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Luxurious villa with private private heated pool & spectacular views

Family-friendly villa with water park and outdoor pool

Photo gallery for Luxurious villa with private private heated pool & spectacular views

front yard
BBQ Pergola for relaxation
Outdoor dining
the view to the east from the pool
big grass area for kids to play and for adults to relax

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms6 bathroomsSleeps 14280 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Reptisland
  • Place, Melidoni Cave
  • Place, Heraklion Port
  • Airport, Heraklion (HER-Nikos Kazantzakis)

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed, 1 Crib and 1 Child Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed, 1 King Bed, 1 Crib and 1 Child Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds, 1 Crib and 1 Child Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds and 1 Crib

Bedroom 5

2 Single Beds and 1 Crib

6 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 6

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Luxurious villa with private private heated pool & spectacular views

This house invites you to enjoy its elegance and nobility and to share with it the gifts of the beautiful garden and the sense of the tranquility. On leaving the house, you will feel emotionally and mentally richer. Arethousa proves that a house is not only a place to live in, but can also change your senses and make your spirit gentle and sweet. It is one of the noble houses of Melidoni, a village rich in architecture and history. It is construction to be preserved, according to the Greek Ministry of Culture, and was restored in the 2005 under its supervision. It was the owner’s Christina Hatzidakis’, birthplace, built 200 years ago and its decoration bears her sensitivity and taste. It is a house that gives you a feeling of love.


The nearest airport of Heraklion (HER) is located 50 km east of the villa, while the port of Rethymnon lies at a distance of 29 km.
The airport of Chania (CHQ) is another 90km to the west, that is a 1 hour 30 mins drive. A car rental can be arranged to pick you up at the airport and drive you to your villa. Perama is at a distance of 3 km and the traditional village of Panormo with the beautiful restaurants near the sea is at a distance of 9 km/10 mins drive!


There are some interesting excursions you can go in Kastri, Melidoni and the outskirts. The distances and routes are shown on the map in the webpage.


The gardens area is 2000 sq.m. Inside the garden there is a kiosk, BBQ area, beautiful plants, fruit trees and many corners to relax. There is also a 50 sq.m adult swimming pool and a 12 sq.m children’s swimming pool which can also function as a hydro massage, providing you with serenity.
The nearest beach of Bali lies at a distance of 6 km, it is sandy and offers many opportunities for water sports. There are also quiet locations for guests to enjoy the beach without being annoyed by nearby jet-skiers or water-skiers. The sandy beach of Panormo offers you a second choice for your swim near the area. There are plenty of beautiful beaches in the area also!

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Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

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Luxurious villa with huge garden & private Heated pool in paradise environment
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  • Kitchen
  • Washer
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10.0 out of 10, (60 reviews)
Luxurious villa with huge garden & private Heated pool in paradise environment

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:30 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
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Pets

Pets allowed: less than 25 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Important information

You need to know

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 20
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 first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Property Registration Number 1099044

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 recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Melidoni

Located in Mylopotamos, this villa is in the city centre and near the beach. Eleutherna and Arkadi Monastery are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Melidoni Cave and Vlihi Nero beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Reptisland and Rethimno Kart. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cave exploring and cycling.
View more Villas in MelidoniOpens in a new window
Map
Rethymnon, Crete

What's nearby

  • Reptisland - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Melidoni Cave - 2 min drive - 1.2 km
  • Rethymnon Venetian Port - 35 min drive - 31.9 km
  • Palace of Knossos - 61 min drive - 64.8 km
  • Heraklion Port - 61 min drive - 60.6 km

Getting around

  • Heraklion (HER-Nikos Kazantzakis) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bro Café - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Χαρούπι & Ελιά - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Sinolakis Tavern - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Ταβέρνα Λιβάδι - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪ΘΡΑΚΑ στο Περαμα (Pizzeria-Grill) - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Luxurious villa with private private heated pool & spectacular views have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Luxurious villa with private private heated pool & spectacular views pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 25 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Luxurious villa with private private heated pool & spectacular views?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Luxurious villa with private private heated pool & spectacular views?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Luxurious villa with private private heated pool & spectacular views?

Checkout is at 11:30 AM.

Where is Luxurious villa with private private heated pool & spectacular views located?

