YOUR HOSTS, CHRIS & HELEN

We are both from London, although Helen is Greek/English, and we discovered Epidavros three years ago. We bought Villa Rosa on a British TV programme ‘A Place in the Sun’, in order to run relaxation and cycling retreats in the Spring and Autumn. https://breakawaygreece.com. We were also filmed by another TV crew, following our first year for ‘A New Life in the Sun’.

When we are not enjoying Epidavros, Chris works on global communications campaigns for good causes, writes books and cycles around the world, Helen works at Arsenal football club in London and previously looked after major music stars for EMI Records. We have been married for 29 years and have four children.

We really hope you enjoy your stay, if there is anything we can do to help or anything you need, please WhatsApp Chris on 0044 7932 746 591.

We love Epidavros and our villa and we hope you will too.

Thanks,

Chris & Helen.

USEFUL INFO ABOUT VILLA ROSA AND YOUR STAY

1 You have full use of the two storeys of the main villa. There are two bedrooms, one a double and one a twin and use of the self-contained two-bedroom (sleeps up to 6) apartment downstairs. (access is down the steps to each the side of the villa).

2 All bedrooms have air conditioning (if needed). We ask that you turn them off when you leave the bedrooms as once on they are effective and set the room to the required temperature in minutes. If we need them during the night we tend to have them on about 22 degrees - it’s up to you :)

3 You have a fully fitted kitchen upstairs and one with all the essentials downstairs.

4 The wi:fi is ‘Breakaway’, ‘Breakwayup’ and Breakawaydown’ - all with no password. It isn’t the fastest internet in the world but it serves our purposes. If you have any buffering, the best thing seems to be to switch off and on the internet on your phone or laptop and then rejoin the wifi. If you do need fast internet the three beach bars in front of the villa all have this.

5 We have a parking space for two cars.

6 If we are not there, the keys will be left in a safe place that we will inform you about before you arrive. You will have two sets of two keys - one each for the upstairs and downstairs front doors. Don’t leave the keys in the lock on the inside of the doors as it then becomes impossible to open from the outside.

It is very safe around here and we tend to leave the key in the outside of the downstairs door all day and when we go out leave the keys hidden around the front door.

7 All the doors in the villa have sliding or pull-shut insect nets. It's probably worth shutting them around dusk time, although we generally don’t have many flying insects. Be careful not to walk into the nets when closed - they can be hard to see and both adults and children have been known to walk into them!

8 Cats. Greece has lots of them and we have them around the villa. We do not let them in the villa but when they are young we do leave some food outside.

9 Ice in the fridge. The ice dispenser on the front of the fridge doesn’t work too well but you can open the freezer and put your hand through the icebox flap at the top and collect ice blocks by hand.

10 To reach the beach, walk back down the road, turn slightly to your left and you will see a pathway that leads directly to a quiet part of the beach - perfect for swimming.

Along to your left from there, are two hotels, with restaurants and sunbeds and lastly, our favourite, a beach restaurant - Egialos - with its own sun loungers.

11 The best local supermarket is a branch of the AB chain on the edge of town, although there are shops in the campsite in front of the villa and three supermarkets in the village.

12 Toilet paper - There is extra under the stairs

13 Washing clothes - we have two washing machines. The most effective is the one in the downstairs apartment. If you want to use it, put in washing liquid and turn the dial to 7, Then after the wash, move the dial on just one notch for the spin dryer. There is a washing line and rack that can be used in the garden. 

14 Hot water - this is supplied by solar panels on the roof - it sometimes takes a little longer than standard to run hot.

15 Extra sheets, duvets, blankets - There is a supply in each bedroom.

16 Our neighbours - On your left, as you look at the sea are Stewart and Frederica - We don’t know them so well and on your right are Arthur and Ira - very friendly and very helpful. They both have Airbnb guests also.

17 As it’s hot and Greece, there are insects around, could you please keep the floor clean of food and crumbs otherwise ants will no doubt try and make their way in. We have had no insects in the villa this year.

18 Doctor - if you need a doctor, there is one in the village and there is also a health centre about nine miles away in Lygorio. The emergency number in Greece is 112

Emergency numbers

19 Dustbins - when full, please empty the bins into the communal dustbins that are back down the hill about 30 metres and first turning on your left - essentially they are down in front of the villa.

20 Telescope - you will see a telescope in the lounge - we inherited it - it looks great but unfortunately doesn’t work. There are a great pair of binoculars if you want to use them.

You should now be ready for a cup of tea, beer or wine :)