Florianna's Villa

General Description

This very popular, well equipped villa offers modern amenities with traditional styling and furnishings; it will suit those looking for a more authentic Cretan style. It is owned by a local Greek family who have taken great care to furnish it in the traditional Greek way. The villa has a private pool, garden and BBQ and sleeps up to 4 adults. A child can be accommodated on the Z bed. Whilst we recommend car hire for all of our villas to enable you to explore and get the most out of your holiday to this lovely area of Crete, car hire is not essential at this villa as it is located in the centre of the village of Plaka, within an easy stroll of the village’s tavernas, bars and mini market and only 15 minutes walk to the beach at Almyrida.

Ground Floor

An open plan kitchen/diner and lounge area is located on the ground floor. The kitchen/diner is fully equipped and has a table and seating for 4 people. The traditionally furnished lounge area has sofas, chairs, occasional furniture, a fireplace, TV, DVD player and a radio. There is also a shower room/ wet room on this floor with shower, wc and wash basin.

First Floor

Both of the lovely air-conditioned bedrooms, one double and one twin, are on the first floor where the main bathroom with hydro massage is also situated. The bedrooms have doors opening up to an extensive balcony with views of the sea.

External Areas

There are furnished balconies and terraces with sea views, perfect for relaxing, around the villa. A large, private landscaped garden with swimming pool and BBQ completes the amenities on offer.

The property is centrally heated making it a good choice for early or late season stays when the evenings may turn chilly and heating may be required.

Internet Access

Internet access is available at the Bicorna Cafe approx 2 minutes walk from the villa.

Holiday Rental Licence

Florianna's Villa is for holiday rentals by the Greek Tourist Authorities (EOT). Licence number is 10 42 K 10 00 00483 0 0. 

General

• Villa size -­ 90m2
• Plot size -­ 1200m2
• Parking
• Air ­conditioning­ throughout
• Central heating
• Safety deposit box 
• Hairdryer
• Cot on request
• High chair on request
• Z bed on request - extra charge (see prices tab)
• All bed/bath linen except cot linen 
• Beach/pool towels
• Maid service and linen change (see prices tab)
• Welcome pack on arrival

Bedrooms & Bath/Shower Rooms

1 x double & 1 x twin bedrooms. 2 x bath/shower rooms as follows:-

• 1 x double & 1 x twin - both on the first floor
• 1 x bathroom on the first floor with bath tub and hydro massage shower system
• 1 x shower/wet room on the ground floor

Living Areas & Kitchen Equipment

• Full cooker
• 4 ring hob
• Microwave
• Fridge/freezer
• Kettle
• Coffee maker
• Toaster
• Juicer
• Washing Machine
• Iron & ironing board 
• TV (terrestrial reception)
• DVD player & Radio 

External

• Private pool - 32m2 (8m x 4m external).  Depth - 1.7m
• Sun loungers + outdoor tables & chairs
• BBQ
• Lawn & garden area

Chania airport­ - 40 minutes. Heraklion airport - 2 hours

Nearest Beach­ - Almyrida - 10/15 mins walk

Nearest Taverna­ - Plaka - 3 mins walk

Nearest Shop­ - Plaka - 5 mins walk

NB; all times are approximate and based on average driving and walking speeds.

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 (sterling or euro) or by debit or credit card.

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.

Our 3rd stay at Florianna's Villa and still as beautiful as ever, serene, peaceful and full of character. It's our favourite place in Crete and always will be. We finally got to meet Maria on this trip, after 3 years! We sampled some of her delicious home baked cake. We got married on this visit at The Bicorna Hotel and Cafe in Plaka. Several friends visited us at the villa and they all loved it. We will be back to Florianna's Villa again next year, we like it so much. Many thanks - October 2017.

A brief note to thank you very much for booking us to stay in Florianna’s villa for the week 19-26 September. We very much enjoyed staying in this delightful villa in Plaka.  It was perfect for us and so clean, well cared for and beautifully and traditionally furnished. All went smoothly, the weather was excellent, the car hire with Pan Car was straightforward and everyone was so welcoming and friendly. This has been our first visit to Crete, and unlikely to be the last! Thank you also for the wealth of extremely helpful information you either sent or placed on your website - September 2017.

