Useful information from A - Z

Most banks and ATMs are located in the city centre of Rethymno and usually have the following opening hours:

Monday - Thursday: 08:30 - 14:00
Friday: 08:30 - 13:30

There are also ATMs in Atsipopoulo opposite the supermarket and at Lidl.

You will find good bars and discos in the old town of Rethymno, where we can recommend the ‘Opera Club’, the ‘Fortezza’, “BoraBora” or the ‘Metropolis Club’. You will also find the beach club ‘Baja’ on the old road to Heraklion outside Rethymno in the Platanes district, which is located directly on the beach. It is open from 11.00 am.

Watch out for sea urchins! Before you go swimming in the sea, please note the colour of the beach flag.

Red flag:
Do not swim - dangerous

Yellow flag:
Be careful

Green flag:
Calm sea - no danger

Please also note that there may be strong sea currents!

The shops in the larger cities are usually open as follows:

Tue / Thu / Fri: 09:00 - 14:00 and 18:00 - 21:00 
Mon / Wed / Sat: 09:00 - 14:30

In the tourist centres, these times do not apply in most cases and shops tend to be open longer.

The currency unit is the euro. There are banks and EC machines in almost all larger towns. Almost all banks are open from 7.30 am to 2 pm.

The check-out time on your day of departure is 10:00 am. Should you wish to stay longer in the villa, please arrange this with us in advance.

Your villa is cleaned every 7 days and the bed linen and towels are also changed.

There is a German Honorary Consulate in Heraklion:

71202 Heraklion Dikeossinisstr.7
Phone: 0030-2810-226288 (Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 12:00)

Another German consulate is located in Chania:

73100 Chania
Digeni Akrita 1 (Ecke Iroon Polytechniou) in the Goethe Centre
Phone: 0030-28210-68876 (Monday – Friday: 11:00 – 13:00)

Honorary Consulate for Austria and Switzerland:

71202Heraklion
Platia Eleftherias & Daidalou 36
Phone: 0030-2810-223379 (Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 12:00)

Your contact persons are Helga and Josef Beibl, you can reach us under the telephone numbers:

0030-28310-31981 or mobile 0030-6946-634748

Mobile phone reception is not always guaranteed.

Sifis Kimionis is a very well-equipped dentist who also speaks good German! His practice is in Rethymno, Portaliou Emmanouil Str. 22. The practice entrance is in the rear building.

Phone: 0030-28310-20889

He is normally available in the mornings from 09:30 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00. Please call first!

On the day of departure, please leave your house key on the kitchen table (if there is a key box, please put it back in the key box) and close the door.

Please be considerate of your neighbours during lunchtime (14:00 - 18:00) and at night.

The foreign health insurance certificate must be exchanged with the Greek health insurance company IKA before consultation. As this is a very complicated, bureaucratic procedure, we recommend paying the treatment costs locally. If you need a doctor, please contact us or consult Dr Palaskas Leonidas (specialist in general medicine). He speaks very good German and there is a 24-hour service for emergencies!

Phone: 0030-28310-57026 or mobile 0030-6944-519649

Metaxaki Meletiou Str. 15, 74100 Rethymno

The tap water is of good quality and drinkable, but the water on Crete is very calcareous. If you want to be on the safe side, we recommend using bottled water.

Since the beginning of 2024, the Greek government has introduced an eco-tax for all guests in Greece.

This is staggered according to category and season:

The fee from 1 April - 31 October is €15.00/night per villa and from 1 November - 31 March €4.00/night, regardless of the number of guests.

The amount can be transferred to us before arrival or paid in cash or by Visa or Master Card.

On Crete, 220 volts are common. Please show consideration for the environment by avoiding unnecessary energy consumption (e.g. leaving the outside lights on all night or even during the day).

Prohibited at airports and military installations. In most museums and archaeological sites, a photo fee must be paid. In many cases, special permission is required for the use of a tripod.

Please do not forget to check whether your flight departs at the time you have booked. Online check-in is possible with almost every airline.

Please do not place any objects on the floor lighting, otherwise there is a risk of fire.

Restaurants, tavernas and cafés are usually open from 8.00 am to 1.00 am. The food is often served lukewarm. If you want it hot, you must explicitly point out ‘to thelo poli sesto, parakalo’.

