Beautifully Restored Traditional Village House 'Alba Lily'
House in Santorini
4 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Includes essentialsPool, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Air conditioner and more
About this house rental
A lovingly restored traditional village house with modern facilities. The property comprises of 1 double and 1 twin bedroom, 2 bathrooms, two lounges, a kitchen with all appliances, a private courtyard with plunge pool and dining area, a large roof terrace with seating and loungers, air conditioning, wifi, TV with DVD player.
PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR OTHER HOUSE IF YOU DATES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. https://www.homeaway.co.uk/p6773191
PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR OTHER HOUSE IF YOU DATES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. https://www.homeaway.co.uk/p6773191
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
TV
Family friendly
Map of Santorini
$$$$
Reviews
5.0
We spent almost two weeks at this beautiful property in the delightful village of Megalochori. It is a great place from which to explore the island and as other guests have written, there are lovely restaurants right in the town so we did plenty of strolling out in the warm evenings. Mark was so accessible, friendly and helpful and kindly set up airport transfers and a rental car for us. The accommodation was spotlessly clean and offered shade, sun, privacy and views over the rooftops between the two outdoor spaces. The house stays relatively cool inside and we slept really comfortably. We were not sure whether to rent a car and didn't do so in advance, but with hindsight, would recommend to have one for getting to the supermarkets, which are a bit out of town and of course, exploring the island. We used the local buses during our first few days and they were excellent, if a little crowded at times. Santorini is a beautiful and unique place with much to see and do and we felt that we chose exactly the right spot to stay. Thank you Mark and Christine!
5.0
I can’t say enough about this place. My wife and two daughters and I stayed here for five days and it was amazing. The perfect place in a small village really gives you the sense of culture for this island. Very happy we did not stay in Oia because of all the tourist and crowds.
Five restaurants within walking distance and less than five minutes away. Watch the sunset less than 15 minute walk away and see it over the ocean.
Mark did such an amazing job restoring this apartment. So unique and the pool was perfect. Up top, layout in privacy and absorb the sun. At night around eight or 9 o’clock, you can hear distant music from a café playing live authentic Greek music.
Mark was so helpful in suggesting places to eat, beaches to visit and sites to see. He also helped me arrange for a rental car and transportation to and from the airport. Such a great host. Highly recommend!
5.0
We felt we were in the true Greece cultural location. Very easy to get from place to place. Bus was very convenient. Mark was the best! Would highly recommend it, this quaint little village. People were great. Thankyou.
5.0
We absolutely LOVED our stay in Megalochori. “Alba-Lily” was a truly stunning property, perfectly positioned in a beautifully idyllic village on the island of Santorini. The booking process was simple, the communication from the hosts exemplary, & everything including transfers, recommendations & hospitality from Mark & Christine could not have been better. We hired a car from the village and I would definitely recommend this as there is so much to see & do on the island, all of which was never more than a 20 minute drive in any direction. The village itself however had everything you would want & need; 6 restaurants serving wonderful food & drink (Raki & Alisachni in particular), a winery, several shops selling local crafts, a couple of local mini-markets, plus a fantastic bakery. Our favourite however was the local cafe (Kafenio) on the cobbled street leading down to the famous 6 Bell tower; open 9 to midnight every day serving tapas with live music it’s an absolute must.! Travel further afield & you won’t be disappointed. Thira is definitely worth a visit but it’s crazy busy so avoid at peak times if possible. The beach at Perissa is fantastic with volcanic black sand and a wealth of restaurants & bars selling great food & drink, most of which were reasonably priced with water sports available should you wish. Kamari beach is a rocky beach & lot more commercialised but perfect if that’s what you’re after. So many more things to mention but find out for yourself & visit.!
5.0
Great place to relax and a nice base for exploring Santorini. Moreover, Mark and Christine are very hospitable and helped us several times. We can definitely recommend.
5.0
Gorgeous property so very pretty we loved it, village was lovely and traditional too.
Mark was so friendly and helpful too!
5.0
We wanted a nice and relaxing vacation and could not have picked a better place. Mornings and nights on the balcony, afternoons in the pool, hanging around Megalochori throughout — this vacation was a great mental reset and we can’t wait to come back! Thank you Mark for the assistance with everything as well!
5.0
This property was perfect for our family of four with two young adults - two separate sleeping areas which worked out well for us. Well situated in such a quaint town, close enough to the action in Fira and Oai, but out of the fray and nice to come home to the quiet and plunge pool at the end of each day.
