Nestled in the traditional village of Prines, Villa Elli offers a peaceful rural hideaway with a private swimming pool, beautifully landscaped gardens, and al fresco dining areas. This charming villa features an open-plan living space with fireplace and piano area, as well as a game console and satellite TV for entertainment.
Reviews
9.69.6 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8120 sq m
Popular amenities
Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Gym
Outdoor space
Add dates for prices
About this property
Villa Elli - Magical Garden Views by etouri
Villa Elli is approved by Greek Tourism Organization with license number: 1041K91002924801 & managed by "etouri vacation rental management". Tucked away on a quiet lane in the charming village of Prines, Villa Elli is a delightful rural retreat crafted in traditional timber style. Surrounded by lush gardens, colorful flowers, and fruitful trees, it offers tranquility in a stunning natural setting. Just minutes from the beach, this country hideaway is perfect for relaxing, and with a car, its an ideal starting point for exploring all the wonders of Crete. Just minutes from the beach, this country hideaway is perfect for relaxing, and with a car, its an ideal starting point for exploring all the wonders of Crete. Villa Elli consists of a ground and upper ground floors, along with a first floor in the form of a loft. It can accommodate 6 people in beds and up to 8 if necessary. Interior Layout- Ground Floor Open-plan living space featuring a living room, dining area, and fully equipped kitchen -Living room includes a piano corner, fireplace, flat-screen satellite TV, and game console -Guest WC with laundry facilities -Direct access from the living and dining areas to the veranda and pool-garden area Upper Ground Floor -Two double bedrooms, each furnished with a double bed -Main bathroom -Both bedrooms feature private verandas with seating arrangements Loft Level -Third bedroom with two single beds -Closet and private balcony -Intimate space with romantic decor and a cosy atmosphere Outdoor Area -Beautifully landscaped garden with flowers and trees, creating a calm and relaxing environment -Private 20 m2 swimming pool with ladder access -Pool terrace equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas -Portable charcoal grill for al fresco cooking -Shaded veranda with outdoor dining table -Private parking for up to two cars -Fully fenced property with gated entrance, ensuring privacy and a peaceful stay **Accommodation cost excludes Climate Resilience Tax. The amount for the accommodation type is set at EUR15 per night from April to October and EUR4 per night from November to March, payable upon check-in.
Property amenities
Pool/Spa
Private pool
Internet
Available in the villa: Internet access
Parking and transport
Car required
Parking on site
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
3 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
1.5 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
Piano
Stereo
TV with cable/satellite channels
Video games
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Charcoal grill
Garden
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Concierge services
Iron/ironing board
Limited housekeeping
Phone
Location highlights
In a rural location
In a village
In the mountains
Near a health/beauty spa
Near the bay
Near the marina
Things to do
Gym
Water park
Basketball nearby
Birdwatching nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Jet skiing nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Mountain climbing nearby
Parasailing nearby
Sailing nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Snorkelling nearby
Swimming nearby
Theme park nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Winery tours nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number 1041Κ91002924801
We should mention
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 500, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Located in Prines, a neighbourhood in Rethymno, this villa is in a rural area and near theme parks. Great Gate and Fortezza Castle are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Georgioupolis Beach and St. Anthony Gorge. Travelling with kids? Consider Paleontological Museum and Rethimno Kart. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain climbing and horse riding. Visit our Rethymno travel guide
Is Villa Elli - Magical Garden Views by etouri pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Villa Elli - Magical Garden Views by etouri?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Villa Elli - Magical Garden Views by etouri?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Villa Elli - Magical Garden Views by etouri?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Villa Elli - Magical Garden Views by etouri located?
Located in the mountains, this family-friendly villa is within 6 mi (10 km) of Rethymnon Court House, Paleontological Museum, and Petres Beach. Episkopi Beach and Blue Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Villa Elli - Magical Garden Views by etouri Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
We booked this villa for a trip with our three teenagers. The house is lovely and very clean. We loved the pool and the lounge chairs. The air conditioning worked extremely well and we only had to run it for a few hours in the evening for it to be cool all day and night.
The location is great. You are within a 10 minute drive for numerous fantastic beaches and restaurants. You can also walk to restaurants in the village if you don’t want to drive.
The host was very responsive and sent a number of recommendations to us.
