Elpidis Villa

The owner was kind and even brought us breakfast on two of the days. The villa itself was lovely and had everything shown in the listing, including the pool, loungers, big tables and outdoor barbecue. Just keep showers short: the solar-heated water lasts for around 6-9 people, depending on how carefully everyone uses it. If you want a longer hot shower, take it earlier in the afternoon while the sun is still warming the water for the others.

Villa Elpidis worked really well for a family holiday. There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms, so everyone can have some privacy, and the garden pool is a nice place to come together. :)

The architecture was great, and it was lovely to feel so at home here. The owner, 'Epidis', is also the architect. We hope to return. Thank you very much.

The owner’s constant visits made it hard for us to relax. Elpidis came into the garden every day without warning or ringing, even while we might be sunbathing. He checked the towels, windows, balcony doors and pool, and the doors were not allowed to stay open even when we were inside. We felt uncomfortable throughout. At one point we nearly moved, but had already paid for the whole stay. He also made threats about our documents and the deposit not being returned. I’ve rented apartments to tourists for years and would never treat guests that way. If the house had been left in bad condition, I would have called the police, but nothing was wrong when we handed it back. I understand that Elpidis sees the house as his creation and spent his savings building it, but renting it means letting guests stay without acting like a guard over them. The location shown on Google was inaccurate, and walking to the beach wasn’t possible. There’s no sidewalk on the road and cars go fast. The bedrooms are also divided from the kitchen by a door that needs a key every time, which is very inconvenient when several people are staying. The area is windy, and we had to drive about an hour to reach sheltered beaches. Crete and its people are beautiful, so it’s a shame that Elpidi made our holiday much less relaxed and enjoyable.