Orchard Villa Delightful

Description

Welcome to you from Kevin, to lovely Orchard Villa Skiathos.
Before you click "View More" (4 lines down) for 'VILLA OVERVIEW' and villa/Skiathos details/photos ... first, CAUTION - I've not yet checked the (robotic!) site dates/price.
So for my verified offer - and to ask up-front questions - first, hit ONLY the "KevinVivienne - Contact Host" option and send me your dates, party make-up, and budget. (do NOT yet hit "Request to Book" - this asks you to pay right now!)
To save you time and 'aggro', DO NOT yet hit the advert buttons "Check Availability" or "Request to Book". These limit time to ask Q&As to 24hrs, and 72hrs to pay - or delete your enquiry!
Also please ignore any Vrbo covid and refund policies the Vrbo robot displays.
Those in my Agreement are better (how? - Pg-Dn to "RENTAL AGREEMENT")

VILLA OVERVIEW - Orchard Villa Skiathos is real 'Traditional Greek Island' - blue shutters, red-tiled roofs, and - rare on Skiathos - a Cyclades roof sun-terrace. It's one of a few villas attractively scattered along Katsaros ridge, overlooking sandy beaches and the spectacular '7-island' view across Skiathos Bay. It's in a peaceful setting, with a gated entrance shared with separate 'North Orchard Villa' next-door, parking for 4 cars your side, and fenced grounds.

There’s a large cool flag-stoned living room, split-level to the winter log fireplace and sofa, and open-plan across the bar and stools to fully-equipped kitchen. Four air-conditioned cosy bedrooms with exposed timber beams sleep 2-8, with 3 shower etc. rooms (one en-suite). The pretty private pool is fenced and gated, and set into the terraced garden slope with the same stunning views across Skiathos bay.

... and cary on for MORE details of ...
- Bedrooms - Dining - Kitchen
- Pool - Garden/parking - Sun-terraces
- Services/supplies - Internet - Licence
- Tavernas and Countryside at your gate
- Skiathos village/harbour (10 mins)
- Beaches (5-25 mins)
- Travel to Skiathos
- Reviews
- Rental Agreement (inc insurance and cancellation)
- Prices

BEDROOMS - there's a double (or twin) master with en-suite, wc, and double vanity unit; and three twins plus two shower rooms each with wc and small vanity unit.
They're all air-conditioned, with exposed wood ceilings and beams (so "No Smoking!").

DINING - inside, or (mostly) outdoors on the courtyard patio. The split-level lounge is open-plan across the bar and stools to the well-equipped kitchen, with doors to master and guest wings with 4 air-con bedrooms. There’s a wine rack - for you to fill! (see Orchard Villa Guest Guide - Part 3, Food & Wine), a full cookery library, and lots of books for rare rainy days - or on sun-loungers.
4 French windows open onto a vine-covered split-level courtyard patio with tasteful wood furniture for outdoors living (no 'white plastic'!), overlooking a ½-acre hillside olive-grove garden with views from three terraces for sunbathing, partying, and drinks by the pool. You enjoy the unmatched '7-island' view over Skiathos bay and its 60+ mostly sandy beaches and hidden coves. The courtyard patio is your extended living-room, sheltered from breezes and warm enough for dinner and drinks 'til after midnight; with the garden lights and moonlit sea views across to the lights of the villages on Skopelos and Evia Islands.

KITCHEN - open-plan across 'pub' bar and stools, with modern ceramic-hob cooker and hood with fan oven, microwave, toaster, electric kettle, filter coffee, two fridges with small freezers, work surfaces, double sink, dishwasher, and loads of storage. And there’s a washing machine, ironing board, steam iron - and large outdoor ‘umbrella’ dryer.

SUPPORT and SUPPLIES - the 'Rental Agreement' is for an unserviced villa (NOT hotel-type "serviced accommodation"), but the price includes provision of support / supplies you request simply by booking the villa.
They are: weekly bed- and bath-linen; domestic supplies; end-cleaning, pool maintenance, gardening, equipment breakdown repair; and welcome pack. I can usually arrange pre-booked extra cleaning, barbecue party, shopping delivery, etc.

INTERNET - perfect signal for your 3-4-5G mobiles as wi-fi hot-spot to your tablet or laptop (sorrry, fixed-line router not practical) ... and free wifi access at nearly all tavernas and bars in village - beaches - countryside.

CERTIFICATION - Orchard Villa was offered by former 'Owner’s Direct' site since 2005, and 'Sunday Times' 1990. It's certified by the Tourism Ministry (see photos) as short-lease furnished accommodation (not serviced hotel rooms or similar).

GARDEN/PARKING - the villa and grounds are quiet and not overlooked, fenced, with parking for 4 cars on your side of the private shared drive.

