Reviews of Property: House in Aghios Nikolaos nr Stoupa, Greece in quiet village near Pantazi beach

Description House, 130 m²,
2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4, 2 Bathrooms
Facilities near the sea, village, garden, terrace, balcony, parking
Rates per property (GBP)
£75 - £85/night 
£300 - £600/week 
Bee Waghorn
+00 44 (0) 1438-829147
+00 30 27210-78281
Speaks: English

9 Reviews of Property 57992 in Agios Nikolaos, Greece

Rating
5 out of 5

A great place to chill out

Agamemnon London
Review Submitted: September 8, 2009 Date of Stay: August 2009
This year we decided to take an extra week's holiday on our own and we were looking for somewhere very special where we could relax, read and go out from time to time for a swim or for dinner by the sea. The house in Aghios Nikolaos met all of our needs and exceeded our expectations in most respects. The house is exceptional. You approach it down a narrow street only yards from the harbour and when you open the front door you enter a different world. It has been beautifully restored to provide all the modern facilities you need without compromising the architecture of the original Greek home.

There are two very large rooms with high ceilings that open directly onto the terraces on the ground and first floors. The external staircase connects the terraces so that the rooms, the terraces and the garden become one big private space. It was such a lovely place to be that we were content to spend several hours each day reading on the terrace.

Aghios Nikolaos has all of the facilities that you need whilst still managing to be a small, traditional, Greek fishing village. There is a small supermarket, a butcher, a post office, a chemist and an internet cafe. There are several bars and tavernas within easy walking distance of the house and the food was consistently good.

We went at the beginning of September when most of the Greek families had gone back to Athens. It was quiet without feeling empty and we were always able to get a table for dinner. I am not sure what it would be like in July or August. Everybody that we met was helpful and went out of their way to make us welcome.

The coast around Aghios Nikolaos is wild and rocky with mountains that come right down to the sea in places. There is a small beach about a kilometre from the village but most of the time we swam from a staging below one of the restaurants. The sea is warm and clean and seems to be quite good for snorkelling.

We rented a car for the week. Although we didn't use it much, it was nice to be able to drive down the coast to Aeropolis and visit a couple of the villages up in the mountains. The area to the south of Aghios Nikolaos is much more attractive than the area to the north.

All in all, a great holiday. We will be back.
Owner's Response: Aghios Nikolaos is a very special place. Great to hear that our house just added another special dimension.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Spacious and an excellent place to relax.

Reallyrelaxed Brighton
Review Submitted: September 28, 2009 Date of Stay: September 2009
The house is very spacious and kept beautifully clean. The shutters on the windows and doors allow you to keep the interior cool and the pull down mosquito screens are a major advantage allowing good ventilation - especially at night - without the risk of mozzie bites! The huge upstairs bedroom and lovely bathroom are a delight compared to many we have experienced in Greece.
Although you are only 2 minutes walk from the harbour the house is tucked down a quiet, narrow lane and the garden is very private.
The village has two good general stores, one just 50 yards from the house, a butcher and a small fish market (8.30-9.30am) - if the fishing boats have been out.
There are several tavernas, which get busier after 8pm when the road running along the harbour is closed to motor traffic. We had some fantastic swordfish at Limani and some great squid. The local red wine can also be good. The cafe/bar with the palm thatched terrace (located in the car park at the end of the harbour) is a great place to have a pre-dinner drink and watch the sun go down as the fishing boats set off.
The beach is an easy 10-15 minute stroll and there's a place to hire bikes in the village so there's no need to hire a car unless you want to go further afield. The transfer time from Kalamata is c1hr 15 mins by taxi.
The owner is very helpful and I would have no hesitation recommending this house and location for a very relaxed holiday.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Review of House in Aghios Nikolaos

