Thalassa apartments offer charming self-catering accommodation for your holidays in Palekastro, Sitia and Eastern Crete.…
Stella’s Traditional
Stella’s Traditional resort is built right on the top of the amphitheatric, fertile valley of Kato Zakros, looking the sea high above the olive, orange and lemon trees .
The sea-shore, which is only 500 metres away, is quite close for someone to enjoy the smell and the sea view and far enough to isolate every undesired civilized sound coming from the visitors’ cars. So the sounds that will disturb you come from birds, cicadas and the rustling of the leaves.
More than one hundred big trees (pine trees, carob trees, fig trees, horse chestnut ficus trees, arocarias etc) in the garden provide a deep refreshing shadow during the hot summer days.
In the evening you will enjoy the aroma of local herbs such as thyme, oregano, mint, rosemary, sage and throumbi (savoury) mixed with jasmine and basil. <<Stella’s Traditional>> is one hundred and fifty meters away from the entrance of the Gorge of the dead, a five minute walk from the Minoan palace an eight minute walk from the beach.
The exterior and the interior décor strictly follows the guide lines of Greek tradition. There are wooden pergolas outside every apartment as well as sun beds, hammocks and isolated corners ideal for reading or day dreaming.
There is also a barbeque and an outdoor kitchen for every apartment.
You will also find an outdoor, gym for weight training under the instructions of Elias (former bodybuilding champion, and writer of the best seller “Enter the modern bodybuilding”) and Stella (sports instructor) who both were gym owners before their move to Kato Zakros.
Phone: +30 28430 23739
Mob.: –
Email: relax@stelapts.com
Website: www.stelapts.com
Inside the apartments you will find a totally rustic atmosphere. Stone built walls, wooden ceilings, hand made furniture and numerous antiques from another era.
But you will not miss the facilities ie to prepare you breakfast or your meal, coffee machine, boiler, toaster, small cooker, oven, cutlery, pans, plates, glasses, as well as refrigerator, air condition, iron, hair dryer, and, and , and… In the cupboards you will find all sorts of herbs and spices and other products (sugar, salt, Greek coffee, filter coffee, Nescafe, olive oil, raki) and a “welcome pack” with some goods for the first breakfast for the newcomers.
All the apartments are equipped with shower or bath with hot water all day around.
Laundry service is also available.
Although the windows are well protected with nets, there are insect-repellent appliances relieving one from possible annoyances.
Notice also that the tap provides you with the best water in Crete.
But above all, you will find the warm hospitality, friendly atmosphere and the smile of Stella and Elias, owners of STELLA’S TRADITIONAL.
Send a message to the owner..
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For the last 30 years or so I have been travelling around the Greek mainland and lots of islands, my wife actually being from Santorini. Needless to say we’ve seen a lot in all that time and I think I can claim that over the years I have seen both heaven and hell in Greece.
Once in a while you come across places and people that make a difference: Stella and Elias are such people. And their place likewise. My wife and I wound down within 24 hours, my kid forgot about facebook and the rest. “Like Santorini in the Seventies!” is what my wife had to say – and she meant this in the best of terms.
The place is set less than half a mile from the beach and the few tavernas (my preference: Platanakis). It’s a great walk along rocks and gardens and watermelons, cacti and lemon trees. You even pass an archeological site. We stayed in two studios and one of the bigger apartments. The studios had a beautiful roof garden where we would end our day gazing at the stars and the Milky Way listening to owls hooting and the wind rustling in the olive trees.
The apartment had a great yard and a view over the groves and the sea. The gardens are excellent and provide the amount of shade you want in Crete. The rooms are spotless and well-equipped with all the amenities you would expect. And: it all works. Stella does a great job making sure people have and get what they have paid for – in an unobtrusive and professional way. A lot of work and love has gone into this “project” and one can only congratulate this lovely couple on their good work!
We’ll definitely be back, hopefully staying at one of the hill-side apartments being constructed right now, overlooking Zakros Bay with spectacular views!
Voici pour les mots-cles: Un endroit exceptionnel, une vue imprenable, un lieu florissant, des logements propres, une decoration avec gout, un accueil chaleureux, une ambiance amicale, une tranquilite ideale…
Un charme certain!!!
Nous avons passe 10 jours dans un studio chez Stella et y avons trouver tout ce que l’on peut esperer pour des vacances sous le signe du repos.
