We had a lovely stay in Gdochia. The house was rustic but comfortable, the terasse had an amazing view past the mountains and out to the sea and the environment was peaceful, fragrant, and relaxing.

Roen made us feel welcome from the start. He was quick to respond to our messages while we were staying in the house and also gave us veggies from his garden. The locals were also welcoming and would say hello or wave as we walked by.

Apart from the main road, there's a winding road from Gdochia down to the sea that is perfect for hiking (7.5 km, approx. 40 mins each way). The dirt road ends at the sea and there's an isolated beach nearby. Some websites say that the water can get cooler on the south coast of Crete in October. We found it quite warm in the week we were there (Oct. 11-18), but that might be because it was sunny and 24°C every day. In other words, you can avoid the tourist spots on the north coast and still benefit from the advantages of a beach (and mountain cottage) holiday.

You'll find all you need to cook in the house. There are two shops in Myrtos (the closest coastal village) that sell the basics. You might want to stop in Ierapetra on your way (or plan a shopping trip there) for other things, like wine or specialty products. If you want to eat out, we suggest you try the Beach Cafe in Myrtos. They serve traditional Greek food (the grilled fish was tasty).

We would definitely stay here again. We were totally rested after only a few days and were sorry to leave.