The property has everything you might need - we did not take advantage of the grill area, but having access to the kitchen was very handy. The local bakery was a five minute walk and provided us with all the breakfast, coffee, snacks, ice cream, etc. that we needed. Bus stop is close and worked well. Communication was great leading up to our stay and Michael was very responsive to the one small issue we had.
Would definitely stay here again and highly recommend this property!
5.0
We thoroughly enoyed our stay at Alba Lily.
The property is beautiful and exceeded our expectations and spotlessly clean!
The outside space is wonderful with the plunge pool area for privacy and a great roof terace with sun loungers for amazing views of the village. A great place for evening drinks.
We initially used the buses but decided to hire a car to explore the island.
Mark is a friendly guy and generally around to give advice.
We would recommend.
5.0
We had an amazing stay at Alba Lily! The house was gorgeous and Mark & Christine couldn’t have been more helpful, with sorting taxi’s and car hire. We loved the village and wandering down into the town everyday. I already miss my breakfasts at Raki and sat on the terrace at night drinking Santorini wine and listening to the live music at the local bar. The kids also loved it!
5.0
We adored our stay at Alba Lily. Mark was incredibly helpful and gave wonderful suggestions for places to eat, etc. and always very easy to contact when needed. The village is very traditional and peaceful, we loved getting to know some of the locals and restaurant workers, all very friendly. Easy bus rides to Fira, Oia, and Pyrgos, but always loved coming back to the village. We highly recommend Mark & Christine’s property when visiting Thira (Santorini)— we will be back one day!
5.0
We spent a lovely few days in Santorini staying at Mark and Christine’s place. The property itself is just great. It’s really interesting because it’s actually built into the hillside almost likes caves. One might think that sounds dark and depressing but is quite the opposite. Firstly it’s wonderfully naturally cool but the air conditioning comes in handy. It’s quite light. The sitting room has light coming from the front door window and shining through from the kitchen. The master bedroom has a skylight that you can see in the pictures. It’s actually two (quite small) houses combined and the second bedroom in the second house has a lovely window seat that you can access via a couple of steps that looks out into the courtyard. The master bedroom has an en-suite bedroom. There is a second bathroom both bathrooms with great showers. The house is very stylishing decorated and great thoughtful touches throughout with lovely fixtures and fittings such as stone basins in the bathrooms. The kitchen is a nice space where you can cook proper meals if you wish.
The outside space is just fab. The downstairs courtyard works really well. The seating area shaded by a sail which provides decent shade for most of the day is great for sitting and playing games and eating meals and dipping into the pool to cool off. The rooftop terrace is a real treat. We used it early morning and early evening in particular. There are sun loungers and a really nice seating area with a brolly for shade. The view over the village is fab. One evening we sat up there listening to piano music from the nearby cafe.
Finally in terms of Megalochori - its a litter treasure of a place. A lovely little town / large village. Multiple nice little places to eat, little shops selling art, leather goods, etc. There is a family bakery and a decent mini market selling most of what you will need. It’s a decent hub to explore the island. After some deliberation we elected not to hire a car. We were picked up from the airport for 30 euros and we got buses around the island. It’s pretty straight forward. Fira is the hub and a. Very easy bus ride. You can change there for buses to anywhere else on the island including Oia. To get the bus to the Fira there’s a bus stop near the mini market on the LHS on the main road if you turn left on the road from the family bakery. You can get buses heading south or across the island to Perissa opposite the family bakery.
5.0
Firstly we would all like to thank our hosts, Mark & Christine. From our first contact via email through to the final day you have been amazing. Prior to our trip we had a few questions regards airport transfers and car hire. Both of these where arranged for us which was a great help to get our holiday off to a perfect start. The airport transfer was waiting for us on arrival and the car was delivered as agreed to the local bakery just a five minute walk away the next day. The property itself is perfect in every way. We've stayed in properties all over the world and Alba Lily is right up there with the very best. The interior and external spaces are fabulous, all completed to the very highest standard with Mark on hand every couple of days to clean the pool area. The location in village itself was ideal, with the local bakery & several restaurants within a few minutes walk, a local mini market within 10 minutes on foot and a number of large supermarkets and cash & carry outlets just 5 minutes by car you really do have everything you need here.
Personally, when booking a property I always read the reviews as you also do if you are reading this one. I booked based on the previous comments and am happy to add mine to the long list of others.
This whole experience has been Simply Amazing.
5.0
It was simply perfect, and the hosts are the best ever!
From the moment we booked our stay on line, and all through the process, Christine was wonderful answering all our questions. On site Mark was great, and helpful as well. The Alba Lilly is perfection, clean, beautiful and in the perfect location. This was a fantastic experience all around start to finish. Thank you
5.0
Amazing stay in Megalochori!
