to others. Thank you for allowing me to be part of it. I will be taking many wonderful memories home with me - July 2011.

Hi Jan - Just thought we would drop you a line to tell you what a great holiday we had at the Villa Haroupia. We are a family of 6. It's our first time in this area and the first time to Crete for our parents. The Villa was everything you said it would be and much more. It was very well equipped, we loved the sofa in the lounge it was so comfortable and loved the games and books supplied. Our 4 year old has spent some part of every day in the pool; we have had to plead with him to get out every evening he loved it so much. The sofa and chairs on the patio by the bedrooms were great too and a welcome relief to escape the heat of the poolside. The upstairs of the villa was cool and refreshing with such lovely views, we had many lovely lunches watching the ships come and go from Chania port. Like everyone else we have used the local shops and thought the food at the tavernas in Plaka was very good. We can also recommend Almyrida beach which is very family friendly with warm sea and gently sloping sands which are safe for children.We did have to call upon Joanne from Go West as our baby wouldn't go in the shower, (she has never had one before) I sent Joanne a text to ask her where we could get hold of a baby bath and she answered my text straight away and said that she would bring one to the Villa that afternoon. We were very impressed with the service given - June 2011.

We are watching our last sunset and not looking forward to going home tomorrow. We have really enjoyed our holiday here in Crete. Very impressed with the villa and we could easily stay for another week - October 2010.

Our first visit to Crete could not have been spent at a more beautiful or peaceful location than Villa Haroupia. It fulfilled all our expectations, especially the pool, gardens and top verandah which was perfect for sundowners and the views of Souda bay. The location was perfect for visiting other parts of the island, the local villages, beaches and tavernas - September 2010.

What can we say? Excellent villa! Excellent location! Excellent pool! We spent many a day just gazing at the views. The kids loved the pool and trips to Almyrida beach, Georgioupolis and Chania. To sum up, it was antastic! - August 2010.

Thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful villa. We have thoroughly enjoyed our 2 weeks here. Perfect position with fantastic views, especially the evening sunsets  - July 2010.

After spending 2 weeks at Villa Haroupia, the memories that will go home with us are of the peacefulness and the views. We have so enjoyed sitting on the balcony, looking at the view across Souda Bay. The villa itself is fantastic & well equipped. We were grateful for the supply of beach towels. For provisions we found the local shop in Plaka to be very well stocked and comparable on price to the supermarkets - June 2010.

We previously visited Plaka in May 2008 and had such a restful time we knew we would be back. We came here again in search of rest and relaxation and found it in abundance. We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in your villa, we have been very well looked after. We've had fantastic weather and have been very indulged by this and the beautiful views. We went into Almyrida every evening and enjoyed some great meals at all of the restaurants.  We haven't explored as our holiday was just what we wanted it to be, restful. We could sit all day just admiring the amazing views that Haroupia has to offer.  Thank you for sharing your home with us, I know we will be back - we've fallen under Crete's spell - September 2009.

We all loved the villa, it's got amazing views. Almyrida beach was really nice, great tavernas along the sea front and a good bakery as well - August 2009.

The best villa we have stayed in for position and facilities, a real home from home, pool towels much appreciated - June 2009.

Villa Haroupia is in a beautiful setting, particularly liked the BBQ area which was a great spot for sitting in the evening, as the sun went down. Our first time to this area which we liked very much, Almyrida, Kalives, Chania, Samaria gorge - we saw them all! Good tavernas and very friendly people. Thank you - June 2009.

Just to let you know that we had a fantastic time at Villa Haroupia. Please pass on our thanks to the owners and the cleaners - it was spotless when we arrived. It is in a great location and we had great weather. It really made a difference having the beach towels and the DVD player too. We may well want to book for half term in May next year - May 2009.

We found the villa very comfortable and well equipped, all was perfect including sun every day! Thanks for all the pool inflatables which were well used during our stay. Well worth a trip to Chania. We also enjoyed the tavernas in Plaka. We found a track down to the sea by turning right before the orange and yellow villas (Anna) as you walk down to Plaka - November 2008.

We were very fortunate to have stayed in Villa Haroupia as we did not have good weather for most of our week in October 2008. The only saving grace was that we were staying in this wonderful villa which was clean, spacious, tastefully furnished and well equipped with every appliance we needed. We did experience a couple of amazing sunsets from the balcony and when we go back to Crete, we shall certainly stay here again - October 2008. 

Just returned from 11 days at Villa Haroupia ­ what can I say! Fantastic property in a fantastic location. We have stayed in numerous villas throughout the Med but this is the best ­ it’s a real credit to the owners who have thought of everything to make your holiday as relaxing as possible and a homely place to stay. Can’t wait to go back ­ September 2008.

We stayed in Villa Haroupia and had a wonderful time. The villa is really well equipped, in a beautiful location and has magnificent views. We were impressed with the child friendly features which meant we could relax! We wouldn’t hesitate in going back to Villa Haroupia and would happily recommend it ­ August 2008.

We came back last Friday from a fantastic vacation in Crete. Villa Haroupia was one of the most important factors for this enjoyable vacation. Excellent location, excellent view, brand new with very good equipment and a very good and friendly service by the property managers, Joanne and Vince. We shall certainly be interested in taking it again next year and will contact you when we have the dates. Many thanks also to you for the friendly service ­ July 2008.