Crete self catering cottages, Haniotena
| country: | Greece |
| location: | Kritsa, near Agios Nikolaos, Crete |
| price: | From £695 - £895 per person per week (2 sharing) and from £476 - £615 per person per week (4 sharing). From £1050 - £1460 per person for 2 weeks (2 sharing) and from £656 - £945 per person for 2 weeks (4 sharing). Prices include flights & car hire |
description
Charming 1-bedroom cottage plus mezzanine sleeping area, sleeping 2 - 4 guests with private swimming pool.
Kritsa is one of Crete’s prettiest inland villages yet is only 15 minutes drive from Agios Nikolaos. The main street rises quite steeply up the hillside between white-washed houses, most with verandas and local pale blue and cream woodwork and many displaying the traditional embroideries and lace for which the village is still famous.
To either side narrow lanes lead away to secret backwaters where, suddenly, time stands still. Haniotena’s cottage is at the end of one of these, in a nearly perfect position, set between a tiny whitewashed chapel, a large fig tree and the village spring in its stone-carved surround.
If the cottage itself is a surprise then when you enter the gate, further surprises await. Haniotena feels like the home of an artist; the secluded courtyard garden is filled with a shady tangle of flowers, which are a treat for all the senses: jasmine, irises and a lemon tree, rosemary and oregano in earthenware pots, bright geraniums and hibiscus. Just at the end of the garden, is a newly built swimming pool.
Inside the cottage has immense charm: downstairs is cool and quite traditional, upstairs is light and has fine views over the countryside. The village has plenty of tavernas and shops and the church of Panagia Kera has the most famous Byzantine frescoes in Crete, whilst the ruined ancient city of Lato is just two miles away.
Please note: Based on return flights from the UK - supplements / reductions may be applicable depending on flight & class availability at time of booking.
Kritsa is one of Crete’s prettiest inland villages yet is only 15 minutes drive from Agios Nikolaos. The main street rises quite steeply up the hillside between white-washed houses, most with verandas and local pale blue and cream woodwork and many displaying the traditional embroideries and lace for which the village is still famous.
To either side narrow lanes lead away to secret backwaters where, suddenly, time stands still. Haniotena’s cottage is at the end of one of these, in a nearly perfect position, set between a tiny whitewashed chapel, a large fig tree and the village spring in its stone-carved surround.
If the cottage itself is a surprise then when you enter the gate, further surprises await. Haniotena feels like the home of an artist; the secluded courtyard garden is filled with a shady tangle of flowers, which are a treat for all the senses: jasmine, irises and a lemon tree, rosemary and oregano in earthenware pots, bright geraniums and hibiscus. Just at the end of the garden, is a newly built swimming pool.
Inside the cottage has immense charm: downstairs is cool and quite traditional, upstairs is light and has fine views over the countryside. The village has plenty of tavernas and shops and the church of Panagia Kera has the most famous Byzantine frescoes in Crete, whilst the ruined ancient city of Lato is just two miles away.
Please note: Based on return flights from the UK - supplements / reductions may be applicable depending on flight & class availability at time of booking.
rooms, food and facilities
Ground floor: open-plan living/dining room with TV (Greek channels). how to find us
Agios Nikolaos is a 20min driveaway and Heraklion airport ia a 1 hour drive away.how this holiday makes a difference
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This property is owned by a local person who has converted a derelict cottage using local materials and craftsmen, ensuring that the cottage is in keeping with the local village environment.
The information pack and our local representative promote many of the local mini-markets, tavernas and businesses to ensure that local people gain maximum economic benefit from tourist revenues. Recycling bins are provided by the owners to recycle bottles, cans and paper. We then collect this for recycling at a central location as there is no recycling service provided by the local authority. Solar panels used to generate hot water in villas. As a company we aim to encourage local economic growth and to work in harmony with local communities and to respect their culture, traditions and environments. All of our owners (bar one) and suppliers used are local. We prefer to employ the services of independent local business as suppliers in each of their destinations. We work with local car hire firms for all our car rentals, boat hire firms for boat rental and we utilize the services of local village shops and mini markets to compile our welcome hampers. We also encourage our guests to use the services of local restaurants and shops, archeological sites/excursions - always booking through locals rather than large multi national companies. In addition to this we encourage our guests to visit local attractions and beaches within the area they are staying, as opposed to suggesting they go further afield. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |