Introduction

Villa di Bellezza is situated in the holiday resort of Kournas surrounded by ports and beaches of beauty and historical meaning. The area has a lovely view to the Leuka Ori Mountains and to the Agean sea. The Villa is about 35 km away from Chania, 20 km from Rethymno and only 300m from a 6km long sandy beach and 10 minutes walk into the centre of Georgiopoulis Village with all the facilities you would ever need.

The Villa itself was completed in March 2008 and contains all of those luxury appliances to make your holiday simple and pleasant. It has two bedrooms, living and dining areas, kitchen, bathroom and cloakroom. Outside you will be able to relax by the pool or on the patio where you can cook on the stone barbeque authentic Cretian cuisine.

You can travel to Crete by choosing one of the many flights, which are scheduled daily to Chania and Heraklion from numerous UK airports. The distance from the airports of Chania and Heraklion to Rethymno is 50km and 60km respectively.

Location

Georgiopoulis is a popular vacation resort with a long sandy beach (it goes for several Km) and an idyllic harbour with little fishing boats at the north coast of the island, between the cities of Chania and Rethymno (35 km from Chania, 25 km from Rethymno). A fishing village up to 1990 or so, it was discovered and has been transformed into a popular holiday destination over the past 15 years, without losing its original charm and tranquillity. Old eucalyptus trees and a small river that flows into the sea, create a distinctive and unique ambiance (it is a wildlife refuge). As for the location it is a great choice as a starting point for excursions into western Crete. At a distance of about 5 Km from Georgiopoulis lies the Kournas sweet water lake thats worth a visit.

Lake Kournas is one of only two lakes in Crete and covers a total area of about 160,000 square metres with a depth of up to 25 metres. Lake Kournas, the only freshwater lake on Crete, you can hire a pedaloe and view the turtles in the turquoise waters or laze the day away on the bank side. Tavernas abound here and the magnificent mountains create an amazing backdrop for you to explore on foot, on bike or in the car. The beach is only 5 minutes and is 6km of golden sand. The water is shallow for over 200m and ideal for children. Water sports and diving are close and beach tavernas serve local food at amazing prices. The name is derived from the Arabic word for lake. Dense vegetation surrounds the scenic lake and the southeastern bank is lined with olive trees. A strip of white sand beside the lake provides an area for swimming and cafes.

Rethymno – Is city close by to the villa around a 20minute drive.

Shopping: There is an overwhelming amount of gift shops offering tourist souvenirs, as well as a variety of handicrafts such as pottery, baskets, woodcarving and woven goods. Cretan embroidery can be found at Haroula Spridaki, while various items carved from olive wood are at Olive Tree Wood. Palaiopoleiou offers genuine antiques and old textiles and those interested in modern ceramics and Greek pottery should stop at Omodamos. Self-caterers will find numerous general stores and mini supermarkets scattered about, and there is a daily market below the Porta Guora, as well as a bakery just behind the Rimondi fountain.

Restaurants: The inner harbour sports an array of touristy restaurants and fish tavernas, many of which are expensive for what they are; the Samaria taverna and O Zefyros are more reasonably priced and two of the best here. Better value can be found in the streets around the Rimondi fountain where there are some old-fashioned cafes serving local fare including delicious helpings of traditional yoghurt and honey. These include Kyria Maria, Agrimia and Zanfoti Kafenio, all overlooking the fountain.

Nightlife: Nightlife ranges from lively pubs and bars around the inner harbour or inside the old town, to more relaxed bars on the beach. Fortezza Disco is the flashiest in town, along with other dance clubs like the Metropolis, NYC, Nitro and the Opera Club. A new younger bar scene has appeared above the inner harbour around the Platia Plastira, with music bars sporting outdoor terraces, such as Enzzo, Karma and Art.

Activities: Daily boat excursions are the latest activity in Rethymno, taking tourists to the beautiful beaches at Bali or Marathi, and include lunch at a local taverna with unlimited wine. Evening cruises are also a popular activity.