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5 Holidays Villas With Private Swimming Pool And Private Children Pool , Within A Large Private Grounds Of 20 Hectares ,in The North West Coast Of Zakynthos Island.
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It’s a beautiful and clean house, here u have incredible peace and quiet. It is cleaned daily if you want, the pool is the perfect size and is also cleaned daily. The people all over the island are friendly. There are shopping facilities nearby (6 minutes drive). All in all an incredibly paradisiacal holiday.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , General Manager at Aresti Mountain Resort
Responded 5 days ago
Dear Catherine Thanks for this wonderful review, we try our best. Look forward to seeing you again. Best regards Fenia
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The villa was great, we loved the traditional Greek style it was built in. It was a relaxing space for when we weren't out touring the island. We enjoyed the outdoor area which had sun loungers, a dining area and a very refreshing pool. The villa was only a few minutes drive from a number of nice tavernas and shops in the local villages and we had loads of choice, but it was far enough out of the village to feel secluded. We were greeted by the owner on arrival and given complimentary welcome gifts. The staff on site were really friendly and kept the villa and pool in top condition for the duration of our stay and made sure we had no problems. We would definitely return to this resort.
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Main supermarket is Lidl which you pass on your way from the airport
Try any of the local...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from , Γενικός Διευθυντής at Aresti Mountain Resort
Responded 22 Jul 2024
Dear Matthew , we are happy that you enjoyed your vacation and hope to see you again. Fenia
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Aresti Mountain Resort comprises five villas. We booked the largest one, Villa Ira, through www.villaselect.com. We normally stay at 5-star hotels for our summer holiday, but we did not expect these villas to be 5-star quality or to receive such good service. We were pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail and high quality of everything in the villa, and found it comparable to some of the best hotels we've stayed in.
The photos on various web sites portray the villas very accurately, although the kitchen in Villa Ira is better than it looks in the photos. The air conditioning is extremely effective and quiet, and you can leave it on at night without it keeping you awake. The shutters block out all light very effectively, so if you're used to being woken by your young children early in the morning, you might be able to sleep in a lot later than usual!
The upper level is supported by a single layer of floorboards, which are extremely well polished when you first arrive. The maid is incredibly thorough and very friendly, and she takes her time every day to make sure everything is spotless and tidy. On our last day, which was a changeover day for many of the villas, we were amazed by the very thorough cleaning by the staff we saw going on, including pressure-washing all outdoor areas. Bathroom towels are changed daily, but you do need to bring your own pool towels. The pool is cleaned early every morning by the staff, and is slightly larger in Villa Ira than the other villas. Clouds form over the mountains to the east of the villas, but they rarely block out the sun, and never in the afternoon when the sun shines from the west (coast direction). Unlike the other villas, the pool at Villa Ira gets the morning sun, so it gets warmer earlier in the day. The small children's pool at every villa with a depth of 40cm is perfect for small children, as it's warmer than the main pool and allows children to play and have fun in a safer area.
The satellite television is quite an elaborate setup which consists of one dish pointed at Hotbird 13E with four receiver boxes all located in Villa Ira, which serve all five villas. Therefore four satellite channels are available at any one time across all five villas, which can be changed by the occupants of Villa Ira. When we arrived, they were tuned mainly to Greek channels, so after consulting the very helpful owner, we changed one receiver to BBC World which also benefited British guests in the other villas. We were very happy with this, as we don't like to watch much television on holiday apart from one decent English news channel to keep us up to date with what's going on in the world.
The villa is advertised with internet access, which should be requested in advance if required. This comprises the owner's netbook and a Cosmote 3G/GPRS PCMCIA card. There is no 3G coverage on this side of the island from any network, so you have to settle for 2G (GPRS) at a speed of 56kbps. This is the best mobile internet that the infrastructure can provide on this side of the island, so it's a good effort by the owner. Unlike Wind which has very good coverage in the villa, Cosmote's signal is very patchy, so I put the owner's netbook in a spare bedroom and configured it as a wireless router (all in Greek!), so I could wirelessly use my own laptop anywhere in the villa without having to install the Cosmote software on my own laptop. This setup worked very well for our entire stay.
Six mountain bikes were provided for our use to cycle around the farm. I tried this once, but there wasn't a lot to see apart from nice views. In fact, it must be the quietest farm I've ever seen so the most you'll see or hear is the odd lorry visiting at night, which happened only twice during our whole week in the villa.
