These apartments in the village of Atsipopoulo just outside Rethymno are absolutely beautiful. A cool little oasis with lots of unique charm and stylish design. Manolis is a perfect host. He not only replies very quickly to your enquiries, he is on hand every day to offer advice and information. One of the nicest touches is he ( and sometimes his Mum) is around every morning in the cool and picturesque courtyard with fresh coffee, tea and a selection of “treats”. This is the perfect time to meet the other guests and ask Manolis for any recommendations for places to visit or restaurants to try. The village has a couple of restaurants and a pizzeria but you are only a short drive from Rethymno (8-10 euros in a taxi) with its vibrant array of shops bars and restaurants. Our favourite place was the old town with its beautiful Venetian architecture. Another firm favourite was the taverna in the next village of Prines, Giannikos. We were so impressed that we went back a second time and were greeted like old friends by the owner. This is literally a 3 minute drive away. Don’t try to walk it as it’s uphill and there is no pavement. We tried a few beaches but our favourite was Georgioupoli which Manolis recommended. A 20 minute drive from the apartment. Soft sand and clear water. There are some nice shops and restaurants here too. So if you don’t mind being out of the town and are looking for somewhere unique and beautiful to stay I strongly recommend visiting Manolis, you won’t be disappointed.