The drive to the villa from Heraklion will take about 4 hours and lead you through the most breathtaking cretan scenery. Steep cliffs and narrow roads require a steady hand but the reward is a couple of views you don't get if you stay near any of the tourist spots. At the end of the journey, you'll be welcomed in one of the most polished and best executed villas in all of Crete. You'll truly feel privileged. The view is simply breathtaking, the pools (one large and one shallow pool for kids) is beautifully arranged (smackdab south towards the sunset), perfectly tempered and cleaned daily. If you're early to rise, you may witness the local bird population drink from it mid-flight at sunrise.
The air smells of the ever-present olive trees and thyme.
We were gifted a small present every day, from home made Raki and olive oil, delicious pastry or local fruits and were made to feel welcomed with every interaction. The fridge was stocked with water and milk, ice cubes and fruit were prepared and awaited hungry and thirsty guests.
There's also a sandwich maker, a coffee machine, a washing machine, a clothes line and everything else you would want or need, including two showers and a bath tub.
The pebble beach is accessible by a 10min descent that can be quite challenging or a 3 minute ride down to the harbor road. It's sadly not ideal to swim, as the pebbles are quite large
Elafonisi Beach (one if the top 10 beaches in the world) is only 20 minutes away (don't trust Google maps!) and is a spectacular must-visit for one or multiple all day excursions, especially if you travel with children. Arrive early (before 10am) and reserve a set of seats with an umbrella (k
desperately needed as there is no other source if shade) on the waterfront (10€/day)!
The local taverna "Gialites" offers large portions of hearty Cretan cuisine. The souflaki, tsatsiki, bread and zucchini balls are delicious, and everything is home made.
You should definitely stock up on groceries on Chania or Rethymno, as there are no markets with any selection nearby.
Communication was a bit difficult due to language barriers, but the owners were always accessible (and live next door). Our kids made use is the pool to the fullest without any complaints whatsoever. We felt right at home within 5 minutes of arrival and all of us were really sad to have to leave.
The whole layout is perfect for couples and families alike. If the saying goes: "no complaints warrants 5 stars", this place deserves seven.