Without a doubt this was the BEST Airbnb experience I’ve ever had (and I’ve stayed in a lot of Airbnb’s)! Tres Ekklisies is a gem of a place - off the beaten path, gorgeous rugged coastline, hiking trails, and towering mountains. The apartment was perfect. You hear the sound of the waves every day and night, as the sea is literally about 50 yards outside the door. We stayed for 3 weeks, just after peak season so it was very quiet as well. If you want natural landscape, an authentic local experience, and off the beaten path Crete, this is your place.
What made our stay so special was meeting Eleni’s mom, Maria. She is one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met and she showed us Cretan hospitality that went so far above and beyond what we expected. We had many interactions and dinners with the locals at the beachside taverna, got to meet her family in her local village, attend a festival/celebration with her, etc etc. We were so moved that my girlfriend and I were crying when we had to leave. It was very hard to leave Maria and Tres Ekklisies.
Practical tips: you’ll definitely want a car to get here since it’s pretty remote, and I recommend driving there during the day if it’s your first time finding the town because it can be a little tricky seeing the sign for the correct turn. But it is definitely worth it. We will probably come back every year to stay at Eleni’s place because we loved the experience so much. The apartment is sparkling clean as well, has a great balcony, and was a perfect place to stay.