Le voyageur a le choix entre un studio pour deux ou un appartement. Le studio est bien fourni: cuisinetteavec frigo, climatisation. Une plus grande salle a manger en espace commun permet de profiter de grandes tables, de deux grands frigos (dont un contenant des produits mis a la disposition des clients). Tout est en libre service: huile d’olive faite maison, le raki fait maison, les pommes de terre, les epices, les produits de petit dejeuner, le pain, etc… Tout y fonctionne selon la formule: “take everything, pay anything”.
Sur la table de la veranda (avec nacelle pour s’y reposer en lisant un livre), on trouvait quotidiennement des petits “cadeaux” de la part des hotes: gateaux, raisins, desserts….
Mais l’accueil et la gentillesse des hotes va bien plus loin. Apres quelques conseils sur les plages a visiter, Stella nous a prete des masques avec tubas, palmes ainsi qu’un matelas gonflable. A utiliser comme on le souhaitait et a rendre quand on le souhaitait.
Sur la propriete se trouvent egalement des hamacs mis a disposition des clients, une balancelle, des tables, un barbecue (Stella fourni le charbon et les allumes-briquettes) et bientot probablement un espace de musculation.
La plage se situe a environ 200m et il s’agit d’une plage de galets tes calme. Pas de magasins a proximite directe – il faut emprunter la voiture pour acceder au village le plus proche (Zakros), dans la mesure ou il n’y a que des tavernes a Kato Zakros, cependant elles donnent toutes sur la baie (et la mer bleue) et offrent de la nourriture traditionnelle.
Pour finir, si vous cherchez un endroit calme, suffisamment isole du brouhaha touristique des grandes villes, c’est l’endroit ideal.
I’ve traveled around the world a lot and I would like to say that this place is unique.Ideal for relaxing,taste tradition,enjoy the sunny weather,be one with nature.
The apartments are just amazing,like a piece of art.Stone built,with tremendous style,clean,with all the amenities you need and a big green garden.Sea is 5 minutes away on foot.I got the feeling that I stayed in a hidden paradise,away from city problems and stress.
What to say about the owners,sometimes words are not enough.Elias,a former professional bodybuilder and experienced mountain climber and his wife Stella,a gymnast and teacher of traditional Greek dances,made my stay there more than welcome.Interesting people and so hospitable.I have to mention Stratis as well ,their little son,which is a real star!Thank you all!
I highly recommend Stella apartments.I’ve stayed there 3 times already and I will go again.
If you are wanting a relaxing, peaceful holiday with life long memories Stella’s apartments in Kato Zakros is the place to stay. We had been travelling around Crete for five weeks when we looked up our trusty Lonely Planet and read their review and decided Stella’s sounds like our kind of place.
Well, we sure were right. In fact, we felt so at home it was hard to leave after 9 days.
You see, Stella and Elias ( the owners ) have put so much of themselves into this place. Their efforts represent thousands of years of Cretan traditions. For us, our stay with them, was a window into the wonderful Cretan culture.
Elias and Stella have lovingly created an environment which captures the essence of Cretan life. Each apartment has its own Cretan theme, skilfully constucted and decorated by them. Stella and Elias are the perfect hosts; always helpful, genuine and extremely hospitable ( yes, there was plentiful raki, fresh bread, citrus and olives ). Our accomodation (Kriti ) looked out over a citrus orchard and olive grove in the foreground and the bluest Mediterrranean less than five hundred metres to the east. To the south and north lay rugged hills where sheep and goats, with their tinking bells, grazed on the wild herbs. This area proved to be the absolute highlight of our entire holiday as we spent most days hiking and exploring this stunning landscape. Elias has very carefully constructed and maintained several trekking routes ine the Dead Gorge vicinity.
Most days we enjoyed sunshine and had rain only one day. As it was winter, we were able to walk most of the day.
Stella’s apartments is the perfect holiday venue for anyone wanting a holiday where they can experience history, culture, hiking and exploring, touring in a car or just lying back reading and relaxing in a hammock in the many little nooks. Stella’s apartments offers so much and more to the traveller in winter.
Beautiful memories of Stella’s has been etched in our minds forever.
Wij zijn hier 6 nachten geweest. Er zijn studio’s en appartementen, wij hadden een studio. Kamer is gezellig ingericht, daarnaast heb je een eigen terrasje. Er is een fantastische tuin, vol met palmen en gekleurde bloemen, stoelen en hangmatten. Heerlijk om hier te relaxen. Er is een daktuin waar je leuk kunt ontbijten, en een open keuken waarin je alles kunt nemen wat je wilt tegen een betaling die je zelf bepaalt. Stella is heel gastvrij en geeft je alle informatie die je nodig hebt. Het strand van Kato Zakros is niet fantastisch (veel stenen), wel veel terrasjes en leuke sfeer om ‘s avonds te eten. Het strand van Xeromkampost (20 minuten rijden) is wel heel mooi, met kleine strandjes en helder water.