This family-friendly Mylopotamos villa is located by the sea, within 1 mi (2 km) of Reptisland and Melidoni Cave. Vlihi Nero beach and Livadi beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 44 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 44 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 44 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 44 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 44 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Louise L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Fantastic villa with wonderful views. Very responsive and nice hosts.
Stayed 21 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karl Heinz K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Es war alles bestens, so wie in den vorangegangenen Bewertungen bereits mehrfach beschrieben.Herzliche Vermieter, sehr saubere und schöne Unterkunft, nettes Dorf mit lebendigem Ortskern.Ein Verbesserungsvorschlag an das Online-Vermietportal Fewo-Direkt: Die Anfahrtsbeschreibung ist zu ungenau und daher unbrauchbar. Die Vermieter haben uns nach einem kurzen Anruf während der Anfahrt ganz unkompliziert eine Whats-App mit exaktem Standort der Unterkunft gesendet, daraufhin konnten wir das Objekt auch sofort finden.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

john l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Top locatie en een heerlijk huis met een mooi zwembad. Er stond een welkomstpakket klaar en de communicatie met de verhuurder is goed, ze reageert gelijk. We waren er een week en op de helft van de week kwamen ze schoonmaken en de handdoeken en bedden verschonen. Het ligt in een heel klein plaatsje waar je super lekker kan eten. Wij hebben genoten!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Georgina C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a stunning property - much bigger than we were anticipating -we had a fantastic stay. Rooms are huge, beds really comfortable. Pool and pool area is clean and well kitted out for loungers and umbrellas. Kitchen has everything you might need. Outside is a huge marble table with barbecue and pizza oven. Maid cleans twice a week - we had a couple of problems (a shower head and a light bulb) both problems where dealt with quickly by the owner. The owners are so helpful and super friendly - we had a huge welcome pack which was really appreciated after our late evening arrival - owners came to meet us an showed us around the property - nothing was too much trouble. Small shop in village great for bits. Lovely friendly restaurant with good food.
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephenie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful experience staying at this villa! The property manager met us at the house upon our arrival and helped us get settled. She even left us with food and treats to welcome us. The house had plenty of space for our party of 8 and had room for the teenagers to have their own rooms. Each room had its own bathroom and air conditioning. The pool was wonderful and we spent a lot of time in it. The villa is within close walking distance to the small village of Melidoni where we enjoyed the restaurants and stores. We visited the local olive oil farm and the Melidoni Cave monument, both of which were great. I highly recommend staying at Villa Arethousa—you won’t be disappointed!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

liz m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great villa in pleasant village

A delightful old house, beautifully converted and with a splendid pool. We had the pool heated and it was really warm in April so the children spent hours in it. The village is charming with a restaurant and a brilliant shop that has everything and is open on bank holidays, evenings, Sundays. Our children loved 'Reptisland' a reptile sanctuary where they could cuddle snakes and lizards and learn about them. They went three times! We all enjoyed the honey museum and olive oil museum and the Mili walk downhill was a huge success, even with our 4 year olds. We ended in a village where a St Georges ceremony was happening and were invited to share the lamb stew! Antonios' family who manage the property were amazing: one of the rings on the hob didn't work and they had a new hob installed the next day!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Barbera B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Super huis

Prachtig huis, kleine supermarkt op loopafstand en ook super restaurant
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Orna M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding villa and hopitslity

Villa located in a nice village ,very private and quiet.We were a family of 7 adults and 2 babys and we had a great vavation. The rooms were nice and clean, kitchen well equiped, the pool was great. Hosts were kind and attentive! Warmly
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kim M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful villa

What a stunning property. The attention to detail was exceptional. The villa is a very traditional property and has been decorated in a very authentic style. We arrived to be met by a member of the family who showed us around. There was a welcome pack waiting for us which was unexpected. The pool area and garden is amazing with stunning views of the mountains. There was a lovely lady who came in twice a week to clean the villa, change the bedding and towels. Just be aware that this is not a standalone villa and is in fact a terraced house, but you wouldn’t know as you are surrounded by a wall which gives you all the privacy you will need. The local village has a few bars and a lovely restaurant, which is highly recommend. The only thing was that the directions to the villa weren’t very clear on VRBO and it took us quite a while to locate the villa. Overall we had a fabulous holiday and would highly recommend this amazing villa.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous family adventure

