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Eco hotel and villa accommodation in Crete

COUNTRY:
Greece
LOCATION:
Achlada (Agia Pelagia), Heraklion, Crete
PRICE:
From €70 - €95 per villa per night (sleeps 4)
MORE INFO:
Price is per villa per night (sleeps 2). From €85 - €95 per villa/night (sleeps 3-4). Price depends on season. Additional beds & breakfasts upon request. If staying more than 7 nights, please contact us for a special offer.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can not be used with this holiday
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Eco hotel and villa accommodation in Crete

Eco hotel and villa accommodation in Crete

How this holiday makes a difference

We are present in the community by being the biggest eco-tourism project to date, sparking interest from other local communities who may also have intentions to follow in our footsteps. Many visitors, friends and relatives from outside Greece are showing up and studying possible investments in order to revive the area and have their share of the local area’s development. We have so far promoted the area from USA, China, East Asia, Europe and the Middle East about all the communities aspects. We are also engaging ourselves by giving advice, know how and other tips without any return in order to help all farmers who would like to advance. We will be engaging local historians, chemists and others to give presentations on olive oil manufacturing, wine, Cretan Raki, history of Crete and other questions to all of our guests if they desire.

We will purchase organic produce such as honey, marmalade, cheese, olive oil, wine etc. as well after a visit to Union of Agricuturals of Peza’s premises. We will also give to our guests info about herbs, the old paths, the old olive trees that date more than 300 years, seeing the old villages that were burned before 200 years. We do encourage them to get to know our environment, appreciate and participate to improve it.

Our measures towards our environment include installation of electrical bulbs at the guest house in order to reduce consumption. Moreover, electronic cards sockets were all installed in order to control electricity while visitors leave the villa. Those cards are placed with the villa’s key chain. To renovate and conserve the old village of Achlada which is dated since Venetian period and now it’s at the verge of being abandoned. We do encourage people to invest, renovate or any other needed activities by helping the local community. We had visitors from Montreal who do such activities worldwide and they are discussing means in how to invest in order to render the same help to the local community and engage their clients to participate in this project.

We cultivate through a local gentleman our eco garden who is an experienced farmer in plants & takes care of the planting and cultivation. No fertilizers are used whatsoever. We have also employed a local lady who does traditional Greek cuisine and does all homemade cooking for our visitors as well as cakes. We employ Sofia who is a marvellous cook and organizes the hotel’s everyday functioning. A local lady from Agia Pelagia does all the necessary cleaning. Dimitiris the plumber who comes from Heraklion to do all required maintenance. Nikos the electrician is from Achlada. We purchase our meat from a local butcher in Agia Pelagia named Apostolis who is a Sheppard and provides fresh local meat from his herd. All fruit and vegetables are bought from Agia Pelagia selectively from some farmers whose crops are really unique for our days. Regarding local restaurants, Anastasia is located in Achlada who, through her traditional tavern, smile and cuisine hooks in every drifter. Also we work with a local group in Heraklion who do trekking, mountain climbing, kayak, activities for children, camping etc. They take guests them from our guest house and bring them back in the evening.

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Eco hotel and villa accommodation in Crete

Reviewed 27 Sep 2009 by Ada Bradbury4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Having enjoyed two weeks travelling around Crete, we spent the last three nights of our holiday at the villa high in the mountains, overlooking rugged countryside with views down to the sea. To find such wonderful accommodation in so rural a location was quite amazing. Our villa was a very well designed, spotlessly clean, spacious house. The owner, Smaro Mourtzanakis was a most gracious hostess - her casserole was the best meal my husband ate throughout the trip!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Having access to your own transport is important. Hire a car to enjoy all the local sites and sights. But a word of warning - Cretan driving can be hair-raising!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Having spent time in a built up 'touristy' area of the north coast of Crete, it was refreshing to see the accommodation offered here. The buildings were sympathetic to the local environment and any money we spent went directly to the family business. Solar panels on each roof and wind turbines on a nearby hill were testament to the environmentally sensible efforts being made locally.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Having stayed at four different locations throughout Crete, the villa is the one we're still talking about - I'd happily recommend it.
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Accommodation Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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