This is our 2nd visit to Florianna's Villa and it was just as lovely as our 1st visit 2 years ago.  A very beautiful and relaxing place to stay and yet still close enough to stroll into Plaka for an evening meal.  The local supermarkets had all the supplies we needed and we found the small butchers in Almyrida.  We enjoy all the local restaurants in Plaka Square but the best (and best value by far) is Harokopos.  The villa is very clean and the management team very helpful.  We have had several visits from the owner, Marie, with some very tasty treats for us which were much appreciated.  We would highly recommend this villa and hope to return in the future - August 2017. 

Our first visit to Crete which we could not have enjoyed more. Perfect weather including a mini heatwave. Villa is excellent. We loved the garden with all the beautiful plants and sitting enjoying the stunning views with a glass of wine and the smell of jasmine in the air. We hired a car and have explored this wonderful island including beaches at Kalives, Marathi, Georgioupolis, Falassarna and Elafonissi with the latter involving an early start and a stunning drive through the mountains. We visited Chania in the evening where we had a wonderful meal and really enjoyed the atmosphere. Nearer to home, Plaka is perfect with lovely friendly tavernas. Maria (the villa owner) visited us bearing gifts, so kind and lovely. This has been a perfect holiday in every way. Thank you. Crete, we love you - July 2017.

Delightful and comfortable villa. Beach at Almyrida lovely with shallow sea, Good tavernas with reasonable prices. Fab sunsets. All in all, another great holiday in Greece - July 2017.

It was a excellent holiday thanks, all worked very well. Lovely villa, great location - July 2017.

We had a wonderful trip! Please send a thank you to the owner for her wonderful treats in the form of cake and biscuits Cretan style! The locals were delightful and we thought the villa was perfect! We will be back, what a stunning island - June 2017

Our first visit to Crete and we're glad we've chosen to spend it in this lovely villa. The weather's been perfect and we've spent lazy days reading by the pool, driving to Chania and Rethymnon and taking long walks along the cliffs towards Almyrida. Enjoyed Takis taverna in Plaka for friendly service, generous portions and free desserts and drinks! There's a well stocked shop in the village and a couple of good souvenir shops in Almyrida as well as some friendly bars and beach side cafes. We've had a lovely time - May 2017.

Our 2nd stay at Florianna's and nothing has changed - absolutey perfect - facilities, location and the area are all perfect! We can't fault it and will be back next year. The weather has been perfect and the welcome and generosity of the Cretan people are superb. All the tavernas offer excellent quality and generous portions with free dessert and raki! - October 2016

 

We have really enjoyed our stay here at Florianna's Villa, what a beautiful place and so quiet................ We enjoyed meals out in Plaka and Almyrida. We explored the area and the beaches, we liked Kalives where we got free sunbeds and brollies (buy a drink or food from the cafe). Everybody we met, bar one cafe owner, was very friendly, kind and helpful. All in all we've had an excellent holiday. Many thanks - September 2016.

 

Another great stay at Florianna's (our 3rd). We recommend Harokopos taverna in Plaka for very good food and friendly staff. We visited Vamos and via the tourist information centre we booked a country walk with George who was an excellent guide, also the Cretan cookery course which was fantastic - August 2016.

 

We had a lovely relaxing time here with temperatures around 30 degrees for 2 weeks. We've tried all the restaurnats in the village and recommend Takis and the Italian. Emerald is good but booking is advised. We loved the Bicorna cafe just along the road for breakfast, drinks and their wifi. We visited Chania using the local bus service from Almyrida, tickets cost just over 3 euro. - August 2016.

 

We all had a lovely time here at Florianna's. The villa is in a great location and easy to walk to Plaka and Almyrida for evening meals. The villa was really well equipped; we made good use of the BBQ and had fresh orange juice every morning thanks to the juicer - delicious! The pool & garden were a real sanctuary, it was lovely to be able to pick fresh tomatoes and peppers :) We had some great days out and would recommend Dream Boat Adventures in Almyrida, Chania at sunset, cooking lessons in Vamos, boating at Lake Kournas and the botanical gardens at Fournes with an excellent on site restaurant. We loved swimming at Almyrida but our favourite beach was just outsuide Kalives near the GK hotel and cafe - July 2016.

