Guest book

Wanting to get away from home and yet not be at the mercy of total tourism madness, we were looking for a place where even with our three small children we parents could relax. We came across Azalas rather by chance and thought that this sounded promising: somewhere in the middle of nowhere with the sea and a small bay. Even though the journey was very strenuous, it was worth it from the very first moment. Astrid and Nikos’ property has everything you need to feel at home. The children loved picking grapes directly from the pergola of the cottage, greeting the cats in the morning, simply running around in circles, discovering the place and being able to jump into the sea at any time. There is not only one bay directly in front of the property, but a small beach every few metres to discover. While one bay offers a sandy beach where you can build castles and the water is shallow, a few metres further on you will find the most beautiful stones in every imaginable colour and shape, another bay further on you feel like you are walking on cotton wool with all the sea gras that has washed ashore and in the next bay you can even find some shells. There are cliffs and rocks everywhere where you can snorkel and see fish and other sea animals, and caves and a small island are also within easy reach.

We were also so well provided for by nature and our hosts, with bread, wine, fresh fruit and vegetables, which made shopping in the next village almost unnecessary. We cooked in the communal kitchen or visited the tavernas in the next village. These are also located directly on the beach, so the children can run around while the parents eat in peace.

All in all, we simply felt very comfortable and would love to come back. For anyone who doesn’t need constant entertainment but simply wants to enjoy the sun, wind and sea, for anyone who just wants to get up and go hiking, snorkelling, swimming, exploring and enjoying themselves, this accommodation is highly recommended. Astrid is able to help in every way and has great suggestions and tips. We are really thrilled! Thank you for a great time.

Sarah & Co., July/August 2022

In June it was finally time for our holiday on Naxos. Our expectations were exceeded. The holiday home was simply fantastic. The view of the sea from the terrace alone was balm for the soul. The house lies in a very quiet location. You only have to leave the plot and get directly to a small bay with a sandy beach. Nothing is missing in the house itself.

The warmth of the hosts Astrid and Níkos made the holiday unforgettable. We were spoilt with fruit and vegetables from their own garden, freshly baked delicious bread and homemade wine. Astrid showed us the island on a walk together, during which we learnt a lot about Naxos, its inhabitants, flora and fauna.

Naxos itself is very beautiful and diverse, definitely worth a trip. Our holiday was just perfect – we will certainly be back!

Saskia and Markus

We have very fond memories of our time on Naxos and keep telling our friends about it. We spent far too short a time in your lovingly furnished holiday home! If we visit Naxos again, we will definitely come back to you. It’s a wonderful place where we immediately felt at home.

Thank you so much for this special experience!

Inge, October 2019

We – a family with two children 8 and 11 years old – spent two weeks with Nikos and Astrid in Azalas during the Whitsun holidays 2019. It was a wonderful holiday. We really enjoyed the peace and quiet. The beautiful bay with its small sandy beach and crystal-clear water was unique. Our cottage was clean and simply and functionally furnished. The traditional style of the stone house has a special charm. We also really enjoyed the hospitality of Astrid and Nikos, who always provided us with home-grown fruit and vegetables, wine and home-baked bread. We used our rental car to explore the island, which is still quite unspoilt, especially in the east. After a few days, our children got used to the solitude, which was new to them at first. We deliberately refrained from using mobile phones, and our children discovered their creative side: They read a lot, snorkeled and fished, paddled Nikos’ little boat and put on plays they had made up themselves together with two children from the neighbourhood. Anyone who loves the sea and nature far away from the tourist hustle and bustle will feel very much at home here. Although we choose new destinations every year, we will certainly return to Azalas one day.

Family F., 2019

Thank you so much for such a wonderful, beautiful stay on your family property. The home was really perfect in every way and what a fantastic sunrise I got to see every day! Your hospitality was amazing, I felt so welcome. I loved the island of Naxos and I hope to come back again some day soon. Thank you so much for your great hospitality!

von Gretchen, März 2019

We spent a week in Azalas in May 2018 and all our expectations of a lovely relaxing holiday on Naxos were exceeded: Pleasant weather, sunny, warm, some wind, peace and quiet and relaxation in a cosy and well-furnished cottage, the terrace overlooking the sea in which you could already swim – a really great stay! Astrid and Nikos are always approachable but not intrusive, they spoilt us with home-baked bread, home-grown wine, strawberries, strawberry cake, mulberries and a variety of asparagus, and casually provided us with lots of information about the island and its inhabitants.

We were travelling with a rental car and Azalas was a good starting point for the mountain villages and the north – we saw a lot and made nice contacts! We will definitely be back!

Martina, May 2018

I had deliberately planned my stay on Naxos a little outside the tourist season. I wanted to find peace and relaxation and was therefore looking for a resort away from the tourist centres. And that is exactly what I found in the Holiday homes Azalas on the east coast of Naxos.

The beautiful complex with the four vacation homes is idyllically situated on a slope right by the sea. I went swimming in the sea in November, which was perfectly possible with outside temperatures of over 20°C. You have access to the sea right in front of the property, it couldn’t be easier. The cottage I stayed in was very nice; the living room, bedroom and bathroom were very clean and more than adequately equipped. If you need anything, the very hospitable owner family is always ready to help (all family members also speak German). If it gets too chilly in the evenings, the cottages all have a wonderful open fireplace that you can fire yourself.

