Arriving in front of the white-washed free-standing small residence, hidden just off the main street, you are welcomed by sea-themed hand-painted signs, pictures and pebbles to put you into a holiday mood. Located on the first floor (steep steps with no rail, so not suitable for those with mobility issues) there is only one other studio opposite, also owned by Chrysi, so it is very quiet. Once inside, a nice gesture is the small welcome gift basket.
Chrysi has put in a lot of effort into creating a homely feel, as if you're staying in a friend's studio. The decor is very colourful and youthful, with many personal Cretan and seaside touches. I found a very well equipped kitchen and the bathroom was stocked with shampoo, washing powder and cleaning materials. Plenty of sheets and towels were also provided too. The bottle of water in the fridge was a plus after a long journey. So no complaints.
I didn't get to meet Chrysi but she was friendly, very responsive and efficient to my needs, e.g. my kettle needed replacing. Her family are also on hand should there be any urgencies.
The studio is literally 30 metres from Analipsi street offering a number of typical tavernas and cafés.
Walking up a short hill into Analipsi village itself, you will find typical tavernas, a pizzeria, pharmacies, supermarket, hairdressers and shops. Analipsi also has its own craft brewery!
Analipsi is still a village with only 660 inabitants outside the season. Most places are family run, handed down from generation to generation. Despite large all-inclusive hotels sitting either side of the village, it is rare guests bother to come into the village so it was never packed out during my five-week stay in June.
The beaches are a +/-5 minute walk away, with more restaurants, supermarkets and a watersports centre.
For night-life, Hersonissos is +/-12 minutes down the road and Heraklion is worth visiting for its museums, historic and shops.
Any criticisms about the studio? During my stay, there was no air conditioning, a necessity particularly with the current extreme heatwaves. However on my very last day, Chrysi installed a brand new air conditioning unit which I got to use for my last few hours!
I can therefore thoroughly recommend Chrysi's studio for a quiet stay, just a stone's throw away from everything Analipsi has to offer.