 

We had an absolutely lovely stay in the villa and enjoyed exploring Plaka and Almyrida and managed a day trip to Georgioupolis which is definitely recommended if you have a car. We had a very lovely time and hope to be back in Crete soon - June 2016.

 

Great to be back, this time for 2 weeks.  Had a very restful and peaceful time and the food at the tavernas was as good as ever - May 2016.  

 

We've spent the most fantastic fortnight at Villa Florianna. It has been quiet, relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable. We've been to Crete and Plaka on many occasions and without doubt this has been our most comfortable stay. The villa's facilities are superb and we've never been short of anything during our stay. The outside table area, pool, BBQ and garden are gorgeous and we have felt most at home. We haven't had the chance to meet Marie but were delighted to find a little package of treats left for us outside one morning. Thank you, that was a lovely touch. Definitely returning next year (we've already booked) - many, many thanks - October 2015.

 

The villa and Plaka is a very nice and relaxing place which made an excellent week. Elpis taverna in Plaka was the one we thought the best in the village and just down the hill we liked the restaurant at The Emerald suites - September 2015

 

All four of us have thoroughly enjoyed our week here. It is a lovely villa with a beautiful pool and outdoor area. The village is very friendly and all the tavernas were excellent. Our favourites were the Italian (una facca una razza) and The Emerald. We enjoyed exploring the area - Almyrida is lovely and we would recommend The Dream Adventures boat trip which is amazing! A brilliant holiday all round - September 2015.

 

We have really enjoyed our stay at this beautiful villa. It is very well stocked and very clean with lovely views across the sea. We have loved spending time relaxing around the pool and exploring the local area. This is our 2nd visit to Plaka and we would love to return again soon. A special thank you to the owner, Marie, for the food parcel gifts which were much appreciated and delicious - August 2015.

 

We arrived to find an immaculately presented and very clean villa and a welcome hamper which was much appreciated.  Don't think you can fault the villa one little bit; it's perfectly located, has a great pool, well tended and beautiful garden and all the comforts we needed.  Maria brought lots of 'goodies', pastries, cakes, fruits etc which was very kind and generous of her.  We loved Plaka and the fact that you could just walk out from the villa. Overall we have had a GREAT holiday. We most certainly will revisit and would definitely stay at Villa Florianna which gets a 5/5 from us! - July 2015.

 

We had a lovely week at Florianna's and we very much liked Plaka and its wonderful eating places! The villa was spotlessly clean on arrival, very well equipped and the welcome pack most helpful on arrival. The agents were most helpful and the pool was cleaned twice during the week. The villa very much met our expectations and we hope that we may return. Marie turned up with a very generous range of goodies and replaced the kettle. Thanks for your assistance, we look forward to returning! - May 2015.

We had a lovely time and thought Florianna's Villa a beautiful place to stay. Arrangements went perfectly & the light but efficient touch very much appreciated - September 2014.

Thanks Crete Escapes, we've had a really good holiday - it was so relaxing to stay at Villa Florianna.  Maria gave us tasty gifts which were much appreciated and the weather was near perfect.  We enjoyed eating out at a restaurant next to the butcher in Chania market, one next to the war memorial at Gavalochori and another at the 'T' junction in Kokkino Horio.  Thanks again - August 2014.

Villa Florianna is a great choice with a fabulous pool and well equipped (a toaster would be our only addition).  The villa is in a perfect location - you can stroll into Plaka for a meal - we tried Elpis and Takis - preferred the latter - not just because of the huge portions (beware) but also the quality of the food. The man at the village mini-market is very helpful and polite.  Visited Lake Kournas, Chania harbour and Aptera.  The beaches at Almyida and Kalives are good with lots of tavernas to choose from.  Our favourite restaurant was Elia in Almyida but they only take cash.  Maria visited with the much mentioned cakes, grapes and another bottle of wine.  She's a charming lady, thank you Maria - July 2014.