SUN-TERRACES - there are 5 terrace areas, all with superb views ... rooftop; split-level dining courtyard/patio through 4 French windows from the dining room/salon; top ‘party’ terrace with sun-loungers; pool-side terrace with slate-top drinks table and bench; grassed picnic slope below pool. The large roof sun-terrace (not overlooked) has all-round views, from the ‘7-islands’ Skiathos Bay view round to the wooded hillsides of Kechria valley to the other side of Skiathos.

POOL - the pretty pool area has its own terrace with fixed table and bench. Pool level access is by 2 steps down, and for full child security from all directions it's fenced/gated from the terrace, and an unclimbable 2m. above the picnic slope on the far side. The pool is c.7m x 4m x 1.2m deep. So hardly Olympic! - but just the job for a cooling dip and enjoying the stunning panorama over Skiathos bay and beaches.

TAVERNAS and COUNTRYSIDE at your door - 3 of Skiathos' top-10 (but affordable) taverna-restaurants within 12 mins walk: 'Olive View' taverna; 'Anastasia' at Paradise Hotel); and 'Kivo Art-Gourmet Wine-bar' at Kivo Hotel. The hotel scenic pool-bars are usually open to you. Our other favourite Skiathos tavernas - all within 10-25 mins drive - are in "Orchard Villa Guest Guide Part 2"

... plus country activities ... hill and forest hikes and drives, horse-riding, trail biking, country tavernas, and sight-seeing with restored Byzantine chapels and monasteries (sorry, no classical ruins!).

SKIATHOS VILLAGE and HARBOUR - quintessentially Greek-island - are 10 mins drive (click 'Location' tab) ... and saw the 'Fathers' Arrival' in "Mamma Mia". (the wedding was in Agios Ioannis church on nearby Skopelos).
Inviting traffic-free paved village lanes provide all shops and services, plus the old harbour and marina lined with tavernas and café-bars.

BEACHES, TAVERNAS, and SEA-SPORTS all under 5-25 mins drive (click 'Location' tab)
Skiathos has dozens of sandy beaches; the largest with water-sports, nearly all with tavernas or bars. If you prefer enjoying most of your time at Orchard Villa, there are reliable radio taxis and buses for beaching. But you really need a hire car - I can recommend those for best service to my visitors. Or from the old port there are water-taxis to many beaches, or 'trips-round-Skiathos’; also to the other Sporades Islands Skopelos and Alonnissos, and the marine park (seals/dolphins); and scheduled 'jet catamarans' for inter-island and mainland trips.
... and all this on an island barely nine miles by six, seen by many as the most attractive in all Greece.

TRAVEL to Skiathos - direct charters to Skiathos, with only 10 mins transfer to Orchard Villa.(or nearby Volos port, then jet ferry; or budget flights to Athens, with domestic flight or jet ferry to Skiathos).
Or for a 2-in-1 holiday, take a car/ferry tour via the Alps with options of Venice and Athens stop-overs. Shortest time 'at the wheel' from Calais to Volos port is about 19 hrs, plus lux ferries over the Adriatic, and jet catamaran to Skiathos.

AIRPORTS, AIRLINES, FARES, or driving across, click=> "Contact Host" (above) and message me to tap lifelong experience of budget options and unfindable flights!

REVIEWS from guests from Owners Direct / HomeAway (both now VRBO) ... see the "Reviews" tab - here's a sample from James and Sophie (Aug 2020) ...
" Hello, thanks so much for letting us have the villa. It’s such a beautiful place, and we’re having a lovely time. I thought your suggestion it has the best view in the Mediterranean was exaggeration, but now may well be true! The pool is great for a refreshing dip, and we’ve enjoyed the comfortable shady spots under the grapevine pergola or up on the roof terrace. Wonderful restaurant only 5 mins walk, said to be best on Skiathos. Been twice and going again".

AVAILABLITY 2022
- arrival dates are shown as Fridays, but any day possible subject to other bookings
- to confirm free dates, and be sure Orchard Villa meets your expectations, please message me your dates and party make-up by clicking "Contact Host - KevinVivienne" button above (DON'T click "Request Booking" or "Availability")
- once we've agreed dates/prices, I send my formal Offer and Rental Agreement to confirm back to me, then pay via Vrbo.

RENTAL AGREEMENT - 7 clauses inc. Insurance and Cancellation
- Please message me by hitting "Contact Host" above to get this Agreement BEFORE you hit "Request to Book" and pay.
Non-contractual 'best advice':
- It needs you to take out a full holiday cancellation insurance, to include Force Majeure, flight cancellation (insure before you book flights), and medical (many insurers will cover covid - message me if you can't find them - and if not, you can cancel with a free reschedule - AND no advance time limit as in the Vrbo policy).

BASE PRICES (Vrbo booking fee to add, commission included)
Low season 1 20 May - 17 Jun 2022 £1,484
Mid season 1 17 Jun - 8 Jul 2022 £1,694
High season 9 Jul - 9 Sep 2022 £1,995
Mid season 2 9 Sep -7 Oct 2022 £1,694
Low season 2 7 Oct - 28 Oct 2022 £ 900