From late April until mid October, rest of the year upon request

Each bedroom has its own bathroom (shower)
Telephone
Internet access
Television (in most of the bedrooms)
CD player
Air conditioning
Hairdryer
Safe (not in all bedrooms)

Each villa (and the apartment) has a fully equipped kitchen and a living room with a fireplace, a television and a CD player
Garden with terraces and sun beds
Large swimming pool

Xenon Estate enjoys a quiet location amidst olive groves and pine trees on the hillside just above the little town of Spetses. You can easily walk to the old harbour, the ‘centre’ of the town and to the beaches just outside the town, but for coming back up you may want to take a taxi, especially when it’s hot!

Every day several hydrofoils leave from Piraeus for Spetses. The boat ride takes roughly two hours, but if you prefer to travel by conventional ferryboat (less choppy!) you should count double the time. You should let Elina and Alexis know what time your boat will arrive, and they will have a taxi waiting for you.

This small, pinewood-covered island just off the coast of the Peloponnese has not really been discovered by any of the major tour operators, nor is it a place where the island hopping summer crowds go. It attracts mainly well-bred Athenians appreciating the laid-back and refined atmosphere on the island.

The little ‘town’ of Spetses is among the prettiest in Greece; it is famous for its elegant 18th and 19th century mansions, idyllic gardens and pebble-mosaic courtyards. There are nice little boutiques and art shops, and some good places to eat. The most charming spot is the old harbour (Palio Limani). It can look a little sleepy during the day (except in August when the harbour fills up with sailing boats and yachts), but at night it comes to life and you will find some great places to go for a drink.

The use of cars is restricted on Spetses – only a few local residents have permits. There are a handful taxis but most people go around on mopeds or bicycles. There are plenty of places where you can rent them; you will find bicycles in all sizes, even for very young children. Spetses is indeed a great island for families. Children will enjoy roaming about in the little alleyways of the town, riding a horse-drawn carriage and taking a water taxi or caique to the beach. There are a several nice beaches (some organised with umbrellas and the lot, others more quiet and with trees for shade), and lots of small coves.

In the early 1950s, author John Fowles worked as an English teacher on Spetses, which he later chose as the setting for his brilliant novel The Magus. Bring a copy with you – it is the perfect book to read on Spetses.