Villa Arethousa was perfect for our extended family of 14. The pool and the villa were beautiful and clean. The rooms were spacious and each had its own en suite. The villa was practically soundproof, which was an added benefit when traveling with small children who needed to go to bed early. We used the pizza oven, grill, and outdoor dining area frequently and having two refrigerators was great. Melidoni is a charming village and we met many kind, hospitable people. I wouldn’t hesitate to book again in the future.
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marta M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Simply Perfect Family Vacation Villa

Amazing 200 year-old beautifully-restored villa, with vintage-esque furniture and decorations, but also included all modern utilties (air-conditioner, showers, wifi, dishwasher, washing machine, two refridgerators, etc.). The entire property was gorgeous, with tons of fresh oranges and lemons on the trees. The pool was a good size and very clean, and perfect for cooling off after a hot day in the sun. Plenty of room inside and outside for large groups. Located in the middle of an adorable little town with a two minute walk to the local tavern, store, and cafes. By the way, the tavern is supposed to close at midnight, but very often stays open longer and the owner will eagerly teach you how to dance traditional Greek dances. Property owners are very friendly, hospitable, quick to reply, and ready to help with any issues or provide any recommendations. We hope to be back one day!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sprookjesachtig

Het is een prachtig huis in heel mooie gedeelte van Kreta, een mooi eigen terrein met een slaapkamer incl badkamer echt geheel apart als huisje aan het zwembad! Super leuk. De andere 4 slaapkamers waren in het vakantie huis zelf en was alles goed geregeld. Enige min punt is dat de douche koppen niet opgehangen kunnen worden en dat je bij het slapen gaan de luiken dicht moet houden en airco aan ivm met stoken van het hout en geen horren aanwezig zijn. Maar als je de luiken dicht doet dan slaap je heerlijk en lang ivm dat het super donker is!! Echt een top verblijf. Fijn ook dat een grotere supermarkt er op loopafstand is alles heeft en leuk dorpje met echt goed Grieks eten! Een aanrader!!
Stayed 8 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Sandra B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great pool, wonderful home!

We had a very pleasant stay in this super complete Mansion, hosted by its very gentle owners. A recommendation for families with kids! Enjoy your stay!
Stayed 10 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Reinhard L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

.

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Stayed 14 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Super séjour dans une très belle maison

Très bon séjour dans cette belle maison, agréable et très pratique lorsqu'on est plusieurs familles / amis. Super propre, hôte charmant (La réactivité par mail n'est pas grande mais sur place ils répondront tout de suite à toutes vos questions). Nous étions avec un bébé et nous avons eu tout le matériel nécessaire (lit, chaise, baignoire). Le petit village de Melidoni est lui aussi très agréable, notamment pour sa bonne taverne. Jardin agréable avec une belle piscine et une jolie vue sur les montagnes.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Susan K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rundum Zufrieden

Wir haben einen tollen Urlaub in dem Haus verbracht, toller schöner großer Pool zzgl Kinderpool/whirlpool, tolle Lage in Melidoni mit süßen Dorfkern und 2 Supermärkten sowie Restaurants. Es kam in den 2 Wochen sogar ein Putzservice. Wir waren 10 Personen und hatten ausreichend Platz. Waschmaschine, ausreichend Handtücher waren vorhanden. Toller großer Esstisch im Außenbereich. Am Pool gab es ausreichend Liegen. Ganz toll fanden wir das Begrüßungspaket der Vermieter. Zitronenbäume, orangen, Wein, Pflaumen,... können geerntet werden. Wir können das Haus wärmstens weiterempfehlen.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

jolyon miles M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just so easy

Property has the best of both worlds. Privacy and seclusion and easy walking access to the heart of the village with x2 restaurant/cafe and x2 minimarkets. Bakery a 10 minute drive. Beaches from 20 minutes. The drive to the property is a bit hairy on the first occasion - go slow and use google maps.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nick W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a find! A gem of a villa

