We booked on a bit of a whim having never been to the area before and with other similar properties in Crete booking up fast. As such we were slightly nervous on arrival but almost immediately knew we have made a great decision, with a very warm welcome from Renata and her lovely mother-in-law, Koulla.
The apartment (we were in the upstairs of the two) and outside areas were in fact better than the pictures had shown and our concerns over a lack of bannister on the stairs down to the pool were also put to rest as new bannisters and rails had been fitted since the last airbnb pictures were taken.
Gavalohori itself is a very picturesque village with several good tavernas and shops for the essentials. Hire car is pretty essential if you want to explore the local beaches (Almyrida 10 mins, great for kids) and beyond.
The whole family loved the time we spend at Renata's and in Gavalahori and would be more than happy to return. Thanks to Renata and especially Koulla for making us feel like we were in a home from home.