Some words from happy guests.

WONDERFUL VILLA, STUNNING VIEWS, SPECIAL ISLAND

The title says it all. We were three families with seven teenagers from 13 to 19 and we all without fail had a really fantastic holiday. 
The villa is beautiful with totally unspoilt views out to sea. All the furniture including beds are of the highest quality with a fully stocked kitchen for keen cooks. Swimming pool is excellent with shallow and deep ends and a diving board. 
We used their maid service which was also first class and really helpful with any request. 
The island is totally unspoilt with The Old Town and port being the highlights. 

FOLIA VILLA - ALONISSOS

Villa Folia is by far the most spacious and luxurious villa that we have ever rented in the Greek islands. The bedrooms are all very large and extremely well appointed. We liked particularly the added luxury of bathrobes, slippers and plenty of pool and bathroom towels. If you wish to self cater, the villa has more than everything that you would need. One of the great things about this villa is that it is located so very close to the old town which makes it ideal when you want to dine out. Its rare to find villas of this size so close to the old town and that is a unique feature. A lot of the large villas on this island tend to be much further away which means either driving into the old town each evening. 
One other key feature of Folia villa is the large fresh water swimming pool, which meant that we did not have to trundle off to the beach every day. It was wonderful to be able to relax and "chill" out by the pool. As the villa sits fairly high up on the hill it is provided with fabulous views out to sea and over to the mainland in the far distance. 

GREAT HOME FOR A HOLIDAY

We had a lovely stay at Folia. Everything was as represented or better. The owners were very accommodating and helpful before, during and after our stay. The house is beautiful, very comfortable, large and clean and well-located near the Chora/Old Village and Megalo Mourtias beach. Our two families had plenty of room and the children were each able to have their own rooms. The views are great, both the outdoor and indoor spaces were superb and we can't think of anything else we would have needed. The house was obviously designed with comfort in mind and we would highly recommend a stay at Folia without reservation.

BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES

You have been a complete joy to deal with from start to finish. We had an unbelievable time and explored every inch of the island (always happy to return back to Chora – you certainly picked the best spot.) 
I will never forget my morning ritual of awakening before the family and opening shutters and doors and marvelling at that view.

The level of detail in the house is superb – I have never seen such a collection of kitchen utensils and crockery – it has made Claire want to renew all ours at home. Whenever we need something we just look knowing it will be there! 
The only problem is now that I don’t think we will ever be happy renting a villa anywhere else again. What I have certainly realized is that to escape the crowds and beer boys you have to go to an island without an airport. For the first time ever the children really did not want to come back home to see friends or anything. 
It would be unlike us to go to the same place 2 years running but at the moment we can’t think of anywhere better so we may be one of your first for 2011.

Thanks for helping us make such beautiful memories.

FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE

First of all we would like to thank you for the hospitality. It was a pleasure to stay and live here and the house is great. 
We enjoyed all the small beautiful details, especially the buddha sculptures. We had a feeling of protection!
The swimming pool is great with clear water and our son was spending more time in the pool than at the beach.
The kitchen cook equipment is amazing. Unfortunately we didn't use it as much as we should since we were eating outside.
Everybody was very kind to us from Panagiotis till Susan. By the way you have a lot of greetings from your friends in Taverna Meltemi.
So, finally thanks a lot again and for sure we will come again.

SUMMER BLISS REVISITED

How blissful to return and see that nothing had changed – especially the exceptional standard of accommodation and facilities, in fact with a few enhancements including pool hammocks and telescope. Two of this year’s most distinctive memories were looking at the craters of the moon from the balcony one night and drifting off to sleep in the hammock to the sound of the cicadas and some soft jazz music from my iPod one hot, lazy summers afternoon. The lack of change in itself is one of the main reasons to return to Alonissos from our view point, It’s a greek island as one would expect a greek island should be, unspoilt by tourism and colonization with guaranteed sunshine and crystal seas. This time as oppose to going the more direct route via a flight to Skiathos and then a fast ferry we came and went via Athens enabling us to get some great deals on flights and hire a car for the duration from Athens airport as well as take in some of the sites of the historic city– that’s if you are brave enough to take a hire car on the Greek ferry from Kymi –only recommended for the very adventurous proven by the fact the hire car companies will not insure you whilst on the ferry! 

We were lucky enough to be able to stay for the whole of August and negate the onset of English Autumn and the UK riots. Funnily enough my wife was concerned about the riots in Athens before we left but Alonissos showed no signs of any disruption as life ticked on slowly and peacefully as always. Main thing to remember is “Cash is always King”. Most of the shops don’t take credit cards but the cashpoint at the Port is always well stocked! 

We would also recommend you rent a small motor boat from Patitiri for the day - approx. £100 inc fuel but we had great fun island hopping to Peristera and other small beaches tucked away on the mainland. So now, as this years memories of Alonissos are archived to a slideshow on my PC desktop it just remains for us to say thanks again for the experience and the memories – Folia and Alonissos will take some beating.