Sarah H.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified
8/10 Good
James W.
10 July 2024
Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Lovely little villa, perhaps a little too rustic
The location is okay, a little noisy with baking dogs and perhaps not the prettiest drive past the scrapyard.
We had a few issues with dead flies/mosquitos across the floor of the apartment on the first few days as I believe a door or window has been left open before we arrived.
That all being said the exterior of the property is gorgeous and the garden is lovely.
We enjoyed our stay in Villa Elli in Prines, the villa was lovely, the village was a short 20 minute drive from a few beaches. There were 3 very good tavernas within 10-15 minutes walk and a small supermarket that had pretty much all we needed. The villa is charming and quirky and very clean, it has 3 private verandas where you could sit in the sun or shade, 2 sitting areas indoors large dining table and a smaller one outside. Miss Elli and her family live next door and are available to help if needed but do not intrude, also Etouri customer support were a text or phonecall away if needed and they kept in touch with offers and advice.The kitchen had everything we needed whether making a cuppa to a 3 course meal.The pool was perfect size for us not too deep and plenty room for sunbeds.There are several cats who are regular visitors and very friendly and quite polite too!Overall a very nice holiday I would happily return to and recommend.
Wir hatten eine gute Zeit in der Villa. Wir wurden herzlich empfangen. Ca. alle 3 Tage wurde gereinigt, auch der Pool. Innerhalb von 15 min (mit dem Auto), kann man am Strand sein. Der nächste kleine Ort ist, 10-15 min zu Fuß entfernt. Es hat uns sehr gefallen, wir würden wieder buchen.
Ein sehr schönes Objekt. Etwas ausserhalb aber alles war sehr gut zu erreichen. Sehr freundliche und zuvorkommende Vermieter. Sehr hilfsbereit aber auch sehr zurückhaltend.
Das Haus war sehr liebevoll vorbereitet. Danke dafür.
Wir hatten eine sehr schöne Zeit
Villa was as expected, great location ( must have a car) with a great garden space and everything we needed. Elli lives nearby and was wonderful! She left us in private yet regularly left us some of her fruit and veg, as well as some great stuffed peppers :) Thanks Elli!
Cleaners came every three days which was much appreciated too. Pool was small but fabulous, especially since we had a 5 year old with us. It wasn’t too deep which meant he learned to swim there too. Luckily, we love cats as there are lots of them :)
It was also useful having an Etouri rep on the other end of the phone- quite useful when one of our party broke their ankle and we needed doctors. Etouri also booked us into the Baja beach club on our last day and we didn’t have to pay a penny so thank you guys!
Two lovely tavernas and two small supermarkets within 10mn walk from villa too which meant we could have a nice meal without worrying about driving.
Fab villa,people and holiday!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Villa Elli. We were welcomed by Elli, the pleasant lady who lived next door. The house was comfortable and very well provisioned and the garden was exceptional, always a delight to relax in before and after our various trips out. We are very happy to recommend this villa.
We had a lovely holiday at Villa Elli. We are a family of 5 (2 adults, 11 year old, 8 year old & 3 year old) and the Villa was perfect for us.
When we arrived Elli’s daughter was there to greet us and show us around the villa. The villa is just as described. It was clean (they cleaned the villa for us 3 times during our 2 week stay), and had everything we needed. There are 3 tavernas which are a 10 minute walk away (which are all excellent), and a small supermarket to get basic bits. Elli the villa owner lives behind the villa and was a lovely lady. She brought us fresh vegetables from her garden and cooked us a lovely lunch. She even bought the kids some animal toys to play with. If there was a problem with the villa then she sorted it very quickly.
You do need to hire a car to get around (or get a taxi). The main town of Rethymno is a 10 minute drive away, which has the beaches and a wide selection of shops and restaurants.
The management company were also very good and WhatsApp’ed me most days to check if we were ok or needed anything. They booked us into the Baja Beach a club one day which was a great day out with complementary drinks. They provided us with recommended medical centres to get our Covid tests we needed to get home.
We will definitely come to stay at Villa Elli again. It was a very relaxing holiday for us and provided everything we needed.
We have spent a wonderful week in Villa Eli. The house is very well maintained and looks exactly as in the pictures. we also had the feeling, they take the COVID-19 measures very serious. Everything was perfectly clean, disinfection spray, masks and gloves are provided in the house!
