“A shining example of how to do low-impact tourism. Vamos is a collection of locally owned self-catering accommodation in and around a sleepy village. Interiors are comfortable and rustic and many feature private pools. Stunning views of the White Mountains are thrown in too. Ideal for families. ”
“A shining example of how to do low-impact tourism. Vamos is a collection of locally owned self-catering accommodation in and around a sleepy village. Interiors are comfortable and rustic and many feature private pools. Stunning views of the White Mountains are thrown in too. Ideal for families. ”
Hotel Review
Hotel-style comforts and services coupled with attention to detail mean that, although all accommodation here (except in the small Vamos Palace Hotel) is self-catering, Vamos Traditional Village offers guests the best of both worlds. Owners, all of whom speak English, take pride in providing small treats like vases of fresh flowers, which replenished throughout your stay. Sweets, snacks and a carafe of local 'raki' greet you on arrival. Breakfast can be provided for an extra charge, and guests who don't feel like cooking will find traditional tavernas within easy walking distance in Vamos and nearby villages – as well as local pizzerias that deliver. There's nothing old-fashioned about the kitchens, which are open-plan and kitted out with proper cookers (not microwaves). Linen and towel change, cleaning and tidying (including washing dishes and taking rubbish out) happen every other day, so this is self-catering without the drudgery. Pools and poolsides are cleaned at least once and usually twice daily. Houses are bright, cool and breezy, but air-conditioning is provided for Crete's hottest months.
Written by Robin Gauldie
Recommended For
- Value chic
- Offering bags of character, swimming pools, and plenty of activities - you are getting a lot for your money here
- Families
- Private self-catering villa accommodation is perfect for families looking for an independent stay
- Cooking classes
- Traditional cooking courses housed in an old olive mill are a popular activity
- Great walks
- Guided walks are on offer to learn more of the local history, folklore etc.
- Other Activities
- Look out for festivals Jazz in July..something for every season!
- Local markets
- Pop into nearby Chania (just 30 minutes drive)
- Wine tasting
- Sample the local fruits of the land
- No restaurant
- Self catering only
- Rooms with balcony/terrace
- Sit-out Terrace
- Less £
- Family Suites
- Quiet
- Child friendly
- Charming
- Traditional
- On an island
Facilities
- Swimming Pool
- For a little extra luxury, book one of the villas with a large private pool
- Airport transfer
- 25km from Chania airport. Surcharge for collection
- No restaurant
- Self catering only
- Rooms with balcony/terrace
- Air conditioning
- Sit-out Terrace
- Not suitable for disabled guests
- No pets
- Cots available
- Outdoor dining
- Walking distance restaurants
- Sitting Room
- Family Suites
- Parking
- Child friendly
- Satellite / Cable TV
- Private villas
Activities
- Cooking classes
- Traditional cooking courses housed in an old olive mill are a popular activity
- Great walks
- Guided walks are on offer to learn more of the local history, folklore etc.
- Other Activities
- Look out for festivals Jazz in July..something for every season!
- Local markets
- Pop into nearby Chania (just 30 minutes drive)
- Wine tasting
- Sample the local fruits of the land
Map & Location
What's Nearby
See What They Say
Why do people love staying in your hotel? Using our services is more than just staying somewhere. It is an authentic Cretan experience. Our company is managed by Elena, Kleio, Margarita and George. We do our job with passion, working hard to take care of our guests and their every need. We want you to feel welcome in our village and in the house you choose to stay in. From your first minute here, you'll have direct contact with us. We will help you from the first email to your departure. And we will provide you with all necessary services to make sure your stay is as enjoyable as possible.
What kind of breakfast do you offer? Breakfast is available all around - at the taverna Bioumosifis, in the cafe Ano-Kato or the traditional cafe Marendis. There's even a grocery shop so you can make breakfast in your accommodation.
Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally? We do not offer meals. There are four good taverns, a pizzeria and a grill shop in the village. Also there are plenty of very good tavernas in the villages around.
Which are your most popular room types, and why? We offer accommodation in traditional (mainly) houses and villas, with or without a pool (private or shared). Therefore all of them are unique and have something different to offer.
What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms? We can fit extra beds in some of our houses. In Vamos there is a small park and a cute picturesque playground. Our accommodation do not offer facilities for children but there are plenty of activities and places of interest in the area, that any child would enjoy.
What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers? A warm welcome awaits you in the heart of the old neighbourhood at our Vamos Traditional Village tourist office, where you will meet Elena, Kleio, Margarita and George, who will show you to your accommodation. Our aim is to achieve an approach to the sustainable idea with community based development which preserves tradition and conserves the local environment. We are not claiming to be perfect, but we do believe we have influenced the local development of both our village and the surrounding area a great deal already, based on the principles of sustainability.
Other Reviews
Vamos Traditional Village
Among the best of Crete's rural accommodation outfits. This is not a single inn but scattered, restored stone houses up to 200 years old, plus a handful of new-build villas with private or shared pools. Activites include a half-day cooking course in an old olive press and visits to a working olive mill and winery.
Originally published by The Telegraph (view article)
New life is blooming in Crete's hills
They really are white, at least until late spring: Crete's dramatic limestone Lefka Ori (White Mountains) rise 2,453m (8,050ft) and remain snow-covered from mid-December to early May. And sitting aboard the 7am bus from Chania to Vamos, as the sun comes up, I'm transfixed by the glistening white alpine scenery rising incongruously above lush Mediterranean olive groves. This is the other Crete. A world away from the seaside resorts of the north coast, the mountainous hinterland is all about sleepy rural villages and dramatic pine-scented gorges.
Originally published by The Guardian (view article)
