Useful information from A to Z

Most banks and cash machines are located in Rethymno town centre and usually have the following opening hours: 

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

There are also cash machines in Atsipopoulo, opposite the supermarket and at Lidl.

You’ll find good bars and nightclubs in Rethymno’s old town; we can recommend the ‘Opera Club’, the ‘Fortezza’, ‘BoraBora’ or the ‘Metropolis Club’. You’ll also find the ‘Baja’ beach club on the old road to Heraklion, just outside Rethymno in the Platanes district; it’s situated right on the beach and opens at 11.00.

Watch out for sea urchins! Before you go for a swim in the sea, please check the colour of the beach flag first.

Red flag:
No swimming – dangerous

Yellow flag:
Take care

Green flag:
Calm sea – no danger

Please also bear in mind that there may be strong sea currents!

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

Check-out time on your day of departure is 10.00. If you would like to stay at the villa for longer, please arrange this with us in advance.

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

There is a German honorary consulate in Heraklion:
7 Dikeossinisstr., 71202 Heraklion

Telephone: 0030-2810-226288 (Monday–Friday: 09:00–12:00)

There is another German consulate in Chania:
1 Digeni Akrita (on the corner of Iroon Polytechniou) in the Goethe Centre, 73100 Chania

Telephone: 0030-28210-68876 (Monday – Friday: 11:00 – 13:00)

Honorary Consulate for Austria and Switzerland:
Platia Eleftherias & Daidalou 36, 71202 Heraklion

Tel.: 0030-2810-223379 (Monday–Friday: 10.00–12.00)

Your points of contact are Helga and Josef Beibl; you can reach us on the following telephone numbers:

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

Mobile phone reception is not always guaranteed.

On the day of your 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 lock the door.

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

Telephone: 0030-28310-20889

He is usually available in the mornings from 09:30 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00. Please ring in advance!

Please be considerate of your neighbours during the afternoon (14:00–18:00) and at night.

Most Greek doctors speak a foreign language. In our clinics, there are lists available showing which doctors speak German. If you do not have private health insurance, you will need an international health insurance certificate from your health insurance provider. A phone call is usually all it takes.

The international health insurance certificate must be exchanged with the Greek health insurance fund, IKA, before your consultation. As this is a very cumbersome, bureaucratic procedure, it is advisable to pay the treatment costs on the spot. Should you require a doctor, please contact us or consult Dr Leonidas Palaskas (specialist in general medicine). He speaks German very well and there is a 24-hour service for emergencies!

Tel. 0030-28310-57026 or mobile 0030-6944-519649

15 Metaxaki Meletiou Street, 74100 Rethymno

The tap water is of good quality and safe to drink, but the water in Crete is very hard. If you want to be absolutely sure, it is advisable to drink bottled water.

Since the start of 2024, the Greek Government has introduced an eco-tax for all visitors to Greece.

This is tiered according to category and season:

The charge from 1 April to 31 October is €15.00 per night per villa, and from 1 November to 31 March it is €4.00 per night, regardless of the number of guests.

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

We have 220-volt alternating current in our homes.

The standard voltage in Crete is generally 220 volts. Please help protect the environment by avoiding unnecessary energy consumption (e.g. leaving the outdoor lighting on at your house all night or even during the day).

On the motorway, the hard shoulder is usually used as a traffic lane too! Fixed speed cameras have been installed, some of which are now operational.

Prohibited at airports and on military premises. In most museums and archaeological sites, a photography fee must be paid. In many cases, special permission is required to use a tripod.

Please don’t forget to check whether your flight is due to depart at the time you’ve booked. Online check-in is available with almost every airline.

Please do not place any objects on the floor lighting, as this poses a fire hazard.

Restaurants, tavernas and cafés are usually open from 8.00 am until 1.00 am. Food is often served lukewarm. If you want it hot, you must specifically ask for it: “to thelo poli sesto, parakalo”.

