Stella Villa

Stella & Stratus were very welcoming, maybe even over the top if like us, you simply want to disappear quietly into the background when on holiday - do your own thing without any pressure to “join in”. (Goes for Reps” trying to get you to sing on buses too!). It’s true what they say about Stella’s excellent Frappe “though!
Having read mostly (on balance) poor web comments from others about the size of the apartments, we went for the studio - and it would seem we were right to do so. It’s a decent size (for 2), but I wouldn’t fancy a night as number 3 on the sofa! One small wardrobe meant living out the suitcases. The shower was only warm at night (typically Greek uv panels to warm the water), and our ground floor studio had an unwelcoming terrace, with a bush rather than a view. Decor - again typically Greek white washed walls, tiled floor, clean enough but with unclean corners and spiders webs. The single beds were firm, but clean mattresses (if thin) and fresh crisp sheets and towels twice a week.
The pool was very clean and big enough for a decent cool dip. The bar area was good and clean. Price of 0.33cl Mythos (local lager) was 2.3E as against 0.5cl from the supermarket next door for 0.9E! Much as the other bars “though. We didn’t experience the “hard sell” from Stratos & Stella that others seemed to have, but the lists of rules posted everywhere were new to us in 25 years of holidaying! Most are common sense, but washing off all sun cream before going into the pool, and being charged for excessive dirt on the towels were new ones on us - and not allowing kids to play with balls or to wear t-shirts in the pool! Most bizarre was the instruction not to turn up the fridge beyond “2”, and the maid being sent to turn off the power to the fridge (for five hours) on the morning we were to depart - whilst we were still packing!
Speaking with others whilst waiting for the bus, there were more people unhappy with their stay than had had a good time - mostly to do with the apartments, which were ok as a basic base, but not particularly comfortable (glad we didn’t have two weeks). Having paid 50E to hire a fan, Stratos told off one guy at the poolside for leaving it switched on with no one in the apartment - Stratus went in himself and turned it off!
Biggest beef was having to get out by noon with a 9.45pm flight, even although the folk after us weren’t due in until 6pm, and there being no secure room for cases until we kicked up a fuss.
The Direct Holidays Rep was not inspiring, and gave out the wrong info regarding car hire insurance requirements, and didn’t know what “paying an excess” meant. Stalis itself is nice (and lifted our overall score above up to 6!) - busy with mentalist drivers, quads and motorbikes - but we had no bad experiences in any of the Tavernas or bars.
Special mention for the Rose & Crown 200 metres from VS. Local salads and fresh fish - excellent. Malia is as you would expect for a “yoof” base.
Got the impression that the German companies had all the best hotels - they wouldn’t put up with lesser standards than they have in their own countries would they?
Would we go back? To Crete, probably. Villa Stella, probably not. Greece, maybe someday but we prefer the higher quality of the more western EU countries.

Basic accommodation, clean but sparse. Shower useless and the plumbing was very slow and had to wait for it to clear before washing or showering. Direct Holidays dumped us at the street entrance and went, before we saw the accommodation, which was supposed to be ground floor due to walking difficulties, but resulted in 16 stone spiral steps to a second floor apartment. The owners were friendly but very “pushy” and reminded you constantly that they expected you to buy from the bar and cafe as the sunbeds were free. The resort is very lively and I would re-visit, but not at the same villa or with Direct Holidays who in my opinion “conned us” on the accommodation. This is not suitable for anyone with walking problems as everywhere within the villa are steps either up or down

Villa Stella is well located in Stalis and near the beach but the accommodation is very basic and drab.
We were assured by Direct holidays that we would have 2 ground floor apartments and it was suitable for persons with walking difficulties - it is not !!! There are steps everywhere and even if you have the nearest apartments to the pool/entrance there are steps - we were dumped at 3.30 am at one ground floor apartment up about 15 steps and my elderly parents were given another apartment with about another 21 steps - wonderful for people with a wheelchair and cases !!!
The positives are the accommodation was clean and there is a pool and “free” sunbeds - you are just told several times a day - by the owner in a very loud voice - that the sunbeds are free and so you must use my bar !! There is a great pool/ bar just over the
road Pella Sophia that is much better.
There is a list of instructions on the apartment door that will take you 10 mins to read - and you also get a personal lecture on all room facilities - e.g. fridge can only be on number 2 and all breakages must be paid for. The bathroom shower is a joke - the courtesy/pool room shower is 10 times superior and the shower mat in the room is disgusting - beware dirtying the towels or bed linen because there is an instruction that you will be charged for this also - you aren’t supposed to use your own fans due to electricity prices - but I guess it is really so that you have to hire a fan from the owners. There is a “safe” in the wardrobe - also another charge but there were loads of coat hangers!!!
Beware the split level apartments - many complaints re these, due to stairs inside and hot/dark stuffy sleeping area.
I appreciate the owners are trying to make a living but the charges are over the top and Stratos comes over as too aggressive and so it gets people’s back up. Direct holidays are useless and so unless you get a good deal from them there are probably better accommodations to be had

Enjoyed our holiday. Accommodation was only two star in my opinion (shower room was not clean especially the toilet). Arriving at villa Stella was very of putting at first but once settled in every thing went well.
Staff made you feel welcome but have to say would not visit again. Stalis its self has lots to offer lovely beaches (very busy), good and bad places to eat, Stalis its self is very commercialised.