Muses Beach Villas – Erato
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- Beachfront location
- Authentic Crete
- Short walk to tavernas
- Close to Palekastro
Crete is often cited as the best of all the Greek islands for a beach holiday, and whilst there are quite a few contenders for that accolade, we think that these wonderful new contemporary villas are an unbeatable choice for any beach-loving couple.
Muses Beach Villas are four, independent, one-bedroom villas on the edge of sandy Kouremenos beach: Thalia, Cleo, Urania and Erato, the last villa back from the beach. Generously sized for two, each offers immaculate interiors and is well equipped with everything you could need. Think of it as beach life with all the comforts of home thrown in. The plot is also substantial for just four villas, allowing space for private pools, individual patios and a good glimpse of the sea from each. Privacy matters too of course, so the houses are staggered to ensure as much seclusion as possible and if you really want to get away from it all, take a wander along Kouremenos beach, which is rarely crowded, even in high of season.
We first offered holidays in this part of Crete back in the 1980s and returning recently, we were a little nervous about how it might have changed. Thankfully, the beaches, villages and traditional town of Palekastro remain reassuringly unspoilt and we were welcomed by old acquaintances with the unfailing hospitality that so typifies this wonderful island.
There are several charming tavernas within walking distance of Erato, where you can indulge in traditional cuisine and local Sitia wine, so if you’ve come in search of a solar recharge and some shoe-free downtime, this is the ideal spot. But if you’ve a passion for exploring, the rugged drama of the eastern Crete mountains and coastline is incredibly rewarding.
Looking for 10 nights..? Why not add a 3-night stay in a boutique hotel to your villa holiday. To find out more, view our 10-night holidays in Greece.
In Greece, a tourist tax may apply at your accommodation which will be payable locally, in cash, during the course of your holiday. Please use the link to view details specific to your accommodation. View tourist tax rates here.
Accommodation
Muses Beach Villas
- A cluster of four adult only one-bedroom villas on Kouremenos Beach
- Erato is the last villa from the beach
- Villas are staggered to retain as much privacy from each other as possible
- The villas share a driveway entrance, but benefit from private swimming pools, gardens and terraces
Layout
- 1 bedroom single story villa (sleeps 2)
- Open plan living/dining/kitchen area with Satellite TV; sliding doors to patio
- Fully equipped kitchen includes full cooker, microwave, fridge-freezer and dishwasher
- Double bedroom (150cm x 200cm bed); sliding doors to patio
- Shower room
General
- Air-conditioned throughout
- Iron, ironing board, hairdryer, bath and pool towels provided
- Washing machine
- Barbecue and spacious shaded terrace
- Swimming pool 8m x 4m (depth 1.5m), walk-in steps
- Parking space
- A torch is recommended when walking back from local tavernas in the evening
- Nearest taverna offers delivery service at no extra charge
- Masseuse available for villa visits (payable locally)
- Please note, babies and children are not accepted at Muses Beach Villas
Wifi
- All properties with wifi are able to support basic functionality such as web browsing and checking emails*
* We aim to offer an uninterrupted service but sometimes due to factors beyond our control reliability can be affected.
National tourist licence (EOT): 1040K91003261001
Location
- Kouremenos Beach 1min walk
- Taverna 3min walk
- Chiona Beach and tavernas 10min walk
- Palekastro shops/tavernas 8min drive
- Vai 20min drive
- Sitia 25min drive
- Heraklion airport 2hr 20min drive
Car hire
Car options
Based on the number of people travelling, the following hire car(s) are included in the package price of your holiday:
- 2 guests – 1 Group C2, Seat Ibiza or similar*
* All our cars include comprehensive insurance with no excess charge. For this particular destination, the undercarriage, tyres, wing mirrors and windscreen are not included in the cover.
Car specification
Group C2 – 1.2-1.4 litre engine, 1 large suitcase*
The following cars are available as alternatives on request (supplements apply). Please call our travel specialists for details.
