A rare find — challenge friends and family to endless matches.
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 5
Popular amenities
Swimming pool
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Barbecue
Explore the area
Vrises, Crete
Dourakis Winery
Place, Dourakis Winery
2 min drive
Lake Kournas
Place, Lake Kournas
14 min drive
Almyrida Beach
Place, Almyrida Beach
19 min drive
Chania (CHQ-Ioannis Daskalogiannis)
Airport, Chania (CHQ-Ioannis Daskalogiannis)
52 min drive
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)
Bedroom 1
1 Double Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
Living Room 1
1 Double Sofa Bed
2 bathrooms
Bathroom
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Kitchen
Garden
About this property
Villa Olivia
*** Featured in Sunday Times "Europe's 50 Best Villas" ***
Turning off the road towards distant Sfakia, on the south coast, above the pretty village of Vrysses you enter a landscape of rolling hills, rich with olive and cypress trees and then, turning again, you find yourself in the very heart of this tranquil and green landscape. Not imposing itself on this beautiful pastoral scene, Villa Olivia’s exterior is totally unassuming. There is nothing ostentatious about the square stone exterior sitting on it's green lawns but drop down off the road, step inside and the Villas delights are revealed, for the stone block walls conceal a beautifully laid out two bedroom Villa where modern style doesn’t compromise on comfort and practicality blends easily with indulgence.
Location
Villa Olivia delivers total relaxed holiday living on every level and is the perfect place to return to whether you have been to the beach at Georgioupolis (10 mins drive), Chania or Rethymnon Venetian harbours (25 mins drive) or visited Chora Sfakia on the south coast (45 mins drive) to take a ferry trip to Loutro or Ag Roumelli. There is a tiny taverna serving traditional fare in nearby Maza, about 1.5km away or drop into Vrisses at only 3kms and eat at one of the tavernas with tables under the trees by the river.
Outside Villa Olivia
Swimming Pool - 8m x 4m, depth 0.9m - 1.5m. Roman step entry
Poolside Sun Terrace - Sun beds and parasols, sofa set under sun shade
Pergola - Table tennis
BBQ - Covered BBQ with Cretan oven.
Covered Dining terrace - Table and chairs
Garden - Areas of lawn
Inside Villa Olivia, accommodation on one level
Open plan L shaped Living space, comprising:
Kitchen area - Well equipped kitchen with ceramic hob and oven, dishwasher, espresso maker (Nespresso original capsules), fridge freezer, microwave and breakfast table and chairs.
Dining Area - Table and chairs.
TV area - Sofa and chairs, flat screen TV (limited channels/news only).
Sitting area - 2 Sofas and 2 sets of French doors to garden. Air Con. unit.
Double bedroom with ensuite shower room - 1 double bed, French doors to covered pool terrace. Ensuite shower room, wash basin, W.C. Air Con. unit.
Twin bedroom - 2 single beds, French doors to pool terrace. Air Con. unit.
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
About the area
Apokoronas
Located in Apokoronas, this villa is in a rural area. Port of Souda and Dourakis Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Georgioupolis Beach and Kalyváki.
Chania (CHQ-Ioannis Daskalogiannis) - 48 min drive
Restaurants
Προγούλης - 3 min drive
Sweethouse - 9 min drive
Poseidon Fish Tavern - 9 min drive
Mythos Taverna - 9 min drive
Maza Cafeneion - 2 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Villa Olivia have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Villa Olivia?
As of 5 July 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Villa Olivia on 24 Aug 2026 start from AU$588, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Villa Olivia pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Villa Olivia?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Villa Olivia?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Villa Olivia?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Villa Olivia located?
Situated in a rural location, this villa is 1 mi (1.6 km) from Dourakis Winery and within 6 miles (10 km) of Kalyváki and Georgioupolis Beach. Historical - Folklore Museum of Gavalochori and Lake Kournas are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Sublime views, wonderful pool, a first-class villa.
Jonathan
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Nicholas
10 July 2023
Superb Villa
Great location, spotlessly clean, great views, perfect pool, housekeeping super efficient. Our second villa provided by Freelance and the standard and service remain first class
Nicholas
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Sept 2023
Hi Nicholas, thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review of Villa Olivia. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the standard & service, and had a great stay at Villa Olivia. We hope to have the opportunity to host you at one of our villas in the future.
Best wishes from Erry, Freelance Villas
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Anthony
18 July 2023
Beautiful Country Villa
Lovely quiet rural location, clean and beautifully equipped property with a lovely pool. Highly recommended.
Slightly softer beds in the second bedroom would be nice.
would highly, highly recommend this villa what can I say absolutely immaculate and all round AMAZING thanks villa Olivia.
Michael.
Michael B.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
JOHN
24 Oct 2024
Lovely Villa
Quite and peaceful location but close enough to village to make life easy.
Nothing
JOHN
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Andrew
25 Oct 2024
Excellent
Excellent as usual.
Second time here, very quiet and secluded, just what we wanted.
Nothing
Andrew
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Anthony
9 July 2025
My Favourite Cretan Villa
This was, I think, our 6th stay at the Villa Olivia and it was as peaceful and enjoyable as all the others. A beautifully prepared villa in a lovely location with a great pool. What's not to like?
The shades over the outside dining area had been removed which meant that it was not really useable after late morning.
Anthony
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Andrew
4 July 2023
Faultless
Classy villa, lovely pool, great setting, lovely beds , spacious.
