Kalimera and Welcome to Villa Nora!
The name is derived from Eleanora, a name with Greek origins that means “light.” The villa is in Douliana, a small mountain village within the immensely popular region of Apokoronas and prefecture of Chania in Crete. The original developer intended to build a community that would “blend” into an original Greek mountain village, and in my opinion this goal was achieved. Douliana is a quiet village that is part of a popular EU hiking and biking trail that passes directly thru it. There are part-time residents and visitors from primarily European countries as well as full-time Greek residents, to include an elderly Greek shepherd who may be seen tending to his flock of sheep on the edge of the village. The olive trees surrounding the village produce the best olive oil in the world. Nearby is the working mountain village of Vamos, the famous beach resort of Almyrida, the historic village of Gavalochori, the ancient ruins of Aptera, and the beach town of Kalyves.
The villa was built appropriately twenty years ago and is part of a larger shared structure called “House Platiea”. It is a three-floor dwelling that features a garage/basement on the ground floor, a kitchen, living room, dining area, bathroom, bedroom with an attached full bathroom complete with a washer/dryer on the main floor and two additional bedrooms (one of which is the owner’s room that remains locked) and bathrooms along with a sitting area and access to a large terrace on the top floor. The kitchen has a stove, oven, toaster oven, refrigerator, coffee maker and other essentials for a comfortable stay.
Within the village, you can find a good and inexpensive traditional Greek meal in either of the two tavernas/restaurants or small coffee shop located a very short walking distance from the villa.
We have two Internet connections (Starlink and a local Greek Directional Wireless provider), for those who may need to work during their stay.
The television in the living room receives Greek stations in high-definition via antenna , or American movie entertainment from Amazon Prime and Netflix via an installed adapter (remotes are on the coffee table). There is also a small library of travel guides both in English and German upstairs on the bookshelf near the balcony, please feel free to borrow the books. In the basement there is a computer and printer available for doing research and printing travel itineraries and boarding passes.
Within each bedroom as well as the kitchen there are split A/C cooling/heating units, and the remotes for each should be on the coffee table or nightstand nearest to the unit.
The temperature in Crete rarely falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, usually only during January and February. The climate during the rest of the year is very similar to Florida. We have portable radiators in the basement that can be brought up to any room if heat is required. They’re more efficient than using the A/C units for heat.
There is a shared swimming pool with lounge chairs next to the villa which you may use, it’s usually open from the end of June until the end of September. In the basement there are beach chairs, an umbrella, and a cooler which you may take to the beach. Kalyves Beach is a short drive down the mountain and has ample/free parking.
Click here to view the “House Instructions” page.