Our visit to Crete.  Villa Florianna has been a great place to stay and Plaka a great location.  Much time spent relaxing in the villa and swimming in the pool but we've had some good days out too.  Recommend a visit to the ancient ruins at Aptera, a walk to the summit of Gingilos and also a visit to Chania old town/ harbour.  Thanks Maria for the gifts of food and wine plus the welcome pack - July 2014.

We've had a really relaxing time at this lovely villa.  This is our 3rd visit to Crete and its been the most enjoyable due to the location.  Plaka is a great place for your basic needs, especially with so many restaurants if you don't want to cook - which we didn't! Takis was our favourite, as the owner and his daughter were so friendly and inviting.  Maria brought a lovely basket of goodies and then some tasty pastries.  Thank you for letting us stay at your lovely villa.  We will definitely be back - July 2014.

What a wonderful retreat!  It's sad it is time to say goodbye but all good things come to an end. The villa is peaceful and sun drenched and Maria is a very lovely lady always arriving with home-made treats!  Efcharisto Poli!  - June 2014.

This is our 3rd holiday in Crete through Crete-Escapes and we've thoroughly enjoyed continuing to explore the island from this comfortable, clean villa. The highlight this year was discovering the Botanical Park and Gardens near Omalos, Chania.  Beautiful, interesting place, very special and the food in the restaurant was the best we've had in Crete.  A magical place; children would love it. Marie - thank you for the basket of treats that you left for us.  We enjoyed it all - May 2014. 

Lovely villa and wonderful hospitality.  We would like to thank Maria for her lovely gifts of delicious cakes and breads.  We enjoyed sitting by the pool in the sunshine and had lovely walks in the coves overlooking the sea - April 2014.

Our 1st visit to Crete and we picked a perfect week. The weather was beautiful all week, warm with clear blue skies. Delighted with the villa, a beautiful garden and lovely pool. Thanks to Maria for the wonderful pastries she gave us midweek. Ate in all the tavernas in Plaka and found them all to be very reasonably priced and the food was good but watch out for the huge portions! A favourite spot for lunch was Thalami fish taverna in Almyrida. The highlight of our week was hiking down the Samaria Gorge, hard work but worth it especially for the swim in the Libyan sea at the end. Would love to return - thanks for a great holiday - October 2013.

We have greatly enjoyed our stay here. We have been impressed by the good value at all the restaurants in Plaka; Elpis was our favourite but we felt that the quality of the food was better at the many sea front restaurants in Almyrida. Florianna's villa is nicely decorated with a particularly well maintained garden. The only criticism is that the kitchen could do with a sieve/colander for washing salad etc and a better kitchen knife - Many thanks - September 2013.

Perfect Honeymoon here.  Everything was great ­ the pool, the weather, the food, and the locals,  Elpis in Plaka was our favourite place to eat ­ try the mojitos too.  We don’t advise walking to Kalyves in the midday like we did.  Thank you to Marie who was wonderful and very generous.  A truly amazing honeymoon - August 2013.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks at Villa Florianna. The villa is great; we've all enjoyed the pool and the BBQ and the views are stunning. Thank you so much for the gifts, the cheese pastries were delicious. We enjoyed the local beach at Almyrida as well as others further afield and the water park at Limnoupolis. We recommend Elpis taverna in Plaka for kids (it has a play area) and adults alike. All in all a fabulous holiday - we've fallen in love with Crete and we are sure to be back soon - June 2013.

We had a lovely stay in Villa Florianna.  Beautiful weather.  Takis in Plaka was a good place to eat.  Thank you Marie for your wonderful gifts - June 2013.

We have had a wonderful time and the villa is amazing and very peaceful. We will definitely be returning, hopefully next year, as my aunt has a villa just 200 metres away - September 2012.

We have spent the most wonderful 3 weeks here in Villa Florianna. We have spent many lazy days around the pool having a fantastic family time together. The villa and its surroundings are very peaceful and private. Thank you so much for the lovely produce; especially the wine! This is our 5th visit to Plaka and assure you that it won't be our last. Sincerely hope to be back again soon. Yammas - August 2012.

We spent a wonderful week here swimming, playing, exploring the surroundings and just having a marvellous time. We have been to Western Crete before but this was the first time to Apokoronas - what a wonderful area! Thank you for your hospitality, our boys loved the cookies!! We hope to come back again - July 2012.

