Villa Giovanta
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Overview
Enjoying plenty of charm and the most magnificent endless views across olive groves and the Cretan Sea to the Kissamos Peninsula and beyond, Villa Giovanta is perfect for large families or groups of friends. With five bedrooms in total, including a separate ground floor apartment, this spacious villa is ideal for ten guests. Villa Giovanta is perched on the gentle hillside above the lovely village of Kontomari and close to both Maleme and the buzzy resort of Platanias. Just 1.5km from the villa is the gorgeous deserted beach of Pirgos Psileronou. The delightful resort of Maleme sits between the villages of Tavronitis and Gerani with a three kilometre beach. The gorgeous Venetian harbour and Old Town of Chania is only twenty five minutes away with its waterfront bars and restaurants, its dreamy buildings and its charming, bougainvillea draped cobbled alleyways. Three of the island’s most spectacular beaches, Balos, Elafonisi and Falasarna are within easy of the villa. For an alternative day out, you can head to the phenomenal Samaria Gorge.
Set within a grand estate carpeted with ancient olive trees, guests staying at Villa Giovanta enjoy total seclusion and peace. The villa boasts a beautiful garden with colourful borders, a lush lawn and mature towering trees. It also offers picturesque outdoor terraces which all boast amazing views across the countryside to the sea. The pool is larger than average and offers a shallow children’s section. The pool is surrounded by loungers where you can totally unwind, enjoy the Cretan sunshine and read your holiday books. Your barbecue chefs can cook a feast in the outdoor cooking area with its built-in barbecue and wood-oven and there is also a bar where you could arrange a tasting of delicious local wines.
When you arrive at Villa Giovana, you take the stone steps up to the first floor for the main villa. Here you will arrive at a charming double height living space with an intricate staircase leading up to some of the bedrooms on the second floor. The living room enjoys a comfy curved sofa, a feature fireplace and a very airy feeling with its superb height. Doors open to a wonderful balcony where you will be mesmerised by the fantastic vistas as you enjoy a cup of tea, a pre-dinner drink or perhaps a meal. There is a separate dining area with traditional dark wood furniture and a cosy country kitchen with a breakfast table. There is also one double bedroom on the first floor with guests using the family bathroom.
The rather grand staircase takes you upstairs where you will discover another three bedrooms. Here you will find one double room with a private bathroom with a hydromassage bath, another double with a private bathroom and a single bedroom. The rooms are fairly simple in their design with gorgeous views from the windows.
The ground floor apartment would be perfect for grandparents or a couple wanting a little independance. It comes with a sitting area with two sofas, an open plan kitchen, a single bed tucked in one corner which would be ideal for a child, a double bedroom and a bathroom. It enjoys a lovely outlook to the pool and garden and enjoys a small terrace with a table and chairs, perfect for your morning cup of coffee.
What you should know…
- The villa comes with an independent ground floor apartment with living space, one bedroom, a bathroom and an extra single bed. This would be perfect for grandparents or a couple with a small child but it should not be used for young children on their own
- The villa is traditional in design with vintage furnishings so will not appeal to those that prefer a contemporary look
- You must make sure that you have time to visit Chania Old Town. It is captivating and utterly beautiful with a fantastic dining scene. Although there are plenty of walk-in waterside eateries, it is best to book in advance for some of the more popular restaurants such as Tamam and Pallas with its gorgeous rooftop dining space
This home is a part of our Great Value Collection!
Our great value homes:
- may be traditionally styled for a laid back feeling
- may have some simple amenities and features
- mean that you can enjoy top holiday destinations for less!
Property Features
The Villa
Villa Giovanta is a 5-bedroom villa sleeping 10 guests, located in the village of Kontomari, just a short distance from Maleme.
