Questions & Answers
Booking, getting here, daily life, things to do, what to expect from us. If your question isn't here — write to us, we love hearing from people before they arrive.
Three of our properties — Mochlos Beach Villa, Mochlos Beach Apartment, and Mochlos Beach Studio — are booked directly on this site, with secure online payment. Two properties — Mochlos Sea View Chalet and Tertsa Beach Apartment — are booked through a personal conversation with us on WhatsApp, since they are smaller and more curated.
We prefer to know you a little before you arrive.
Three reasons. First, the price is lower (we don't pay platform commissions). Second, you talk directly to us — Annali, Odi or Oliver — from your first message. Third, we can offer flexibility on check-in time, extra services, or combining two properties for a group.
For online bookings: credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay, and Google Pay. For the Chalet and Tertsa, which are arranged on WhatsApp: bank transfer. Either way, the full amount is paid once, when the booking is confirmed.
No. The full amount is paid once, when your booking is confirmed — there is no deposit and nothing left to settle later. This is the same for every home, whether you book online or arrange your stay with us on WhatsApp.
Cancel at least 30 days before check-in and you are refunded in full. Between 7 and 30 days before check-in, half the accommodation cost is refunded. Less than 7 days before check-in, or once your stay has begun, the accommodation nights are not refunded; taxes are returned where the law requires it. You will see the exact deadlines, in local time, before you pay and again in your confirmation.
Just talk to us.
Three nights minimum in all our homes, all year round. Special requests welcome — write to us.
Yes — and this is one of our favourite kinds of bookings. The Apartment + Studio are twin units sharing a pool and pergola, perfect for 4 guests. The Beach Villa sleeps 9. For a multi-generational family or close friends, combining the Villa with one of the smaller properties accommodates up to 13 guests with full privacy. Write to us for a combined quote.
Five, all between Mochlos and Tertsa beach. Three are in the heart of Mochlos village (Villa, Apartment, Studio), one is a hideaway just above the village with mountain views (Chalet), and one is on the south coast of Crete in a quiet fishing village called Tertsa.
Each one has its own pace. We can help you choose if you write to us.
The Beach Apartment and Studio share a pool inside the villa complex. The Villa, Chalet and Tertsa do not have pools — but the sea is steps away from each.
Absolutely. The Villa especially — three bedrooms, balconies on every floor, taverna next door (kids can grab a snack independently), and the village beach is shallow and safe for swimming. The Apartment and Studio also work for small families. Cribs and high chairs are available on request — let us know in advance.
On a case-by-case basis. Write to us with your pet's details and we'll do our best.
The village of Mochlos has narrow stone paths and steps, so it can be challenging. The Apartment and Studio are the most accessible (ground-level entry from parking, no steps inside). The Villa has three floors with stairs. Please write to us with your specific needs and we'll be honest about fit.
Mochlos is a small fishing village on the north coast of eastern Crete, in the regional unit of Lasithi. Postal code 72057, municipality of Sfaka. Coordinates: 35.184° N, 25.905° E.
Tertsa is a quiet beach village on the south coast of Crete, about 80 km south of Heraklion city. It is on a different coast from Mochlos — about 2 hours 20 minutes by car.
Some of our guests stay one night in each, to feel both Cretas.
Yes, we strongly recommend it. Mochlos itself is walkable (everything in the village is within 5 minutes), but to explore the beaches, the gorges, the wineries, the nearby villages, and the day trips, a car is essential. Public transport in eastern Crete is sparse.
The best deals are usually at Heraklion airport — book in advance during summer. We can recommend a trusted local rental agency in Agios Nikolaos who delivers to the property if you prefer not to drive from the airport.
Yes — for an additional fee, we can arrange a private driver to pick you up from Heraklion or Sitia airport. Write to us with your flight details.
KTEL buses connect Heraklion to Sitia along the north coast, with stops in Sfaka (the larger village above Mochlos). From there, a taxi or short walk reaches Mochlos. It's possible, but a car gives you the freedom this region rewards.
Check-in from 3 pm, check-out by 11 am. We are flexible if your travel schedule needs different — just ask.
Yes for the Beach Villa, the Apartment, and the Studio — self check-in via secure lockbox. We send you the code 24 hours before arrival. For the Chalet and Tertsa, we (or a local helper) meet you in person, because we want to greet you and hand you the keys.
Yes — all bedding, bath towels, and beach towels are included. Toiletries include hand soap, shower gel, and shampoo (we use a small Cretan brand made with local olive oil and herbs). Bring your own sunscreen.
Yes, free high-speed Wi-Fi in every property. The Apartment and Studio also have a dedicated workspace if you need to work remotely.
Yes, in every bedroom and main living area. The Apartment and Studio also have underfloor heating and hot water for winter — they are open year-round.
Yes — free parking on-site for the Chalet, Apartment, Studio, and Tertsa. The Beach Villa has free street parking nearby (Mochlos village has narrow streets).