The owners are extremely helpful and accommodating, and on our last day, our flight didn't leave until 21:10, so the owners kindly let us use the pool and bathroom of Villa Ariadni for the rest of the day. This made us realise that what a good decision it had been to pay a little extra for Villa Ira, as although the other villas are the same quality, Villa Ira is much bigger and well worth the extra money we had paid.
The only way to improve the villas would be the bathrooms, which are comparatively small in relation to the other spacious rooms in Villa Ira. The lighting in the bathrooms is rather dim, and the shower curtain is made from porous fabric rather than a waterproof curtain or a solid folding screen, so water passes through it. The shower is a telephone-style shower head running on a hose from a mixer tap, but there is no bracket on the wall to place the shower head into when standing up having a shower. However the water pressure is surprisingly very strong given the remote location of the villas, and a consistent temperature.
The only problem with these villas is that they're so comfortable and relaxing that they make you reluctant to go and see the rest of Zakynthos. Apart from local shops, we ventured out only twice, once to supermarkets and a beach near Laganas, and the other time to see the shipwreck beach just up the coast from the villa. There are no proper supermarkets west of the mountains, only small shops selling local produce, including very cheap local wine which is worth trying.
Some advice: Don't leave any food lying around in the kitchen or dropped on the floor, otherwise it will attract ants. When going out, beware that if you take the key fob out of the electricity slot, everything you've deliberately left switched on (dishwasher, washing machine, battery chargers etc) will have its power cut off a few minutes after you go out. We got a very good deal on car hire from Budget Zakynthos, who gave us very good service.
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Date of stay: September 2009
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed here for 10 days with my family and it was absolutely great. We had the pink villa and it has all the usual amenities you can expect from a villa in this price range.
Villa and pool is cleaned every day by a very friendly couple. The only minor thing I can think about are the beds on the second floor, they make a lot of noise for the people on ground level. Only sitting down on the bed is like if the roof is coming down.
If you plan to stay here, please rent a car with a powerful engine. The trip up and down to the villas from the villages in the valley is steep. Every trip takes around 45 minutes one way.
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Its useful to readers to know a bit about reviewers to gauge their standards and hence the relevance of the review to them! I'm a 36-year old interior designer from London.
I just returned from a girls' holiday at Villa Ariadne - the pink-shuttered house. We were impressed with the quality of the villa and the attention to detail and design generally. Beds were comfortable and the villa was well eqiupped with everything we needed. There were no International/English TV/news stations but that's probably not a bad thing! Bring DVDs for the evenings if you plan to stay in.
Things to note would be that the bathrooms' showers had incredibly good pressure, but unfortuantely no slider rail or wall bracket to hang up the shower head on. This meant showering crouching in the tub holding the hand shower as the shower curtains weren't particularly watertight.
The other thing to note would be that if you're planning on making lots of meals, this particular villa with its beautiful candy-pink painted kitchen doors is on the small side when it comes to worktop space. We were absolutely fine being 3 of us making breakfasts and lunches, but if a more culinary experience is what you're planning to do, there isn't really any prep space apart from the dining table.
That said, there is a restaurant delivery service which was superb quality and value. They charge E5 for the delivery, and the food arrives hot, on film-covered plates, so its literally ready to eat the moment it arrives. The food was some of the best we had on the island, with mains between E7-E10.
I honestly didn't expect any kind of maid service and was surprised when a couple arrived each morning to clean the pool, change towels, make beds etc. It really was unexpected but we were greatly impressed by the service.
The only other thing to note about the area itself is that its very remote. We loved it - the peace and tranquility overlooking the sea. We never really saw or heard the other residents and we loved the West-facing views over the distant coastline from this villa. You will absolutely need a car as supermarkets/sandy beaches etc are a good 30-40 mins drive east, but the roads are really not as bad as they were made out to be and we really enjoyed driving around this beautiful island.
One other thing to note - as its on a farm and hence out in the "nature" there are a lot of flying insects - hornets/wasps/beetles etc.around the pool. They're not aggressive in the least, but they are present, so if you're afraid/allergic, this location probably isn't going to be too relaxing for you!
