Villa Priotissa has a number of delightful features. Foremost among these is the extended Kelaidis family, which has owned this beautiful old house for many generations. We were bowled over by the warmth of Antonis and Frantzeska, and Antonis's amazing father, George. We spent several evenings chatting with George and other locals (we were joined by Antonis and Frantzeska on one occasion) in the kafeneions in the square; he is beyond charming, and the raki and meze just kept coming! These evenings were a big highlight of our trip, fascinating and enjoyable in equal measure.

The villa itself is stunning, and has recently been fully restored to an incredibly high standard; the photos are an excellent representation. The courtyard is a particular attraction - it's a real haven, and a wonderful place to sit and read (or drink more of George's extremely moreish homemade raki!). More generally, the house is very comfortable indeed - it has a modern kitchen with high-quality appliances, and is nicely furnished.

Tymbaki is a real, working town, and it grew on us greatly over the week we spent at Villa Priotissa. It is brilliantly located as a base from which to explore the numerous attractions of the area - Faistos and Gortyn, for example, are both a short drive away, as are some stunning beaches, to name but a couple of possibilities. Antonis and Frantzeska have prepared a very comprehensive guide to many of these attractions.

Beyond the fun of eating in the square at Tymbaki, the next village a couple of kilometres along the coast, Kokkinos Pyrgos, offers a good beach and some very decent tavernas - try Dmitri's to see what must be one of the largest barbecue in Europe, or the Red Castle ("Kokkinos Pyrgos") taverna for beachside fish and the sound of the waves lapping, all at extremely reasonable prices.

As self-confessed Hellenophiles who travel regularly to Greece, we delighted in the sheer authenticity of the place. Tymbaki isn't a picture-perfect town, and it doesn't pretend to be, but for a complete immersion in "real" Crete, with a delicious welcome, a beautiful property and excellent connections to everything there is to see in the area, it is pretty hard to beat. We'd heartily and unreservedly recommend staying at Villa Priotissa.