Amari Villas

We liked everthing, the house is wonderful as well as the service around. Mrs. Rumy greeted us and served us a wonderful,homecooked and tradtionnel dinner. The owner welcomed us later in the evening and was very charming. If you are looking for an authentic experience and location with a magnificent landscape then go for Amari Villas, but do not make a mistake: stay longer then 2 nights.

We should have stayed longer, our mistake.

We booked three nights for 6 people in this villa. The villa is very authentic, spacious, clean, and has everything you need. We especially loved the large terrace, where we spent our evenings – the views over the Amari Valley are absolutely stunning. The welcome exceeded all our expectations: Rumy greeted us with two freshly baked loaves of bread, a cake, and many other local delicacies from Amari, which we enjoyed for several days. If you want to taste real homemade Greek food, we highly recommend trying Rumy’s dishes. We also ordered her Napoleon cake - it was truly special and authentic. Our host Manolis was amazing. He provided lots of useful information, including detailed routes to explore the island. The places he recommended were really worth visiting – authentic, non-touristic, and we especially enjoyed the wild beaches known only to locals. Manolis was always making sure we had everything we needed. Even after we moved to another accommodation in Crete, he still shared helpful information and answered to our questions. Both Manolis and Rumy are incredibly hospitable, kind, and friendly – we felt more like we were visiting our relatives. Greetings from Lithuania!

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A Hidden Gem in Crete, Simply Stunning and Unforgettable. Our stay at Amari Villas was, without doubt, one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives. The villa is located in a charming little Greek village, where you don’t just visit—you truly become part of the local rhythm. From sharing moments at the taverna, to watching the daily movement of the sheep as they head to and from the mountains, every sight and sound fills you with a quiet but complete sense of joy. The area itself is full of treasures: fascinating archaeological sites, breathtaking natural spots, and countless beautiful villages waiting to be discovered. Lovely beaches are only a short drive away, and visiting Knossos is surprisingly easy. And then, there is Amari Villa itself—a place that can only be described as simply stunning. Each room is full of charm, with unique decorations, many lovingly handmade by Manolis’s mother and grandmother. Everything is tasteful, warm, and a true delight for the eye. We stayed in the villa with a private pool, and it was pure bliss. Honestly, I could have spent every single day there, just relaxing with the books about the history of the village and Crete that are thoughtfully placed for guests to enjoy. And as if all this beauty weren't enough, our experie ce was made truly unforgettable by meeting Manolis, Rula, and Mrs. Rumy. From the moment we arrived, we felt we were not just guests but cherished friends. Manolis and Rula welcomed us with the most generous attention to detail—our arrival basket included local cheese, bread, wine, yoghurt, and the finest olive oil. They even took us to see the old village school and bell tower, where we had the most fascinating and warm conversation. Meeting them felt like reconnecting with lifelong friends we hadn’t yet met. And then there is Mrs. Rumy—the happiest, kindest person you could ever hope to meet.

We were a group of 7 people and we all just loved our stay. The house is extremely comfortable, restored with love and amazing care for the architectural and decorative details, and with several terraces with beautiful views. The care taker, Ms Rumi, is very kind, helpful - and a great cook! The owner gave us a wealth of information and tips on things to do and see in the area. This was a case of genuinely warm Cretan hospitality!

I cannot say enough about this property. We were greeted by the housekeeper and shown into the most beautifully restored villa. The dining table and fridge were laden with local produce for us to sample. If we wanted we could have her cook meals from a menu provided. Manolis our host came and introduced himself when he was back in the village and he had gone out of his way to provide us with information about the area and what sites we might want to see, hikes we could do do as well as local amenities all before we had arrived. The peacefulness of the village, the sound of the goats being herded over the hills, this place is truely exceptional. We had a family of eight stay here and there was plenty of room for everyone.

We had a really lovely stay at the Amari Villa and meeting Manolis and Mrs Rumy. Manolis sent a huge amount of information for us which was super helpful to get to know the area before we arrived and lots of local recommendations. The house itself is beautiful and really quite spacious - we were only a family of 2 adults and a toddler, so it was a huge amount of space for us (sleeps 8). The fresh bread, cake and other welcome treats were much appreciated - and the peace of the villas surroundings was lovely. Mrs Rumy's food that she cooked (at a very reasonable cost) was tasty and fresh. We had a great trip and would love to come back with our parents who would love the space too.

Nothing - beautiful villa and lovely hosts.

The location of the villa looking down into Amari Village and across the woods of the Amari valley to the mountain Psiloritis is just stunning. The village is peaceful and the sounds are only of birds and sheep bells. The villa is the old family house of Manolis the owner, and it has been restored beautifully, still keeping the atmosphere of the old house but with every comfort. The terraces, one with a swimming pool, catch the sun and the amazing views. And there are wonderful walks round the valley and its many little villages. Most of all, we were made to feel incredibly welcome by Manolis and by Mrs Rumy, the housekeeper who lives next door. They could not have been more hospitable or helpful. Rumy made us wonderful meals, and Manolis provided hugely helpful information about the area and about Crete. He made a point of helping us get to know the area better and that made such a difference. We felt like guests and not just fleeting tenants. We explored the area, but it was also easy to get to the beaches in the south of Crete and Rethymnon in the North. We would love to go back!

Nothing at all. The house and location definitely exceeded our expectations.

The height of hospitality Our stay at the Amari Villa has been nothing short of wonderful. Stunning location with great views of the valley and the mountains. A beautiful home with a Cretan country feel, with two terraces, pool, good size bed rooms (we were two couples and one single person), comfy lounge room and a well equipped kitchen. Yet, what made our stay so exceptional was the warmth and hospitality of our hosts. On our late night arrival, we’ve been greeted with a bouquet of home grown roses on the dining table, fresh bread and cake, more food in the fridge – and yes, a bottle of raki. Once we had tried out Rumi’s cooking (the house keeper offers to order from her menu of home cooked Cretan dishes), we couldn’t resist and kept asking her to cook every other night. It was a great delight to taste such original cuisine in the comfort of your home after a day of exploring the beautiful island. The location was fantastic –thanks to Manolis’ trip recommendations (including of online google maps to guide us), we made the best of our 10 days’ stay exploring historic sights, avoiding tourist traps and getting to taste great food in remote beach restaurants. Manolis, the owner of the villas took time to sit with us and explain the history of the island, share his local insider tips. Thank you, Manolis and Rumi for being so lovely, always there when we were looking for contact, and never in our way. Just perfect hospitality – but no, actually, it wasn’t just hospitality: we felt like we were with friends.

Nothing. It was all just so good

We are only sorry we had to leave after 2 nights. Our first visit to the Amari Valley and we want to return and spend more time at the Amari Villas. Manolis and his wonderful housekeeper made our stay absolutely wonderful. Don’t miss her cooking! Manolis gives you many ideas of things to do and hikes to take. The perfect host!

Nothing!