kirsten 2009 Kent UK
Review Submitted: September 2, 2009 Date of Stay: August 2009
The villa was excellent and just as it was described; it was in a perfect position in the village within a minutes walk of the tavernas but far enough away that no noise from the tavernas could be heard. The property was in fantastic conditon and was very well cared for. When we visited it was very hot and the only thing that may have improved our time there at night would be more fans or air conditioning in the bedrooms.
The beach at Pantazi was a 1 1/2 km flat walk definitely worth visiting as was the beach bar / taverna. Currently the sunbeds at Pantazi are free. The majority of the tavernas in the village were excellent providing good quality Greek food and excellent service and Greek hospitality! The mini market nearest to the villa had most things that you would need when on holiday and was a similar price to the main supermarkets (unless you went into Kalamata) so would recommend using the local mini market.
The surrounding countryside is lovely and definitely worth at least a day away from the beach; the springtime is meant to be lovely with all the flowers, Kardamili old town (musuem and ruins) and Arapoli definitely worth a visit.
If you are coming from Athens the journey takes about 4 hours although the motorway should be completed from Athens to Kalamata in the next 2 years which should reduce the time by 1 hour. If you decide to go with the taxi driver recomemnded he is a font of knowledge and makes the journey enjoyable.
I would definitely recomemnd this property and I hope to return for another visit; the village suits anyone who enjoys a typical real Greek fishing village. Definitely a relaxing place to visit; the village itself has barely changed since my last visit in 2002 which is a definite plus!!
Owner's Response: So happy to have another satisfied customer.

We have stayed in the house in a heatwave and found the large fan over the main bed to be perfect in keeping us cool - another bonus is that with the fan on the mosquitoes can't land on you so you can leave the windows open!
It is really important to close both the shutters and the double-glazed windows against the sun which does keep the house really cool in the summer.

Will look forward to welcoming you to Spitaki and this unspoiled area of Greece.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Wonderful house, wonderful village

Orestes Bristol
Review Submitted: August 12, 2009 Date of Stay: July 2009
A truly excellent place for a holiday. The house is spacious and easily accomodated 4 people (2 adults, two teenagers in the 'front room' which, although not set up as a bedroom, worked well). A large dining room / kitchen / sitting room is very useful and has easy access to outside courtyard where one can eat, drink and entertain easily. The house is very clean and tidy and very well equipped (though no microwave) with everything accessable. The two bathroom/shower rooms/toilets are a Godsend. It gets hot in the day if windows ad shutters are left open, but that is something one gets used to. The upper level terrace gets light breezes which are very welcome. The house is really in the middle of the village, two minutes from tavernas, shops, the harbour and (and the wonderfully welcoming 'Vesuvious' restaurant which has access to the sea (via steps) and free Wi Fi. One Greek salad, a Greek coffee, and you are set for the day... Village is terrific. Genuine fishing village not too touristy. About 5 different tavernas, all good, fresh fish in most. Fabulous bakery/cafe at end of alley from front of house. Very friendly proprietor, similarly the little supermarket at the end of the alley in front of the house is very friendly and has all the basics (good fruit). Butcher is 3 mins walk from house. Nearby beaches (Stoupa), easy by car (10 mins) or bus (15 mins plus 10 walk) but far more tourist oriented - though wonderful flat, warm sea and sand beaches (with rocks for snorkeling). The beach in the village itself is a 15 minute hot walk away. Nice, and with cafe, but Stoupa (and Kardamilii) is better. 15 mins inland (with car) there are many traditional Mani villages to see and explore with terrific views - feels miles away from anything, very relaxing. We flew to Athens and hired car (parked in village, easy). Took 4 hours from Athens to Aghios Nikolaos. Mycenae is on the way (10 mins from motorway exit). The Mani has few 'classic Greek' sites, so needed day trips to Epidaurus, Sparta and other places. Driving south to the southern end of Mani is terrific, it gets gradually more and more deserted. All in all, a fabulous place and the village has a really nice feel. Cafes and Tavernas seem to thrive between 9 pm and 1 am, yet are also good for breakfast and lunch ! Lots of the cafes have signs for 'English Breakfast'. Don't let that put you off. Booking this was easy and straightforward and there is local help if you need it.
Owner's Response: The village really has everything within a few minutes walk, yet is in a quiet backstreet. Most people go out to eat but the oven is very sophisticated - better than my own! - and therefore I felt a microwave unnecessary.
It really is important to close the (doubleglazed) windows and shutters against the sun (as per house suggestions) to keep the house cool in the summer but luckily the bedroom has a large ceiling fan for the height of summer and there is a second fan for the twin room downstairs.
We look forward to welcoming you to this under developed part of Greece, very soon!
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 1/1
Rating
5 out of 5

Spitaki - May 2009

Jules247 Wirral
Review Submitted: June 23, 2009 Date of Stay: May 2009
The house was an absolute dream. Beautifully restored, very spacious and spotlessly clean. We particularly liked the enormous bedroom and bathroom. The garden was very pretty, we enjoyed having breakfast and an early evening drink there - real tranquility.