Group D2 – Hyundai i30 or similar, 1.4 litre engine, 2 large suitcases*
Group CA – Automatic Nissan Micra or similar, 1.2-1.4 litre engine, 1 large suitcase*
Group D3 – Seat Toledo (diesel) or similar, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 3 large suitcases*
Group DA3 – Automatic Nissan Pulsar or similar , 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 3 large suitcases*
Group E1 - Kia Stonic or similar, 1.0 litre engine, 1 medium and 2 large suitcases*
Group L2 – Dacia Duster or similar, 1.2 litre engine, 3 large suitcases*
Group F1 - Citroen Grand C4 or similar, 7 seater, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 2 large suitcases*
Group FA - Automatic Citroen Grand C4 Space Tourer or similar, 7 seater, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 2 large suitcases*
* Suitcase sizes are based on a large suitcase being approximately 75cm x 41cm x 31cm, a medium suitcase of approximately 65cm x 46cm x 29cm and a small suitcase of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
This is our third stay at Erato Villa. For holidays, we have always stayed in self-catering accommodation but this villa is the pinnacle of anything we have tried before. We avoid the tourist crowds and try to embrace the less visited areas, and with Eastern Crete we have found an idyllic location to engage with the local culture and people. The friendliness and generosity we have received from the Cretans are the highlights of our stay. The countryside is desolate but productive from the ingenuity of ancient crafts. Cretan olive oil is rated to be the best in the world. Food is exceptional. We will be returning to this little piece of heaven.
Jess and Claire are excellent and a credit to Simpson. We will be using Simpson again and would highly recommend them.
The villa was very comfortable and well equipped and although in a small group of four had a lovely secluded garden and a very short walk to a beach with views and a walk along it to a small fishing village. There are three excellent tavernas next to the beach and sea that are easy to walk to and others a short drive away. All are welcoming and the food really tasty. We were made welcome by the owner of the villas and Claire our local Simpson support. We hope to return.
Our first time with Simpson Travel but will definitely not be our last. Also Muses Villas, we will definitely be back. This holiday met all our requirements for a great holiday - beautiful villa, very well furnished and equipped (apart from the lack of an ice bucket!), super quiet location. Lovely tavernas within easy walking distance and the nearest village a few minutes drive away with everything we needed - butcher, baker, greengrocer, several mini markets (offering everything you could ever need) plus several bars and tavernas. Totally uncommercialised area with a lot of interesting history. Locals very friendly, all with excellent English.
Our third visit to the Muses and not before time! The quality of the villa, its position, fittings and equipment remain high, carefully and quietly maintained by Claire and the cleaning and maintenance team. It all helped us to slip immediately into holiday/comfort mode. We’ve added to our memories of sitting on the rocks at Chiona fish restaurant, and under the trees at Kakaria, restaurants where standards seem to improve each time we come. Vai Beach remains our favourite for swimming and an occasional siesta spot. Palekastro retains its unhurried but friendly character. Is there a better place to wind down and recharge batteries? Probably not.
Such a beautiful villa and location – everything has been perfect. Lots of lovely places to eat nearby, but our favourite was the beach bar for a lunchtime pizza and cocktail! We had such a lovely stay.
This was our second visit to eastern Crete, with a gap of 18 years, and we found the area just as unspoilt as we remembered it. Our villa at Muses (Erato) was one of the best we have stayed in, and the location was stunning. Our Simpson rep Claire was wonderful, she couldn't have been more helpful. Also Manolis, the villa owner and the charming pool man/gardener were so friendly and welcoming bringing us tomatoes and figs from the garden. A fantastic week and we have already booked for the same time next year!!
Another wonderful week in a Simpson villa. This is our first visit to Crete and it certainly won’t be our last. A week wasn’t long enough. Richtis Gorge is fabulous. The beach, swimming and snorkelling is good – we saw moray eel and starfish amongst the usual fish. We’ve eaten locally and not been disappointed. Knossos and Spinalonga were worth the drive and Roussolakkos worth the walk. We’ve run out of time with still loads to do! Thank you to all the team here. It’s wonderful.
Very enjoyable and relaxing holiday at this lovely villa in the unspoilt region of Crete. Superb food in the local restaurants and a wide choice of uncrowded beaches and interesting walks.
