A big thanks to John & Mado for making our holiday so special, the villa was spotless when we arrived with a fridge loaded with everything you need until you get to the supermarket including wine and beer 🥂🍻, also a Spaghetti bolognese cooked by Mado which was delicious and a lovely touch. Villa Mandola is perfect in every way, it is fully loaded with everything you need, all your teas and coffee to your shampoo & conditioner etc etc. I must say the menu you can order from is a fantastic idea, which is all cooked by Mado and good prices, we had a meal and salad every other evening and was better than any restaurant in Greece, thanks again Mado for spoiling us, the apple pie treat was also the best we have ever had anywhere mmm mmm😋. The pool is 7x3M meaning you can have a swim to keep yourself fit or perfect for cooling off. The shaded veranda is also great and comfortable for lazy days. There is a large gas bbq and seating area which we used 3 times if you don’t fancy venturing out, the water is also drinkable. We hired a car for the holiday but only went to the super market twice and to the local apiary, probably would have been a lot cheaper to get taxis haha, would have gone to all the great attractions on the islands but we have been to them before on other visits, I must say Diaz bee keeping is a must and only a 10 minutes drive, probably the best experience we have ever had on any holiday, you must go🐝🐝🐝🐝 We have booked villa Mandola for 2022 and can’t wait to be spoiled again. Thanks again John and Mado and we shall see you soon 😎🌞😃
Read more
Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can highly recommend this excellent villa, very clean, comfortable and well equipped with a beautiful outdoor area and amazing views over the mountains. John and Mado are the most welcoming of hosts, helpful but never intrusive. Mado arranged car hire with a local company which was excellent. The village does not have many restaurants (we tried two within walking distance which were fine) but with a days notice Mado will cook a delicious, reasonably priced meal and deliver it to the villa. Excellent service! There is a very well stocked mini market and a couple of bakeries which supplied all our daily needs. The outdoor area is very well kept with lovely furniture and an inviting pool which was kept clean by John. At the other end of the village is En Kefallinia, an organic farm with a restaurant which serves delicious breakfasts, cakes and lunches but not evening meals. Lakithra is a rural village, quiet and not at all touristy but if you fancy more choice of restaurants etc then it's only a 10 minute or so drive to Argostoli or Lassi. We would most certainly return in the future.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Another big thanks to John & Mado for everything😊 this is our 2nd visit to this special villa Mandola, everything from the extremely clean pool and the well equipped villa, to the well stocked fridge and a meal waiting for you when you arrive. We ate from Mado’s menu every other day for 2 weeks, the food is better than any restaurant on the island and very reasonably priced (yum yum). We always hire a car but if you don’t venture out much, taxis would be far cheaper. Lakithra is only a 10 minute stroll where you will find 4 nice restaurants and a friendly bar, also a cake shop, store and a bakery.
Can’t wait to return in June 2024
Thanks again John & Mado
Read more
Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Mados food a must😚
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I traveled alone with my 7 year old daughter and we stayed in Villa Mandola. Everything was perfect, from start till the end. The communciation with Mado was very good and she always helped and answered all our questions. When we arrived, there was a delicious homemade meal prepared for us on the table with Wine! Also we found breakfast items in the fridge and Mado brought us eggs and surprised us with a homemade soup.
John cleaned the pool every second day and the Villa was spotless clean. We had one rainy day and we were happy to find that they have a bunch of movies in english to pick from. Also a few board games, so perfect even if there's a rainy day.
You can also order food from Mado. We had the best meal from her and can't wait to try more next month :-)
Thank you Mado & John for everything!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Absolutely perfect house, with the best hosts ever. Nice neighborhood and all the amenities you might need, extremely well organized. As for the hosts, we have been renting holiday homes for many many years throughout the world and have never met such great hosts as Mado and John (thanks guys for all your hospitality). True tranquility and piece of heaven on earth. Would love to come again.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed here with my husband and in laws, for a week on the 25th May 2014. We have been to kefalonia many times, and previously stayed in apartments in Lakithra. So very happy I decided to choose the beautiful Villa Mandola this year! I cannot recommend this villa enough. It was everything i imagined it to be and more! The accommodation was amazing, with lovely, clean and comfortable rooms with a spacious living room and kitchen area. It also has a beautiful garden area with a gorgeous private pool,and incredible views! I must also mention the extremely kind and friendly owners John and Mado who looked after us so well, and made us feel so welcome, right from the moment we arrived at the airport, to the last morning of our holiday. John made sure our pool was cleaned every other day, and made sure we had everything we needed. Mado surprised us by making us some lovely home cooked food and many more delicious treats! After my stay at Villa Mandola I never want to stay in a hotel again! I will definetly be booking up again for next year!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2014
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Villa Mandola a... T, Owner at Villa Mandola and Kantrillies
Responded Jun 5, 2014
Thank you very much Sharon,for your beautiful review.It was nice meeting all 4 of you. Glad you felt like home,and enjoyed your vacation. Hope to see you again next year. Kisses to the rest of the family. Mado
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was our 2nd visit to Kefalonia and to stay at these wonderful villas. This time it was Kantrilles, last time Mandola. Both are wonderful, clean, well equipped villas and hosted by 2 wonderful people who are so helpful and kind. You cannot choose a better location to explore this beautiful island, only 10 minutes to beach, 10 minutes to Argostoli and the airport. They are both set in a traditional Greek village, with views you will never forget. We can't wait to return!
