MariAndry Villa — Hotel in Municipality of Rethymnon

We enjoyed a blissful 9 days at MariAndry in late July / early August and are already dreaming of our return to this little corner of paradise in Crete.

Maria and her mum, Popi, have put an incredible amount of love and attention to detail into the villa - from its overall design through to all the little touches you'll discover. The house itself is well proportioned, comfortable and cozy, and kept in pristine condition. It also comes with a fully equipped open-plan kitchen of very high standard compared to other villas we’ve rented.

The magic for us, and probably for most guests, is the outdoors - whether dining on the veranda with the beautiful mountain backdrop, taking an evening dip with a spectacular sunset, picking delicious fresh fruit and veg from the garden, or just relaxing under the endless olive trees in total privacy. In short, we expected to be out and about most days, but once you arrive here you will struggle to stick to your plans ... it is the perfect place to unwind.

We’re a young family of three and our little toddler also felt right at home, particularly given the shaded play area, swings, and having too many toys to choose from. He loved exploring and also made best friends with the very friendly family dog called Tas, who lives on the land - she was a great addition to our trip and is a very calm and gentle soul. Only one hurdle for little ones is the step down between the house and the terrace outside - if very new to walking it may be challenge, but our 21-month old managed it fine.

In terms of location, the supermarkets and tavernas of Episkopi are within easy reach by car, or you head down to the coastal road just 5-6 mins away, where you’re immediately met with Episkopi beach and a wonderful stretch of coastline. Alternatively, head inland to Kournas or Lake Kournas 10-15mins away. The villa itself is of course secluded and tucked away down a long private track - that is its charm and selling point, and exactly what we wanted, but clearly it can’t cater to those wanting to be within walking distance of things.

Last but not least, we can’t thank Maria and Popi enough. From the moment we met it felt like we were welcomed as family, from the homecooked meal and fully stocked fridge on arrival, to the endless generosity throughout our stay (including the heartfelt celebration of my wife’s birthday). MariAndry is simply their pride and joy and will leave its mark on you as a result. Our stay felt like a five-star retreat with real heart.

We’ve been regulars to Crete and enjoyed the local hospitality for years - but with MariAndry we’ve really found our home...

A peaceful tranquil haven with the most amazing hosts

WOW, WOW, WOW and once more WOW. We have just returned from 10 days in MariAndry Villa and in all our years of travel we have never met such kind hosts in Maria and Poppi. The property is perfectly situated up a quiet valley near to Episkopi and only 6km from Georgioupolis, set in olive trees and gives total seclusion and chill space. There was just two of us and the villa was more than spacious, and would be perfect for a family of four. It is very well designed and furnished to an exceptionally high standard, and you can sense the pride of Maria and Poppi in maintaining it in perfect condition. Maria cleans the outer area of the property every day and the villa is cleaned fully every 3 days. It is absolutely spotless, and a level of cleanliness seldom found. The pool and outside areas are super for sitting looking at the views with a tea / coffee / wine etc and unwinding. We have never felt so relaxed, so quickly. Maria and Poppi provided us with so many suggestions of where to dine in Rethymnon, 20 mins drive away and Chania approx. 45 mins drive away – all the suggestions were brilliant and certainly helped us enjoy our holiday. The kindness I have already mentioned, included a fully stocked fridge with copious fresh fruit and vegetables, beers, milk, bread, and snacks – so much so that we felt guilty that we had stopped off in Chania and bought some provisions. We didn’t need to shop for a week!! Also on arrival Poppi had baked a delicious cake, which she repeated later in our 10 days, and also served us a delightful meal – Greek salad and a chicken and potato dish – which was so tasty. Maria and Poppi went out of the way to ensure we had a lovely break, and we certainly did. We will be back, that is for sure, and we rarely return to the same place twice, but this villa and our hosts were exceptional Local nature is never far away, I am a keen birder, and we had bee-eaters flying over the villa daily, and birds of prey over as well, including on one day 6 Griffon Vultures. The local mountains are only approx. 8 kms away, with more birds to see and enjoy. All I can say in summary, is this is a beautiful villa, in a beautiful part of Crete, it is the pride and joy of Maria and Poppi, and our stay was one of our best holidays ever. If it’s available book it – you won’t be disappointed!! Thank you, Maria and Poppi, we were so grateful for all your help, kindness, care and attention – we will see...

Located in a secluded olive grove, lies this gem of a house. The only sound that reaches you, is the cheerful song of the birds, the faint and gentle buzz of insects in the air and the soft bleats of the sheep grazing the nearby mountains. A perfect place to unwind and recharge your batteries with amazing views to both the mountains and the sea. We spent our days soaking in the beauty of the place — from early mornings filled with soft golden light to evenings when the sky turned shades of pink and purple. There’s something about this house and its surroundings that makes time feel unhurried, as if the world outside has paused just for you. Every detail, from the cozy interiors to the thoughtful touches, made us feel not just like guests, but like we belonged here.

The location is perfect for exploring western and central Crete and even though you live secluded, the nearest town is only 5 minutes away where you can get all necessities from the local supermarket (which is very well stocked and even has a butcher). It’s rare to find those places that give you that “away from it all” feeling while still being close to civilization, but this one hit the spot.

Maria and her family are fantastic hosts and even surprised us with a home cooked meal and a stocked fridge on the day of arrival. You can’t ask for a better start to your holiday. Maria takes great care and interest in making sure everything is OK and provided us with plenty of tips of what to see and where to eat. She really went above and beyond what we’ve expected from a host and always had time for us.

A special mention to Tas, the resident dog who was as sweet and gentle as they come — a true joy to have around. Truly a dog with a kind and gentle soul. Having her around added an extra layer of warmth and charm to our stay, and it made the experience feel even more like a home away from home.

We were genuinely happy here. We felt comfortable, cared for, and completely at peace. It’s rare to find a place that ticks all the boxes — beautiful location, serene atmosphere, warm hospitality, and a feeling of pure contentment — but this was it. We enjoyed every single moment, and without hesitation, we can say that we would come back here again any time. It was...