Cleaning service once a week was really nice to have included.
It is perfect to spend some time with the family or with friends. Great porch and terrace to spend your evenings on...
The kitchen is fully equipped and even if something is not working correctly, it is replaced within 24 hours.
We were really amazed by the level of service offered, contact with Stella was very easy going, we received a lot of good tips and things to do and for every question we always got a quick answer.
The location near Prines close to Rethymno is something we really enjoyed. There are enough really nice restaurants nearby and if you want to visit the city you are there in under 15 minutes.
You definitely need a car if you are staying at Villa Eli, and it is better if you like cats as there are quite a few of them around.
We would 100% recommend staying here. For us it was the first time in Greece, but thanks to this wonderful stay it will not be the last.
Villa Elli is the prettiest villa we have ever seen. The garden is full of flowers, palm trees, cacti and shrubs. The veranda is so welcoming and the villa is well equipped and comfortable.
A quick walk to the village centre and there are 3 tavernas, all good, a shop and pharmacy along with a snack bar.
A great base to explore Crete or just laze by the pool.
The Villa is a beautiful green oasis, full of trees and pot plants with a nice pool, which make the place really special. The house has a nice Greek vibe and lots of space around the house. Great dinning area is also in the terrace outside and every room has its own little balcony if you need some privacy. You do need a car to move around, but we also do recommend the car rental because it is easier to move around the Island and visit the best beaches the Island has to offer. Cat lovers will love the company of spoiled cats that are walking around the property. The communication with the host and the manager is nice and easy.
We had the best Greek lady host who has a beautiful heart and we really felt like at home in Villa Elli. So, we definitely recommend this house if you are looking for a nice Greek experience.
Wir verbrachten 2 erholsame Wochen in der liebevoll gestalteten Villa Elli. Alles ist sehr gepflegt und von einem wunderschönen Garten umgeben. Mit dem Auto ist man in in max. 20 min an den schönen Stränden der Nordküste, zur Südküste sind es etwa 40 min. Zu Fuß nächsten erreicht man schnell die nächsten Tavernen und Einkaufsmöglichkeiten.
Die Inhaberin wohnt gleich nebenan und ist bei Fragen oder Problemen schnell zur Stelle. Auch die Betreung durch die Agentur war hervorragend.
Als kleiner Hinweis: die Straße direkt am Grundstück wird gern als Abkürzung genutzt und ist daher doch etwas mehr befahren , als erwartet ! ... und man sollte Katzen mögen ;)
Alles in allem aber eine klare Empfehlung !
Beautiful and comfortable, easy drive to many beaches and nature walks
Elli and the etouri team were fantastic. Communication leading up to arrival was timely, clear, and helpful. We arrived to a delicious meal prepared by Elli for 3 adults and 6 children, with leftovers. Thank you! The villa grounds are peaceful and beautiful, well kept. There was always a comfortable breeze. We enjoyed multiple sandy beaches with 10-20 minute drive, also drive to a wonderful southern beach 45 mins, and visited some museums (60 mins). Multiple grocery stores were close by, although need a car. We also very much enjoyed the day at the “beach club” arranges by the etouri team. Again, thank you! Note for those with allergies: there were tame cats on the property, which necessitated we close some of the doors during meal time. Our hosts were very accommodating and we are grateful.
We stayed in Villa Elli for two weeks with our two adult sons and the girlfriend of one of them. The villa is a very spacious traditional greek house with a very beautiful garden and swimming pool. The area is quiet and the location is excellent as starting point for numerous trips.
When we arrived the fridge was already filled with some drinks, fruits and feta. The owner Elli is very friendly and cooked a delicious cake for us. A very nice place to eat is Giannikos Taverna in Prines. The owner is friendly and has plenty of touristic advices.
An absolutely lovely villa in a quiet, picturesque location. Miss Elli gave us a very warm welcome and made us feel totally at home. Thank you for a brilliant stay!
Jane R.
Verified
8/10 Good
Christiane M.
26 Oct 2018
Sehr schöne Villa, sehr netter und herzlicher Empfang
Wir verbrachten eine schöne Zeit in der Villa Elli. Die Mutter der Gastgeberin hat für uns griechisch gekocht, was super lecker war und uns sehr gefreut hat. Lediglich das Bett im zweiten Schlafzimmer mit 1,40 m Breite war uns zu klein.