We cannot express our love for this accomodation more. This is our second stay at Muses and although we did not have the best of weather to start, that did not deter us from thoroughly enjoying our stay. We even extended our two week stay by another week; the Simpson team were very efficient in arranging this including car hire and return flight changes. We shall be returning soon to 'our' villa and look again forward to booking through Simpson Travel. Thank you all.
We booked a villa holiday through Simpsons Travel after receiving an email ad. We have never been to Crete before and I can honestly say that the whole experience was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays we have ever been on. The setting was so tranquil and convenient for shops and tavernas. We are definitely thinking of re-booking so we can look forward to re-charging our batteries next year. Thank you Simpsons you go above and beyond the average Holiday company. Well done all!
Excellent villa in a wonderful location. The owner, Manolis, is a delight, being so kind, welcoming, genuine and friendly. He epitomises Simpson's brand.
Our first visit to this part of Crete , and certainly not our last. A beautiful , peaceful place where the local people without exception are so friendly and open. Many good village tavernas all of a good standard and some exceptional value for money. We have holidayed in Crete many times and have really enjoyed all areas , but this area was perfect for us.
We have had 2 fabulous and relaxing weeks here at Muses. Locally there is everything you need to enjoy a bbq at the villa, plus there are many little tavernas close by. Mostly we have just relaxed by the pool, strolled along the beach for coffee or a cool cocktail, or just watched the kite surfers - bliss!
Wonderful villa holiday at Muses, the best we have ever had. In fact, we booked the same again for May 2023 as soon as we got back home. Everything was just excellent. We told close friends about our stay and they have also booked for 2023. Everyone is so friendly and helpful, local food, history, roads, weather all superb. We are so looking forward to our next stay. We loved it all.
Having spent a week at Apothikes, we then were even more spoilt by having two more wonderful weeks in Erato. The weather has been a complete bonus with only a few windy days but otherwise wall to wall sunshine. We have done all the things you do and seen wonderful views and taken in the rural Cretan atmosphere and smells – just love it! We have had excellent food in Hiona, Elia, Retro but our absolute favourite bas been the caravan in the fishing harbour at the end of the beach. Amazing barbecued food and all the locals arriving for a good time – it’s buzzing every night. Thank you to Maria, Constantina, Manoli, Manos and Mari for making our stay in this wonderful place so enjoyable.
What a great find, Erato exceeded our expectations. The nicest place we have ever stayed in. Manos and Maria were delightful owners. Thank you for the figs, grapes and raki. A peaceful and relaxing holiday. Wonderful restaurants, our favourite was Elia taverna in Agkathia. Thank you Simpson for a memorable holiday.
What a lovely holiday! From start to finish, just amazing Erato, so comfortable. A welcome tray of goodies and some homemade biscuits – so kind waking up to a little plate of figs – again, thank you. It’s definitely been a holiday to remember and one that we hope to repeat.
We first visited the area when staying with Simpson at Apothikes Suites on the south coast. We had such a magical lunch at Xiana that we decided to come back and stay at Muses. This place is wonderful – just like Crete of the old days. The people are smiling and welcoming, the food and wine delicious and with just the sound of cicadas. Erato is very comfortable and well-equipped with the choice of pool or sea – what a lovely choice to have! We loved eating lunch or dinner at Xiana, at Rizo with amazing views and in nearby Agkathia, try Elia for authentic Cretan food – no menu, choose from the selection in the kitchen and be amazed at the value! Thank you Simpson Travel and of course the lovely Marian for another memorable holiday.
We have enjoyed our stay in Erato. Many thanks to Marian and the team for their attention to making our time relaxed. Retro was thoroughly enjoyable and well worth a visit. We also ate at the fabulous canteen at the harbour as well as the family run taverna nearby and up the hill.
What a wonderful time we have had in Erato. We loved experiencing real Greece in the eastern part of Crete. Simpson Travel was great throughout. Thank you to Konstantina and Marian.
Our holiday met our hopes and expectations perfectly; Muses Beach Villas – Erato was excellent and the location was quiet but within walking distance of a nice beach and only a short drive from a sizeable town which offered a great collection of good restaurants. Warm and pleasant greetings from the Simpson Travel staff at the airport on arrival and at our villa just added nicely to the overall experience.
