Elounda Solfez Villas

The climb up to the house can be tricky, but there’s parking, and it’s worth the effort for the views over the nearby towns, sea, and landscape. We had plenty for a comfortable holiday: comfortable beds, working AC, all the appliances we needed, and a backyard with sunbeds, private pool, and barbacoa that was even better than the photos. Cleaning and pool maintenance came every 2-3 days. The hosts were very kind and helpful throughout, including with local activities and sightseeing. Highly recommend if you want some privacy during the busy summer season.

We left after two weeks exhausted and with back pain. None of us slept properly, and the manager offered no solution or compensation when we raised the problems. Apart from putting pads on the beds, which didn’t help much, Mr.Lygeros responded to us in a rude and disdainful way. The housekeeper, who came every two days, was kind and helpful. We stayed 14 days at Elounda Solfez Villa, and I feel I have to leave a review. Don’t book unless you want to ruin your holiday. This row of villas has little luxury beyond its price. We paid well above the other villas on booking for the same period, so expected a certain standard. The outside, helped by the view, was the nicest part, but poorly laid out: no umbrella, shower, toilet, or outdoor kitchen. The kitchen is a micro kitchen on the first floor, so cooking and eating by the pool meant going up and down two floors when needed. The deckchairs and mattresses were worn out. Inside, the decor looked like a kitsch magazine from the 90s, and the photos are taken from a very flattering angle. The equipment also seemed from the 90s and hadn’t been replaced since construction. The fridge, dishwasher, coffee maker, air conditioning, and deckchairs were broken or close to it. The AC was extremely noisy and only worked when it wanted to. The climb to the villa is over 35 degrees and isn’t mentioned on the website, even taxis were reluctant to drop us off. The bedrooms were cramped with very little storage, so we couldn’t unpack properly. The bedding was awful: the beds were far too soft, the springs pressed into our ribs, and the sheets were rough with uncomfortable pillows. The upper bedroom had no shutters on any windows, so morning light came in at 5:30 am. WiFi couldn’t even load a page in some parts of the villa. We raised all of these issues, but none were fixed during our stay. The value for money is simply scandalous.

The service felt like having a hotel concierge at the villa, available 24/7 for anything. They even found me a barber. The house suited two adults and two teens perfectly, and we arrived to a fridge stocked with about two days’ worth of food. Elounda is a short trip away for restaurants and groceries. I’d recommend a transfer from the airport, then renting a car or ATV/Scooter in town. We’d go back in a heartbeat. A dream holiday.

We first stayed in one of these beautiful villas in early October 2011, then came back in 2014 and 2015. We love the people who work here, the place, and the views. The Elounda Solfez villas are brand new and set on a hill, looking out from the terraces or pool across the Bay of Elounda and the Spinalonga peninsula. On clear days, you can see several small islands in the distance and the peninsula’s high cliffs all the way back behind Sitia, at the island’s far eastern end.