Villa Eos
Agia Triada
The warmest of the three: underfloor heating on the ground floor, air conditioning, two terraces and a heatable pool. Three bedrooms over two floors, 100 m² of living space, surrounded by an olive grove with twenty old trees.
What this is
Crete between November and March
The Cretan winter is mild and green. Daytime temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees are the rule, the almond trees blossom in February and the wild herbs in March. The beaches are empty, the tavernas belong to the locals, and there is snow in the mountains while the lemons ripen below.
Living, not holidaying
One to four months is a different thing from a fortnight. The houses are equipped for it: washing machine, desk, storage, proper heating.
One person to call
Dimitris Benekos looks after the houses on site and knows the tradesmen, the doctor and the garage in the village. You are not on your own.
Quiet villages, short distances
Rethymno, with its university, market and Venetian old town, is ten to twenty minutes away. Shopping is possible in the village or down on the coast.
Clear accounting
Monthly rent plus electricity by meter reading. No flat rate that works against you — or against me — in a cold February.
The houses
Which house suits the winter
Villa Aada
Loutra
Built on bioclimatic principles — the house holds its temperature well and stays pleasantly dry in winter. 125 m², three bedrooms, a proper desk and a plot in the medieval village centre that cannot be seen into from outside.
Villa Mailin
Skouloufia
The smallest and least expensive house, with an open fireplace and a well-stocked bookshelf — the winter house for two. 70 m², two bedrooms, a large terrace looking across the plain to the Aegean, 220 metres above sea level.
Terms
What a month costs
The monthly rent falls with the length of stay — longer stays mean less work, and I pass that on. All rates are for the whole house, regardless of the number of people.
| House | 1 month | 2 to 3 months | 4 months or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villa Eos | € 1,750 | € 1,500 | € 1,300 |
| Villa Aada | € 1,350 | € 1,150 | € 1,000 |
| Villa Mailin | € 850 | € 700 | € 600 |
Rates per month, plus electricity by meter reading.
- Included
- Water, internet, refuse charges, bed linen and towels. Final cleaning on departure.
- Electricity
- By meter reading, taken on arrival and on departure. In winter this is the significant variable, because the heating is on.
- Deposit
- One month's rent, returned within two weeks of departure.
- Interim cleaning
- On request, every two or four weeks, at extra cost.
- Period
- November to March, from one full month.
Practicalities
What you should know
A car is necessary
The houses are deliberately quiet. You will need a vehicle for shopping, doctor's visits and outings. For long stays I can arrange favourable monthly car hire.
Heating costs money
Cretan houses are built for the summer. All three villas heat well, but electricity consumption in January and February is noticeable. Expect a three-figure sum per month, depending on the house and your habits.
Damp
The Cretan winter is damp. Dehumidifiers are provided in all the houses, and regular airing is part of the routine.
Internet
All three houses have a fixed line. If you plan to work from here, tell me beforehand — I will give you the speeds I have actually measured.
Post and paperwork
For longer stays I help with the practical questions — postal address, mobile contract, registering with a doctor.
Contract and landlord
Contract and landlord
Your landlord is me personally, Wolfgang Ferner, not Ferner Real Estate I.K.E. The tenancy agreement is made directly between you and me. The nightly letting of the same houses in summer is separate and is the company's business.
The agreement is made for a holiday or second home. The houses are not a main residence; your centre of life remains in your home country.
The minimum stay is one full month. Pets by arrangement, no smoking indoors.
Let's talk about it
Long stays cannot sensibly be handled through a booking form. Write and tell me the period you have in mind, how many of you are coming and what matters to you — I will come back with a concrete proposal.