Muses Beach Villas – Thalia
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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: Erato, Cleo, Urania and Thalia, the second 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 Thalia, 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.
Tourist tax
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.
Villa barbecues
Many of our villas have a barbecue provided. However, use of barbecues may be restricted or prohibited during the main summer season in order to comply with local regulations.
Accommodation
Muses Beach Villas
- A cluster of four adult only one-bedroom villas on Kouremenos Beach
- Thalia is the second 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
- Complimentary wifi
- 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
When you book a flight-inclusive package holiday, the following hire car(s) are included in the 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.
What a wonderfully relaxing week! We were last in Crete 40 years ago and a lot has changed! Our accommodation here at Thalia is excellent & Claire has been hugely helpful with local information & restaurants. The town really comes alive on Saturday evening. Other highlights include walking the Gorge of the Dead at Kato Zakros & the monastery at Moni Toplou
Muses Beach Villa staff were excellent, regarding the cleaner and pool/gardener. Excellent location for those looking for peace and tranquillity and getting away from the hustle of busy city/tourism. Beautiful location of the villas and many restaurants to chose from, whether by walking or driving. There is a local dive club if you want to dive the area.
Perfect holiday. Lovely location, lovely villa. Simpsons and all their people were exactly what you would want. Highly recommended.
Everything just perfect for a relaxing and refreshing time away. The Muses Villas have everything needed and serviced by friendly and helpful locals during our stay. The owner pops in and is welcoming and generous with treats to enjoy. Largely unspoilt part of Crete so very quiet apart from the local goat's bells!
We returned to Thalia after 6 years and we were not disappointed to find that nothing has changed! The villa is just as comfortable as it was and it was great to see how the tree plants have grown up around the garden. The area is still so peaceful and underdeveloped. We enjoyed a really relaxing holiday here with excellent seafood and local Cretan cuisine and local wines are worth a try! A beautiful spot.
Another fantastic Simpson holiday! Muses certainly didn’t disappoint and lived up to our expectations. We were looking for a quiet, get-away-from-it-all location and had a fabulous relaxing time. However, we did manage to take in the lovely scenery and drove to Kato Zakros, which had a nice beach and also the Minoan Palace. The restaurants were fabulous and very welcoming both along the coast and in Palekastro. We will return!
Our first time to Crete and not our last. We have enjoyed it so much. Muses is lovely and so well set up – we will be back. We thoroughly recommend Richtis Gorge and ‘Gorge of the Dead’ – our favourite place being Zakros Beach at the end of the gorge. Thank you for a wonderful stay.
Our second visit to Muses. We adore this place. The owners and local concierge were beyond excellent. The villa and pool, location and overall experience were perfect. We had a couple of self created challenges that were managed brilliantly by the local team - thanks Claire & Lisa. We’ve already recommended a holiday here to a number of friends and we would happily guarantee to anyone else they will have the absolute best experience. Our thanks to everyone
Another lovely stay at Muses. The villa is perfectly situated, has everything you need and is immaculately kept. Maria and Manolis are warm and welcoming owners. Claire has been extremely helpful in all that we asked. We look forward to returning.
We came to this area (Glaros Apartments) 23 years ago and wondered how much the area might have changed…thankfully not a lot! It is still very much the ‘hidden Crete’ we remembered. These villas are superb in every way and we’ve had a very warm welcome from everyone. We’ve enjoyed relaxing and at a slower pace. For an exhilarating drive with rewards of beautiful beaches, try Kato Zakros and Xerokambos with a return via Sitia. We will be returning. With thanks to Claire and Manolis.
Our first visit to Crete and we will certainly return. Muses is absolutely fabulous and the standard of the villa is fantastic. Claire and staff are very attentive and helpful.
As always, the Simpson team were superb, the villas and car hire excellently organised and everything was executed with panache! Thank you everyone!
Our second stay here, and just as beautiful and relaxing as the last time. Many thanks to the lovely hosts for making us so welcome in their villa. Thanks to Claire for being there if needed.
Claire was absolutely brilliant. Nothing was too much trouble. She made our holiday just what we wanted, yet again. We’ll be back!
We've had a lovely and relaxing break here at the Muses after a couple of difficult and stressful years. We enjoyed relaxing and doing very little in the sun, watching the windsurfers and eating out. Not had a bad meal since we arrived! Had a great time, thanks.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Thalia - a very comfortable and pleasant base from which to enjoy this quiet and beautiful corner of Crete.
We thoroughly enjoyed our week in Thalia. The villa was excellent and the location delightful. The whole experience of booking through Simpson was fuss free and efficient. Quite the easiest car hire arrangements we have ever experienced.
I first booked through the original Simpson company, Simply, in 1980 and it's gratifying that the reliability in terms of the quality of premises and location endures. Knowing that everything will be, happens and works as promised is an essential part of a relaxing break. In this case, the genuine warmth and generosity of the villa owners added another level – (what a party!).
After July 2018 we stayed in Urania for the second time and had a wonderful and very happy holiday. There is nothing to complain about, everything is just perfect. We were very grateful for the time spent on Crete and will definitely return one day as we love Muses, Palekastro, the charming atmosphere and the very kind people.
Marion, our local rep, was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Kostoula at the airport was extremely helpful particularly as I was suffering from a bad back for the departure from the airport. After a number of holidays with Simpson Travel we should like to congratulate you on the quality of your staff. Staying in Thalia was a wonderful holiday.
We were last in the area 15 years ago and were pleased to discover that it remains unspoilt. Villas are in a great location, well appointed to a high specification and spotlessly clean. The personal service was excellent, from the pre-departure team to our local representative and everything in between. Our accommodation was superb – everything had been thought of and it was spotlessly clean; it was in a lovely, unspoilt location Thank you to Marian for her help and advice and for delivering bubbly and cake for Chris’ 60th birthday.
An amazing experience. Our holiday experience was more than we could have hoped for. From the welcome of the local representative to the amazing location of our outstanding accommodation and to the warmth of the local village community. Highly recommended. .
Thalia is a lovely villa in a beautiful unspoilt area. There are plenty of good places to visit – Kato Zakros, Sitia and Makri Gialos to mention just a few. Great G&T at the beach bar. We had a lovely time.
Everything is quite perfect for a lovely relaxing holiday. Thalia is so comfortable and of course couldn’t be closer to the beach. We had kindness from people and decent meals wherever we went.
We arrived stressed and left beyond relaxed! We had a truly wonderful time at Muses Beach Villa. A fantastic villa, very friendly locals, great food and the beaches are second to none. We’ll be back.
What a find. A great villa, beautiful surroundings and a great pool. We had a wonderful day at the beach in Vai. We very much hope to visit this area again one day and find it as unspoilt and idyllic – and still with sheep which we have enjoyed watching graze nearby.
This was out third visit to Muses Villas. It is a wonderful location in a beautiful unspoilt area. There are lots of places to visit – Toplou, Kato Zakros and gorges as well as good tavernas. Marian, our Simpson Travel representative, couldn’t have been more helpful and charming.
Thalia is a fabulous place – very relaxing. We loved the area – it’s totally unspoilt with very friendly local people. There are lots of good tavernas. We’d recommend the villa and this part of Crete to anyone.
It has been lovely to be back in Crete again with such friendly, hospitable people. The villa was superbly equipped and very comfortable – the owner brought us delicious figs!
Simply exquisite, how can you not fall in love with the place? The east coast of Crete definitely has the charm that we felt when we first visited back in the 90s. True, unspoiled landscape with local hospitality to match.
Simply wonderful! We have loved our time here, it has been glorious; with a great location, weather and people what more could you wish for?
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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