We highly recommend this beautiful property! Mark was an amazing host, easy to communicate with and very helpful. The home is exactly as pictured. Megalochori is a quaint little town in a great location. There are amenities/restaurants within walking distance. We were happy to be in a quiet area. We could easily drive to Oia or Fira (very busy touristy areas) and were a short drive to Kamari and Perissa beaches. We loved it!
5.0
Loved it!
The house exceeded our expectations! Great location! Great space! Thank you so much!!!
5.0
Wonderful experience!
We enjoyed our stay at Alba Lily very much! It is beautifully maintained, nice amount of space and the outside amenities are perfection. We loved the upstairs terrace with views of the village and the pool was such a welcome feature on the hot days. This location is great for those who don't want the more crowded areas of the island but it is still convenient to the port, airport, restaurants etc. The hosts are very welcoming and provided great communication and assistance throughout our stay.
5.0
A fabulous week in Santorini
Christine and Mark could not have been more helpful before and during our stay in Megalochori from multiple rebookings due to lockdowns, to arranging transport from the airport , to arranging taxis and helping with horse riding and a sunset cruise. The house is impeccable and the welcome pack was wonderful.
We cannot recommend this home and location highly enough!
Thank you!
2.5
Very well equipped house and proactive support from the owners !
5.0
We had a very nice stay at Alba Lily. Beautiful villa and extremely kind and helpfull hosts. Most recommendable!
5.0
Glorious retreat
We loved our stay is this beautiful house in the middle of the lovely village of megalochori. Very well equipped, lovely furnishings, and lots of nooks and places to relax. Great roof terrace. A haven amidst the bustle and overdevelopment of Santorini. Christine and mark were really responsive, helpful and welcoming. Great Wi-fi too for teenagers in our party.
5.0
Perfect stay in Santorini
This is a beautiful property, very well maintained in a perfect neighborhood in Santorini. Mark and Christine are outstanding hosts. They arranged the pick up from the airport, left fresh bread, ham, cheese, wine in the refrigerator and were always available for any request. Mark even spent the time to take us to rent a car. The house is walking distance to a bakery and a restaurant, which were open despite being in low season (middle November). It was a perfect stay in a gorgeous property. Thanks Mark and Christine.
5.0
Amazing
Stayed for a week in alba lily had a fantastic time the village is perfect for eating out or having a drink after a long day out.Short taxi or bus ride to rest of the island would highly recommend it JUST PERFECT
5.0
Relaxing break in beautiful house
Stayed here with my family in August 2019. The house was stunning in a lovely quiet location close enough to everything to make it easy to see all the sites but away from the bustle and mayhem of the more touristy areas. The plunge pool was fabulous as was the roof terrace and Mark and Christine were extremely helpful with suggestions of where to eat. The children loved it and didn't want to leave. We would love to return.
5.0
Heaven in a Santorinian cave
Christine and Mark have done a wonderful job at converting a cave house into a stylish modern two bedroom house fitted with all modern amenities and appliances. We enjoyed this beautiful house in the quiet village of Megalochori on the island of Santorini. It is a delightful, little village, which is close to some of the best beaches and easy to get to the main towns. The house with its lovely little plunge pool allowed us to visit all the spots in Santorini easily but we could come back to this calm and peaceful village and get away from all the crowds. Christine and Mark were excellent hosts, they were always accessible and took care of all our requests, arranging transfers from the airport and to the port and giving valuable information about Santorini. Thanks for letting us use your charming house - we had a wonderful holiday and very much look forward to coming back again.
5.0
Absolutely loved this property and would highly recommend and hope to return soon.
The pictures don’t do it justice and Mark and Christine are amazing and sorted out so much for us.As a family we have stayed in some amazing villas and this one is right up at the top.If you are going to Santorini then you must book this hidden gem.
2.5
A gift is exactly what staying at Mark and Christine’s place is. The location us wonderful in a less crowded village than Fira and Oiea, but is easily accessible to everything on the island, with or without a car (bus just a few blocks). It has a wonderful plunge pool to relax in after a hot day and a wonderful terrace with comfortable seating for morning coffee, sunbathing or better yet, a glass of wine looking at the stars or the beautiful church dome and crosses next door! The inside offered everything you could want and is clean and well kept. There are several restaurants just down the amazing cobblestone curvy road. We almost regretted leaving this place to visit other parts of this beautiful island!But what really enhanced this experience were our hosts, Mark and Christine. They were amazingly helpful in arranging a car for us to rent for a couple of days, delivered to us at the Family Bakery just a few blocks, and a driver to take us to the airport at 4 am. They were so helpful giving us great ideas of where to eat and acclimating us to the village. They responded immediately to any questions we had. We were traveling with my sister and her husband and he answered both of us. We have stayed in many vrbo rentals and this experience was truly one of our best. They were truly wonderful! It would truly be a gift to yourself to stat at this place!
