When I got out of my car and finally got to take in the view from this villa, I cried. If Villa Thea is available for the dates you want, book it now and finish reading the reviews later!!
My family and I stayed here for the month of June. We all loved every minute. The view is hard to describe. Everywhere you look is beautiful. Amazing gardens on a neighboring villa up a hill a bit. Mountains! Turquoise Lake Kournas! And the sea!! (Literally brings tears to my eyes as I type this.)
Bring a car. There is a steep driveway and mostly uphill to get to the house from the village of Kournas. We walked it only twice in four weeks. The rest of the time, we drove down the hill, parked, and walked the rest of the way more easily.
The little Kournas village feels Cretan, not touristy. There are three tavernas, and all of them are good. Just be sure you eat at Kali Kardia at least once! It’s the best. Andreas will feed you well. Tell him the Brower family misses him!
The location is perfect if you’re looking for quiet, private retreat—but still close to restaurants and markets. We visited many places in Crete easily from this villa.
Georgioupolis is just down the (winding) hill from the villa. It was a great place for us when we didn’t want to drive far, but still wanted a comfortable beach day.
There’s a fantastic butcher shop there where we got the most amazing meats for grilling at the villa. (Homemade sausages, souvlaki skewers, kebabs, and much more!)
I can’t write everything, but I have to mention the housekeepers before I sign off. Vernella, her husband, and her sister are so warm and wonderful! They helped us find an e-bike at a great price to rent for the month. They were quick and responsive whenever we needed anything. And they kept the villa gleaming!
Bottom line: We would love to return to Villa Thea someday. I hope we get to!