A huge thank you to Despina and especially to her father Manolis for making our month-long stay in Crete such a fantastic experience. The house is a true country haven that has everything you need to relax and unplug. It’s a traditional Cretan property which has been renovated while preserving its unique character. It’s obvious that everything in the house is done with care and love. There’s no impersonal sense here, you immediately feel at home. A highlight of the property is the eco-garden that Mr. Manolis tends to. He generously shared the cornucopia of the land with us and we feasted on melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, figs, courgettes, and other fresh fruit/veggies throughout our stay. They also kindly provided a paddling pool for our baby which we delighted in and which they cleaned and refilled upon request.
The village of Afrata where the house is located is a true paradise. It’s largely untouched by “mass” tourism. The local residents are some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met on our travels. The house is literally next door to a fantastic family taverna and just a two minute walk from another one. Both serve delicious local food. A seafood taverna is located just a five minute drive away, on the seafront of Africa beach. The beach itself is a small pebbly cove with crystal clear waters. After spending a month discovering the beaches of the local area, we made the conclusion that it’s the best one!
One small note: you will need a car to stay at this property. There is a small local mini-market near the house, but to get any meaningful supplies you will need to visit Kolymvari which is a 10 minute drive away. The beach is 1km away, but it’s down a steep hill.
All in all, our stay way spectacular, we truly rested and recharged in this house thanks to the amazing hospitality!