Every property has a fully equipped kitchen (fridge, oven, hob, kettle, toaster, basic crockery and cutlery, espresso pot or filter coffee maker). The Villa kitchen is the largest, ideal for cooking dinner for 9.
Each stay includes a deep clean before arrival and after departure. For stays of 7 nights or more, we offer a complimentary mid-stay refresh (towels and bedding change). Additional cleanings during your stay are available on request.
We try to accommodate when possible — it depends on the day's schedule. Always ask us, even at the last minute.
Yes. Each property is independent — no shared walls with strangers, no front desk, no other guests passing through your space. The Apartment and Studio share a pool and beach pergola but each has its own private interior and balcony.
The village has 5 to 7 tavernas right on the waterfront — fresh fish, octopus, Cretan classics. Our favorites: Ta Kochylia, Taverna Mesostrati, Taverna to Bogazi.
Ask Annali for tonight's recommendation when you arrive — she knows what's freshest at each kitchen.
Yes — a small mini-market in Mochlos for daily essentials (bread, eggs, fruit, yogurt, water, basics). For a full supermarket, drive 10 minutes to Sfaka or 30 minutes to Sitia.
Yes — we offer a welcome basket option (€35–60 depending on what you'd like). Tell us what you want by WhatsApp before you fly: bread, fruit, olive oil, local cheese, wine, coffee, breakfast essentials. Everything will be in the kitchen when you arrive.
Several waterfront cafés in Mochlos serve excellent Greek coffee, espresso and freddo cappuccino.
Annali's favourite morning ritual: ellinikó with no sugar, on the harbour wall, 8:30 am.
The tap water is technically safe but tastes mineral-heavy. Most guests prefer bottled water for drinking (sold cheaply at the mini-market).
A short swim across to the Mochlos islet to walk through the Minoan archaeological site (3,100 BC to 10th century AD). It's free, unguarded, and one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in Europe. Best at sunset.
Yes — that's the whole point of Mochlos. Sunrise swim, long breakfast, reading siesta under olive trees, sunset walk to the white chapel above the village, dinner with raki at the waterfront.
Doing nothing is the local sport.
Plenty. Snorkeling around the islet, scuba diving with Scuba Funtasea, sailing day from Agios Nikolaos, Richtis Gorge hike with hidden waterfall, jeep safari in the Thripti Mountains, full-day coastal walks.
Annali (your host) is a yoga teacher and can arrange private sessions on the terrace or beach during your stay, on request. Group retreats are organized seasonally — write to us if interested.
Yes — we work with local fishermen and skippers. Half-day or full-day, around the islet or along the coast. Lunch on board possible. Write to us for a quote.
The Apartment and Studio stay open year-round (underfloor heating, hot water, winter-ready). Mochlos in winter is a quiet luxury — almost no other tourists, long lunches, fireplaces, coastal walks without the heat. Christmas and Easter are particularly special in the village.
A few in summer evenings — we provide mosquito repellent and the bedrooms have screens or plug-in diffusers. Nothing dramatic.
Euro (€). Card payments are accepted in most restaurants and shops in Mochlos and surrounding villages, but always carry some cash for small tavernas and the harbor.
No ATM in Mochlos itself. The closest are in Sfaka (10 min) or Sitia (30 min). Withdraw what you need before arriving.
Greek is the local language. English is widely understood in tavernas, shops, and tourism services. We speak fluent English — and a few of us speak French and Hebrew too. Annali also speaks German.
Since January 2024, Greece applies a "Climate Crisis Resilience Fee" on all accommodations. The amount depends on the property and the season: from €1.50 to €4 per night from November to March, and from €2 to €15 per night from April to October. It appears as its own line in your quote and is included in your total. This is a national tax, not something we set.
Yes — we strongly recommend travel insurance covering trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and lost baggage. Crete is generally very safe but having coverage is wise.
Yes — pharmacy in Sfaka (10 min) and a clinic in Sitia (30 min). For emergencies, dial 112 (the European emergency number). We can also drive you if needed.
Each property has smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher, and a printed emergency contact sheet on the fridge. Annali, Odi or Oliver are reachable 24/7 by WhatsApp during your stay.
We are Annali, Odi (Moshe), and Oliver — a family who fell in love with Mochlos many years ago, bought a house here, and never quite left. We now share five homes that we've designed and look after personally.
We are not a hotel. We are people who live here, who you'll see at the harbour, in the morning at the bakery.
Annali lives in Mochlos year-round. Odi splits his time. Oliver is based in Israel and visits often. If you stay at the Tertsa apartment, Oliver or a local helper will be your contact.
A real welcome on arrival — not a key in a lockbox alone (unless you specifically prefer that). Tips on what's good that day at each taverna. A WhatsApp answer within a few hours. And honest recommendations even if they're not the most expensive option.
We'd rather you have a real Mochlos experience than spend more money.
No match
We may not have answered this one yet. Write to us — we love hearing from people before they arrive.
Ask Annali on WhatsApp