Villa Lucia Episkopi

Before we arrived, the landlord got in touch to sort out arrival plans and, since we were driving from the airport, sent detailed directions. We came late on Saturday with four children and five adults, and found bread, ham, cheese, spread, margarine, jam, and a bottle of wine already waiting for us. The landlord also shared useful local tips, checked in regularly, and offered help with our questions. The villa is huge, nicely decorated, and well maintained, with a large pool and clean, fresh water. It’s in a good location, and we even had a brand new bike to ride to the nearby village for shopping. Great location and a very friendly landlord. Excellent choice!

Please avoid this villa. I would give it zero stars if I could. I went with my fiancé and four children, and the holiday was horrific. We arrived at night to find bugs everywhere and couldn’t sleep. I told the owner we were leaving the next morning, but he begged us to stay and promised to fix things. Someone came to put out treatment, which seemed fair enough, but within a couple of days we were covered in bedbug bites. We had to pay for flights home three days early. I felt awful for my children, who had been so excited about the holiday. The villa smelled musty and was nowhere near as fresh as the pictures. There’s nothing nearby to do, no buses, and getting a taxi is almost impossible. After we got home, I realized I’d lost my purse. The owner contacted me to say I’d left it there. When I asked him to post it back, he refused. I tried to arrange a courier, but somehow it didn’t collect the purse. Now the owner has stopped responding and kept my purse, money, and personal photographs. He charged us a fortune for a stay that left us with infected bedbug bites, and has kept my belongings and money too. Please beware.

The villa is a lovely, peaceful base, with countryside, mountain, and sea views. From the garden, the view is framed by scented roses, and we were surprised to see snow-capped mountains on a hot, sunny day in May. The village is charming and has plenty of good places to eat and drink. Beaches, the lake, and the lovely town of Rethymno are easy to reach. We also used it as a base for trips to the south and west beaches, and the mountain drive was beautiful. Communication was great. Whenever we had a question, we could text and get a quick answer, along with helpful local advice and recommendations. The pool was lovely. We came with vigilant around the pool and stairs and balcony. We’d recommend this beautiful, peaceful place, and found the hosts very helpful. Thank you.

We saved hard-earned money for what was meant to be our first family holiday abroad, but the villa was nothing like the website pictures or description. It was infested with bugs, including ants in the beds, bedbugs, and other beetles. I couldn’t sleep in a bed and spent the stay on the couch. My 10-month-old daughter was bitten while she slept. It was awful, and has put me off taking my family abroad again. My children were very upset when our hoped-for adventure became a disaster. We left on the earliest flight home, at huge expense. These people take your money, and once you arrive you’re stuck and won’t get it back. I don’t want another family to waste their money or go through this trip from hell. Don’t consider staying here. I’m aware this man also owns a nearby hotel in Rethymno called Faros Beach Hotel. Avoid that at all costs too. It’s all a misleading lie designed to take money from families looking for paradise. Thanks for reading.