Ook een aanrader voor mensen die willen wandelen. Stella’s man heeft wandelingen in de omgeving uitgezet, hiervan is ook een wandelkaart beschikbaar, te verkrijgen bij Stella. Een aanrader is een wandeling door de Vallei der Doden, heel rustig en prachtige natuur.
Ik zou Stella’s apartments aanraden aan mensen die op zoek zijn naar een idyllische en rustige plek.
We stayed for 2 nights in apartment ‘Zakros’ at the end of March/beginning of April.
The apartments are set among shady trees with a small kitchen corner inside the apartment and a gas cooker and table outside on the terrace. There is no table inside, so winter eating might be a bit chilly, but we were fine.
The inside of the apartment was furnished with rustic antiques and was all very comfortable. Bathroom a bit tight, but not a problem.
Stella brought us a basket of food for breakfast including eggs, wonderful local honey, home pressed olive oil, fruit…
We had planned to spend our day exploring the Minoan site and then walking the Gorge of the Dead, and Stella was very helpful, lending us a map and advice on routes – she is a keen walker herself. The gorge was quite memorable, not least for the earthquake we experienced !
To reach the apartments you drive through a small ford which still had plenty of water flowing at this time. Consequently, to reach the beach taverna we chose to take the car rather than get wet feet in the dark, though I imagine this dries up later. At this early time in the season there was only one taverna open, which was perfectly staisfactory, but on the other evening we drove up to Ano Zakros and had an excellent meal at the Napoleon.
Stella is building a new complex of villas across the valley – Terra Minoika – and we were given a viewing of one as yet unfinished. They are very well appointed, stone built and have wonderful views over the bay. However, it will take some years before there are shady trees as at the traditional apartments, so my choice would be for these.
Stayed April 2011, traveled as a couple
We arrived in the evening as Stella was on her way out, she directed us to our studio and the key was in the door. Our studio was exactly as it looked on the website.
It was spotlessly clean and had everything you could wish for – I didn’t need to bring my hairdryer – there were even cotton buds & cotton wool pads in the bathroom…. The oudoor kitchen was a great asset and just being able to help yourselves to everything and leave the money in the honesty box was a great bonus.
This was our first visit to Crete and in fact our first visit to Greece and we would highly recommend it.
We loved the accommodation, however the beach in Kato Zakros is all stones & pebbles, Stella recommented trying Xerocampos where the coastline stretches for several miles and the beaches are sandy, the water is acqua blue and is everything you could wish for in a beach – it is worth making the 16km journey there and back!
We ate in every taverna in Kato Zakros – you must try the “fast food” taverna – our bill was Euro12.50 for dinner – and we were given a free starter and fresh fruit when we asked for the bill!! We liked all the taverna’s, the best were the fast food place and the taverna next to it (on the right hand side as you look at it).
We have traveled around the inland for 10 days, and this place is the best that we have known. It is very calm and romantic, with a lot of charm. In a word, incredible.
Nous savons maintenant qu’il y a au bout du monde, là où le Soleil et la pleine Lune naissent de la mer, un beau lieu d’intenses amabilités.
L’entretien des superbes jardins y est un devoir d’hospitalité; il s’agit d’accueillir au mieux le visiteur.
Et il y a un Monsieur qui trace dans les alentours, à coup de petits points rouges, des chemins de tendresse pour guider les randonneurs dans la réalité d’une nature qui lutte durement pour survivre.
Pierre et Daisy
Suisse
octobre 2008
Die etwas längeren Anreise vom Flughafen kann man bereits mit einer Zwischenübernachtung sinnvoll nutzen und die Insel erkunden. Erholung pur und absolute Entspannung erwarten einen dann am nächsten Tag im Ankunftsort. Das Meer und eine Hand voll Tavernen mit traditioneller Küche und leckerem Wein sind direkt vor der Tür.
Fernab des großen Trubels ist der Ort und natürlich die Anlage besonders gut geeignet für verliebte Pärchen, Wanderer und Naturliebhaber!
Die Zimmer sind traditionell und mit viel Liebe, aber auch zweckmäßig (Kühlschrank, Kochplatte, etc.), eingerichtet. Die komplette Anlage sucht Seinesgleichen! Immer grün, mit vielen Blumen und Feigen, die man sich beim Spazieren tatsächlich von den Bäumen pflücken kann, grenzt die Anlage fast an´s Paradies!