Villa Kerasia Inn, near Venerato - review, photos & reservations

OUR REVIEW
When you drive up into the hills the views open up and the trees and rocks become interesting. As all traces of the the city, then the town and finally even the nearby village vanish, Villa Kerasia quietly greets you with its pleasing country house standing on the hillside. Even on the first visit it feels like you are seeing a trusted old friend again.

Villa Kerasia offers a welcoming face that only a building of this quality provides, in this ideal setting, with the beauty of the hills rolling into the distance. Clinging to the hillsides are several villages which you might visit. The countryside around beckons: a lush green much of the year, arable and tree-lined, rock outcrops, distant colourful boxes of beehives, the vineyards beyond. This is a busy wine-making area and the vintages on offer are growing in appeal and quality. Kerasia is here to tempt you, a rather grand country house. A fine small inn.

The air is clear, morning mists miss you and dampen only those in the valleys below - leaving you and the few lucky guests at Kerasia to enjoy a drier more palatable climate, rarely too hot, always relaxing.

At Villa Kerasia, the lobby and dining area for guests has a discreet and quiet small back room for quiet corner conversations (it includes the old olive press mill stones). Breakfast (included in the price) in the main hall is a delight and evening meals can be enjoyed at Kerasia when previously requested the same morning. An evening meal is 12 or 15 euros per person (vegetarian or with meat dish - excluding drinks).
Wonderful estate produced wine & other drinks are available when you wish, there is a basic bar selection.

The entrance area leads, via its salvaged ancient iron railing, upstairs to the bedrooms. Two rooms are entered from the outside terrace on the ground level by the main entrance front door. And another is separate, sitting beside the pool facing the hills. The building has been completely re-established, constructed out of old stones salvaged from the original house.

Bedrooms are a perfect blend of light stone and wood finishes - most have wood-beamed ceilings. Doors and window frames are a near-white bleached wood, adding to the light airy feel created by the modern abutting the ancient stones of this country house.
All first floor rooms have views, most across the pool and terrace area, to the rolling hills beyond.
Bedrooms have bathrooms with shower or bathtub, air conditioning, TV with satellite channels, ADSL internet connection, mini-fridge (to keep your own beverages or snacks).
Most have light-wash colored wood beamed ceilings.

The L-shaped pool is large enough for morning laps and well sited for floating and gazing across arable landscapes from its cooling waters, which seem to continue into the infinity of the landscape beyond and below.

The drive from Heraklion airport is surprisingly short for such a welcome rural retreat, at about 35-50 minutes (depending on traffic).

At Villa Kerasia you are just walking distance from the nearest village (a pretty walk by the way).
On any day you choose to explore, the archaeological site of Rizinia affords spectacular views if you walk to it on the way up the small road which passes Kerasia to Asites.
Drive down towards the main road, just 5 minutes away, at Venerato, and there are several places to eat. Then drive on down south to Gortyna, Phaestos, Zaros or the south coast lapping on the shore at Lentas or the cave-surrounded beach of Matala. The scenic drive via time-worn villages, to Amari is also within reach.

THE ROOMS
6 rooms for two people and 2 rooms that take three people (these have a double bed and a sofa-bed; one of the rooms has a partly separate bedroom, but without closing door - the other is single-space).
In all rooms: Double beds, air conditioning*, chairs for relaxing or writing, writing table, TV and satellite channels, mini-fridge. Bathrooms have shower or bathtub.

*Except for the 2 ground floor rooms, which cannot have air conditioning (they are, however, naturally cooler because of their position).

DISTANCES
Heraklion centre - 22 km, Heraklion airport - 27 km, Venerato 2.5 km.
We recommend that you rent a car, other means of transport are limited and/or infrequent (you cannot reach Villa Kerasia by public transport).

