Villa Vrisali is Heaven on Earth. Private, peaceful and immaculately presented, the house and garden are divine. My family and I stayed here for two weeks in April and we couldn't have chosen a better place to base ourselves in Crete. By day the weather was warm but not too hot so we were able to use the swimming pool which the owners (Sofia and Petros) heated for us. By night it was cold enough to light the beautiful indoor fire. Villa Vrisali is very comfortable and well stocked with everything you need for a self-catered holiday. Sofia and Petros are very generous hosts and lovely people and they have put a lot of thought and effort into making their villa very special. There are a number of outdoor areas to sit at different times of the day (all have beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys) and there are different cooking options as well - full stove/oven inside and outside, a large wood barbeque as well as a gas barbeque. The house is a good 30 to 40 minute drive from Hania, and nestled in the foothills of the mountains, so the road is winding and steep and narrow in parts - a (small) car is essential. If you're looking for a beautiful rural escape, it would be very difficult to go past Villa Vrisali.