This cherished house has been in the proud ownership of the same family, over many generations, and they have lovingly maintained and updated it with great care and attention to detail, ensuring guests are comfortable and welcome. The property comprises a superb swimming pool and sun lounger area, a large outdoor dining area with bbq and pizza oven, the main house, and a garden house. Everything just works really well and, for those who like to cook, the kitchen is well appointed with plenty of crockery, cutlery, glasses, and cookware. Our family prefers the freedom of self-catering villas, and this is without doubt one of the best properties we have rented. The local town square of Melidoni is five minutes walk, and has two small supermarkets and restaurants/bars - Dili-Dili (run by Ioannis and family) and Carob & Olive (Katarina and team) - which are both great for when you want to go local and sit alongside the residents and soak up the atmosphere. Perama is 15 minutes drive and is great for larger supermarkets, restaurants and bars. Can recommend Thraka.com for food, and the bakery next door for fresh baklava, pastries, and bread. Rethymno is good for a day out (recommend Nyn & Aei for small-plates style lunch), and Panormas, a charming port town closer to home, with restaurants overlooking the old port. Beaches at Bali are bustling and great for sunbathing and cove swimming. If you want a quiet swim there are many coves to explore away from the big towns. Just loved it, and was sad to say goodbye. Next time, we will visit Chania and other places we didn't make it to! Many thanks to Chrysoula and family for an unforgettable holiday.
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Caroline E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Property

This was an exceptional villa in Crete. We would highly recommend to all! The pool and grounds were extremely spacious and beautiful. We made freshly squeezed orange juice daily from the fruits on the trees. The villa itself has a lot of character, is clean and exceptionally well maintained. It was easy to relax and spacious for two families. The hosts were extremely lovely and responsive. I hope we get to return one day!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

STEFAN D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great property

Fantastic property with all amenities in a great little village. Swimming pool is fantastic only whished we had better weather to enjoy it. Rethymno is a little gem , beaches nearby are fantastic
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

David T.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our holiday at Villa Arethousa 27/7/19 to 10/8/19

A magnificent villa set in impressive grounds.The villa is spacious and had no problem in accommodating our party of 8 adults and 4 children. The kitchen had more than enough crockery , glassware and cutlery for our needs and the outdoor eating area was where we had most of our meals. The pool is simply fantastic and the spacious grounds are lovingly maintained. A wonderful experience and we were very sad when our fortnight came to an end.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sabrina K., Los Angeles

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Creten Hospitality

The property hosts were so helpful. When we had unexpected extra guests for 1 night, they brought us extra folding beds to accommodate and when I stupidly kept the key with me, they were able to arrange to get it back to them when I was at the airport the following day. Thanks so much! This property is in a very quaint tiny town with a super friendly and yummy restaurant for when you just want to take a break from going places.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Janette B., Lake Oswego, Oregon United States

Family Reunion in Crete

We chose Crete to meet up with our 3 daughters and their families for 10 days because none of us had been there before. We were very lucky to have chosen this picturesque town with its narrow curving streets where everyone was friendly and the beautiful villa which was very comfortable. Fragrant fruit trees line the Villa walkways and everyday with breakfast we had freshly made orange juice. The young children swam each morning in the protected heated pool and our afternoons were spent exploring the area. The Paraschakis Family Olive Farm was wonderful, the Melidoni Cave was close and the beautiful city of Rethymno with its Venetian old town provided some shopping opportunities. We ate out almost every night at at the new restaurant in Peramo because the main courses and the deserts were delicious. We had an amazing adventure and our hosts were very accommodating!
Stayed 10 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

J.H.M. S.

De woning was verbluffend mooi. wij hebben niks gemist. Iedereen heeft ervan genoten.

Wat een paradijsje. De ligging van de woning. Het uitzicht. Het dorpje, nog zo fijn authentiek Grieks. In alle opzichten een perfecte plek. Wij gingen met een fantastisch ervaring naar huis. Dit namens ons en onze volwassen kinderen. Familie Smit Leiden/Nederland
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Gunn Berit G.

Amazing house and garden.

We had a marvellous and happy stay. Very suitable for a big family with children and adults in the the big garden with swimming pool , playground, lemon and vegetables. The house is amazing and the hosts the same!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

About the host

Hosted by Antonios Hatzidakis

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Languages:

English, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek

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