We were fortunate to stay at Villa Sofia during our family vacation in August (5 adults and 2 kids). This was a very lucky find for us in terms of both Villa itself and its general location on Crete. Konstantinos and his family is extremely accommodating and always available in case of any urgent needs. Pictures at Airbnb do not do justice to this spacious and comfortable place. Besides having almost everything inside that you may need during your stay, you've got a picturesque view of the surrounding area and gorgeous Cretan sunsets. On our next vacation to Crete, Villa Sofia will be our first choice!
Few things to note:
The walk - beach is about 10-15 minutes away straight, for an adult with average physique. Wild beach (which hosts nests of the turtle colony) to the left. Organized and fee-based beach is to the right. You can also use adjacent pool at the local hotel for the same fee amount (4 Euro at the time, fees are separate).
Walk back includes hill which begins ~150 meters to Villa and trust me it is actually a good thing, since you'll automatically get your dosage of cardio and can continue to enjoy all of the delicious local food.
Food - besides one supermarket on your way to the beach, there is another one few blocks to the East that closes at later time. If you are not in a mood for cooking, there is a plethora of restaurants and cafes all around the Leof. Machis Kritis street. Overall, restaurants of different sizes are plentiful all over Crete, so it is hard to go hungry. Picky tea drinkers - bring your favorite teas with you, as the drink of choice in Crete is coffee.
Transportation - aforementioned street has a bus service that will take you to the centre of Rethymno in about 15 min. Tickets can be purchased in nearby kiosk. Use buses # 19 & 20 (not aware of other routes). Wait time for bus varies, but can take 30 min.
There are many car rental places nearby, where you can get a small vehicle, just right for local roads. Renting is recommended to move around in comfort and visiting other places. Villa Sofia has enough parking space to fit several cars. A separate suggestion to rent one so it is waiting for you at the airport, since a taxi will cost you 2-3 times more than a daily rental rate. Konstantinos, or Nontas will guide you to the Villa when you are nearby.