CreteTravel.com guest experiences of Villa Kerasia

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We really enjoyed our stay there. The Villa was beautiful and our room extremely comfortable and relaxing, just what we needed. The breakfasts were superb, and the evening meal (when available) equally so. Babis was an exceptional host, charming and relaxed, he made us feel very welcome. We shall definitely stay there again, the perfect antidote to everyday life!
Graham Hempell

Cary and I had a great time in Crete and we very much appreciate your help. Villa Kerasia was beautiful and Babis was a very gracious host. We enjoyed meeting the other guests and I had a wonderful birthday dinner with everyone. Our time on Crete was shorter than it should have been. We look forward to visiting again and we will certainly look for your assistance if we do.
Many thanks. Brad Rutledge and Cary Einberger

Our vacation in Crete was wonderful!! It was really better than we had expected. And when we thought it couldn't get any better than Eleonas we arrived at Villa Kerasia. And we were speechless!!! The house is so nicely decorated, we spent hours admiring the lamps, the pictures, the landscape...!!! Babis, the owner, was also very interesting. We spent long evenings talking about everything with him.

And in this house we also met many interesting and international people. It is just the kind of tourism my husband and I like!! It was a great experience. Crete might not be the most beautiful island in Europe but the atmosphere, the food, the accommodation and the people we me met made our stay unforgettable. We want to visit another island next year so I will definitely contact you for advice.
Xana Farpon

Many thanks for all your help with our arrangements. The car hire went smoothly and your directions to the Villa Kerasia were excellent. We found our way there in the middle of the night (thanks to EasyJet delay) with no problem at all.
When we arrived Babis was waiting for us - lovely man - kind and helpful and the hotel was superb. All we could have hoped for and more! I wished we could have stayed longer.
My husband was impressed, also, with the other guests qualifications which included a surgeon and several Phds so we had lots of interesting (intellectual!) conversations!!
Thank you again. Best wishes, Christine Crye

Our trip to Crete this summer was probably amongst the best holidays we have ever taken. We had not used CreteTravel before so we were apprehensive. In fact, Kerassia, and its delighful host, Babis, was wonderful. Villa Kerassia has been converted to a hotel with great flair and imagination by Babis and his hospitality is generous and unassuming. We had some bad luck whilst there when the power (which also pumps the water supply) was cut by the authorities without any notice to Babis. We was embarrassed and apologetic and yet it was no fault of his. I would certainly recommend CreteTravel again (in fact have already done so to a colleague) and we intend returning next year to explore the last remaining part of the island we have not visited, the east end, the Lassithi, Sitia, Spinalonga and the Dicteon Mountains.
Best regards Colin and Lesley Carritt

We very much enjoyed our stay at Villa Kerasia in Crete. We would recommend it to any one. It was stylish, friendly and in a beautiful setting. We have a couple o small criticisms - we would have liked two small chairs to sit on the balcony - and we would have like dinner a little earlier. We found 9 o'clock rather late for a slow extending meal. It was, however, delicious!
valerie WHITE

We had a wonderful time. The hotel was simply outstanding and the proprietor and his housekeeper/chef/waitress were the perfect hosts. Nothing was too much trouble and their warm, kind and appropriately attentive service was a delight. We are very tempted to return next year, perhaps in May to see the flora and fauna at its best.
Paul Lane

Villa Kerasia near Heraklion - that was also spectacular. We loved all the people we met at these villas they were very warm and helpful. The accomodations were really splendid. We want to come again! It was really one of the best vacations we've ever had.
Ellen Thatcher

We were extremely pleased with Villa Kerasia. Lovely location, off the beaten track but within reach of tourist attractions of all sorts. Tastefully restored, attentive host, good and eccononical food, wine and raki (home made), good company and good conversation at dinner.
Those who seek out and book a place like that have a certain personality that means we all got on well. Probably the best place we have ever stayed. Directions to the location worked perfectly. Car hire also worked fine.
The only tiny point we would make is that people who choose the Villa Kerasia tend to be more adventurous drivers, and don't want to stick to the main roads, and therefore should be advised to get a better map than comes with the car.
John Cooper

About these guest experiences

Rates are per room, per night. They include breakfast, air conditioning and all taxes.
Children (0-2 years) are free of charge (baby-cot provided for small children).
MINIMUM STAY: 2-5 nights, depending on season.

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"Villa Kerasia" Inn - Kerasia (Heraklion)

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