Villa Amina Crete Pool & Gym

We woke at 6 a.m. to the neighbor's dogs, and dealing with the owners through the rental company's concierge service was frustrating. The company routinely sends questions to the owner. When we asked when we could arrive, the reply was simply “Whenever you like,” without any politeness. The day after we arrived, we reported that a bedroom door wouldn't close because its handle was broken. The owner and her son came by; the woman was haughty and didn't smile, while her son claimed, in bad faith, that previous tenants were responsible and repairs had already been ordered. The listing calls this a luxury villa, but that's misleading. The photos that persuaded us to rent it are several years old, and the property has clearly been neglected since then. The garden lounge has a gray tarp full of holes where the pergola canopy should be. Exposed irrigation pipes stick out of the ground, the system seems not to work, and there's no grass. The rusty barbecue had a loose gas hose, which could have caused an explosion if we hadn't checked it. Paint and concrete are crumbling around the paddling pool. The back garden has no canopy or swings, and things left outside year-round are rusty. We had to clean the terrace ourselves, and the balconies were dirty with bird droppings. Inside, the white walls are stained, paint is peeling in places, and cleaning was sloppy. There was no welcome basket or even a bottle of water. If you like lights, there are at least 35 switches downstairs, but some spotlights are peeling away from the ceiling. The stairwell switch is above the fridge, so unless you're 6'1", you'll need a flashlight. The dishwasher door slams shut because it's broken, and the top rack is rusty. The bathroom is outdated and rusty too. Only the main bedroom has a TV, but there's no way to plug one in. Some door handles are broken or missing. I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but there's far too much to list. Either renovate the house and grounds or lower the price and use current photos. As it is, the owners are a disgrace to the renowned Cretan hospitality.