All the people we came in contact with were very friendly and helpful, the owner was a star, even down to having us all round to a last night Greek barbeque, and was very helpful and informative. We would definitely recommend Muses Beach Villas and Simpson Travel and may even try and come back next year.
Erato is a beautifully appointed villa, immaculately maintained with a good-size private pool and garden. The villas have a secluded setting adjacent to the beach. It is in quite a quiet, remote area although there are some fantastic beaches within a short drive. Highly recommended!
If you want time out to chill, relax, recharge your batteries and do absolutely nothing but enjoy peace and quiet then Muses Beach Villas is the place to go and have a wonderful time.
This is our first time in Crete and the first time with Simpson Travel. We are very pleased with our experience. Everyone here is friendly and helpful, particularly to the British. Evie is smart, efficient, charming and all her information is perfectly clear. The owner met us to introduce himself and his fig trees – the figs are delicious! For sun, sand and sea, it would be very hard to beat this area for the fine, clean, soft sand, the crystal clear, calm and warm sea. We don't usually go to the same place twice, for fear of missing something elsewhere, but I am sure we will be back here – it's beautiful.
We have loved our stay at Erato and have had a really wonderful, relaxing stay here. Given the choice we would not want to go home. We mainly enjoyed staying around swimming in the lovely pool. Very great thanks to Kostas for the wonderful figs, to Konstantina for looking after the villa, to Evie for the invaluable advice and to Manolis and Maria for bringing even more fresh figs.
We had a wonderful stay! The beach bar was lovely for relaxing! Zakros Gorge was beautiful. Thank you for all your help Evie!
We came here from Vamos –Evie's warm greeting welcomed us to Eastern Crete after our equally lovely stay at Arosmari – our first experience of Simpson Travel. We were not disappointed. All in all it has been a wonderful time, with so much to see and do. The wind was mild whilst still warm! Thank you to Evie and Kostas for looking after us. We would love to return!
We have stayed in Simpson Travel villas for many years on various Greek islands. We chose this villa as it is in an area of Crete that we had not been to before and have definitely enjoyed ourselves. Evie has looked after us well. We enjoyed our walk down the Gorge of the Dead. The beach at Xerokampos was our best with a sandy beach, swimming and snorkelling and not very crowded. The drive to Ierapetra presents some fantastic mountain views. Really friendly people everywhere and wild natural scenery.
This has been a holiday of firsts for us...and Simpson Travel did not let us down. Amazing location, what a great village too, we already feel part of the community!
Simpson Travel impressed both of us on our first-ever holiday together and we booked with you for the first time. As tour operators go, you definitely know what you're doing and how to ensure your customers enjoy that precious time. We most certainly did and I will be booking another holiday with you! Thanks.
Our choice of Greek properties is as diverse as the islands themselves, ranging from simple seaside charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal. To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.
* For further clarification on Facilities and Amenities, please view the 'Details' tab for each property or speak to one of our experienced sales consultants.
A destination where tourism is not the local raison d’être, this is a place to relax unreservedly into a life by the sea. The landscape is rugged – mountains, gorges and rocky hillsides scattered with tiny villages and ancient ruins – but some of Crete’s finest beaches belong here too. Among them are spectacular Xerokambos and palm-fringed Vai, whilst Palekastro is one of Europe’s favourite windsurfing spots. And there are plenty of excellent waterfront tavernas where the passing of time is best marked by the waves rolling in nearby.
To the south of the region you'll find Makrygialos, an unpretentious one-time fishing village bordering a magnificent sandy beach by the warm Libyan Sea. It's a little more commercial here these days but the real draw is its extraordinary position close to some of Crete's most spectacular scenery and traditional villages. A visit to Pefki is a must, not least to dine at the pretty taverna where the ingredients are locally sourced and prepared in the traditional way to mouthwatering effect. With outstanding views across the southern coastline, there can be nowhere finer to enjoy lunch before indulging in a walk down the Pefki Gorge for a refreshing dip in the sea.
To base yourself in this idyllic destination, visit our collection of handpicked villas in and around Palekastro & Eastern Crete or take a look at our boutique Simpson Hotels.
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