Kiaffa Cottage

This house has seen over 400 years of history and has recently been refurbished with painstaking attention to detail and respect for the work of the original master builders. Using as much of the old materials and designs as possible, the house has been retrofitted with all the modern conveniences, allowing you to enjoy the experience of an authentic Hydra house with a traditional aesthetic and not have to sacrifice any of the creature comforts that one has come to expect in the 21st century...

Truly an ideal place to bring out the artist, musician or writer in you, while you soak up the wonderfully creative atmosphere on this most esoteric of Greek islands. You can either sit back and indulge in quiet contemplation, away from the hustle and bustle, or explore the truly awesome landscape of Hydra - one of the world's best kept secrets. To top it all off, you can wander down to Hydra Port and enjoy an Ouzo or a traditional Greek coffee at a bar or taverna - Isalos if you prefer rubbing shoulders with the likes of Leonard Cohen, or perhaps a more authentic Greek experience like you might find at Saronicos.

	Picturesque window views, all year round...

Situated at the bottom end of Kiaffa village - at the crossroads between the port and Kamini village - you can take a leisurely stroll to the beach in Kamini or down to the port, in the same amount of time. Nearby you will find the Four Corners supermarket, named for its similarly convenient location.

	The house is among the original settlements on the island - placed next to a Byzantine church, on a corner, thus having an upstairs and a downstairs entrance...

Cozy creature comforts...

The ground floor, completely insulated from the summer heat and winter cold, can be used independently of the upper floor, allowing you to relax with some quiet music and a drink. In the winter you can fall asleep in front of the fireplace in complete comfort...

You will love cooking in the custom designed kitchenette - but have no fears about catering for that dinner party as you can happily seat up to 6 people around the dining table. The dining area, near the lower entrance, has a rock feature made of the actual rock the house has been built on!

We have installed a 5-speaker Dolby Pro Logic system on the ground floor with leads so you can attach your laptop and enjoy watching DVD's with the full surround sound experience! The stereo cabinet has plenty of room for CD's too so don't be afraid to bring your music collection along...

Both divans in the lower lounge area can happily accommodate a sleeper each, with plenty of linen and bedding provided, for those nights and siestas that just keep going... If your laptop also has a built-in modem you can purchase an easy-to-use NetCard from nearby shops and connect to the internet, using one of the many telephone outlets provided throughout the house... (utilities deposit required against final meter readings)

Lush lower lounge...

Downstairs you will find a bathroom with a 60-litre hot water system and 3-bar heater for those cold winter mornings.

The kitchen is well equipped with cutlery and crockery, cooking utensils and tupperware, a filter coffeemaker, toaster and more... There is a two ring gas cooker and a bar fridge with freezer. The kitchen bench has been custom built to fold away, providing direct access to the lower courtyard.

	Custom built practical kitchenette...

The master bedroom, upstairs, has a minimalist feel to it, having recently been given an all-white facelift. The brass double-bed is very comfortable and offers a lovely view through the recessed windows. Ample powerpoints, all earthed to keep your electronics safe, and a double telephone socket allows you the luxury of having that laptop upstairs and going online from bed!

	Beautiful bright bedroom...

The courtyard features high walls, offering you privacy while outside...

Sunny upper courtyard...

				Upstairs features a large comfortable sitting room, which makes for a really nice workspace or just a chilled out environment to relax and take it easy... The divan in here also offers spare linen and bedding for upstairs. The upper floor is much brighter than downstairs with high ceilings and wooden floors, all in the traditional white color scheme that is omnipresent throughout the island. This room also has a good sound system and plenty of comfortable seating so you can put on a record, read a book, sit back and unwind...

Here's The Deal:

The house is available all year round - minimum stay is 1 week (7 days) for a maximum of 4 adults. 50% (non refundable) deposit required to secure booking with 50% balance of payment due no later than 8 weeks prior to arrival. All pricing is in Euros

Check in after 2:30pm - check out by 11:30am
Please note when you check out that your bags may be left for collection later in the day but the house must be otherwise clear of your belongings so that it can be cleaned for our next guests. Similarly if you arrive early, you may leave your bags on the premises but won't be able to settle in, until the cleaning has been done.

You can get in touch via email if you prefer, at the following email address:

pascal_latra@hotmail.com

You can arrange to be met off the boat or Flying Dolphin at the port, and shown the easiest way to get to the house. Visitors are respectfully requested to leave the house as it was found.