Villa photographs can show a pool in evening light and a view out to sea. They may tell you little about the access road, the bed in each room or the fees payable on arrival.
Before you book, check whether the property suits your group, your dates and your daily routine.
Key Takeaways
- Verify the location. Confirm where the house sits and how you’ll reach the beach, shops and airport.
- Check the layout. Ask for a floor plan and the bed type in each room, alongside the maximum guest count.
- Get the terms in writing. Request the full payable amount, included services and cancellation deadlines before paying.
Check the Location and Access
Check the villa’s exact location before planning your trips. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, as Britannica notes, so a property described as being in Crete could be near the town you want to visit or a long drive away.
Choose your daily routine. Decide whether you want to walk to breakfast, drive to a different beach each morning or stay close to the house. If you’re travelling with young children, check the route to a bakery and supermarket. Use those plans to narrow your search before comparing amenities.
Once you’ve chosen an island, browse White Dream Villas’ villas in Greece page, then ask about the exact location, sleeping arrangements and services for each property on your shortlist. The company also offers a preference-based enquiry service to help you build a shortlist from the details you provide.
Check the route. Ask for the exact location and look at it on a map. Trace the journey from the airport or port, then from the house to nearby restaurants and shops. Ask about parking, the steepness of the approach and any steps between the car and the front door. If beach access matters, check the walking route, including steps and steep stretches.
Confirm transport. Find out whether taxis come to the door. If shops and restaurants are beyond a comfortable walk, plan how you’ll reach them and whether a hire car suits the approach road.
Check How the House Works for Your Group
A maximum occupancy figure is useful, but it doesn’t explain how beds and bathrooms are shared across the house.
Read the sleeping arrangements. Ask for a floor plan and the bed type in each room. Find out which bathrooms are en-suite, whether any bedroom is in a separate annexe and how many steps connect the floors. With young children, check where their room is relative to yours. Ask for a room-by-room breakdown of beds and bathrooms for any house you’re considering.
Inspect the outdoor space. Request recent photographs of the terrace and pool. Ask about midday shade, outdoor dining seating and whether the pool is private to the house. Confirm whether pool heating is available, whether it will run on your dates and whether it costs extra.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s vacation-rental pool safety guidance recommends checking for barriers such as self-latching gates, pool door alarms and non-climbable four-sided fencing. These are safety recommendations, not a statement of Greek legal requirements. Children must never be left unattended in or around water, even where barriers are fitted.
Ask about everyday comfort. Confirm air conditioning in the rooms you’ll use. Greece’s minimum standards for short-term rentals, in force since October 1, 2025, include natural light, ventilation and air conditioning. Those requirements don’t establish how an individual villa is classified or equipped, so request property-specific details. Staffing also varies from house to house, which is worth weighing when choosing a villa. Ask how often housekeeping comes and whether it’s included.
Image 2 suggestion: a shaded terrace beside a private pool, with an outdoor dining table and a fenced pool edge. Alt text: Shaded villa terrace with outdoor dining beside a fenced private pool.
Get the Booking Details in Writing
Before paying a deposit, ask for one document that sets out everything you owe and everything you receive.
Request the full payable amount. Ask for a written breakdown that covers:
- the rental charge for your exact dates
- any applicable taxes or local fees, paid in advance or on arrival
- cleaning, transfers and any pool heating you’ve requested
- the damage deposit, refund conditions and return deadline
- payment dates for each instalment
Some quotes leave out amounts such as Greece’s climate resilience fee, which is paid on arrival, or the damage deposit. Ask for a complete quotation that lists every separate charge that applies to your booking.
Confirm services and support. Get the name and number of a local contact for the stay, plus written arrival instructions. Summer wildfires and storm flooding have disrupted travel in parts of Greece in recent years, so ask how arrival changes will be handled and check the UK government’s travel advice for Greece before you leave.
Read cancellation and payment terms. Don’t assume an online booking includes a cooling-off period. The EU’s Your Europe guidance lists hotel bookings for specific dates among the exceptions to the usual 14-day withdrawal right. Check the cancellation deadlines, charges and refund conditions that apply to your booking.
Before sending money, verify that the property’s address exists, as the FTC advises. Walk away from anyone pressuring you to make a quick decision.
Book With the Details in Hand
A good villa holiday starts with questions answered before you pay. Confirm where the house sits, how the rooms and bathrooms are split and what the pool area offers your group. Then get every charge, deadline and contact in writing. If anything stays vague, ask again or keep looking.
FAQ
What should I ask before booking a villa?
Ask for the exact location, a floor plan with the bed type in each room, which bathrooms are en-suite and whether the pool is private. Then request a written quote covering taxes, fees, the damage deposit, payment dates and cancellation terms.
Can I cancel an online villa booking within 14 days in the EU?
Not automatically. EU rules exclude accommodation booked for specific dates from the usual 14-day withdrawal right, so your cancellation rights depend on the terms in your booking.
Do villas in Greece have air conditioning?
Greece’s minimum standards for short-term rentals, in force since October 1, 2025, include air conditioning. Still, confirm which rooms have it at the specific property.
What pool safety features should families look for?
Look for self-latching gates, pool door alarms and non-climbable four-sided fencing. No barrier replaces close adult supervision.
How can I check that a villa listing is genuine?
Confirm the property’s address exists, get a copy of the contract before paying a deposit and avoid paying by wire transfer or gift card. Be wary of anyone pushing you to decide quickly.
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