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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We stayed in one of the three ‘traditional apartments’ which should more properly be called studios. Inside, they comprise just a small bedroom with a basic kitchen area and a tiny bathroom. However they are fully equipped with kettle, toaster, coffee maker and air conditioning. Each apartment has a large terrace with chairs and tables and an outside food preparation area. They are all quite private from each other. It is the outside space that makes this place so very special. The whole area is shaded by tall trees, and strung between the trees are hammocks where you can sway gently in the breeze (there is almost always a breeze), reading your book and listening to the loud chorus of cicadas. Butterflies float around, visiting the beautiful flowers. Down below, across the olive groves, you can see the deep blue sea. There are wooden sun loungers too, and comfortable seats and tables and chairs. Because you are 8km from Ano Zakros where the nearest shop is, Stella provides a communal food cupboard and fridge where you can help yourself to basics like fruit juice, bread, butter, breakfast cereals, tea and coffee. You pay what you like into the ‘honesty box’ provided. Kato Zakros itself is a little paradise for those of us who simply want the beauty of nature, fantastic fresh Greek food and peace & quiet.
We stayed early July at Stella’s in the apartment (which actually should be called bungalow) called Κρήτη (Crete). The pictures which are on the website cannot describe the beauty of the place. Our bungalow was the last one and hidden so you have a complete privacy. Every single detail made this place heaven on earth. When we arrived we were the only guests (the 2 other bungalows were vacant) therefore we had the feeling to enter our own private luxury property. Stella is very helpful and has full of information about place to visit, to eat… We enjoyed very much our stay, the gardens. We visited the roofgarden of her studios (they are located next door). Stella’s apartment, studios and Yannis retreat are like a very small “resort” with their own privacy. We truly enjoyed spending one night after dinner in the hammock listening to the grasshoppers with a cup of tea: a pure delight. We cannot wait to return to Stella’s!
Ulrike from Germany, September 4, 2014 Appartement war sehr schoen, sauber. Gartenanlage war sehr gepflegt und schoen. Lage nahe am Strand von Kato Zakros. Werden gerne wiederkommmen.
I spent a magical three days at Stella’s in the early spring. I stayed in Minos Studio and because it was early in the season I had the whole place to myself. Stella’s is a hidden treasure set in beautiful garden surroundings on a hillside above the sea. You can lie in one of her hammocks and all you hear are the birds singing and the wind as it blows through the iron wood trees.
The beach and surrounding tavernas are a short walk down the road and the sea is calm and clean. My apartment was well appointed and cozy with everything I needed. This would be a wonderful place for couples as there are little private corners around the garden to sit and is very romantic. Kato Zakros is a bit out of the way but is really a hidden jewel of what Crete used to be like. There is also great hiking in the hills and I recommend taking the walk up to the “Vally of the Dead”.
Stella is a charming hostess who is happy to do anything to make your stay special. I almost hate to give this secret place away.
We stayed in the traditional apartments for four nights in June. Lives up to it’s high reputation as does Stella who could not have been more helpful and took time to make us feel welcome. Many people have called this a paradise and they were not exaggerating. We called it Shangri La as it was easy to forget all the tension and problems in the news. Wonderful walks nearby and excellent food in the tavernas. A special word for the Amnesia cafe and Georgia who presides and showered us with extras from the family garden.
D & M Adams.
Another World..
I spent a magical three days at Stella’s in the early spring. I stayed in Minos and because it was early in the season I had the whole place to myself. Stellas is a hidden treasure set in beautiful garden surroundings on a hillside above the sea. You can lie in one of her hammocks and all you hear are the birds singing and the wind as it blows through the iron wood trees. The beach and surrounding tavernas are a short walk down the road and the sea is calm and clean. My apartment was well appointed and cozy with everything I needed. This would be a wonderful place for couples as there are little private corners around the garden to sit and is very romantic. Kato Zakros is a bit out of the way but is really a hidden jewel of what Crete used to be like. There is also great hiking in the hills and I recommend taking the walk up to the “Vally of the Dead”. Stella is a charming hostess who is happy to do anything to make your stay special. I almost hate to give this secret place away.
Very good accommodation. I recommend these houses in Kato Zakros Crete. The place is also beautiful with many natural sights. Martin, Norway
I stayed in Stella’s Minos apartment for 9 days. The apartment was small but comfortable and very clean. In the kitchen annex there was everything you may need for cooking and dining: two electric hotplates, small fridge, microwave oven and all necessary utensils and silverware.
Outside the reception area there was another fridge with some basic products like bread, butter, fruit juice or even local wine. And beside it – a small barrel with homemade raki – a local alcoholic beverage. All this – for you to be used – courtesy of Stella and her husband Elias. They were wonderful hosts – also, very helpful in advising about local shopping and sightseeing.
For the evening – there are a few taverns along the beach with good variety of local food. My favourite tavern was Nostos (the one with the white chairs).
Kato Zakros is a beautiful and very quiet place – that what I was looking for! I’ll be back!!!
Stayed October 2011, traveled with friends
What makes a great lodging experience? For me, about a dozen factors are important:
1) natural setting of the destination
2) historical significance of the destination
3) charm, character, uniqueness, and attractiveness of the destination
4) charm, character, uniqueness, and attractiveness of the lodging property
5) central location of the lodging property
6) property ownership: family-owned versus corporate-owned
7) property ambience: warm and intimate versus soulless and impersonal
8) opportunity to meet and know the property owner
9) owner’s commitment to meeting guest needs
10) opportunities to meet and exchange information with other guests
11) attractiveness, cleanliness, and comfort of the room
12) value: can average people like me afford to stay here?
Two or three favorables may result in a memorable lodging experience. But, what if all twelve factors are favorable? What then? Well, friends, what you have then is a cosmic convergence and a place you hate to reveal in TripAdvisor for fear it will become so popular that you won’t be able to stay there again. But you go ahead and write a rave review anyway because you are so appreciative of the property owners that you wish to repay their graciousness.
In my travels, I have encountered only two twelves: Stella’s Traditional Apartments at Kato Zakros on the Greek island of Crete and Casa Zuniga, a bed-and-breakfast at Guanajuato in central Mexico.
I have stayed at Stella’s twice, with my wife in the summer of 2008 and again in the fall of 2010 with a group of friends. Stella’s Traditional consists of only three apartments, but lovely Stella also manages rentals of several nearby studios for family members. They are nestled in a botanical paradise, which is a pleasant quarter-mile stroll to Zakros bay with its swimming beaches and tavernas. Not a single retail store mars the tranquility of the scene.
Stella and her husband Elias have recently built several striking maisonettes (small houses) constructed of native rock in a very different setting not far away; they are perched on a hillside overlooking the bay and facing the yawning mouth of Dead’s Gorge.
For nature lovers, a circle hike ascends above Kato Zakros affording vistas of two distant whitewashed hill villages before descending into Dead’s Gorge and the return trek to Kato Zakros.
For history lovers: the ruins of Zakros Palace lie along the walk between Stella’s and the sea. This was one of the main palace complexes of Minoan Crete, the first civilization of Europe. From here the sophisticated Minoan culture traded with Egypt and the Middle East. As for me, I wouldn’t trade my time at Kato Zakros for riches from anywhere else.
I stayed there in June 2008. I would like to visit Kato Zakros again, maybe the next summer. Spent there 3 relaxing days.