Our aim was for a totally relaxing holiday - this is the place for that! We did enjoy the bike hire trip and would recommend it if you want to get to know the locals.

The beach at Pantazi was very quiet, but has 2 tavernas - the best is the further one.
The tavernas at Aghios are all ok, our favourite was Vesuvius.

Overall, we had a super holiday and are looking forward to returning next year.

Julie and Gary
Owner's Response: It's always a bonus when guests are so kind as to bother to write a review especially when they have enjoyed our cottage as much as we do ! We look forward to welcoming Julie and Gary back.

Spitakii is definitely the place for couples - plenty of space, the garden and the proximity to the sea and the beach. Not having to use the car is so good. Having bicycles to hire and the local beach bus is a great addition.
Alot quieter here in Agios Nikolaos than the nearby Stoupa and Ag Nik has the very best tavernas and coffee bars in the area.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 4/4
Rating
5 out of 5

Winter Break

H(aitch) Pennines Lancashire
Review Submitted: March 24, 2009 Date of Stay: February 2009
The house was easy to find although parking might be a problem in the summer. Spitaki is finished to a very high standard and there is everything in the kitchen if you wish to self-cater as we did. Although there are fire-places the house was warm enough with central heating. We know the area but for those visiting for the first time there are plenty of places to visit as well as an abundance of walks for all standards of difficulty. The wild flowers were splendid at this time of year and there were several early birds migrating north.
Owner's Response: There is always parking available at the end of the lane beyond the Church, facing the sea and normally around the corner, towards the old harbour. With a small car parking would be possible right outside the house but the little lane is no through, so one would need to be confident about reversing!
The wild flowers - anemones, crocus, cyclamen, hemerodactylus, iris and such rareities as bee orchids, are to be seen, in the immediate area, as well as the mountains, until the warmer weather begins, about late May. The wild flowers come back again in the autumn starting with Sternbergias in late September/October right through the winter.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 7/7
Rating
4 out of 5

a charming, beautiful, peaceful place

oleanna berlin
Review Submitted: March 21, 2009 Date of Stay: October 2008
we spent last autumn a week in this charming house. it's situated in the centre of the village, which sounds noisy, but in fact isn't at all! the garden is just wonderful and due to the sunshine we had - mid of october ! - we enjoyed it a lot to sit outside as often as we could! - the bedroom is as beautiful as it looks on the photos, and the bathroom is just perfectly fitting with it. the kitchen is spacy, and we found it easy to cook and have dinner there. - on the other hand it's not really neccessary, since you have lots of good taverns around the house! the beach in the village is very good and clean, you find even shade there. and the old harbour nearby is just the perfect place for a morning swim. we've been there all alone and could enjoy the first sun of the day!
we missed better light to read our books in the evening, and a cosy chair or sofa - and we heard, it's meanwhile there, sort of waiting for us! - so, we're sure we will go back to Spitaki and have another wonderful, relaxing time in this beautiful house!
Owner's Response: We will always try to address any concerns you have at the time, so that you may enjoy the additions.
We have tried to think of everything and have now added more lighting and some comfortable seating for sitting inside reading in the evening.
We look forward to welcoming you to this special part of Greece.

Susie
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 7/7
Rating
5 out of 5

Guest 092108

Guest 092108 Canada
Review Submitted: November 3, 2008 Date of Stay: September 2008
I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our stay in your lovely house. It was absolutely perfect (and much larger than we had expected). If we ever have to opportunity to visit Ag. Nicholaos again, we would love to stay at your house.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 8/9
Rating
5 out of 5

Comments from Owner Guestbook

HRGuestBook57992 HR GuestBook
Review Submitted: December 6, 2007 Date of Stay: December 2007
WE found the property spacious and comfortable, the fly screens on the windows were a huge advantage. LOVED the white bed linen and towels.
WE so much enjoyed our stay in your beautiful house. A real gem you have there.
A relaxing break with few people and the showers were the best we have ever had in Greece! TG
WE have thoroughly enjoyed our stay at your place. The house is very spacious, perhaps more so than the pictures of the website indicate, so one does not feel claustrophobic. The bedroom on nearly the whole of the second floor is indeed quite something!
LOVED staying in your wonderful house and hope we may be able to return next year. We loved being in the heart of the village and the upstairs room was a joy.
MUCH enjoyed your beautifully converted house.
THE huge bedroom is particularly lovely.
REALLY felt like living in a friend's home .
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 15/19