FOLIA AND A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we arrived! The most exquisite house, luxurious beyond our expectations and views to die for!
Everything within the house and pool was of exceptional quality and we felt as if we were in a 5 star hotel. 
Apart from the house, the town up the winding road was beautiful and we found tavernas a plenty! 
Our stay was memorable, relaxing and inspired me to come back and re decorate our house to try to rekindle the 'atmosphere' of this most beautiful accommodation.

A PERFECT DREAM

A house that leaves no wish unfulfilled. Elegantly equipped with everything, nevertheless cozy.The location is ideal.There are only a few minutes walk to the picturesque old village and the beach. The view is beautiful.Add to that a perfect peace.No noisy cars or something else. 
Contact with the landlord was before, after and during the stay perfect. 
House manager and staff was on site at all times. 
The condition of the house is perfect, it is manicured and clean, also the pool. The island is very natural, green and quiet. Loud clubs and discos are not found here. 

ANOTHER DREAMY HOLIDAY

You may be wondering, as we did many years ago – where the devil is Alonissos and what’s there? On the other hand you may be one of the enlightened  few that have already tasted the powerful magic of a lost Greek Isle and been hooked on returning regularly ever since. 

Alonissos (as you may have already read), is one of the Sporades Islands – the one that you get to just after passing Skopelos (of Mama Mia fame) – Its also home of the last Mediterranean seal colony – crystal clear waters and pine fringed coves, and  a beautiful regenerated archetypal Greek hilltop village or Chora. 

Its true, the journey to Alonissos (and there are various routes) may not be the easiest but you can be assured that for the extra 90 – 120 minutes you will be transported back to Greece as it was before tourism became the be all and end all – aka no nightclubs, thumping loud pop music from late night bars or hordes of teenagers rolling around drunk  in the streets. If that disappoints then please stop reading here as you will find many more Greek islands more to your liking.

If on the other hand you like to breath in the smell of fresh Jasmine, Thyme and Oregano floating on a warm breeze, enjoy sounds of crickets chirping into the night and like to sip on an ouzo to the sound of a Balalaika playing in a bar then maybe Alonissos is for you.

And once you have made that decision the rest is simple – Villa Folia or ‘Nest’ (in Greek)  is the ultimate accommodation for a large group. It has every facility imaginable as you can see and nothing is too much trouble for the owners or the housekeeper (Susan and her team). It makes more than perfect base, location wise for exploring all the beaches of the island and still returning within walking distance every night to the outskirts of Chora.

A typical day may be  go like this; 

• Wake up to Sun kissed view of the Mediterranean and the dusky silhouette of Evia on the Horizon

• Take a leisurely stroll through cobbled streets to the Bakers and pick up Fresh bread and the local specialty of Spinach and Feta Cheese pies

• Drive into town and buy tonight’s BBQ fare – Sea Bream from the Fishmonger ? Pork Chops from the Butcher? Fresh Veg and Salads from the Green Grocers?

• Take a coffee in one of the many Port Side coffee shops or taverna and watch the world go by

• Return to the villa to pick fresh plums or grapes from villas Fruit Garden and feel the sun warmed juice trickle down your chin

• Plunge into the sparkling pool , work out with a few lengths then sunbathe or read a book on one of  the numerous hammocks or mattresses under the covered area

• Challenge someone to a game of table tennis on the patio

• Pack the sun cream and head down the road to Megalos Mourtias, one of the best beaches on the island and have a late  lunch and a few cold drinks in one of the tavernas located either side of the beach

• Spend the rest of the afternoon swimming in the Azure sea or relaxing under the Olive trees -  deck chairs free if you play the game and spend a few Euros on drink or snacks

• Head back around 6 for one final pool swim or a break from the sun watching a film in the cinema room – as the sun starts to fade marvel at the Swallows as they dive bomb kamikaze like skimming the pool for a beak full of water

• Get ready for dinner

• Head up to the Sunset Cocktail bar (5 mins drive) to drink a Mojito and watch the sun set over the Peillon mountains – home of the Centaurs from Greek legend.

• Make your way to the Village for some Spit roasted Pork, Chicken  or Greek Sausage coked over charcoal or try the amazing Astrofegia restaurant.

• Finish with a walk around the village to appreciate the small shops selling local famous tuna, leather, wooden and local goods

• Finally finish the evening looking up at a blanket of stars minus the normal city light pollution and the cloudy silhouette of the milky way while sipping a cool drink on your veranda – the silence only occasionally broken by the sound of a distant Dolphin Jetfoil’s drone as it crosses the bay below you.

• And so to bed to dream…

Pictures of the villa don't really do it justice – please go see for  yourself and find out why we just can’t help but keep going back!

Thanks to our hosts for consistently making sure that the villa is maintained, new features  and amenities are regularly added and any question or communication is instantly answered – We are very discerning (read fussy) family but never have had a cause for complaint. 

So if you are looking for a villa that can  take a large group of family or friends with enough space for people to mingle or separate with multiple activities and faultless service– look no further. Oh yes and there is also good internet if you have time 😉