Name: Istron Blue
Address: Istron Agios Nikolaos, 72100, Greece, Kalo Chorio, Kalo Chorio, Kalo Chorio, 72100, Greece
Rating: 9

Air conditioning

Heating

Garden

General

Room service

Family room

Rooms

Laundry

Services and amenities

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Airport transportation

Car rental

Transfer

German

English

Languages Spoken

Library

Bike rental

Hiking

Fishing

Sun Deck

Recreation

Free parking

Garage

Parking

Water park

Swimming pool

Outdoor pool

Beach facilities

Seasonal indoor swimming pool

Pool and beach

Windsurfing

Sports

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Location

At the hotel

Agios Panteleimon Beach

Golden Beach

Voulisma Beach

Istro Municipal Beach

Karavostasi Beach

Istron Bay Beach

Chartalami Kolymbou Beach

Vryonisiou Beach

Port of Agios Nikolaos

Sitia Airport

Heraklion International Airport

Heraklion Port

Istron Blue

Kalo Chorio

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limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

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not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

We stayed for a week in Villa Dimitris and had the most fantastic family holiday. The location is perfect, a short stroll to the beach but high enough to provide the most fantastic views and a nice breeze in the heat of the day. Our hosts could not have been more helpful and welcoming - Dimitris was incredibly friendly, helpful and responsive to any query, and his father Andonis cooked us wonderful food (our 3 boys loved his breakfast spread which he started to tailor to their tastes without us mentioning). All of the staff there made us feel very relaxed (shout out to Bo for gifting us the inflatable Stork!). 

Our 2 bedroom villa was very comfortable and well equipped - certainly not fancy but perfect for us, with comfortable beds, decent bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen. The star of the show was the outside space: we spent many happy hours in and out of the pool and lounging around enjoying the views and the tranquility. The pool was salt water which only meant our boys (7, 4 and 3) learned to keep their mouths shut when jumping in, and they wore goggles. 

The beach of the Istron Bay Hotel is beautiful and was quiet when we were there (5 min downhill walk) but as with all the beaches we went to in Crete there was sadly some plastic in the water and on the sand but the hotel were good at trying to clear it. Hotel sunloungers and umbrellas are free to use. The hotel has a large swimming pool, a beach bar, small shop and 2 restaurants which are all at your disposal. We didn't eat there so can't recommend either way. The hotel had outdoor entertainment most evenings (9pm-10pmish) which you can hear from the patio of the villa - it tended to be for an hour or so and not too late but it didn't spoil our enjoyment of this wonderful place. One tip is to use Anna-Maria at Istron Top Cars for car hire, a fantastic and hassle free service which meant not waiting at the carhire desks at the airport. They are based in the Istron Bay hotel.

Voulisma Beach in Istron village (5 min drive) was superb. A beautiful bay with the beach set down away from the road and with all amenities including drinks and food to your sunlounger. 2 beds and umbrella were EUR15 for the day, get there early (pre 10am) if you want a decent spot but we spent 2 full days there, our boys loved playing in the surf.

All in all a wonderful holiday in a beautiful and peaceful location. We booked direct with the owners which was considerably cheaper than through any other third party websites. Dimitris, Andonis and all your family and staff thank you for making it such a memorable experience. We will be back!

Fantastic family holiday

If you want to relax and enjoy the serendipity of the landscape then this is the place you should visit. We stayed at the villa "tower". The room was fully equipped with all those things that you mighty need. The rooms were very clean and we had fresh towels every day. We enjoyed the pool outside from our room which was cleaned every morning. The view was spectacular and we truly enjoyed relaxed afternoons! The host was more than friendly and made us feel welcomed!

Wonderful rooms,spectacular location

Getting there

We actually arrived the day before we arrived at the villa and stayed at a cheap hotel with a pool in Heraklion (Hotel Sofia) so we could avoid a very early morning flight and ensure we arrived at 2pm which is the earliest you check-in.  We hired a car in Heraklion from the excellent Rental Center Crete at the airport and the drive to Istro is just over one hour (although we took a detour via a supermarket in Agios Nikolaos).  Don’t use either Google or Apple Maps to find the villas though as both sent us on a 15 minute detour down a bumpy off-road route, neither of which actually deliver you to the villas.  Instead, set your destination as the Istron Bay Hotel and you will find the villas 1 or 2 minutes past the hotel.  There are parking bays in front of all the villas which are conveniently (in our case) located under some trees so that the car doesn’t overheat in the sun.  A bottle of wine and water were provided on arrival which was a pleasant surprise!

Please note that most drivers on Crete drive well in excess of the speed limits so if you are a speed limit person, I’d recommend driving partly on the ever present hard-shoulder so that faster vehicles can overtake.  Roads themselves are not particularly busy.

