Perfect and idyllic retreat.

This July I spent my summer holiday at Villa Arethousa for the third time in as many years, and can only recommend it. This is why:
* Beautiful & peaceful location - perfect for relaxation, especially for those of us leading hectic urban lives!
* Huge private pool with a view of the sea
* A stylish, spacious, contemporary & practical interior, and it's clean inside!!!
* Great facilities for cooking at the house (although there are some very high quality, no-nonsense options for eating out in the vicinity)

The Villa is the perfect retreat if you are looking for undisturbed nature but at the same time are unwilling to compromise on the basic luxuries of civilisation. It is a piece of fully equipped heaven in one of the most beautiful and serene parts of the world. The house - and the area - does offer everything it claims and more; the pictures really do not do justice to the place. You have to be there to fully appreciate the tranquillity and the views, the warm evening breeze on your skin or the many wondrous scents and sounds of the flora and fauna that inhabit the garden. Looking back on the week we spent there at the end of July – next time we are definitely coming back for at least two – our most pressing issue seemed to be whether to cook dinner at the house from the deliciously fresh, local ingredients we picked up and dine by the pool lights – the villa’s kitchen, by the way, as noted by my husband, a hobby chef who takes cooking very seriously, is perfect in every way and believe me he likes to run a tight ship – or go to the Taverna in Nerotrivia and enjoy the amazing food and outstanding service offered by the family running it. Once here you will understand the dilemma.
Ares, our truly wonderful and charming host, whom we had the pleasure of spending an evening with, has managed to create a secret hideaway we fell in love with as soon as we arrived. After a sixteen-hour drive from Budapest we were so taken by the villa that we could not go to sleep before having a refreshing dip in the pool and a drink on the terrace watching the garden come to life at the touch of the morning sun (I have never in my life seen so many gorgeous butterflies!). And this is really what you do here: admire the small wonders of nature that you never notice (or can never see) on your way to work and enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer.
On the other hand we did come with three teenage daughters so I was a little worried about what they might say to all this peace and quiet. To my delight they had the time of their life; whenever they had enough of poolside lounging and craved a little more action we took them to the Taverna, Dafni beach or to Halkida. To sum up I can truly recommend Villa Arethousa to anyone looking for quality accommodation, breathtaking surroundings, friendly locals and an unforgettable holiday with or without the family (call me selfish but next time I would like to come back on sort of a second honeymoon). Monika and Csaba

A wondefull villa fully equipted and as good as the pictures promise. We spend a wonderfull week in the house, our 3 teenage sons loved it ( 17,13,10 of age). It is remote yet still close enough for sightseeing. You need a car, but then you are fine. Excellent service from Ares who was there to welcome us and help us find our way through our first shopping and the whereabouts of the local shops and tavernas.

Villa Arethousa is a peaceful and very luxurious vacation destination.

What we loved most were the tips that we have received.

These got us immediately into the groove of this authentic touristless Greek village.

Although the Villa is fully equipped with AC and the temperature was hitting 40°C, we were able to keep cool with the help of a strong Norderly gale.

I can only recommend this property.


Leuven, Belgium

The description of the property and the location is spot on. It is possibly understated as we never tired of taking in the fantastic views and as a place to enjoy peace and quiet to completely unwind it is unrivalled in our experience.

Ares has an attention to detail that is second to none and will only use high quality materials and products in every thing he does and this is evident in the fixtures and fittings in Villa Arethousa.

The pool is a fantastic size, the best we have seen in a single villa. The property is immaculate and maintained to the highest standards.

Ares is extremely friendly, helpful and brilliant company and Demetrius is just as good if Ares isn't around.

The perfect place to catch up on your reading with nothing to disturb the peace. We have now been twice and may go again later this year. No where else compares once you've been here, we made that mistake last year in Spain.

We didn't review it last year just in case it got completely booked up this year. But we have do be fair to Ares, he deserves it!