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2015
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Villa Mandola a... T, Ιδιοκτήτης at Villa Mandola and Kantrillies
Responded Jul 2, 2015
Thank you very much for choosing our villas for one more time,while visiting kefalonia.Glad you enjoy it every time more and more.See you next year again. Mado,John,Theofania
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Once you have enjoyed a holiday at Villa Mandola, you will want to return year after year. The villa itself is charming, and the pool and garden are lovely. The view of the mountains is magnificent, and the atmosphere, especially in the evening, is magical. But what makes staying at Villa Mandola even more special are the owners, John and Mado, a delightful couple who are quite simply perfect hosts, always around whenever you need them, never ever intrusive. We have just enjoyed our third holiday at Villa Mandola, and are already looking forward to returning in 2015. Thoroughly recommend.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2014Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Villa Mandola a... T, Owner at Villa Mandola and Kantrillies
Responded Oct 16, 2014
Thank you very much for your comment Abbi. We do our best to keep you and all of our customers happy,so you can enjoy our hospitality,more than once. See you next year.Until then have a nice winter. Thank you Mado,John,Theofania
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Absolutely outstanding villa and hospitality. Beautiful setting. Very well equipped and extremely clean and tidy. We have been to many holiday villas but this sets the bar, you will not be disappointed.
The villa is great but the service is even better. The owners, John and Mado, go way beyond a typical service level to ensure you have everything you need and more.
Kefalonia is a beautiful island, the coast line is outstanding. If you are planning a trip there then this should be your first choice for accommodation.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We took a long time to choose this villa and it was worth all the effort (we like to take our time over holiday locations - it took 4months to choose our honeymoon as we are incredibly fussy).
From the start everything was perfect. John met us at the airport with a smile and a warm welcome. We were driven to the villa (John even had a car seat for our baby). The villa is only a short drive from the airport - but you can't see or hear the planes as you are on the other side of the hill.
The villa is stunning, sitting in a small area which is owned by John & Mado on which they have a house and so do a few close members of their family. The villa has stunning views and is so very quiet. The pool is lovely, well kept and clean, with Mr Turtle living in a little area to the side of the garden. The only noise we could hear during the day was from donkeys and goats!
The inside of the villa is just as stunning as the outside, with a modern feel to a traditional Greek stone house. The kitchen has everything you need, modern bathrooms and a TV with loads of films to choose from. The upstairs bedroom and bathroom have stunning views.
John and Mado catered to our every need. From providing a lovely Greek meal for lunch upon arrival to toys/highchair/travel cot etc for our baby, they did everything they could to make our stay wonderful.
John provided us with details on what there is to do on the island and where to go. From recommendations of local beaches to restaurants in the capital, he knows it all. There is a book (written by John and Mado) with the basics in.
Mado sorted car hire for us for while we were on the island. The car was well maintained and clean which was delivered shortly after we arrived (the drop of was at the gates of the airport so really handy).
Over the course of the week (which felt far too short), Mado and John ensured that we had everything that we wanted and more. I won't spoil your visit by telling you everything they do that's above and beyond as they are nice little touches.
In short, the villa is stunning, quiet and well looked after. John and Mado look after their guests very well and if they say that they have something such as baby toys then they really mean it (as our little boy found out). You must stay here to understand how good it was.
If you knew us, you'd know how much we hate noise and the Brit abroad mentality. We couldn't fault this place in any way and we had a lovely time here.
Our Island highlights:
Fiscardo - about 60mins drive away, but lovely beaches and views on the way. It's a lovely fishing village with an abundance of dockside restaurants. We went for lunch and had a lovely meal, loads of choice and fresh fish (we didn't venture far in the evenings due to the baby).
Argostoli - capital. Some nice sites, and some nice places to eat around the main square. John can give you some tips about where to eat. Can get the Ferry to Xi beach from here to save the drive.
Myrtos - the famous beach. About halfway to Fiscardo. A stunning beach. There is a very little there (so take a packed lunch or just drop by on the way to Fiscardo).
Antisamos - stunning beach and a lovely bar/restaurant in a very lazed atmosphere. This is where they filmed some of Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
Gentiliti vineyard - lovely wine, and a very relaxed wine tasting. Not open all the time so check times before planning a visit.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Argostolion area.
PRICE RANGE
$130 - $132 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
GreeceIonian IslandsKefaloniaArgostolion
NUMBER OF ROOMS
2
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
