Aloni Villas

We spent two weeks in August and September 2021 at one of the Aloni villas with our two families and children, and had a wonderful holiday. The villas sit in Roussospiti above Rethymno, with lovely views of the sea, town, and mountains. They're separated by thick, attractive greenery, so each feels private despite the compact grounds. The houses also worked well for a stay with children. We found a car essential for getting to the beach, into town, and around Crete. There is a bus stop 500 m away, with buses to Rethymno taking 15-20 minutes. A couple of tavernas and a small shop are nearby, downhill from the villa, so driving there is easier. In Rethymno we bought groceries at Lidl. There are two stores, and the larger, roomier one is on the way out toward Chania. We preferred the beaches at Episkopi and Spilies, as well as those in southern Crete, to the beaches in Rethymno itself. The layout makes good use of the hillside. You enter into a spacious living room with a kitchen, toilet, and a wide balcony with a beautiful view. The kitchen has what you need to cook, including a large fridge, hob, oven, and microwave. Downstairs are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and access to a fairly large pool, ranging from 80 cm to 180 cm deep. Every room has air conditioning, though the villa stays comfortable without it because it doesn't get too hot inside. Outside, there's a lovely garden, a big barbecue oven and table by the entrance, and easy parking for two cars. George and his wife helped us with everything during the stay. The pool and yard were cleaned daily except on weekends, while the villas were cleaned and linen changed every few days. We arrived to a basket of fruit, wine, and raki, and the wine was topped up now and then. A big thank you for that. The road from Rethymno is in good condition but winding, so take it slowly.