Christiane M.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018
Verified
8/10 Good
Rachel E.
1 Sept 2018
Beautiful Villa Elli
We arrived at beautiful Villa Elli to a nice welcome by Ms Elli
The Villa was well equipped with kitchen utensils etc.. and nicely furnished. Travelling with 4 children never easy but we were glad there was something for all of them, great pool, Xbox , toys for my 3 year old which she loved!
Ms Elli cooked us a lovely vegeatable dish grown from her garden which was so kind of her.
We enjoyed sitting by the pool and at sunset enjoying a bbq.
We also had a beautiful beach 10 minutes away to watch amazing sunsets! And visited a fabulous taverna near by which was recommended by Etouri
My family loved their stay here, one thing I would recommend is a shower curtain! Especially when children are staying but I do miss sitting in the beautiful garden ! I would recommend !
Rachel E.
Verified
8/10 Good
Jesper T.
27 Aug 2018
Skønt hus i landlige omgivelser
Det er et dejligt hus med fin plads til 5 personer. Skøn have og den sødeste vært. Vi fik endda serveret en god middag af havens grøntsager, som hun tilberedte på bedste vis til os. Lidt slidt hus - men rent og pænt. Tavernaen i Prines var bestemt også flere besøg værd.
Jesper T.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
sarah g.
13 Aug 2018
Characterful villa on a beautiful island
I have booked many holiday houses in the past and have had access to a nice house and perhaps a welcome pack, but little more than that. The Villa Elli was different. The house is owned by Mrs Stella and her family who live in the house next door. We were welcomed on arrival and had a beautiful vegetarian (our preference) meal made for us in the middle of the week that lasted us for three evening meals! We arrived late at night and were able to request that some food was left in the kitchen for us to eat at breakfast the next day. The family were discrete but were there if we needed anything. The other unique thing about this holiday was the the support provided by etouri. The company provided information in the run up to the holiday about family-friendly activities that I specified we would be interested in. They were in contact during the holiday and booked a boat trip to Preveli for us and also arranged access to the fantastic Baja beach club.
The holiday provided accommodation in a traditional Cretan home with the support of a welcoming family and the knowledge and efficiency of etouri which made the whole experience very easy.
I travelled with my husband, three children (9, 7 and 2) and my mother. The villa had lots of toys and inflatables for the pool to keep everyone entertained. The kitchen was well appointed with plenty of utensils. The bathroom didn’t have an easy to access shower which was a bit of a challenge for my mum (who has had a double knee replacement) but otherwise the villa was fantastic and I highly recommend it.
sarah g.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Jennifer R.
12 Aug 2018
Wonderful family vacation.
A wonderful villa. Great location to explore Crete, or stay put & enjoy the pool and amazing garden. House is very comfortable and well-equipped. Outdoor veranda is lovely spot for meals & reading. Owner is so kind & generous - brought over the most amazing food for us. I will dream of those zucchini fritters for the rest of my life. Booking & check in were so easy. Really appreciated the attention & help in booking outings. Cannot recommend this property enough.
Jennifer R.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Diane H.
6 June 2018
Excellent 12 day stay at Villa Elli
We were a family of 5 (including a 2 and a half year old) and we had a great time at the villa. As advertised it is a traditional villa with lots of character and superb gardens that the two year old loved investigating and going on a 'bear hunt'. We arrived to a welcome pack of food and drink and were made to feel welcome our whole stay by Elli who even cooked us a superb lunch of traditional Cretan stuffed vegetables which was the best meal we had throughout the holiday. We were able to eat out on the terrace every lunchtime and evening we were at the villa and loved BBQ-ing and preparing food. The pool was a great success with lots of learning to swim for the young one and splashing for the grown ups. The only difficulty we had was arranging the shower head from the mixer taps to not soak the bathroom so perhaps a longer hose and fixing to one of the walls will resolve that. Other than that minor inconvenience we loved the whole holiday and our trips into Rethymnon and along the coast to the superb beaches and the drive into the mountains. We would heartily recommend staying at Villa Elli for a quiet and peaceful Cretan holiday