Holiday villas in Askos, Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, Greece
Villa with Private Pool and Sea Views
Stunning Views. Tranquil. Near to Beach
Sleeps 10 (5 Bedrooms)
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Galini is a converted olive grower's cottage set on the hillside overlooking the Ionian Sea. There are five double bedrooms, three with en suites and two sharing a bathroom, a superb pool and stunning views of the sea. The house is set amongst olive and cypress trees and has only one near neighbour. Galini translates to tranquillity and the house is well named.
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Prices Currency Conversion
| Rental periods | Per week |
| 2 April - 14 May | £500 |
| 14 May - 2 July | £1000 |
| 2 July - 28 August | £2000 |
| 28 August - 24 September | £1000 |
| 24 September - 29 October | £500 |
| Long term winter lets November - April | £200 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds.
The property is available for long winter lets at £200 per week.
Changeover day
The changeover day is usually a Thursday because that is when the largest number of flights come out from the UK. Sunday is next in line but we are relaxed about it.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 with double bed, en suite and stunning views. Bedroom 2 with single beds, en suite and garden view. The pool room, separate from the house, with double bed, en-suite and sea views. Two twin bedded attic bedrooms, sharing a bathroom. |
| Bathrooms: | All 4 bathrooms have showers and toilets, with the exception of the pool room which has a bath, shower and toilet. |
| Kitchen: | The kitchen is part of the open plan living area. New cooker, 2 fridges, new dishwasher, plenty of cupboard space and crockery and cutlery for 15 people. Food processor, toaster, orange squeezer etc and general high standard kitchen equipment. |
| Utility Room: | A new washing machine has been provided and there is an extensive washing line. |
| Living Rooms: | The ground floor is open plan and includes a circular dining table which seats 12. There are 2 large sofas and 2 easy chairs, plus a wood burner with plentiful supplies of wood. A video player and extensive video library. A casette/radio player. |
| Other: | The living area leads out to a large balcony overlooking the Ionian Sea. There is a large table, seating 10 people, plus a second table seating 8. There are shaded sitting areas underneath the carob tree plus seating for 6 by a small coffee table. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
There is a management service which looks after the pool, the laundry and cleans the house twice a week. Towels and linen are included and changed once a week unless there is a request for a more frequent change. |
Notes on accommodation
The grounds at Galini are on different levels because it is built among trees on a hillside. The verandah is gated so is safe for small toddlers but children need to be supervised at all times. The bedroom facilities are suitable for all ages. Two bedrooms are on the ground floor, the attic twin rooms are up stairs and the Pool Room is ideal for teenagers or honeymooners because it is by the pool and away from the house!
The rooms are fully furnished and very comfortable.
The house is centrally heated and also has a wood burner for the winter.
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- fridge,
- dishwasher,
- washing machine,
- iron/ironing board,
- internet access,
- central heating,
- room fans,
- barbecue,
- private pool (for sole use of guests),
- pets accepted
Accessibility
Galini is not the ideal place for people with mobility problems. It is accessed down steps. Once you are there the ground floor, with 2 en suite bedrooms is very accessible as is the extensive verandah coming off the main living area. The pool however is up five steps and down another three, though is completely flat once you get there. Access to the pool is down circular steps. Access to the pool room, which is separate from the house, is down 12 steps. Access to the attic rooms is up 12.
Outside
The private pool is gorgeous, overlooking the Ionian Sea with flower beds and olive trees all around it. It is completely private so nude sun bathing is fine. The pool is 10m x 5m and accessed by circular steps. It slopes to 2 metres at its deepest end. The shallow end is 1 metre deep.
There are 5 sun loungers, a swing seat, a pergola with shaded seating for 8 and four other areas for sun bathing. There is plenty of shade. The verandah in front of the house also overlooks the sea and offers an open area for sunbathing and shade under the carob tree. There is also a large stone table to the side of the house under the trees by the barbecue ideal for dining on a sunny day.
All meals are normally taken outside in the summer either by the pool, at the stone table or at the large table on the verandah.
There is a large barbecue by the stone table and the house, surrounded as it is by trees, is very private with only one near neighbour.
Coast/Beach
St Nikolas Port is 5 minutes away by car and offers a lovely beach with sun beds and excellent tavernas. Long Beach is a large beach 10 minutes away, again with good tavernas. Sulphur Beach (smelly and good for your skin) is 15 minutes away.
There are several isolated coves which can be accessed by boat.
The sea is perfectly clear and clean and none of the beaches are sandy in the north of the island but are covered in light shale or white pebbles. The nearest sandy beach is 20 minute away.
Special interest holidays
From June to early September there is a sailing club nearby which offers all sorts of different boats, water skiing and superb dining facilities. The house is in the quiet, northern end of the island and offers beautiful walks. The lively nightllife on Zakynthos is 20 minutes away by car at Alikes and half an hour away at Lagana and there are 10 coastal tavernas within minutes of the house.
You can hire boats to visit remote beaches and beachside tavernas and take escorted trips to the Blue Caves, Shipwreck cove and ancient monasteries.
Daily ferries from the nearby port go to Kefalonia (Captain Corelli's island) and ferries to the Pelaponese on the mainland and other islands go from the main town.
Zakynthos town is a lively port with good shopping and there is a craft village 6km from the villa.
Travel
Zakynthos airport can be accessed from all over the UK. Transfer from the airport to the quiet northern end of the island is 40 minutes by car and a car is advisable once you get there. You can organise car hire on the internet in advance or do it when you get there.
Taxis are also available from the airport.
Distances
Galini is set on a hillside in the country. St Nikolas Port, which has a medium sized super market, is 5 minutes away by car. The village of Volimes, which specialises in beautiful crafts, is 10 minutes away. Larger supermarket shopping is 20 minutes away by car at Katastari or 40 minutes away in Zakynthos town.
The island is approx 25 miles by 3 miles and isnwell worth exploring.
Further details
Our part of Zakynthos is into a cash culture so you will need euros rather than plastic. It is quiet and very beautiful so you will need to drive half an hour or so if you want a lively nightlife, except for Wednesdays and Fridays when the Peligoni Sailing Club has a party.
Also on Friday nights there is a brilliant Greek evening 5 minutes away at St Nikolas Port with live music and dancing.
The island is known for its turtle beaches in the south and you can take turtle spotting trips by boat. There are also numerous other excursions by coach, boat and ferry including a day trip to Olympia in the Pelaponese.
The local tavernas are excellent with the best of Greek cooking and the sea swimming is great. You can hire a boat and explore the deserted beaches or take a trip to the Blue Caves to swim inside them.
Galini is actually our summer home and we live there for much of the summer, letting it out when we come back to the UK. This means it is more homely and comfortable than many letting properties.
There is a cash point and bureaux de change 20 minutes away and banks 40 minutes away near the airport.
Booking notes
Please email mary.johns@virgin.net to make enquiries about bookings. A deposit of 20% will be required when the booking is confirmed, and the final payment no later than 4 weeks before your holiday commences.
Guest comments
Our visitors book is at Galini so I cannot quote verbatim but the usual comments centre around the location and the house itself. We always let Galini out for 5 weeks during August and for the last four years have had the same family staying there for three weeks at a time so that probably says it all.
For booking and further information
Mary Rowswell
Tel: (UK) + 4 (0)1531 634327
Mobile: (UK) + 44 (0)7801 179 827
Email: Click here
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This advertiser joined Owners Direct in March 2008,
and has advertised this property with us since March 2008.
Property Ref GR548
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