Michalis Maragkakis and Agnes (Austrian)

Tsakona 6 (near the marina), 74100 Rethymno Phone: 0030-28130-58082

Open: Monday day off

Tuesday / Wednesday / Friday: from 08:30 to 13:00 & from 16:30 to 21:00
Thursday and Saturday: from 08:30 to 17:00

There is a state hospital, which is located near the city park of Rethymno.

Make sure that you do not accidentally leave the key in the door lock from the inside when you leave the villa. If you do lock yourself out, give us a call.

Greek. However, many Cretans speak German or English.

There is a ‘small’ library in your villa. You are welcome to add any holiday books that you no longer want to take home with you.

Market days in Rethymno - from 08:00 to 14:00 on Thursdays in the car park next to the city park on Saturdays in the car park next to the football stadium

On the motorway, the hard shoulder is usually also used as a lane! Fixed radar monitoring systems have been installed, some of which are in operation.

You can buy cigarettes, snacks, ice cream, drinks and even painkillers (Depon - paracetamol) at every ‘Periptero’ kiosk. These are often open until late in the evening.

There is a newsagent with international newspapers on the square of the unknown soldier (Platia Agnostou Stratioti)

If possible, only park in designated car parks! If you park on the street where there is a sign with a parking ticket on it, you can buy this ticket at any kiosk! If you get a parking ticket (usually €80), you can pay it directly at the post office.

We kindly ask you not to feed stray dogs or cats in the area of the villas. Thank you!

Called FARMAKION in Greece.

You can recognise them by a red or green cross. There is a pharmacy on emergency duty in almost every town. The name and address of the pharmacy on duty is displayed at every pharmacy.

The post office in Rethymno is located at 19 Moatsou Street, near the city park. The Greek post offices are responsible for the sale of stamps, deposits and withdrawals and parcel deliveries. The post offices in the cities are open from 08:00 to 14:00. Deviations are possible. Post to Central Europe takes approx. 5 days.

The bus network on Crete is relatively well developed. There are connections to almost all villages and archaeological sites. Timetables can be obtained from the tourist office or at the bus station in Rethymno. As tickets are not sold on the bus, you need to buy a ticket in advance. These are often available in the mini-markets!

If you are interested in buying a property on Crete, we will be happy to help you.

Please understand that we cannot accept any liability for lost valuables.

Leather goods, e.g. bags and boots, are generally well made and cheap by German standards. Cretan wool carpets in fresh colours and beautiful Cretan patterns are a sought-after souvenir. You can also buy gold and silverware relatively cheaply. Reputable shops are easy to recognise.

Mini-markets and bakeries can be found in the next village. There are two LIDL supermarkets in the Rethymno area. One of them is directly at the exit to Atsipopoulo.

If you have any questions about tennis, diving or mountain biking, please contact us. Our neighbours in Prines have two well-equipped diving centres (Padi).

A wide range of water sports (sailing, windsurfing, jet skiing etc.) are available on the beach of Rethymno.

There is a stereo system in your villa, often with Bluetooth speakers.

What would Crete be without sun? But be careful in the first few days.

Tan slowly and ‘gradually’. If you still get sunburnt, cool the burnt areas with yoghurt. In severe cases, however, you should consult a doctor.

Sunshades and sunbeds are available in the pool area. Please close the parasols in the evening, as there may be sudden gusts of wind!!!

There is a swimming pool at your disposal, which is filled with fresh water. Use of the swimming pool is at your own risk. Parents of small children are reminded of their duty of supervision. The pool man comes twice a week to maintain the pool.

Although there have been price increases in recent years, travelling short distances is still relatively inexpensive. Every taxi has a taximeter. We recommend Taxi Rethymno 0030 28310 74400 (or 0030 69 78335165) Mrs Kristalia also speaks German.

For Germany dial 0049, for Austria 0043, for Switzerland 0041 and then the area code without the zero, followed by the desired number.

Summer/winter time. Crete changes over at the same time as Germany. However, the time difference for Germany is always plus one hour.

Your villa has satellite TV. Please refer to the enclosed instructions for operation.

We have 220 volt alternating current in our homes.