Ground Floor Annexe
- Sitting room with additional single bed
- Kitchenette
- Bedroom with double bed
- Family bathroom
First Floor
- Sitting room
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Dining room
- Bedroom with double bed
- Family shower room
Second Floor
- Bedroom with double bed and en-suite shower room
- Bedroom with double bed
- Bedroom with single bed
- Family bathroom
Exterior Grounds
- Private swimming pool (9m x 4.5m, depth of 1.35m – 2m)
- Terrace
- Sunloungers
- Barbecue
Additional Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Air conditioning
- TV
- Hairdryer
- Washing machine
- Iron & board
- Baby cot available on request
- Safe deposit box
- Parking
Location
About the surrounding area of Villa GiovantaVilla Giovanta enjoys an enviable position just above the village of Kontomari and just 1km from the pretty, lively resort of Maleme. It is also close to the buzzy resort of Platanias and the Rodopos peninsula. Within easy reach are Chania, Kissamos, Balos Beach, Falasarna Beach and Elafonisi Beach. Snorkelling, fishing and horse riding are available locally and there are some mini-markets and tempting tavernas in the local villages. The foothills behind Maleme are excellent for fresh country walks perfumed by the wild thyme and oregano. An hour’s ramble out of Maleme takes you to the charming hilltop village of Deres with its whitewashed church and inviting taverna. Maleme is famous for being the place where German paratroopers attacked Crete in 1941. Maleme is a peaceful haven but if you are looking for some livelier entertainment, you can head to its neighbour Platanias just along the road.
The buzzy tourist resort of Kissamos sits on the edge of the Gramvousa peninsula. Kissamos is also known as Kastelli Kissamou in reference to the former Venetian fortress that used to dominate the town. Kissamos enjoys many tavernas, beaches and plenty of shops. Surrounding the town are fertile olive groves and vineyards. The main beach is Mavros Molos which is sprinkled with trees, sunbeds and parasols. The Archaeological Museum of Kissamos is located on the main square, Stratigou Tzanakaki, boasting an impressive collection of local discoveries from a wide range of historical eras. A little further north of the main port of Kissamos is the quaint, colourful Old Port of Kastelli Kissamou which is brimming with brightly coloured fishing boats, a photographer’s dream.
On the Gramvousa peninsula, Balos Lagoon Beach is absolutely stunning and one of the most photographed beaches in Greece. The lagoon of Balos has silvery white sand and exotic, white, vivid blue and turquoise waters. The sea is very shallow and warm. Beyond the rocks at the boundaries of the lagoon, the water is deeper and ideal for snorkeling. The lagoon and wider area with rare species of flora and fauna are protected under the Natura 2000 programme. Eleonora falcons, shags and cormorants nest in the caves and the area is a shelter for protected monk seal and loggerhead sea turtle. You will think you are in the Maldives or somewhere as it is so beautiful. Balos can be reached by car, though be prepared for a bumpy ride or you can take a boat trip to the beach. North of Balos, in Cape Korykon, there are remains of the small Roman town of Agnio with the temple of Apollo and the picturesque chapel of Agios Sostis.
At the western base of the stunning Cape Gramvousa, 17km west of Kissamos, you will discover Falasarna Beach, another fabulous Cretan gem. The beach has been voted as one of the ten best beaches in Europe in the past. Falasarna Bay actually consists of five consecutive dazzling, silver-sanded beaches. It is huge as well as gorgeous and has such a dazzling, clear, turquoise blue sea. At the northern end of the beach there are ruins of the ancient Grecoroman city of Falasarna. There are several companies offering watersports including Falasarna Activities who offer wakeboard and jet ski tuition.
Elafonisi is also a magical place that consists of a small islet with white and pink sandy beaches. Visitors can wade out to the island to enter another world. The island is an internationally classified nature reserve and home to more than one hundred rare plants including summer flowering sea daffodils that look like white cups. The island is a nature lovers paradise. To the left of the sandbank, windsurfers enjoy the prevailing winds.
The charming and picturesque Old Town of Chania is roughly twenty five minutes away in the car. Its atmospheric 14th century Venetian harbour, old port, narrow, cobbled shopping streets, colourful bougainvillea and waterfront restaurants make this a top-notch evening out. The sunset views are breathtaking with the Venetian lighthouse a focal point. You can walk along the harbour wall to the lighthouse.
