Villa with Incredible Views
Very Quiet, 5 mins to Town and Beach, No Need for a Car
Sleeps 6 (3 Bedrooms) + 2 put-u-ups and 2 sofas
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The most notable feature of our villa is its situation, looking down at the busy harbour of Patitiri. Yet we are sufficiently above the village not to be bothered by any noise, and to have a cooling breeze in the heat. There are two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, with a large terrace, with shade. Downstairs there is another bedroom and bathroom, a sitting room and kitchen. Outside downstairs is a huge covered terrace, a new built-in barbeque this year, outside shower, and laundry/storeroom. The garden slopes steeply, and is terraced with fruit trees and vines, and a tucked away seating area. It is so easy to get to tavernas and beaches that there is no need for a hire car, though one might be an advantage when exploring the island. Boats can be hired at the harbour, and a friend will hire himself and his yacht for 120 euros/day. Expert lead walking tours. Painting classes.
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 1 October 2011 - 31 October 2011 | £525 | 7 | ||
| 1 November 2011 - 31 March 2012 | £100 | 7 | ||
| 1 April 2012 - 30 April 2012 | £200 | 7 | ||
| 1 May 2012 - 31 May 2012 | £550 | 7 | ||
| 1 June 2012 - 30 June 2012 | £600 | 7 | ||
| 1 July 2012 - 31 July 2012 | £750 | 7 | ||
| 1 August 2012 - 31 August 2012 | £750 | 7 | ||
| 1 September 2012 - 30 September 2012 | £600 | 7 | ||
| 1 October 2012 - 31 October 2012 | £550 | 7 | ||
| 1 November 2012 - 1 April 2013 | £100 | 7 | ||
| 1 April 2013 - 1 May 2013 | £200 | 7 |
Notes on prices
Stays longer than 2 weeks are subject to a discount. The standard prices are for up to six persons. There are put-u-up beds available for up to 4 extra persons, at a cost of £75/person/week. There is enough cutlery and crockery for more than a dozen people. Ring me if you want to come in the winter, we have had snow, and it can rain a lot ( it is a green island), but I have sunbathed in the garden in February, and some of the tavernas are always open.
Changeover day
Preferably Friday, but anyday considered.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Upstairs bedroom 1 with double bed, access to upper terrace. Upstairs bedroom 2 with twin beds and cot, also access to terrace. Downstairs bedroom 3 with double bed, access to lower terrace. |
| Bathrooms: | Upstairs bathroom with shower, basin and wc. Downstairs bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and wc. Outside shower. |
| Kitchen: | New cooker with 4 rings and oven, new fridge, microwave, toaster, electric kettle, enough crockery and cutlery to entertain visitors, or have a massive party. Fridge and basin in upper hall, with back door, for semi-independance of those on first floor. |
| Utility Room: | Washing machine. Iron and ironing board. New barbeque built on lower terrace in 2012 |
| Living Rooms: | Living room has satellite TV, with radio (BBC etc), DVD player, CD and tape player. Many games, e.g. monopoly, chess, draughts, scrabble, cards. Extensive reference and fiction library. Since 2012, a Clearview logburning stove. |
| Other: | The lower terrace is where we sit around, eat and meet people, as it is so comfortable with furniture and hammocks. The table tennis table is rather primitive, and the bikes might need some attention, but Figtrees is a real happy holiday house. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Towels and bedding are provided, with beach towels by arrangement. Cleaning and linen change is once a week, with extra cleans are available by arrangement. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove garden oven parking fridge/freezer fridge microwave washing machine iron/ironing board satellite tv telephone air conditioning room fans cot barbecue |
| Suitability: | children welcome suitable for elderly pets accepted |
| Location Type: | beach rural |
Notes on accommodation
All rooms have air conditioning. We have used this for ourselves and family for 20 years, so there all sorts of original art works, and non standard clutter such as kites, life jackets, boules etc. You are unlikely to need heating, but all the air conditioning units can be switched to heat rather than cool, and there is a small oil filled electric radiator, but in 2011, we installed a Clearview stove, so even early spring and late autumn evenings are comfortable. There are several steps that could be a problem with toddlers, but we have a moveable gate to block the flight of steps to the path leading to the village, it is kept in the laundry. The elderly love the house as there is so much to see going on in the harbour below, without moving from the comfortable chair and nearby cooling drink.
Accessibility
The access from the road has two or three steps, but once inside the house, the downstairs bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, sitting room, and the lower terrace are all on the same level.
There is room to park a car off the road, and a garage can be made available by special arrangement. The path and steps to the village are not suitable for the infirm or very aged. A taxi from the harbour costs 4 or 5 euros.
Outside
The villa is surrounded on three sides by terraces, all of which have some shade. There is a small rear garden and a large front garden between the house and the harbour. This garden is terraced, and has many fruit trees, with vines and flowers. There is a small sitting area with shade and built-in seating and a table, and several benches scattered about, to rest on. The large built-in barbecue was constructed in the winter of 2011/12, on the lower terrace.
The path from the old village goes past our door, so we see a lot of passers by. There are less than a dozen houses in our area, surrounded by olive groves and woods, with some cultivated gardens. Our neighbours are Greek, German, British, and Norwegian. Most of them speak a little English.