We've had a lovely week in a lovely villa. We've enjoyed our meals outside where you can smell the beautiful garden. The pool was great and the rubber ring a hit with the children. The BBQ works well and the kitchen is well equipped. Almyrida beach has been lovely. Clear, clean, warm sea, suitable for children. Our children snorkled there. We had nice food brought to us on the beach by Atlantis cafe. We used the English butcher in Vamos but there is a good local butcher just off the main square in Vamos if you want local meat/sausages for a BBQ. A beautiful week in a comfortable villa in a beautiful and quiet part of Crete - June 2012.

Well, we’re not long back from Heaven ­ sorry, Florianna’s Villa! This has without doubt been the best holiday either my fiancée or I have ever had. Everything, but everything, was perfect! The villa itself, the location, the proximity of local amenities, exactly as described by yourselves. The whole experience lived well up to expectation and beyond! Marie, the owner, and Go West, property managers, made sure we were very well looked after. All in all, then, a truly memorable holiday, and for all the right reasons! Many thanks. (We will be back!) - May 2012.

The most wonderful 2 weeks! The villa has fulfilled all expectations and more besides. The whole place gets 10 out of 10, plus several gold stars!! Marie's gifts have been very well received - it was a real pleasure to make her acquaintance. Many thanks to her, her staff and all at Crete Escapes - this has been our first time to Crete and it won't be our last!! - May 2012.

We have had such a lovely holiday in Villa Florianna. The location is great - far enough away from hustle and bustle so it is quiet and peaceful but close enough to Plaka to walk there for dinner in the evening. The people have been incredibly friendly and helpful. We arrived late at night to find the fridge stocked with all that we needed. We made full use of the vegetable garden and we had lots of fun in the pool. All in all a wonderful relaxing trip - October 2011.

We had a lovely time at Florianna's Villa. The location was perfect for us & Plaka is a delight, especially Elpis taverna which we couldn't get enough of! Western Crete is beautiful for sure - we will pass on recommendations! - September 2011.

We have had a wonderful stay in Crete. The villa is excellent and well placed for visiting all around the Chania region as well as the Rethymon area. We recommend Falassarna and Elafonissi for their beautiful beaches, Balos which is a marvel especially if you go by boat from Kissamos and stop off at Gramvoussa - August 2011.

We have had a lovely stay in Crete - our first visit to the island.  We have managed to visit west as far as Falassarna and Kissamos and east to Georgioupolis. The beaches just outside GP are wonderful - flat and sandy for miles! We walked the Imbros gorge (easier than Samaria). Plaka is a good place to eat in the evening and a nice stroll back after a few beers. We enjoyed all the tavernas there. The villa and pool have been perfect - clean and well equipped - Thank you - July 2011.

This is our first visit to Crete and we enjoyed every minute of it, it is such a beautiful island and Plaka is wonderful, very peaceful and relaxing. The villa is outstanding; great location, clean and well equipped with everything we needed. The pool is great and we used it every day. It looks very pretty when it's lit up at night. The books at the villa were really useful and the provisions on arrival were very welcome. We would also like to thank you for the gifts of homemade cake and Cretan produce. The village of Plaka is lovely with a good selection of tavernas in the square and a little supermarket for provisions - the man who owns it is very helpful!! Almyrida is lovely too with a bigger selection of tavernas, a great bakery and a lovely beach. We would love to visit again - June 2011.

We have had our 2nd wonderful holiday at Villa Florianna and our 3rd in Plaka. We have used the lovely pool every day and of course the beach at Almyrida. It was lovely to see Fotini again at the taverna Harokoupos in Plaka, the food is lovely and very reasonably priced. Thank you for your very generous gifts of wine, fruit, olive oil and honey and thank you for such a lovely stay - June 2011.

Arrived in the dark - what a wonderful surprise in the morning!! We have had a wonderful, relaxing holiday in Villa Florianna. We particularly enjoyed the  friendly Cretan people and the fabulous food - May 2011.

