Kastellos Village

“A gem in the mountains”

We found this place by pure chance on a very last minute booking (less than twenty four hours). So happy that we stayed there! Our flight was very delayed so we didn't arrive until nearly 2am but the owner was very welcoming and made us feel very at home and happy. It's not difficult to find, just … more

We found this place by pure chance on a very last minute booking (less than twenty four hours). So happy that we stayed there! Our flight was very delayed so we didn't arrive until nearly 2am but the owner was very welcoming and made us feel very at home and happy. It's not difficult to find, just keep an eye out for signposts to Kastellos (especially in the dark) and then smaller signs to the apartments themselves once you reach the village. The last bit of the drive is steep, narrow and with a few hairpin bends to keep you alert. We stayed in apartment 2 (Vardis/Bardis) in the upper (central) complex. When we awoke the first morning the view from the bedroom window and the balcony below simply took our breath away. Well worth waking up a little before sunrise too. Wonderful colours as the sun rises over the mountains. The bed was excellent with a foam(tempur) topper on the mattress. Beautiful bathroom plus a shower/toilet room downstairs. Sometimes water pressure in the morning would be low if the gardener was using the hose pipe (First World problem!). The kitchen is perfectly adequate. Small cooking area but functional. I'm sure if you needed any additional cooking utensils or pots/pans that the owners would provide. Overall very clean and very beautiful accommodation. We were occasionally brought fresh figs or Cretan cheese pies in the morning by the owners. We travelled the island quite a lot whilst there but spent a couple of days just hanging out at the apartment on the balcony and around the pools (small and wonderful) simply enjoying the environment, the views, the sunshine and of course that magnificent Cretan breeze. Ten minutes drive to the nearest supermarket and petrol station. There is also a butcher near the supermarket. Kastellos Village is a perfect hideaway, yet also pretty well located for venturing to the west, south and central areas of the island. With a little planning and good map you can take some spectacular mountain routes through to the coast directly south of the village. Highly recommended accommodation.

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“STILL IN MY MIND”

Whenever I try to remember my last truly relaxing holidays, though on the meantime I have been to many other places, there is only Kastellos in my mind. I long to go back! To gaze all afternoon at the vast perfection of nature, to hear nothing but the beautiful village sounds, to sleep like a baby… more

Whenever I try to remember my last truly relaxing holidays, though on the meantime I have been to many other places, there is only Kastellos in my mind. I long to go back! To gaze all afternoon at the vast perfection of nature, to hear nothing but the beautiful village sounds, to sleep like a baby to the heavenly bed with doors wide open, just to smell the intoxicating smells of a pure Greek village. I will be back...this summer I will be back! I waited so long!

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“Incredible Views, Lovely Apartment with a few small quirks”

We stayed here for four nights in mid April, and we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. I booked the place because I was blown away by a picture of the view from the balcony, and sure enough, the balcony itself made the stay worth it. Absolutely incredible panoramic views -- we didn't wa… more

We stayed here for four nights in mid April, and we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. I booked the place because I was blown away by a picture of the view from the balcony, and sure enough, the balcony itself made the stay worth it. Absolutely incredible panoramic views -- we didn't want to ever leave! The apartment and grounds were very classic and nicely decorated, every corner of it was Greek style at its most beautiful and tasteful, and the apartment was very spacious and comfortable. The large bathroom with bathtub and hot water was especially a relief after many days of the usual tiny square of shower with a clingy curtain and water all over the floor that you get in so many places in Greece. Nice amenities (shampoos, shower gels, lotions) too. Even from the bathroom we had an incredible view out over the countryside, the hills, and down to the sea. Very peaceful - the sounds of cow(sheep) bells were usually the only thing we heard. The kitchen was well stocked and we were able to easily self-cater our breakfasts and a few other meals. Our only complaints were that the internet never once worked during our time there (which was not as bad as it could have been since there was a booklet with quite a lot of local information about sites, restaurants, etc. in the nearby villages. And the other was the extremely bright exit sign with a light shining straight in our faces in the bedroom (which however was difficult to reach in order to cover it with something). The complete isolation of the village combined with great light blocking shutters made me look forward to a great night's sleep, only to have it disrupted by a bright light shining directly in my eyes all night from that exit sign -- so that was disappointing. Also, the mosquitoes were pretty fierce up there even in April, but that's not the hotel's fault of course. We used mosquito coils on the balcony and were able to keep our windows closed at night because it was cold anyway, so we weren't too bothered. Although it was the priciest place we stayed during our time in Crete, it was well worth it and we look forward to returning some day!

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“This if a very traditional type of Greek House and you are remote!”

QUICK EXPERIENCE SNIPPET: The office is located on a hill top (make sure to check out the view from here) with a few villas available and the rest down below. Let the host know what time you will be arriving as they will stay in the office later/earlier to check you in and show you to your villa. … more

QUICK EXPERIENCE SNIPPET: The office is located on a hill top (make sure to check out the view from here) with a few villas available and the rest down below. Let the host know what time you will be arriving as they will stay in the office later/earlier to check you in and show you to your villa. My cousin choose to book her wedding guests at the lower villas where it housed at least 15+ people. *****A FULL REVIEW IS ON MY WEBSITE (SEE PROFILE).

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