Stella Villa

My friend and I got ‘allocated on arrival’ so we were just pleased to have a roof over our head at first.
Villa Stella is very pleasant, if a bit basic. The rooms were always clean and the room was quite roomy for just two of us.
My only complaint about Villa Stella is the ignorant bar man! My friend and I decided to use some of the other pools nearly as Villa Stella was often shaded during the afternoon, the bar manager was not happy with this! He personally fetched us from one of the pools saying he was going to call the police. What a joke!

Have just returned from a week’s holiday with my boyfriend to the lovely island of Crete, staying at the Villa Stella.
The Villa was a fantastic base for our holiday. It is centrally located on the main road in Stalis with only a few minutes’ walk to get the gorgeous sandy beaches.
The accommodation was clean and well kept. The Villa has the added luxury of a lovely pool, which was extremely beneficial in the heat of the Crete sunshine.
Other reviewers have complained about the rules that are around the villa, but we found these not to be an issue-there to keep the place looking fantastic and creating a relaxing, happy environment. Tony was especially welcoming and made sure everyone had fun at the bar during the day and evening (his shot concoction was lovely!). The owners (only saw Stratos) live on site.
The beaches around Stalis are lovely and there is plenty of watersports to try out. Bit of advice-don't do the parasailing on a choppy day!
There are lots of wonderful restaurants and bars to check out in Stalis, most located on the beach front with fantastic views. An amazing bar with hammock chairs is well worth a visit. All of the restaurants we visited offered superb food (definitely go for the Greek cuisine-Moussaka, Kelftiko, Soulvaki, Stiffado) at fantastic prices. House wine in most places is extremely cheap (4 Euros for half a litre) but be aware as some taste better than others!
Stalis is located near other resorts that are well worth a visit-Hersonossis, Knossos, Aghios Nickolaos, Heraklion. Buses (which you get on the main road in Stalis) are a cheap way to get around (they tend not to follow much of a timetable so time it right as you could end up standing around in the heat waiting).
A fantastic place to visit and recommended to those wanting a relaxing holiday.

Myself and my 3 other friends stayed in villa Stella at the end of June start of July 2006.
On arrival we were told about the rules of the place, which we didn’t really mind as living at home, you have to live by rules and respect others!
Our apartment was rather small for 4 adults sharing and there was only one double bed and 2 pull out mattresses, which meant two had to share a bed which is not easy when it was so warm.
But the apartment and the pool area itself was clean and wee maintained.
Stella and Stratos were very friendly along with Nikos the bar man (who left half way through our stay) and the new bar man were very very friendly and always willing to chat!
Villa Stella is in an ideal location, just across the road and down a few steps was the beach and to the and right there where restaurants so you were never stuck for food.
The girls and I would really recommend a trip to bar bliss, where the staff are really friendly and there are 2 very nice Chinese restaurants in Stalis.
We went into Malia 2/3 nights and I would only recommend it if you are below the age of 20 and out to get drunk and off your face, as this was commonly seen in the streets of Malia!
The bar/club staff hassle you to get you into their club and offer you free shots but the bars tend to be over crowded and have a smell of sick about them!!!
We had a great holiday. I would go back tomorrow if I had the chance, I would recommend a trip to the soap shop across the road from villa Stella as the owner is hilarious!
Also Baywatch restaurant (its like Italian) and other restaurants to the left are great but don’t be forced in by the staff trying to get you in!
I’m looking already to book for next year!

Overall, a nice holiday experience. Ideal location, the bar food was to a good standard and well priced, the rooms were in need of some updating but were otherwise clean and satisfied our basic needs. Stella and Stratos were welcoming and friendly and we went to the bar nightly for a drink in their company to socialise with them and the other guests.
We did find that there were many rules concerning bringing your own drinks to the poolside and using your own fans in the room, but did not mind obeying these rules as we have an understanding that the reason for these rules was that the owners made little money from package holidays (as large companies know that the deals are their only chance to make money as they have no means of advertising and will not make their money in any other way.)
We would be satisfied enough if we went again. We fully enjoyed the time we spent there and were tempted to stay!