What a wonderful retreat to find hidden amongst the olive trees on the hillside.
Althought the sunshine didn't appear until midway through the week in Arethousa we used the opportunity to explore Evia and found out the true meaning of unpaved roads on a visit to Pili & Limnionas; certainly not for the feint hearted.
Thankfully the sun then appeared & ensured the rest of the week was a chance to relax by the poolside & catch up on reading material.
The villa is furnished to a high standard & is very well maintained. The pool is superb and is better than the pictures, if that is possible surrounded by an established garden. It is in an isolated location but the feeling of peace & tranquility is second to none. It ideal for groups who are self sufficient as it is a villa designed for entertaining. It is also a perfect romantic retreat for two. We didn't eat out at all whilst we were there but the locals were all friendly and helpful and there were plenty of tavernas to choose from albeit a short drive.

The customer service provided by Ares and Dimitris was excellent. Dimitris met us as we arrived and showed us to the villa and ensured we were happily settled in. Ares kept us up-to-date by e-mail and we were fortunate enough to meet him before we departed on our final day, and had the opportunity to thank him personally for sharing his beautiful home.

The holiday for us started well before our arrival at the villa. From the moment of booking, we were kept reliably and professionally informed by email. The villa was built by Ares and he speaks better English than most people, and Demetrius is the hands-on Mr Fix-it! It was Ares, who provided us with detailed travel arrangements, what the villa had to offer, a wealth of local information and answered any questions we could come up with, without fail. His friendliness and helpfulness built a strong rapport, putting us at total ease with the whole process. As part of the package, he even met us as we got onto the island. This proved to be an invaluable service - how many people would take you to the supermarket for a food shop, and then lead you through miles of long, winding and steep roads, chatting all the while of things to do and see? As part of the magic, arrival at the villa coincided with the sun setting majestically behind the mountains... 'Ares too?' we wondered.
Oh, and what a villa! It sits atop a hill, nestled down in the footings of the Evian mountains, overlooking the most magnificent views. Once we had been shown the ropes, we were happily left to our own devices. The building itself has been built to the highest standard, and appointed beautifully. You truly 'want for nothing' as it is so well equipped. And spacious too: we were five strong and easily maintained our privacy. We thought inside was fantastic... and then we stepped outside and saw the pool. Clean, clear, big and deep, with a Jacuzzi and lighting. Perfect for us to dip in and out of during the hot days, and an oasis for wildlife during the night. We spent our evenings watching bats, birds and frogs feeding, swooping and resting by the pool - much better than watching TV. We also made full use of the private beach further on, for sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling; or sipping a glass of wine while watching the sunset colour the skies. Further on still to the village, we found the locals every bit as friendly and helpful as Ares and Demetrius. Tourism isn't big yet on Evia, but we were still made to feel very welcome, especially by the village taverna owner and his family!
Our only criticism is that our week went by too quickly. We have been on some lovely holidays, but this place has surpassed everything in terms of tranquillity, natural beauty and relaxation.
We made this review reluctantly, because we want to keep this paradise to ourselves.

My family and I visited Villa Arethousa for the first time this summer and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the experience. The booking process, pre-visit information pack and personal support from Ares, the villa’s owner, were exemplary.

Upon our arrival in Chalkida, a short drive from Athens, we were met by Ares who escorted us to the villa. The villa is spacious, equipped to the highest of standards and in an immaculate condition throughout. The thoughtfully chosen library of books, guides and DVD’s we found to be very informative and entertaining. In fact our every need was catered for.

Surrounded by spectacular views of mountains, olive groves and the sea, the villa provides the perfect setting for anyone seeking the ideal location for a peaceful and relaxing holiday. We all adored the villa’s swimming pool and found it difficult to leave it on the days that we explored the beaches at Dafni and Politika. However both beaches are well worth a visit.

There are plenty of excellent tavernas within a short drive of the villa which cater for all tastes. However the taverna in nearby Nerotrivia soon became a family favourite and many an evening was spent dinning there before we returned to the villa for a nightcap beside the pool. Bliss.