Samaria Gorge is the longest gorge in Europe at 16km which would take roughly six hours to pass along the whole gorge. Otherwise you can drive to Chora Sfakion and take a boat to Agia Roumeli and walk at few kilometres at the end of the gorge. The Imbros Gorge is also very beautiful and takes approximately two hours. You can combine this walk with swimming in Fragokastelo Beach.
| Local Amenities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest Airport |
Chania Airport
(36km) |
||
| Nearest Town/City |
Chania
(17km) |
||
| Nearest Village |
Maleme
(2km) |
||
| Nearest Restaurant |
Menta Seaside Restaurant
(2.8km) |
||
| Nearest Supermarket |
Synka Supermarket, Maleme
(2km) |
||
| Nearest Beach |
Maleme
(2.5km) |
||
Region
Head to the West side of Crete to find some of the best beaches and most charming villages in the island. Indulge yourself by visiting the unique Balos lagoon and jumping into its turquoise waters, or have a truly Cretan dining experience in one of the many tavernas by the sea and taste the delicious seafood on offer.
Find more about Chania and the rest of the Southernmost island in Greece with our travel guide below.
Download our Crete Travel Guide >>
How to reach Chania
There are two ways to reach Chania: either by flight or by ferry.
By plane: Chania Airport (CHQ) is only a 20 minutes ride away from central Chania. During the summer months, frequents overseas and domestic flights are performed. In most of the cases, there are available buses that connect Chania city and most of the villas. You can also hire a car from one of the many rental companies at the airport, or alternatively get a taxi to bring you right to your doorstep.
By ferry: If you choose to do an island-hopping trip and use the ferry as a method of transportation, then the closest port is in Souda, only 8km from the centre of Chania. Only ferries from Piraeus in Athens or Heraklion in Crete. Heraklion port has a wider choice: you can also take a ferry from other Greek islands like Santorini, Mykonos or Paros, but you will have to take a longer bus ride to reach your villa. You can easily book your ferry tickets using the link below or the booking engine.
Kids
Best Suited For: All AgesVilla Giovanta is ideal for a multi-generational family holiday. With five bedrooms including a separate apartment, a large double-height living room, a lovely pool with a shallow children’s section and a gorgeous garden, it is peaceful, spacious and very private. The villa is surrounded by olive groves and stunning scenery.
Kontomari is a quiet village close to Maleme. The beach at Maleme is wonderful and there is a great selection of bars, tavernas and restaurants. You should also visit at least one of the famous beaches of Falasarna, Elafonisi and Balos that you see on many Crete holiday posters. The beaches are absolutely stunning and you will not forget them. Kissamos Beach is also close by with several surf schools including Kalo Surf and a number of opportunities to learn to stand-up paddleboard. At Kissamos you can take many boat trips, either to Balos or just to enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the clear blue water.
If you’re keen to explore the local environment, you’ll come across some outstanding natural wonders. The well-known Cave of Agia Sophia near Kissamos is a remarkable sight, full of dramatic, twisted stalagmites and stalactites. The Sirikari Gorge that runs from the village of Sirikari down to Polyrrinia can be explored on a three hour walk, where you will see a wealth of beautiful plants and as well as wild animals. Another gorge, the Keramari Gorge near to near Kissamos, is the entrance to the traditional village of Milia. Active children may enjoy mountain biking or hiking in some of the gorges or the eroded, bizarre-looking hills of Komolithi.
Chania Town is a great place for families. Minoan’s World of 3D Museum and 9D Cinema is an immersive cinema where you can learn about the Minoan history while enjoying 11 effects such as earthquakes, snow and much more. The movie stars Zeus as a baby and as a God, abductions, flying too close to the sun and an eruption of the volcano in Santorini causing a devastasting tsunami that ended the Minoan era. Children love wandering around the harbour and out to the lighthouse. The narrow cobbled lanes are full of souvenir shops as well as gorgeous, atmospheric restaurants. There are also many street musicians that children love listening to. They enjoy sunset boat trips from the harbour and the horse and carriage rides that are available.