Property

Properties are very well maintained and very spacious with lots of storage space for luggage and belongings.  The kitchen is well equipped with all the appliances you will need including a washing machine.  Please note that if you don’t speak or read Greek, the washing machine dials and labels are all in Greek, however we managed to track down a picture of an English language version of the washing machine (LG 1296 for reference) so we could operate the machine.  Our property had two bathrooms and there are more than enough towels (indoor and for the beach) for everyone.  Towels are also replaced regularly.

Free Wi-fi is available and more than fast enough.  

Pool

The pool is the standout star of the property and we spent hours every day in it.  Bring inflatables with you if you have space in your luggage or buy some when you get here from one of the many shops in Istro (5 mins drive) that sells them.  Please be aware that the pool contains seawater so is not chlorinated but this doesn’t detract from your enjoyment, just be mindful that occasionally you’re going to get a mouthful of saltwater!  Pools are cleaned daily by the property maintenance man – usually in the morning before you wake up.  There is a swimming pool net cleaner at hand which we used daily to fish out poor unsuspecting wasps and cicadas (most of whom we managed to save!).

Eating

There is a restaurant on site although you need to give Dimitris and the team a day’s notice so they can ensure they have everything needed for your meal.  Menu covers all bases so there’s something for everyone.  We’d particularly recommend the fish stew which apparently is a recipe from a local 90 year old lady!  Andonis is a wonderful chef and we really enjoyed the food on the two occasions we had it.  You can also arrange for the food to be brought directly to your villa if you don’t fancy heading over to the restaurant.  Please note that the outside dining room table is fairly high off the ground so you may need cushions to reach the table, especially for children.

Staff and hosts

Dimitris is a perfect host and was there to welcome us on our first day and also when we checked out.  He’s also available on WhatsApp if you need to ask for anything and he responds quite quickly.  His father, Andonis, is the chef in the restaurant and I believe Marianna, his wife, also helps run the villas with Dimitris.

The housekeeping came almost every day and provide a thorough cleaning service including making the beds and replacing any towels.  The maintenance man keeps everything ticking over and cleans the pools most days.

Istron Bay Hotel
	
The adjacent hotel (Istron Bay Hotel) is a few minutes’ walk and occupants in the villas are able to use all the facilities of the hotel.  The hotel was originally built in 1980 and renovated more recently.  It has a great beach with loungers usually available throughout the day, even in busy August.  Views from the hotel itself, which covers 5 floors, are also worth checking out.  We ate at the restaurant three times and can recommend it although the once a week BBQ (all you can eat) tends to be quite expensive unless you’re really hungry!  Hotel also has a decent sized pool which gets busy in the day with lots of boisterous teenagers.  There is also a mini market which is open 9.30am-12.30pm and then 5-8pm.  Sells basic supplies like snacks, drinks/alcohol and cigarettes.

As mentioned on other reviews, the hotel has evening entertainment every day from 5.30pm to around 10.30pm which can usually be heard from the villas.  Music might not be to everyone’s taste but didn’t intrude on our evening swims too much.

Istro Town

The local town/village is called Istro and is basically a strip containing small supermarkets, restaurants, bars and a petrol station.  We didn’t do our major shopping here but it was perfectly fine for stocking up on basics.  Would definitely recommend the pool/bar Waterland which has two pools, various loungers and a restaurant and great views from the other side of Istron Bay.

There are popular public beaches in Istro including Voulisma Beach although we found it to be busy and crowded.  Much preferred the Istron Bay Hotel beach.

Shopping

If you’re looking for a decent supermarket with good variety, we’d recommend Sklaventis which we went to 3-4 times in different locations (one in Ayios Nikolaos which is 20 mins away and one in Ierapetra which is 35 mins away).  Has everything you’ll need and a decent selection of fresh fruit/veg, fish, meats and cheeses.

Day trips

If you’re looking for interesting things to do within an hour or so of the villas, we can recommend the following:

Spinalonga – a beautiful island fort which was a leper colony until the 1950s.  Originally built in 1578 by the Venetians and occupied variously by other invading forces including the Ottomans.  There are numerous locations you can get a ferry there but we chose Elounda which is a 30 minute drive from Istro.  Ferry itself takes 20 minutes and leaves regularly.  One hour is more than enough to see the island fort although you can stay longer if you want to.  Views are spectacular.  Wear walking shoes (not flip flops)!  We had lunch near the ferry location at a wonderful restaurant in Elounda called Vritomartes with an extensive menu including Greek and Asian foods.  The coastal route from Ayios Nikolaos is also breathtaking.