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Date of stay: June 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have been here for a week now and I am glad that we can enjoy this great place for another three days. The house meets all of my expectations and those were already quite high based upon the the internet pictures. The house is really beautifull and has a great pool and beautifull garden with several exotic fruit trees. The view from the garden upon the sea is magnificent as well. Katharina the housekeeper is very kind and cleans up perfectly every day: it feels like living in a luxury house with hotel service. The premises are very private and quiet: also at night. Fenia is one of the best hosts i met sofar. Reacts promply on every wish or comment and frequently surprised us with their tasty wine after as we came home. Very recommendable: we will certainly visit this great place again.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â It is a very nice and quiet place. Party animals will starve out here
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here 4 years ago and had a great time, so we decided to go back once more. Some things have changed, but all the good things described in other reviews here are still there.
The resort is small scale with only 5 villas. All villas are spacious with lots of privacy, you will hardly see other guests. Location is indeed very remote. There is a bakery in the village Agios Leon, but no larger supermarkets. Best is to stock up first upon arrival at the Lidl or AB market close to the airport, before you start driving up the mountain.
What's new? Well, internet access has improved over the years, although still not perfect. A 3G dongle can be provided that creates a hot spot WIFI network for up to 10 devices. However, there is not always a 3G signal available, and if there is, it is weak. You can use it from light browsing, e-mail and chatting, but even Google maps is a challenge. No Youtube or Skype. You pay for the pre-paid charges of 10 eur per 5 days, maximum of 4gB.
Another improvement for parents with smaller kids is the glass "fence" created between the small childrens pool and the regular pool (see picture). The farm is expanded with lots of chickens, turkey and rabits. There is even a cow. We also noticed more vegetables growing in the gardens, tomatoes, bell peppers and herbs. It could have been because of the season, weather, but this time we had very few insects, esspecially the wasps were not agressive at all, compared to our first visit.
For the rest, no changes. Katharina cleans every day. She does the dishes and gives a clean towell when she thinks you need one (almost daily). All chairs are re-aligned around the pool and George cleans the pool every day, early in the morning, but very quiet. Kostas does security and is managing things and you can always call him for help. We had a broken AC, it was fixed the next day, not the next week, like you would expect.
Tips: enjoy your villa. Driving up and down the mountain is a waste of time. Of course some highlights are worth a visit, the Shipwreck beach and the Turtle spotting, and close by Porto Roxa with a high diving board to enjoy a swim in the Ionion sea. But most relaxing is the villa with it's pool. If you don't like cooking, there are a few taverna's close by, nothing fancy, they all offer traditional Greek meals. We liked Selene in the village most.
All together a true 5 star piece of paradise to enjoy a luxury holiday!
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Date of stay: July 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in the villa with the blue windows and is was really amazing. Cathy welcomed us with a smile, wine and olive oil from the vinyard en cleaned up te villa 100% correct and with a speed we have never seen before. The rooms are very nice, the bathroom is well accommodated, for the chilly evenings there is heating available etcetc.
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Date of stay: May 2014
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â At the end of the sandy road, turn to the left. After 2 km you will see a tavern at the left. Try...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It was just amazing! The pool is big, cleaned every day, as well as the house. We had the biggest villa, with the red shutters, it had 3 sleeping rooms. In one sleeping room there were two double beds, so you could fit in more people. the kitchen is spacious with all appliances you could think of. The only disaster is the dish washer as there is so much chalk in the water, the glasses are so stained, you need to wash them before using it. tip: take dishwasher tablets and washing maschien powder with you! it is true that there are a lot of insects around the pool, make sure your kid has plastic shoes on all the time. also, there is no fence around the pool, so you need to watch the kids closely. The sansy beaches of the island are about 30 min drive away, but no.1 beach on tripadvisor is actually just around the corner, 5-10 min drive. it is not very suitable for small kids as it is a rocky beach where you need to climb down, but it sure is beautiful. i wouldnt go to zakynthos for the beaches, we found mallorca much more beautiful, but the villa is all worth it. just hang there and you will be extremely relaxed. only one negative thing or positive as you see it... no wi-fi. the nearest internet cafe is 15 min drive. plan your trip ahead, all the things you want to see, because when you get there you can't research on tripadvisor as we always do. have fun!
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Date of stay: September 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A lovely house in a quiet area and right on the island so you are everywhere max 30 minutes from somewhere. Furthermore, a great service from the pool boy and the housekeeper they are ready for you every day.
It's a paradise in Zakynthos.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Agios Leontas area.
PRICE RANGE
£146 - £257 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
GreeceIonian IslandsZakynthosAgios Leontas
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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