Aqua Creta Limnoupolis is a fun water park close to Chania. It offers extreme adventure with impressive water slides including two freefall slides, a black hole, a triple twist, a rainbow multi-slide and two giant slides. It also boasts a lazy river, a kid’s pool and an artificial island.
The cuisine in Crete is delicious and it is very easy to eat out with children. You should definitely stop at a Cretan bakery for biscuits and pastries. Loukoumades are honey drenched doughnuts that children adore!
Baby and Toddler Equipment
- Cot(s)
- High Chair(s)
Kids Activities Close-by
- Beach Nearby
- Walk to Village
- <1hr to Airport
- Outdoor Pursuit & Activities
- Tourist Towns & Villages
Extras
Oliver's Extras
- Transfers Available
At Oliver’s Travels we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests. From private chefs to babysitters we can help you arrange those little extras that make it a truly memorable holiday. Simply fill in the concierge request form or contact the Oliver’s Concierge Team who will be happy to help. We can typically help you arrange any of the following:
- Maid service/extra cleaning
- Private chef/cook/catering
- Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge
- Local day-trips or tours
- Airport pick-up/drop-off
- Babysitting/childcare services
Please note that all extras are subject to availability and must be requested in advance of the holiday (prices on request). Due to some rural/remote locations, not all services will be available at all properties. However, we will always do our best to fulfill your requests!
| Security deposit | There is no security deposit, but should there be any damage or loss caused by you or your guests during your stay you will be liable for the cost. |
| Arrival time | 4pm |
| Departure time | 10am |
Terms & Conditions
These terms and conditions may be amended from time to time.
| Security deposit | There is no security deposit, but should there be any damage or loss caused by you or your guests during your stay you will be liable for the cost. |
| Arrival time | 4pm |
| Departure time | 10am |
| Energy costs included? | Yes, included in the rental price |
| Linen & towels included? | Yes, included in the rental price |
| End of stay cleaning included? | Yes. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. |
| Internet access? | Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access included in rental price. It is good to note that the speed is dependent on local provider and technical issues may cause reduced speed or cut of service. |
| Changeover day | Flexible |
| Minimum stay | Please note that there is a 7-night minimum stay |
| Pets welcome? | No pets |
| Smoking Allowed? | No smoking |
The Greek government requires owners to collect a Tourist Climate Tax, your property manager will collect this in cash:
March-October €15 per night per unit
November-February €4 per night per unit
Rental Rates
Prices based on an occupancy of 10 people:
| Rental period | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Nov 25th 2024 - Mar 29th 2025 | £2,076 |
| Mar 29th 2025 - Apr 26th 2025 | £2,239 |
| Apr 26th 2025 - May 24th 2025 | £2,652 |
| May 24th 2025 - Jun 21st 2025 | £3,066 |
| Jun 21st 2025 - Jul 12th 2025 | £3,565 |
| Jul 12th 2025 - Aug 18th 2025 | £4,056 |
| Aug 18th 2025 - Sep 6th 2025 | £3,565 |
| Sep 6th 2025 - Sep 20th 2025 | £2,980 |
| Sep 20th 2025 - May 29th 2026 | £2,403 |
Please note that these prices/rates are a guide only and may not be correct at the current date. For an accurate quote, please enquire.
Reviews
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The villa is stunning
We had a lovely stay at the Villa Giovanta. Our hosts, Anna and George were so helpful and friendly. The villa is stunning and very well taken care of by the owners. The location was good but does require a car, there's a mini-mart, taverna and pharmacy located just down the road as well as the bus stop that we used to go to Chania a few times. As there were 10 of us we did find that we needed more cooking equipment than was provided but as soon as we asked, Anna supplied what we needed. The villa was cleaned regularly and fresh linen & towels provided throughout our stay. The pool area was fantastic with plenty of room for the kids to play and the adults to soak up the sun. I would definitely recommend Villa Giovanta for large families or groups.
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