Watching the sunrise and sunset over the sea or the mountains from the terrace of the house is one of the best memories of my stay. It is advisable to rent a car; this will get you comfortably to any place on the island, the roads are in good shape in most cases. There are no shops in Azalas itself, but you can find several in Apeiranthos, a picturesque mountain village that is easy to reach by car. I also came to the island for hiking. The island’s nature offers many varied landscapes to explore; a must is the view from Mount Zeus, whose 1004 meters of altitude are surprisingly easy to hike – from up there you can see all the Cyclades in fine weather.

My stay at Azalas was one of the most relaxing vacations I have had in years. I can only warmly recommend Azalas to anyone who wants to experience peace and nature. Erwin wishes you a wonderful stay.

Erwin, November 2017

Coming from Munich on December 24 we did not expect that we would start sweating as soon as the ferry arrived and would sit down in the sun for our first frappé. As we drive across the island towards Azalas, the plane trees are of course bare in winter and the wind blows the leaves across the road, but it still doesn’t look like winter – in our sense of the word. There are lush green meadows dotted with small yellow flowers. The higher you get into the mountains, the more colorful the landscape becomes. The maple trees shine in all colors, with small leaves mainly in shades of green and red.

On arriving at Azalas we meet Angeliki, who is on her way to the beach for a swim, still possible so late in the year. The atmosphere still resembles late summer, even though the sun sets early. And the house gets quickly warm and cozy thanks to the wonderfully functional fireplace.

The sunrise in the morning – a magical play of colors, completely different every day. The sea – smooth as glass one day, then very rough and wild the next. It stays warm at first, but then stormy days follow. It’s overcast and the sea is raging. You have to protect yourself from the wind, but it’s not really cold even now. Autumn, really. And then it suddenly gets cold. You look towards Apiranthos and see that the island has been given a white cap. After a few hours, the mountains are covered deep in snow. You don’t get to see a snowman on Naxos every day…! But before you know it – the splendor lasts a day and then it gets warmer hour by hour and the snow moves further and further up again at the same speed. Soon the sun shines so intensely again that you sit in the sun in your shirt. And the children run around barefoot again, unimpressed. Only in the snow did they wear shoes.

This time of year has a special charm: It’s not hard to believe that we are the only strangers here at this time of year. Life is quiet, and the locals, who live here all year round, go about their normal everyday lives. In Moutsouna, a fish tavern and a café are open for Christmas and we are spontaneously invited in for a glass of retsina. The next day they even cook and light the fireplace. The villagers give us astonished looks – who is that coming at this time of the year?

It is the ideal place for a holiday between the years – even more leisure, even more tranquillity than usual; ideal for bringing the year to a close.

Christoph and Dina, Jan. 2016

We found everything as it was described. However, the location far exceeded our expectations, remote but beautiful as paradise and perfect for lazing around, swimming and enjoying Greece.

Ute, Sept. 2016

We were delighted with the beauty of the island, the sea, the hospitality of Astrid and Nikos and the wonderful hiking opportunities. The children loved the proximity to the small sandy beach, the clear water and their playmates. We found everything on the homepage to be true. However, the landscape and the sea are even more beautiful than shown in the pictures :-). We are already looking forward to our next visit to Azalas!

Annegret and Wolfgang, Aug. 2014

We visited this admittedly somewhat remote place for the first time this year and were absolutely thrilled – not only by its beauty, but also by the hospitality of Astrid and Nikos, which is second to none these days. They are self-sufficient in the best sense of the word, growing vegetables, making organic wine and olive oil and Nikos bakes the best bread on the whole island! With a rental car you can easily explore the very beautiful island. The small harbor town of Moutsouna is quite charming and there are several restaurants and a coffee house. Azalas is very suitable for children of all ages with the small sandy beach with shallow water, where there is always something to discover. If there is time, the hosts can also organize a short excursion. If you want to spend a quiet and relaxing vacation and don’t like the hustle and bustle of the large resorts, Astrid and Nikos are the right people for you.

Lydia, Aug. 2014

After discovering and enjoying this little paradise at Easter, I escaped there again with my daughters for a week during the Whitsun vacations. It’s very easy to switch off there. The view over the sea, the small beach with the tiny island off the coast, the peace and quiet and the friendliness of the owners – you rarely find all of this anywhere else. The next village Apiranthos with shops is in about 25 minutes distance uphill; to Naxos, the island’s capital with nice stores and restaurants, it is about 60 minutes. Nevertheless, there are no supply problems. Astrid and her husband bake fresh bread several times a week; and you can get salad, vegetables and herbs, as well as olive oil, lemons and, of course, wine from their own production. Sometimes the family invites you for a meal. The small, well-kept houses are simply but lovingly furnished and you will find everything you need in the kitchen. A vacation home for nature lovers and people who like peace and quiet, but also for families with children. They will find playmates, plenty of space and a beach with water shallow enough for smaller children to splash around. We will definitely come again!

Kirsten, June 2012