Astrea Villa

Nick, the concierge at Villa Astrea, made a big difference to our stay. He was friendly, always available next door, kept us stocked with water and beer, booked a boat trip to the island’s famous swimming caves, and shared great restaurant ideas. We especially loved Nobelos, with its amazing food and gorgeous seaside setting in the north. The boat trip was a hit with both the teens and adults. We were only the second guests because the villa is brand new, but we’ll definitely return. A 10 out of 10 rental. The peaceful location is about 15 minutes by car from the airport, and there’s a lovely taverna, Elia Meze, a 10-minute walk away where we had many good meals and drinks. Our four teens were five minutes by car from the local bars and 15 minutes from Laganas, the island’s clubbing hotspot, where they had a blast and took taxis home in the early hours. The villa itself is stunning, designed and built by a local architect. It’s minimal and stylish but still comfortable and relaxed, with a gorgeous main living area and four bedrooms that are almost the same size. Each has an ensuite, air conditioning, and sliding doors onto the outdoor area with its infinity pool. The house is fully kitted out, from the coffee machine and cooker to the Sonos system, three flatscreen TVs, and excellent wifi. There’s daily maid service if you want it.

The manager took the time to show us some of the best places on the island. This villa has been made with care and quality for people with high expectations. They call it a five-star villa, but I’d give it seven.

We loved our family holiday at Villa Astrea. Every room feels spacious and bright, with a wonderful sense of harmony. The bedrooms have excellent beds and plenty of storage. Nick, the villa manager, kept an eye on the house and gave us good local recommendations throughout our stay. The place is magical, with refined, minimalist decor that still feels luxurious and exceptionally comfortable. A real bit of calm, luxury, and pleasure. I highly recommend it.

The villa is built to a very high standard, and the details have been carefully chosen throughout. The interior has clean lines, unfinished plaster walls, and matte marble floors, while outside there’s a red ochre exterior, an infinity pool, and spectacular views of the mountains to the northwest and the bay to the south. The pool is beautifully tiled, with steps and a shallow area for children or sunbathing. It was just right for cooling off in the summer heat. There’s also a shaded spot by the pool, a great place to watch the sunsets over the mountains. The bedrooms are all pretty much the same size, each with sliding double doors to the pool. Room 2 has a flatscreen TV, so that might be the one to choose. The firm mattresses were comfortable, even for those of us with bad backs. There’s plenty of storage, floor-to-ceiling blackout blinds with electronic controls, and well-designed bathrooms with rain-maker showers, complimentary shower gel, shampoo, and hair masks. The villa has excellent air conditioning, all controlled remotely, plus a high-tech lighting system that can set a nice mood for dining or relaxing around the pool. The sun loungers and shades are comfortable, the Corian kitchen table and dining chairs look good and are comfortable too. The kitchen equipment is top quality, including an induction hob, toaster, juicer, and pots and pans that wouldn’t look out of place in a Park Lane hotel. There’s also a Sonos system, high-end glassware, crockery, and cutlery, Missoni towels, and Guy Laroche rugs. Water, beer, and Nespresso pods were provided free, and a cleaner came every day. My family and friends spent a week there, and it felt like being on a high-end fashion shoot. It’s a stunning, modernist designer villa that could sit comfortably in Elle Decoration or Wallpaper. Influencers will love it. Nick was amazing and took care of everything. We could reach him by mobile, WA, or phone, and he booked our boat trip, gave us great restaurant advice, and sorted out any problems. It was an amazing week, and we’ll be back next year.