5.0
A gift to yourself
A gift is exactly what staying at Mark and Christine’s place is. The location us wonderful in a less crowded village than Fira and Oiea, but is easily accessible to everything on the island, with or without a car (bus just a few blocks). It has a wonderful plunge pool to relax in after a hot day and a wonderful terrace with comfortable seating for morning coffee, sunbathing or better yet, a glass of wine looking at the stars or the beautiful church dome and crosses next door! The inside offered everything you could want and is clean and well kept. There are several restaurants just down the amazing cobblestone curvy road. We almost regretted leaving this place to visit other parts of this beautiful island!
But what really enhanced this experience were our hosts, Mark and Christine. They were amazingly helpful in arranging a car for us to rent for a couple of days, delivered to us at the Family Bakery just a few blocks, and a driver to take us to the airport at 4 am. They were so helpful giving us great ideas of where to eat and acclimating us to the village. They responded immediately to any questions we had. We were traveling with my sister and her husband and he answered both of us. We have stayed in many vrbo rentals and this experience was truly one of our best. They were truly wonderful! It would truly be a gift to yourself to stat at this place!
5.0
Another perfect relaxing stay
Second stay at Alba Lily, just as good as the first - We love the cave villa, beautifully presented and maintained. Mark and Christine always happy to help. Megalochori is a quiet friendly place, much less touristy than the other areas of Sanotorini, but a great place to explore the busy areas and then come back to relax! We really hope to be able to get back again within the next year or two.
5.0
All we wanted or needed
We believed earlier suprelative reviews and were not disappointed. Great hosts who went out of their way for us with special needs. This cave house is in excellent condition, clean, and perfectly located for a relaxing stay but close enough for the bigger city tourist experience. Expect to walk a lot of steps, perfect for burning off the calories from the local restaurants and bakery. No hesitation in recommending this beautiful property and Mark and Christine.
5.0
Hidden gem
Let the crowds stay in Thira and Oia while you unwind in this sweet home in a quiet, welcoming village. Well-equipped and immaculate, with a great view from the roof deck and easy access to the bustling towns, beaches and hiking trails, and historical sites that make Santorini famous, a quick stroll from the bakery and three restaurants. Attentive hosts in Mark and Christine.
5.0
Fabulous authentic cave house with plunge pool and roof terrace
Alba Lily is every bit as good as the photos, and full of thoughtful touches. We especially loved watching the sunset from the roof terrace, and cooling off in the plunge pool. Mark and Christine are outstanding hosts, and we are very grateful to them for looking after us so well. Megalochori is a great location especially if you plan to use the local buses, with direct routes to Fira, Akrotiri, Perivolos and Perissa. There is also a great walk right on the doorstep to Pyrgos and on to Emborio. Megalochori also has several good restaurants, and we found we could get most everything we wanted from the local shops, and the bakery is amazing. We loved every minute.
5.0
We really loved the welcome of our host and the house. The pool was perfect for a dip at the end of the day, the reading nook turned our youngest into a reader and the calm of the location enabled us to really unwind.
5.0
Great Location, Great Property
We rented this property based on high ranking reviews and they were all correct! We loved being out of the crowds while still experiencing the traditional Greek village, shops, and dining. Additionally, it was great just to stay in and go to the plunge pool and relax. The sun deck was an additional perk and had good places for photos with views. Thanks to Marc for picking us up at the airport and taking us back to the port for the ferry so early in the morning. We were so happy that we chose to stay here.
5.0
Amazing house in beautiful location in a perfect Greek village
Thanks you Mark and Christine for a wonderful stay. Alba Lily was perfect for our stay - my wife and I plus our two grown up daughters. The layout was really well thought out with the master bedroom one side and the other bedroom with it's own sitting space. The house is immaculate and a perfect oasis in the village. We used the roof terrace a lot with great view over the church and village. The pool was also well used after days out. The whole island is absolutely stunning with so many spectacular views.
Among the many things we enjoyed:
- dinners at Feggera, Mousiko Kouti and Raki in the village
- cocktails at Tranquillo on the beach in Perissa
- lunch at Ntomatini in Perissa
- sunset at Vinetsanos Winery
- walk through the vineyards to Pyrgos and lunch at Brusco
- coffee and pastries at the bakery in the village
We used the buses to get around and they worked pretty well but watch out for express only buses coming back from Perissa around 5-6pm
All in all an amazing time. We would thoroughly recommend Alba Lily.
