Amari Villas: calm and comfort in the real Crete

My husband and I, along with our adult children and their partners, rented both villas. Manolis, the owner, could not have been more helpful, arranging transfers, offering advice as to outings, restaurants etc and leaving us a wonderful supply of local produce on arrival. Whilst recently completely modernised, the villas have been in his family for four generations so old family photographs adorn the walls and his grandmother's embroidered cloths the tables adding a warm historical presence to the lovely architecture. The villas' position in the quiet and picturesque village of Amari allows for beautiful views and pleasant breezes with several different balconies for sun or shade as required, a small pool and BBQ area. Mrs Rumy is an unobtrusive and helpful care-taker plus an excellent cook. Three of the bedrooms have a mezzanine floor with additional beds which we didn't need but would be great for families with young children. Renting a car is a must as this is an out-of-the-way, unspoilt area. We highly recommend Amari Villas for a simple, relaxing holiday.

We have just enjoyed 2 wonderful weeks at Amari villas with our daughters and grandchildren. We had plenty of space and privacy - there were 9 of us--and the villas are well equipped and comfortable and beautifully traditional. We were welcomed warmly by our host Manolis who could not have done any more to make our stay better with excellent information on the locality and surrounding area. Mrs Rumy cooked delicious cretan food for us on request and looked after our every need- our granchildren loved her.We highly recommend this holiday property.

We loved our stay at Amari Villas and our four days there were the highlight of our Crete trip. The villa itself is so interesting and traditional feeling, yet has all the modern comforts and was spotlessly clean. The location is special, with access to the mountains and both coasts. And Manolis was the most wonderful host. He sent us tons of useful information and advice about stuff to do in the area and made sure we had everything we needed in the house. Mrs Rumy's food was absolutely wonderful and she took such great care of us. We loved everything about the place and it was a truly special experience.

The pictures don`t lie! This is a beautifully restored residence with quaint charm and lovely outdoor space. We were 9 grown ups and one toddler, and the place never felt cramped. Amari is a peaceful little village with great surroundings. We spent the time hiking in the nearby area and exploring the exciting gorges of Platania and Patsos. The younger members of the party drove to the beach on both sides of the island. We also enjoyed Mrs Rumy´s wonderful cooking and our host Manolis great knowledge about the area. Our personal favourite: hiking in the mountains behind Meronas and then lunch at Moshovolies taverna. Great hike, great food!

Amari Villas has been converted into two very comfortable and very well equipped places to stay in one of the most beautiful valleys in the whole of Crete, Greece, Europe or the world. One of them has a swimming pool, the other has the most wonderful terrace looking over the olive groves, oakwoods and high mountain slopes of the Amari valley. Sit there for a few hours reading a book, listening to the songbirds, nibbling on some of Mrs Rumy's delicious spinach pies—she is the housekeeper of both villas—and I can guarantee you that you will never have felt quite so good about life and the world.

Amari Villas is the perfect place to spend a few days or a few months! The villas are perfectly located so as to visit the cities of Chania and Rethymnon on the north coast as well as seaside villages on the south coast. In addition there are several smaller mountain villages near the villas that are worthy of exploration. Manolis, the owner, is the perfect host. He is attentive in every way- from responding to emails and providing all kinds of information about the surrounding area. He provides a welcome package upon arrival- fruit, jams, coffee, tea, cheeses, bread, eggs and wine. His housekeeper, Rumy, is a gem. She will cook delicious meals for the group and is always on hand to answer questions and make sure your vacation is perfect. The villas themselves are very clean and comfortable with plenty of room for a large group (we were a group of 11 adults). The pool is a delight and kept sparkling clean by Rumy. There is a large balcony to accommodate everyone or smaller ones if privacy is desired. There are plenty of family-owned tavernas in the nearby villages with excellent food at reasonable prices. Banks, petro stations, ATMs, food markets, pharmacies - all available within a few minutes drive. We've stayed here twice and are looking forward to returning in the near future. It's the perfect vacation spot to explore beautiful Crete.

I organized a retreat for 8 women, and this beautiful villa more than suited our needs. The view from the terrace of the mountain was incredible. Manolis and Roumy were really helpful with everything, and we really appreciated the maps and guides that he provided before and upon arrival. We ordered food from Roumy one evening, and everything was delicious. We enjoyed exploring the surrounding villages, as well as the going to the beach on the southern shore. I will say, though, it's a significant drive from either main airport with lots of windy roads. With two pregnant women, the extended driving to get to stuff made it a little rough. If you are looking for something peaceful and off the beaten path, though, this is a really great place.

Myself and 10 friends rented the 2 adjoining villas for 10 days and it was an absolute delight. Manolis, the owner was there to welcome us upon arrival and gave a tour of the villas, along with info regarding the surrounding area which was very much appreciated. There is also a welcome pack provided with maps and lots of different information about the Island and the Amari area as well as a welcome basket containingg teas, honey, olives, breads and fruits which was a lovely touch. The views alone would be enough for anyone to enjoy their holiday but the villas were exceptional. Ample room and relaxation space, each villa had it's own kitchen, which as a group of 11 was very much welcomed. Beautifully decorated rooms and very spacious with plenty of private balcony space to enjoy time alone away from the rest of the group when needed. The house keeper; Roumy, is a lovely lady, very friendly and cooked the most amazing meal for us, which you can request and pick from a specially selected menu. Not sure what more I can say, this was one of my most favourite holidays and I would highly recommend this villa to anyone looking to holiday in Crete. I would very much like to return one day!

We spent a week in this wonderful, clean and friendly house with our family (children as well as grandchildren) and we all hope to return. The landlord and the housekeeper are realy nice, helpful and make you feel at home. The surroundings are quiet and beautiful and make you relax easily. The view is breathtaking.

Amari is located up in the mountain of Crete, an hour drive to the beach, on the way beautiful see-nary. the Villa's are excellent- well equipped and beautifully design. we had a wonderful family vacation.