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3 Bedroom Villas

Olive Branch, (The)

3 bedroom villas

Prices starting from €925 Euros per Week.

** A Discount can be given to a Single person or one couple staying in one bedroom only, at all times except July and August.

1 double bedroom with en-suite bathroom, 2 twin bedrooms.
Private swimming pool (8 x 4 meters & depth 1.50m)

The Olive Branch is a hugely popular and very spacious stone villa with outstanding panoramic views from the upstairs terrace which encompass all of Souda Bay, the Akrotiri Peninsula, Aptera Castle, and the White Mountains. Set on a hillside next to an olive grove on the outskirts of Plaka, this villa affords quick and easy access by foot to the excellent tavernas, cafes and shops in the village. The Olive Branch is much more roomy than your average 3 bedroom Cretan villa and has been built using pretty honey coloured local stone. It has wonderful traditional features such as stone arches and stone detailing around the windows, and wood beamed ceilings made from local cypress wood in the living area and all the bedrooms. The entire house and pool terrace is surrounded by a natural stone wall with black iron railings. There are flowerbeds dotted around the edge of the property which have a variety of plants which give a splash of colour, including bougainvillea, hibiscus, cacti, lavender, lemon verbena, margarita daisies, and geraniums.

The English owners have thoughtfully furnished the house combining typically Cretan wooden furniture with many modern comforts, such as a fully fitted, very well equipped kitchen which includes: a ceramic hob, built-in oven, a microwave oven, a dishwasher and a washing machine; very comfortable rust coloured couches, a TV, and a DVD player in the lounge; aluminium doors, window frames and shutters; and air conditioning units in all the bedrooms and the living room. The a/c units also double up as heaters for the cooler nights at the start and end of the season. The water is heated by either solar panel or a back-up immersion heater. Whilst there is a good number of books, a chess set, and a Scrabble set for the adults, the smallest members of the family have not been forgotten either. The Olive Branch Villa has a sturdy plastic see-saw and slide, and a small ride upon toy tractor for the younger children to enjoy.

The Olive Branch upstairs balcony is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the stunning views, especially the sunset which is spectacular from here. At night you can sit and watch the ferries going to and from Athens, or the lights twinkling from the Akrotiri Peninsula on the opposite side of Souda Bay. The outdoor terraces have an ample supply of garden furniture including a large dining table and 6 director’s chairs, sun-loungers, umbrellas and a BBQ. This villa books up early, and has repeat guests year after year, once you have stayed here you will understand why!

Accommodation.
Ground floor (3 steps from the private parking area, 1 step up from the pool terrace): Open plan living room, kitchen and dining area, 1 twin bedroom, 1 shower room, a large sea and mountain facing covered terrace. The living room has double doors that open out onto a large covered terrace (next to the swimming pool) that is equipped with a large wooden table and 6 comfortable cream director’s chairs. The lounge area has 2 comfortable rust coloured couches, a wooden and glass coffee table, a TV/DVD unit which doubles up as a bookcase, and a standard lamp. There is also a window which looks out towards an olive tree and the village. The modern kitchen/dining area is fully equipped and includes pine cupboards, a dishwasher, a washing machine, ceramic hob and built in oven, a large fridge/freezer, a microwave oven, and a locally made wooden dining table and chairs which seat 6. The kitchen window looks out over the pool terrace, and hanging on the kitchen wall are 3 clay masks which depict different Greek gods. The hallway leads to the staircase, a shower room and a twin bedroom. The shower room is fully tiled with pretty pale pink and light terracotta tiles. There is a shower, a white washbasin, a mirrored cabinet, and a toilet. The twin bedroom has 2 single beds, 2 bedside cabinets with reading lamps, a wardrobe, and very cheerful, brightly coloured bedspreads. There is a window which looks out to a low stone wall, a flowerbed, and the village.

First floor (17 steps up from the ground floor): 1 double bedroom with en-suite bathroom, 1 twin bedroom, 1 full bathroom and a large open terrace. The master suite has a double bed, 2 bedside cabinets with reading lamps, a wardrobe, a safe, a full length mirror with a wooden base, and a pretty turquoise bedspread. There are double doors that open out onto a balcony which has gorgeous views to the sea, the pool, and the entire area, and is equipped with a coffee table and chairs. The master bedroom also has a window which faces south towards the village. The en-suite bathroom has pale pink and terracotta tiles and a bathroom suite comprising a full bath with shower attachment, a wash basin, a mirrored cabinet, a toilet and a large frosted window. The hallway leads to a full bathroom and a twin bedroom. The bath room is fully tiled with pretty pale pink and light terracotta tiles. There is a bath with a shower attachment, a white washbasin, a mirrored cabinet, and a toilet. The twin bedroom has 2 single beds, 2 bedside cabinets, a wardrobe, and very fresh brightly coloured green and white bedspreads. This bedroom has a window which faces south towards the village.