What more could you ask for.
Maybe in the future perhaps some screening by the pool , as a new villa is being built next door.
Andrew
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Ann
24 July 2023
Perfect
The dishwasher was not working and after being ‘fixed ‘it still did not work. Everything else was excellent.
Ann
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Anthony
28 June 2022
Beautifully Presented Country Property
The villa is set in a small olive grove in a quiet country location with beautiful views over the surrounding hills and valleys. It is comprehensively equipped and was spotlessly clean and the garden was immaculately maintained.
I carelessly locked us out of the villa shortly after arriving but the Freelance Holidays local agent arranged a rescue within half an hour greatly appreciated.
Although it is outside of the villa's control, a neighbour's barking dog can sometimes disturb at night.
Anthony
Response from VrboOwner on 28 June 2022
Hi Anthony, thank you for taking the time to leave us a positive review of Villa Olivia. We are pleased to hear that you had a great stay at the villa and enjoyed this beautiful area. We hope to have the opportunity to host you at one of our villas in the future.
Best wishes from Erry, Freelance Villas
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
NANCY
2 Sept 2022
Perfect villa for a family get away
Everything was fantastic- the location, the villa, the pool, we loved being there and are so sad we are back home!
Only a couple of really minor things! We felt it would be more helpful to have a folder of instructions- with all info there in one place regarding amenities, rubbish removal, local area and checking out etc. We did like the online pdf, but there was a lot to read though on a phone
We also thought the instructions to get to the villa were a little complicated to read while driving and actually our satnav did a great job getting us there.
Everything else was wonderful, thank you very much!
NANCY
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Sept 2022
Thanks Nancy, your comments are most appreciated. We are of course sorry to hear you are sad about being back home - best book up again for next year and then you can look forward from now to coming again :). Best wishes from Jane, Freelance Villas
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Eric
16 June 2022
What a great place!
We had a lovely stay at Villa Olivia. The upfront communication and also during the stay was easy and charming. Getting to the Villa and around for beaches etc. definitely requires a car, but the place is simply great. The house is modern, spacious, clean and super well equipped. Every couple of days the villa is cleaned. The pool is great, and there was really nothing to complain about. The neighbourhood is quiet even though the neighbour's dog barked a couple of times during the night. There are plenty of beaches only 10min drive away. We will definitely come back!
There is nothing we can think of that could be better! Thanks for having us :)
Eric
Response from VrboOwner on 17 June 2022
Hi Eric, thank you for your warm words, we are so pleased that you had a fantastic stay at Villa Olivia! We hope that we can welcome you back to one of our villas in the future!
Best wishes from Erry, Freelance Villas
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Mike
24 Oct 2024
The best villa we have ever stayed in (and we've stayed in quite a few)
Beautifully designed and built, Villa Olivia has been finished to a remarkably high standard and kitted out with all the facilities and equipment you could ever need. The pool is terrific and the location feels beautifully isolated while actually being only minutes from the shops and tavernas of Vrisses. The owner is very helpful and hospitable. Hard to think of what could improve it, other than a mountain view.
Well, you can't create a mountain view! Nor could you control local building and gardening programmes which were in full swing during our April visit, rather disturbing the peace. Quite why a neighbour would want to strim an olve grove every single day remains a mystery. We have only marked down the value for money by one star because we are a couple and so the per-head cost is high - but it is worth it.
Mike
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Oct 2024
Hi Mike, thanks so much for your feedback and high rating of Villa Olivia. We are pleased to hear how much you liked the villa, as well as the location and the owner!
We would be delighted to welcome you back in the future!
Best wishes from Erry, Freelance Villas
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Andrew
25 May 2026
Good as ever
Our third visit here .
Just as quiet and beautiful as ever.
Andrew
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Bärbel
25 Oct 2024
Tolles Haus!
Lage, Sauberkeit, Pflegezustand des Hauses und des Grundstücks, Ruhe und Abgeschiedenheit, Zwischenreinigung und Wechsel der Handtücher.
Bärbel
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Tim
3 Aug 2022
Even better than expected
The sheer size of the living room/kitchen.
The lovely pool.
The very efficient AC and WiFi.
The easy to access location.
The excellent shower bathroom.
The cleanliness and maintenance.
The location between Chania and Rethymnon.
Some briquettes or charcoal.
A few more dishwasher tablets.
Something to mash with.
Lack of table tennis bats and balls.
All small cost items but can make a disproportionate difference to the impression next to outlay.
Tim
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Georgios
28 June 2022
Schön und ruhig
Die Villa ist für 4 Personen optimal geeignet. Die Außenanlagen und der Pool sind Toll und werden wöchentlich gereinigt und gepflegt.
Mietwagen ist erforderlich um die Insel zu erkunden.
Die Lage zwischen Rethymno und Chania, jeweils 30min. mit dem Auto entfernt, ist ganz OK.
Auf jeden Fall kann ich die Villa weiterempfehlen.
Die Pool Beleuchtung Abends etwas länger anlassen.
Georgios
Response from VrboOwner on 28 June 2022
Hi Georgios, thank you for taking the time to leave us a positive review, we are really pleased you had a great stay at Villa Olivia. We agree, a car is needed to make the most of the lovely surrounding area and to explore further afield to Chania and Rethymnon.
We hope to be able to welcome you back again in the future!
Best wishes from Erry, Freelance Villas