Villa Stella is ideally situated for all amenities they were kept clean but the maid never disturbed you or woke you up she only came in when you were out, linen changed twice weekly which is okay.
Highly recommend The Rose & Crown for food it is delicious and cheap staff are very friendly. Also go the Pegasus Pub ran by George & Emma does a good quiz and bingo nightly. Avoid Malia unless you are under 20 years of age.
We are definitely going back to Stalis in May and cannot wait!!! Best holiday since Ibiza in 2004!!!

Brilliant for families made to feel really welcome. It was our second time for us at Villa Stella.
As usual in the Grece apartments are very basic but clean and nothing is too much trouble for owners Stratos and Stella.
We will probably make a third trip. The restaurants are to the right as you leave Villa Stella the best option, turning left and you are submitted to being hassled at Restaurants to go in.
Strongly recommend Camelot Restaurant

Anyone thinking to book a holiday at Villa Stella don’t bother! When we got off the coach direct holidays didn’t take us into the hotel like they normally would they just drove off and we had Stella screaming in our ears. Stratos took us to our room I looked round in disgust how could this be in the brochure? It was smelly, dirty and dark.
When it came to unpacking there were no where to put the clothes we spent 2 weeks living out of our suit cases alot of our clothes we had to hang over the railing at the top of the staircase for privacy
The bathroom smelt of urine and our towels never got changed we didn’t have a holder for our shower head either.
The flooring was smashed up pavers covered in dark brown paint the floor was very unsafe.
We was only allowed our fridge on a setting of 2 which didn’t keep anything cold, stratos also warned us that if there were any breakages we would have to pay for them all on the day of departure.
About a week into the holiday someone’s toilet got blocked and Stratos opened the drain outside pulled out his hand with human waste attached to it he then used water to wash his hands (no cleaning substance used) dried hands and wiped down the bar. We then didn’t use Stratos' bar and he ignored us for the rest of the holiday (which was great because we didn’t hear him moaning)
In our last week we found out that the full hotel was infested with mice the were on the patios in the rooms in the kitchen and around the pool.
I wouldn’t say it’s the tour operators fault because we made a complaint while on holiday and it has been removed from the brochure.
Personally I think villa Stella should be demolished!

Excellent location, close to all amenities. Room very nice by Greek standards. Downside, room cleaned twice, had to empty own bins and given 1 loo roll at beginning of holidays, after that, down to you to replace.
Owners were very pleasant and helpful, however, contrary to what's been said about the bar manager, very polite as long as you spent your money with him. Beer 3 Euros for medium sized glass, down the road, 2 Euros for large glass. He constantly moaned about the owner and how hard it was for him to make ends meet. He didn't have the business sense to go out and about to suss out the competition.
Non residents turned away when they found out his prices. He constantly told us how we should spend our day, mainly with him! Stopped speaking to us on last day, even though we had spent money with him each night, albeit before or after going to restaurant for evening meal. Felt pressured into Sunday barbecue, 26 Euros for burnt sausages and burgers, dried up chicken.
Our holiday would have scored 10/10 without his constant beady eye watching your every move. It felt like you were running the gauntlet every time you went out or came in.

Great location on the beach road and just short walk for all types of entertainment. Great restaurants of which the staff were not pushy to get you to eat in them.
Always so pleasant. The poolside at Villa Stella could have been a bit more inviting. A bit of music and better poolside furniture. List of cocktails would not have gone a miss with a few offers thrown in to keep you there. Room wasn’t bad but then you only go there to sleep.
More clean towels next time please. Will definitely go back to Villa Stella.

I have just returned from a weeks holiday at the Villa Stella, I was very impressed considering what some people had put on here.
I think people will be pleased to hear that the bar is no longer run by Stratos and Stella so although they are still about they have no reason to moan about you buying at the bar, although he does seem to walk round looking for things to moan about, but as he moans in Greek it doesn't really affect the English haha!
Nikos and Natasha now run the bar and they are two of the nicest people I have met, no hard sell and no pushing you to buy at the bar, to be honest we found it easier to buy at the bar than go out anyway if you are sat round the pool why not buy there. I recommend Nikos' Tzatziki very, very nice. The barbecue on Sunday night is also highly recommended, lots of lovely food and a good chance to meet others who are stay at the apartments.
As for the stairs round the apartments there were a few more than what is mentioned but we were in one of the ground floor rooms and I think there were 9 stairs in all which I don’t think were anything to worry about.
All in all was a brilliant holiday and the apartments could not be in a better location, I will definitely be going back, already looking for September.