Location

The main square in Plaka is only 250m from The Olive Branch Villa and is still very much the focal point of village life. There are lovely shady mulberry trees under which the locals sit to watch the world go by whilst enjoying a delicious meal or even just an ice cold frappe. Plaka was one of the original village sets for the film “Zorba the Greek” and it still has quaint whitewashed houses and narrow streets leading off from the square. The modern outskirts of the village have expanded recently as have the facilities, which now include 3 excellent tavernas, 2 well stocked mini markets, a sweet shop, and 5 cafes. The lovely village of Almyrida is only 1.4km from The Olive Branch, and is built around a pretty crescent shaped sandy beach, with a small fishing harbour at the eastern end. The beach is very shallow and safe, which is good news if you have children or are not a strong swimmer. Lining the beach are 4 excellent tavernas, 9 café/bars, 2 bakeries, 2 jewellery shops, 5 mini-markets, 3 gift shops, a pharmacy, an organic fruit and vegetable shop, and an off-license. Also in Almyrida there is a scuba diving centre, a water sports centre which rents out kayaks, windsurfers and catamarans, and Villas Crete Holidays for tourist information and guided tours. A few minutes by car from the villa, there are a huge variety of archaeological sites and traditional villages with wonderful tavernas. There is also an interesting selection of small craft centres and museums, including glass blowing in Kokkino Horio , lace makers in Gavalohori , and silk makers in Kalamitsi . For those of you looking for even more activity, the historic town of Chania is only 35 minutes away by car.

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Villa amenities

Washing machine
Dishwasher
Microwave Oven
Fridge / Freezer
TV
Satellite TV
Air conditioned bedrooms
Air conditioned lounge
CD player
TInternet access (available for a smal fee)
DVD Player
BBQ
Mosquito screens to windows
Central heating
Fireplace
Hairdryer
Iron and ironing board
Welcome Basket

Number of bedrooms	3 - 2 Twin, 1 Double
Number of bathrooms	3 – 2 upstairs bathrooms (1 en-suite to the double bedroom), 1 downstairs shower room
Bath/shower/both	Both

Pool depths	1.50m
Pool size	8m x 5m
Type of shade by pool	Umbrellas and covered balcony over part of pool terrace

Sofa bed	NO
Maid service	2 times a week

Distance to nearest taverna	250m : 4 minutes on foot, 1 minute by car
Distance to nearest beach	1.4km : 20 minutes on foot, 3 minute by car
Distance to nearest mini market	250m : 4 minutes on foot, 1 minute by car
Distance to nearest cash machine	1.4m : 20 minutes on foot, 3 minute by car
How far from airport	35 minutes
How far from nearest large town	35 minutes

Rental Prices

All prices shown are per Villa, per Week, in Euros. Not per person! ** A Discount can be given to a Single person or one Couple staying in one bedroom only, at all times except July and August.
These prices include a free Welcome Pack, a villa information folder, and detailed directions to all of the sights from the guide book, “Crete on the Road” by Frankie Miles.

From :	To :	Price:
Winter 2011/12	02.04.12	Please Ask
03.04.12	30.04.12	925
01.05.12	28.05.12	1020
29.05.12	02.07.12	1090
03.07.12	27.08.12	1350
28.08.12	01.10.12	1150
02.10.12	29.10.12	925






The above prices shown are in EUROS, per Week. These prices include a Free Welcome Pack, a villa information folder, and detailed directions to all of the sights from the guide book “Crete on the Road ” by Frankie Miles.

F.A.Q

Any steps? How many?
3 steps from the parking area to the house, 1 step from the house to the pool terrace, 17 steps to the upper floor – this house is suitable for the elderly or disabled, if they stay in the downstairs twin bedroom.

How private?
The pool terrace can be seen by 5 houses 100m away to one side of the villa. The villa is set above the other houses in the area.

Nearest neighbour?
100m to the left hand side and some stone maisonetters set just below the pool terrace.

Plaka Square is within walking distance, and there is a limited bus service from Almyrida into Chania , but we recommend car hire in order to explore the varied regions of the area.