5.0
Beautiful unique villa
My husband and I stayed in this beautiful villa for 10 nights and had such a wonderful time. We were picked up on arrival at the airport and taken back on departure, which was so great.
The villa itself was immaculate and Mark and Christine had left a welcome pack for us containing milk, bread, ham, cheese, beer, wine etc. etc. This was greatly oappreciated as it meant we could just relax after our journey and not have to make a trip out for supplies.
The outside courtyard and pool were fantastic and I spent a large majority of my time in the water, cooling off as the temperature rose quite rapidly over the 10 days.
We would highly recommend staying in this villa - if you have half as good a time as we had, you'll have a wonderful holiday.
5.0
Excellent quiet retreat in Megalochori with good local restaurants and bus connections
The photographs sell the property and what you see is definitely what you get and first impression is the cleanliness and presentation of the property.
This tradition cave house has been very tastefully restored to a very high standard by the owners Mark and Christine, who live locally and are always available should the need arise, which was certainly not necessary for us.
Mark met my wife and I at the airport after a late arrival from Manchester and it was dark when we arrived at Alba Lily.
The arrangement of the interior bathrooms and bedrooms are a work of art and the foresight of Mark and Christine to see the final picture is beautifully stunning.
The village is very pretty with its churches and typical bell towers, and the village square with its restaurants and Bougainvillaea is a special to enjoy a meal or just a coffee.
The village has a local family bakery which is just a few minutes walk from Alba Lily and you can buy your fresh bread and pastries and other refrigerated items as well.
There is also a roof terrace with the house to enjoy the views over the village where there is a very comfortable to sit and sun beds should you want to lie in the sun.
We were in Santorini early May 2018 and we had temperatures up to 34 degrees Centigrade and the constant temperature of the house meant that you could get out of the heat and also it is comfortable to sleep.
We did not hire a car and went to all parts of Santorini by bus from either side of the road by the Bakery.
All buses goto and come from, the main centre of Fira bus station and generally leave the bus station on time. A short taxi journey will cost 20 to 25 euros and the bus fare's seemed to be always 1.8 euros, so worth getting organised with.
A big thanks to Mark and Christine for renting out this property to us.
Best Regards from John and Alison in Anglesey UK
4.0
Alba Lilly is truly beautiful, a real Home from Home with all the extras.
Had a wonderful time at Alba Lilly. The house is stunning, really spacious and has everything you need and more. Mark and Christine were lovely, picking me up and taking me back to the airport. I also had a daily visit from Lilly, Christine and Mark’s cat who joined me for breakfast everyday, sweet little chatterbox.
Megalochori is a tiny, quaint and traditional little village with a handful of bars/restaurants serving traditional Greek dishes and a nice little bakery at the top of the hill for fresh breads and pastries. The locals are extremely welcoming and friendly. There are a few nice little shops selling handmade leather goods, jewellery and linens, not the usual touristy type shops.
The only downside for me was the two large properties to the rear and side of the house were undergoing extensive renovation work throughout my stay. The drilling, hammering and mechanical sanding started around 8.30 and went on until 3 in the afternoon, which made a leisurely breakfast around the pool or sunbathing on the terrace a very noisy affair plus all the dust and grit it generated....such a shame but it spoilt my stay really.
That aside, thank you for sharing Alba Lilly with me, it truly is a beautiful little haven.
5.0
GREAT LOCATION!
Absolutely loved it! it is a great place to stay, it has old world charm and is very relaxing and beautifully kept house. I would definitely stay there again, Thank you Mark & Christine for the warm hospitality, we appreciated all that you did to make our stay wonderful!
Sincerely, Teresa Caldera
5.0
A beautiful cave home in the charming village of Magalachori.
This was such a unique and beautiful cave home. Plenty of room, and a gorgeous outdoor area and pool with wonderful lighting for chats in the evening overlooking the bell tower. A very charming village with such friendly people! Mark and Christine were very responsive and proactive hosts. Would recommend it highly.
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Santorini?
The average price for a rental in Santorini is $350 per night. This rental is $6 less expensive than the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Beautifully Restored Traditional Village House 'Alba Lily'. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Beautifully Restored Traditional Village House 'Alba Lily'. Enjoy the water!
Is Beautifully Restored Traditional Village House 'Alba Lily' pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Beautifully Restored Traditional Village House 'Alba Lily'?
We found 9 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, and parking.
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