| Mourtzanakis Residence | |
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Achlada Agia Pelagia, Iraklion 71110 Crete |
find it on the map |
This is a place for anyone who is looking for tranquility and seclusion, without however being too far away from everything (especially the sea); who doesn’t want to blow the budget, but appreciates space and comfort; and who likes the kind of hosts that will treat you like friends, while providing good service and respecting your privacy. Marcos and Smaro (short for Smaragda) are Greeks with an international background – he grew up in Beirut and she lived for many years in Paris – who finally returned to their native soil to run a small, eco-friendly hotel consisting of four individual guesthouses. Everything is designed with a view to ‘easy living’. The houses are of modern design, and furnished and decorated in a fresh and unpretentious style, with some traditional touches. The layout is open-space with the master bedroom in a loft, while children can sleep on built-in convertible sofas in the living room. If you feel lazy, you can just stay put by the (smallish) pool. Otherwise, stroll to the 16th century village of Achlada, drive to the sea (there are four beaches at about ten minutes by car) or ask Marcos help you organize excursions and activities including horse riding, scuba diving, mountain climbing and kayaking.
What makes it special to me:
Marco and Smaro are wonderful hosts, and thanks to them there is a super friendly atmosphere and happy feeling all around. I also very much enjoyed the peaceful, beautiful surroundings.The views over olive groves, the mountains and the sea are mesmerizing; the sunsets are to die for.
But what you should keep in mind:
There are a few aesthetical mistakes in the houses, but nothing major. Also, I stayed here in March, and even though there was heating, the house felt chilly. But then again, I declined Marco’s offer to light the fire in my house, as I preferred spending my evening in the main house together with the family.
| Owner | Marcos and Smaro Mourtzanakis |
| Address | Achlada |
| Agia Pelagia, Iraklion | |
| 71110 Crete | |
| Opening period: | All year |
| Children: | The hotel is relaxed and child-friendly. |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
| Credit cards: | VISA, MASTERCARD |
| Accommodation | 1 house for up to 3 persons with a living room with open kitchen (1 extra bed possible) 3 houses for up to 4 persons with a living room with open kitchen (2 extra beds possible) | |||||||||
| Prices: |
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| Reservation policy: | A deposit of 10% of the total price of the stay is required at the time of booking. The outstanding balance is to be paid directly to the hotel upon checkout. | |||||||||
| Cancellation policy: | A deposit of 10% of the total price of the stay is required at the time of booking is non-refundable. The hotel will charge a further fee of 20% of the total price if the booking is cancelled less than thirty days prior to your arrival date. Jacoline's Small Hotels in Greece reserves the right to debit your credit card on behalf of the hotel in accordance with the above cancellation policies.  | |||||||||
| Room facilities | Bathroom (shower)
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| Other facilities | Sitting/dining room with a fireplace Small library Computer and Internet Terraces Outdoor swimming pool
Small children’s pool Massage
(upon request) |
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Each house has a fully equipped kitchen, so you can prepare your own meals. But probably you won’t even bother, as healthy and very reasonably priced home-cooked dinners are served on the terrace or at a large table in the communal sitting room. It doesn’t work like a restaurant tough: it is a set menu (including a starter, a main dish with salad, fruits or another desert, and drinks) and you have to ask for in the morning. Breakfast too is available on request. There is also a very simple taverna in Achlada and of course if you drive to the nearby coastal village of Agia Pelagia you will have a wider choice of restaurants. |
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You’re just a few km from two small beach resorts (Agia Pelagia and Lygaria), which have their share of bigger hotels, restaurants and bars (nothing outrageous though), but you might as well be an hour’s drive away. The Mourzanakis Residence is in a green and utterly quiet spot in the hills, just outside the nearly-abandoned Venetian village of Achlada, and there is absolutely nothing that will disturb the peace here. The only thing that you may be taken aback by, is the line-up of windmills on the mountain behind the village, but you can’t actually see them from the hotel itself. |
 find it on the map
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The Mourzanakis Residence is easy to reach from Iraklion. You take the main road (‘highway’) in the direction of Rethymno, and after about 12 km, near the coastal resort of Agia Pelagia, you will see a sign for Achlada. The village is less than three km from the main road. Follow the road when you reach the village and you will see the hotel after a few hundred meters on your right. |
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The Cretan province of Iraklion is a typical ‘slice’ of Crete. The northern part (with the capital and some popular tourist resorts such as Hersonisos and Malia) is the most developed, while the south coast is pretty wild (some great beaches), and in between you find beautiful hilly countryside covered with olive trees and vineyards, some spectacular mountains, historical villages, churches and monasteries. Of course the Minoan Palace of Knossos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, really sets the province apart. The first settlements at Knossos date from 7000 BC, but the first palace was built around 1900 BC. It was destroyed 200 years later, and rebuilt again, to become a massive and strikingly complex maze of royal quarters, banquet rooms and religious shrines, workshops and storerooms, all centered around the Throne room. At some point during the excavations, parts of the palace were restored and many of the murals were repainted, with some imagination and personal vision used in the process. It has made some archaeologists cringe, but still, it is a must-see. The town of Iraklion itself isn’t all that attractive. There are some beautiful historical buildings, but in general it lacks the charm that old towns of Rethymno and Hania have. The archaeological museum however is definitely worth a visit. |
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Read here what others said about Mourtzanakis Residence
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My husband and I stayed at Mourtzanakis Residence and we really loved it. The villas are spacious and airy, the view is stunning and the owners are the nicest people you can think of. We had a great time talking to them during our 4 days. Sabina DBassersdorf, Switzerland May 2011 |
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