Villa Vlatos opened its arms to us in a warm welcome - taking in tired travellers weary of the heat and the cross island drive. The house was an oasis of tranquility, old world charm, and comfort. Every feature of the house was at once functional as it was tasteful and aesthetic. The hosts welcomed us as their own family into their home and were there at every moment - communicating and informing us about hikes, adventures, beaches to smaller mundane matters of how to make the internet work. They were always approachable and gracious, always generous with their time. There is a house-caretaker always present who was a gem and helped us on more than one occasion with our questions, requests and spontaneous suggestions.
We were two families vacationing together (with three children in tow) and all felt perfectly at home, balancing privacy, space and communal living - this is a key strength of the house - as it allows for both tranquil corners of solitude when that is sought, as well as shared spaces for barbecues, dinners and coffees. The nature around the house is also a balm - as one is situated away from the hustle and bustle of the coast and cities. In a small village at the foothills of Milia, one is enveloped in olive groves and close to a 1400 year old Plane tree (platania), with hikes in all directions to the nearby mountains. There are also excellent beaches (Elaphonisos, Balos, Falassarna) a short drive away - so there is really something for everyone!
We were so impressed by the professionalism of the hosts and their warmth, that we would definitely recommend this to our friends and we hope to be back again!
Thank you Villa Vlatos for the most wonderful holiday ever :)