First, I’d like to say that Manos from CreteVillas4u was an excellent host. He was very responsive to questions, provided discounts for various things like car hire and we were given a tailored guide to the Villa and things to do in Crete.
The manager of the Villa, Eleftheria, was very accommodating. Due to flight delays, she waited past midnight to meet us at the Villa. Answered any questions we had and was always available on the phone if needed. She also let us stay longer on our day of departure and presented us with parting gifts.
The villa is large, well presented and maintained and there is secure gated parking for one vehicle. Access to the Villa is on the first floor, which has stairs access from the parking area. On entry to the first floor is the dining and living room area. Off this is a well-equipped kitchen and utility room. There is a toilet with a shower and one of the double bedrooms. There is also a balcony with a beautiful view down to Rethymno and the sea.
On the second floor, there are two more bedrooms and the main bathroom. There is an outside terrace that has even better views down to Rethymno and back towards the hills. All the bedrooms have ample storage and comfortable beds.
The ground floor is private with no access, and I believe is used for storage. There was no ground floor access to the barbecue and pool area. To get to the pool you need to come out the main first-floor entrance and walk around to the pool area. Not a big deal for me but a bit of an inconvenience for grabbing a cold drink or using the bathroom. The pool is a good size and perfect for children as the depth is from 80cm to 120cm.
The villa is in the village of Roussospiti and I would recommend a rental car to get out and about. It is about a 10-to-15-minute drive from Rethymno. There is a small market and three tavernas, with good quality food and a nice atmosphere. The area is very quiet and there is minimal traffic passing the villa. Great to relax in the evening with a glass of wine enjoying the view down to the sea. However, there are a lot of dogs in the area.
In conclusion, we had a very enjoyable stay at Villa Nikolaos. The villa has lots of space and the views are magnificent. Would I recommend it? Yes, if you don’t mind the access to the pool.