Ierapetra – 35 mins from Istro.  A lovely port with a marina and many seafront restaurants (we had a pleasant meal at Restaurant Napoleon).  We also visited the Koutsonari Long Beach with it’s grey sands.  There are many spots to stop off at with loungers, sun umbrellas and watersports – most of which are affiliated with a hotel but available to the general public.  Ample parking.

Acqua Plus Waterpark – 70 mins from Istro.  We visited this waterpark near Heraklion which has an amazing selection of slides (well over 30) for all shapes and sizes.  We spent a good 5 hours there and were constantly occupied.  Queues to most slides were short and even the slowest queues were only 5-10 minutes.

Ayios Nikolaos – 20 mins from Istro. Ayios Nikoloas (or Agios Nikoloas as it is known in English) is the nearest decent sized town and has a wide selection of shops and restaurants.  We went on 90 minute semi-submarine trip where you go to see amazing sealife under the water including a very large turtle!  We also a lovely meal an Italian restaurant called La Strada with wonderful views of the bottom lake (Lake Voulismeni) at the centre of the town.

For fans or local history and archaeology, we didn’t get time to go to Knossos Palace near Heraklion (where the minotaur used to live) or to the Psychro Caves where Zeus is supposed to have been born.  Both are probably worth day trips and I understand require a guide.

A lovely two bedroom villa with excellent views of Istron bay. Wonderful holiday!

We stayed in 2 villas during our 8 night stay.  Artemis for the first half which is at the top of the partial bay view villas.  The villa was large and the terrace was great and completely private - big pool, plenty of loungers and eating space etc.  Beds were comfortable and windows all had mosquito screens which is not always a given.  On arrival we had wine, coffee and fruit and nuts as a welcome gift which was thoughtful. Sunset was amazing.  Be aware that you need to be a bold driver to get to the top of that driveway but you can also choose to leave your car at the bottom!  

Marianna was also amazing and with a truly spectacular view over the bay and the sunset.  Large (mainly private) terrace with bedrooms opening onto it, good sized pool and a very nice living area.  We loved this house the most. 

WiFi in both houses was excellent!  The garden was maintained almost daily and it was generally done first thing before people are up and on their terraces.  Housekeeping staff are very unobtrusive and come every 2 days to change sheets and generally tidy up, this is a nice touch in a self catering accommodation.  

Dimitris and Andonis were the perfect hosts who could not do enough to help.  Andonis cooks very well and we tried both eating at the restaurant and having the food served in the villa, and having breakfast.  They also organised a cake and champagne for us which was great!  

Minor improvements are all that can really be suggested as it was such a nice place to stay: 
The outdoor dining chairs in Artemis are a strange height so we needed cushions to reach the table (we are not particularly small people!)
The water pressure in Artemis would cut off almost every morning at around 7am for about 10 mins (if you are not early risers you will not even notice!)
Showers could be more modern with wall mounts (Artemis) and with glass cubicles rather than curtains.  

The neighbouring Istron Bay Hotel is quiet during the day but from 1830-2230 every day you were treated to live Italian music (some good, some not so good...) and some enthusiastic Italian crowds.  Depending on the wind (and season, as we hit high season) you might not hear it too much.

Perfect location and wonderful hosts

We stayed here for 6 nights, as a family of 5, along with 3 other families who took the other villas in this small complex. The villas are very thoughtfully laid out, and are operated by the same family who built it. They are lovely - helpful without encroaching, and the meals they cook are tasty and healthy. Little touches like a fully stocked coffee machine and good internet are among the things we appreciated.

Beautiful, and run by lovely poeple

Stayed at the Marianna Villa for 4 nights (my friends stayed on for 6 Nights).  On arrival Dimitris welcomed us and we settled in quickly. He was so helpful and no request was too much.  The rooms are comfortable, clean and lots of hanging space.  The kitchen had everything you needed inc. dishwasher, tablets etc.   The pool is fantastic - with a breathtaking view of the sea and mountains. 
I would highly recommend ordering food from the owner Andonis who is the best cook (the fish!) and delivered it with chilled rose wine to our villa so we could sit out by the pool under the stars.  There was a waft of music from the hotel opposite but otherwise it was very peaceful.
Istron is a small traditional strip of shops, tavernas and bars around 25 mins from the villa. Bring a torch - it is also quite steep to climb. We ate at El Raki and Mama Lukia which were both exceptionally good with fantastic hospitality from the staff. Beach is 3 mins walk and perfectly formed (not too busy) and we also walked to the neighbouring beaches which were equally great.
Cannot fault the Villas and would return in a heart beat. Thank you for your hospitality Andonis and family.

Istron Blue

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