Coast/Beach
The harbour beach is clean, the local school children learn to swim here. It is only 5 mins on foot, it is mainly shingle. Many other beaches and swimming points are easily reached on foot. The local taxis will take you to beaches, and return at an agreed time. Boats can be hired at the harbour, and taxi boats and excursion boats also go from here. Car hire available, from minis to 4x4s, but expensive in high season, and not really necessary. A couple of beaches are informally used by nudists.
Golf
There is no golf course on Alonnnissos.
Special interest holidays
Guided walks are available from travel agents on the harbour side. An activities centre at Steni Valla has more active sports such as diving, canoeing, windsurfing. Private hire yacht (up to 6 people) 110 euros/day by arrangement. Other boats are available from the local travel agents. Please be very careful if hiring a quad-bike, a whole family were killed recently coming off one. Painting, sketching, and botanising holidays also available. A world renowned centre for homeopathy is a kilometre north of Patitiri. Courses in Alexander technique, Greek(modern and New Testament) and others also available.
Travel
Skiathos airport is 90 minutes away by hydrofoil. There are also connections to Athens, Agios Constantinos, Volos and Thessaloniki by hydrofoil and ferry. Also, but less frequent, to Kimi in Evia and Skiros. Greek timetables are often not fixed till the last moment, beware Greek holidays, and book the hydrofoil seats on the net, by Minoan Lines (Flying Dolphins), or greek travel pages.
Charter flights start in early May, and finish in mid October, out of season come via Athens or Thessalonica.
Distances
The Old Village can be reached by taxi or bus, but the best way is up the old donkey track, and only takes 20-30 minutes. You go through olive groves along a track made by the pirates that used live here centuries ago. Alonnissos is the principal island in the Sporades Marine Park, with some of the cleanest water in the Mediterranean. The scientific station associated with the Monk Seal conservation is at Yerraka, at the north of the island, about 15 km from Patitiri.
Further details
The island is not one for nightclubbers. There are a couple of bars that stay open late, and two discos, but these are soundproofed, so that the neighbours are not disturbed. Walking and swimming, talking, eating and drinking are the main pastimes. There are some local festivals that are well worth going to, and even an old man's Socratic Club! The almost universal opinion of our guests is that they have had the most relaxing and enjoyable holiday ever. People talk to each other, and go out of their way to be helpful. Please fill in the Visitors Book. The museum by the harbour is worth visiting, it is incredible for a little village like Patitiri. Mike and Carol, who do the cleaning, and who meet you at the hydrofoil or ferry, will put you in touch with the local British expat community if you wish. They put on a terrific panto last year, at Easter, and are very active fund collecting for the local animal charities.
Booking notes
Please ring or e-mail times you want, a deposit of 20% is needed at the time of booking, with the balance six weeks before departure. You will be met at the hydrofoil if you can tell us its arrival time and will have fallback instructions. A welcome pack will be at the villa. If in doubt about anything ring me, Chris Gillie, on 01746-765688
Guest comments
"The views from the villa overlooking Patitiri and beyond must be some of the best on the beautiful island" Barry F.
Owner profile
About the owner
I am a retired GP, living in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, my wife, Vera, who has had Alzheimers disease for several years, and no longer wants to travel is now living in a nearby Care Home. We have a dog, and 3 children each from our first marriages, and 12 grandchildren.
I paint and draw for a hobby, and have done some sculpture, in wood, clay, and stone. We have had 20 years of pleasure from our house, Figtrees, and though Vera can no longer visit it, I go each Spring to open up the house, and each Autumn to close it for the winter. We don't need the money, so we charge a very reasonable rent, as we want to share the joy that we have had in Alonissos with as many people as possible. We always come home relaxed and refreshed, and we think that you will too.
Year purchased: 1990
Why the owner chose a home in this location
We had been looking for a pied de terre in the mediterranean for some time, and came to Alonissos on holiday, and loved it. A local builder showed us all his houses, but none were quite special enough. Then we went a walk one evening to the other side of the bay, and found a plot of land for sale. We sat under a pine tree, and looked down to the harbour, boats came and went, the light changed on distant islands, and we loved it. In a week we had organised the purchase of the land and a year later we were in.
Because it is the last island of the chain, and not very easy to get to, and in a Marine Park, with very clear and clean water, we get a different sort of tourist from the mass. We get walkers, and naturists, and those who enjoy seeing something of the original Greek way of life.
Unique benefits of the property
The house is 100 steps and about 1/4 mile from the harbourside. So it's about 5 mins to get down there, and 10 mins to get back. My children all say that they go home much fitter than we they arrive, and part of it is the climb back to the house!
Some of my neighbours go for a before breakfast swim in the harbour, the water is clean and wholesome, as every house has it's own septic tank, and nothing is discharged into the harbour.
The main garden is in front of the house, to prevent anyone else building there! It has many fruit trees, and flowers, and a small salad area for guests. You are welcome to pick anything in the garden. We have several benches and resting areas, some in shade, some in the sun. We aim at an orchard with flowers, and minimal watering.
For booking and further information
Property Ref GR155
Contact Name:
Christopher Gillie
(UNITED KINGDOM) +44 1746765688
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Property Ref GR155
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