Jan - I would just like to let you know that we had a terrific holiday in Crete and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at Florianna's Villa. The villa was excellent and exactly what we were looking for. Our two boys had a great time. The owner visited us, what a lovely lady, she brought us many gifts including her homemade wine and homegrown figs..lovely. Many thanks to you for the organisation and we look forward to booking with you again one day - August 2010.

Villa Florianna's has all you need for a great holiday. Just off the beaten track but close enough to bars and tavernas in Plaka. Almyrida has good beaches and tavernas. Great 2 hour trip with George on the Crete Dream rib around the coast to the Octopus bar and back - snorkelling included. Fabulous holiday. Many thanks - June 2010.

We have both enjoyed an amazing stay. We had all the peace and tranquility we needed to escape hectic city lives. Although we're not ordinarily the type of folk to return to the same place, this has won us over and it's on the cards! It's been a week of happiness. We'll be back - May 2010.

Thanks for a really lovely week. The villa was unbelievably good, well equipped and well maintained. Thank you Maria for the gifts you brought and for looking after the gardens - May 2010.

We have enjoyed our stay - the villa is well appointed and we loved the view. Thankyou for the welcome pack. We hope to return - September 2009.

Excellent holiday. Comfortable villa with everything we needed. Gifts from Maria were a nice gesture and much appreciated. Lovely to have the beach within walking distance. Recommend two tavernas with excellent sea views in Almyrida - Psaros and Erotokritos. Thanks for an excellent villa. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and hope to come back one day - July 2009.

One of the best villas we have stayed in.  Comfortable, clean and good facilities.  Amazing amount of gifts from Marie Thank you!  I can highly recommend her home made wine.  Weather was hot and sunny all week.  Thanks for everything Marie and Crete Escapes - June 2009.

We had a lovely week relaxing and messing about by the pool.  Not much sightseeing but trips to the beaches and Chania,  Good meal at Gavalochori (10 minutes drive) Fantastic house with all necessities.  Thanks Marie for the presents.  The garden is wonderful - June 2009.

What a lovely setting for a perfect week away. The house is well equipped. The view here and the pool are absolutely lovely. Particularly enjoyed the Brandy Alexandra's at the Bicorna Bar. The short walk to Almyrida is wonderful and the tavernas are very good. We enjoyed the night sounds of Crete and will be back for more! Enjoyed Knossos which we recommend all visitors to see - May 2009.

Really enjoyed our first trip to Crete. The villa, pool, garden and view are fantastic. The quiet position and close proximity to Plaka and Almirida are ideal. Thank you Marie for the gifts of local produce. Hope to come back again soon ­ June 2008.

This is our 4th visit to Crete and the best yet. The villa feels like a home from home especially with the lovely garden. The gifts you brought were very much appreciated and made us feel very welcome - May 2008.

We have had a wonderful time in this lovely villa. Great weather and really marvellous setting. We hope to be back soon ­ August 2007.

Beautiful, clean and comfortable villa ­ we loved it! Felt very at home and enjoyed the surroundings. The local people were so friendly and welcoming. Marie’s little gifts were a delight and much appreciated ­ what a kind lady. Thank you Janet at Crete Escapes for your knowledge and assistance ­ July 2007.

Villa Florianna was lovely, just as we expected. We found the villa very easily and we had a wonderful holiday. Thanks for everything, we will certainly be recommending you to any-one looking for a good quality and personal service ­ May 2006.

 

 

The Climate

Crete is the most southerly Greek island with an agreeable climate. The tourist season usually starts around April and lasts until the end of October. The spring (April) is a good time to visit for hiking and to see the beautiful flowers.

In early summer (May and June) the temperatures will be climbing steadily to an average in the mid 20's. This is a good time to visit if you don't have to keep to school holiday dates as the climate is very pleasant and there are few crowds.

July and August are the busiest (and hottest) months with tourists from all over Europe choosing Crete for their holiday destination. The north westerly winds usually moderate the temperatures  but it's best to make sure your holiday accommodation offers shelter from the hot sun. It goes without saying that the sea will be warm.

September is still high season with warm, sunny days and the sea is still warm. The season draws to a close in October but this is a perfect month for visiting the island as the sea is still warm for swimming and activities such as hiking and visiting the archaeological sites can be undertaken in pleasant temperatures.