The Folegandros Hideaways

Villa 1 (sleeps 2-4)

This traditional village house has thick stone walls with bright white interiors to offset the compactness, and tease it into the 21st century. Slate-slabbed roofs, bamboo ceilings and wonky oak beams combine with funky art and upcycled furniture to create a chic bohemian ambience, while air-con and smallish windows keep the house blissfully cool.

The sitting room comes with built-in L-shaped sofas (which double up as children's beds), a driftwood-style storage cupboard, low tables, dried thistles in tall vases. Two steps lead up to the dining room - where you’re greeted by a pair of psychedelic, goggle-eyed metal ostriches - and the compact kitchen.

Beyond this is the shower bathroom, with its eye-catching black tap fittings, sleek basin, pampering bathrobes and organic toiletries; and the cosy, white double bedroom, which comes with a wall-to-wall double bed, a trestle desk, natty “knotted rope” reading lamps and white storage niches. It’s simple, comfy and utterly peaceful.

The thin galley kitchen squeezes in everything you need for home cooking: oven, hob, sink, coffee-maker, toaster, retro fridge-freezer, sharp knives (but no dishwasher, note). There are plenty of utensils, glasses and crockery stored in handy niches within those thick walls; but limited surface area means you need to stay tidy. Next door, the dining room has a table for 4 beneath hanging wicker-basket lamps, but our bet is that you’ll eat all your meals outside, either in the reed- and wind-shaded dining alcove or at one of the village tavernas.

Villa 2 (sleeps 2-3)

This newly refurbished, slightly smaller cottage follows a similar pattern: stone walls, compact but chic interiors with top-quality fittings and no clutter, and an expansive paved terrace with private plunge pool and sunbathing deck.

There are four rooms: a living room (with single sofabed), a kitchen (with hob, oven, sink, toaster, kettle, Nespresso machine, plus a table for two), a snug double bedroom (whose kingsize bed takes up the full width of the room), and a shower room. We love the artisanal touches, such as wicker lampshades, driftwood mirror frame and whitewashed wall niches: it all contributes to a beautiful 21st-century Greek cottage look.

If the interiors are compact, the terrace is huge, with a good-sized plunge pool (including hydromassage feature), outdoor sofas and beanbag chairs, a covered 'lookout' area and two restored circular wheat threshing floors for you to top up your tan. As often in Greece, there are unprotected drops so you'll need to keep a close eye on younger kids.

Activities

• Relax on your villa's sunny terrace, with its (heated) plunge pool, deck chairs and plunging views over the coast
  
• Walking trails cover the island - some descend to the coast, others cross old terraced fields - but there’s little shade, so be prepared
  
• Drive or walk down to beautiful Agali Beach, where the clear blue waters look good enough to drink
  
• Book the owners' RIB boat (with skipper) to explore hidden coves, coastal cliffs and top snorkelling spots
  
• Drive to the main village of Chora, one of the loveliest in the Cyclades: whitewashed pedestrianised lanes, tumbling pink bougainvillea, mewing kittens and bustling open-air tavernas
  
• Tucked into the cliffs below Ano Meria is a beautiful and totally secluded cove called Livadaki: you can catch a boat from Agali beach, or hike there from the villa in an hour (more on the way back up!) using the Anavasi map to guide you

Kids

We think these houses work best for older kids who like a bit of adventure, or young children who can splash happily in the small pool (but mind the strong sun and unprotected edges). Both houses have TV and WiFi.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Villa 1 can accommodate a family of 4 in reasonable comfort. You'll be using the sitting room as the kids' room (there are 2 single sofabeds) so it will feel a bit cramped indoors; but most of your downtime will be spent outside on the sunny terrace and the dining patio.

Villa 2 can sleep a couple with 1 child, again using a sofabed in the sitting room. This cottage is smaller, so you won't have a huge amount of room to spread out.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Folegandros Hideaways are in the tiny hilltop village of Ano Meria, on the small Cyclades island of Folegandros. Chora, the little island capital, is a 10-minute drive away.

By Air and Ferry:
There is no airport on Folegandros. Instead, fly into Santorini (30km) then take a ferry / hydrofoil / catamaran to Folegandros (1-3 hours). Alternatively, fly to Athens and take a ferry / hydrofoil from Piraeus (4-8 hours). Ferries are daily during summer; typically 3 times a week for the rest of the year.

From Folegandros Harbour
The hotel provides complimentary transfers to and from the harbour (a 15-minute drive).

Getting Around
We advise hiring a car or jeep on arrival at Folegandros, or perhaps a quad bike if you're feeling brave. The villa is in a small village (seasonal restaurants, minimart, no bus connections), and it's a 3km / 45min walk to the nearest beach. Having said that, if you're a keen walker looking for a remote getaway, you could get taxi transfers from the port, and explore on foot.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.