Michalis Maragkakis and Agnes (from Austria)

Tsakona 6 (near the marina), 74100 Rethymno Telephone: 0030-28310-58082

Open: Closed on Mondays

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-run hospital located near Rethymno’s city park.

Please make sure you do not accidentally leave the key in the lock on the inside when you leave the villa. If you do happen to lock yourself out, please give us a call.

Greek. However, many Cretans speak German or English.

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

The currency is the euro. There are banks and cash machines in almost all larger towns and cities. Almost all banks are open from 7.30 am to 2.00 pm.

At any ‘Periptero’ kiosk, you can buy cigarettes, snacks, ice cream, drinks and even painkillers (Depon – paracetamol). These are often open until late in the evening.

There is a newsagent’s selling international newspapers on the Square of the Unknown Soldier (Platia Agnostou Stratioti).

Shops in the larger towns and 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 tourist centres, these opening hours do not usually apply, and shops tend to stay open later.

Parasols and sun loungers are available in the pool area. Please close the parasols in the evening, as sudden gusts of wind can occur!!!

Please park only in designated parking spaces wherever possible! If you park on the street where there is a sign showing a parking ticket, you can buy this ticket at any newsagent’s! Should you ever receive a parking fine (usually €80), you can pay it directly at the post office.

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

In Greece, it is called a ‘pharmakion’ (Φαρμακείο).

You can recognise them by a red or green cross on a white background. Almost every town has a pharmacy providing an out-of-hours service. The name and address of the pharmacy on duty are displayed at every pharmacy.

The post office in Rethymno is at 19 Moatsou Street, near the town park. Greek post offices are responsible for selling stamps, handling deposits and withdrawals, and sending parcels. Post offices in towns and cities are open from 08:00 to 14:00. Opening hours may vary. Post to Central Europe takes approximately 5 days.

If you are interested in buying a property in Crete, we would be happy to assist you.

The public bus network in Crete is relatively well developed. There are services to almost all villages and archaeological sites. You can get timetables from the tourist office or at the bus station in Rethymno. As tickets are not sold on the bus, you’ll need to buy one in advance. You can often buy them in mini-markets!

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

Leather goods, such as bags and boots, are generally well made and inexpensive by German standards. Cretan woollen rugs in vibrant colours and featuring beautiful Cretan patterns make for a popular souvenir. You can also buy gold and silver jewellery at relatively reasonable prices. Reputable shops are easy to spot.

You’ll find mini-markets and bakeries in the nearest village. There are two LIDL supermarkets in the Rethymno area. One of them is right by the turn-off for Atsipopoulo.

If you have any questions about tennis, diving or mountain biking, please do get in touch. Our neighbours in Prines have two well-equipped diving centres (PADI).

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

Your villa is equipped with a stereo system, often including Bluetooth speakers.

What would Crete be without the sun? However, do take care during the first few days.

Build up your tan slowly and ‘gradually’. If you do end up with sunburn, cool the affected areas with yoghurt. In severe cases, however, you should see a doctor.

There is a swimming pool available for your use, which is filled with fresh water. Use of the swimming pool is at your own risk. Parents of young children are reminded of their duty of supervision in this regard. The pool attendant comes twice a week to maintain it.

Although there have been price rises in recent years, short-distance journeys are still relatively inexpensive. Every taxi is fitted with a taximeter. We recommend Taxi Rethymno on 0030 28310 74400 (or 0030 69 78335165); Ms Kristalia also speaks German.

To call Germany, dial 0049; for Austria, 0043; for Switzerland, 0041; followed by the area code (without the leading zero), then the number you wish to call.

You cannot make phone calls from post offices in Crete. Calls are made via OTE, and payphones can be found on practically every corner. Phone cards are available at any kiosk. The dialling code for Germany is 0049.

Summer/winter time. Crete changes its clocks at the same time as Germany. However, the time difference with Germany is always one hour ahead.

Your villa is equipped with satellite TV. Please refer to the enclosed instructions for details on how to use it.