As described this is a beautiful stone villa in a really charming village, a bakery and supermarket and tavernas all in easy reach and all with really helpful and friendly staff. Being up in the hills above the beach is really lovely and if you are there for long enough you can start to feel a real part of village life.
The villa has been restored in a very sympathetic way but it could do with some modernisation. Mosquito nets are not provided on the windows and doors so if you are prone to being bitten make sure you take some effective bug control. The main bedroom is comfortable and has a net on the bed. The 2nd double bedroom is housed in a bread oven, there are two small windows that cannot be covered so you will always wake with the morning light. It also has to be accessed from the end, so you have to clamber onto the bed and have little space above your head, not good if you are claustrophobic. The 3rd bedroom has single beds, only one was usable during our stay.
The star of the villa is the truly wonderful pool. It is large, deep and clean and in a beautiful setting. The garden around the pool look lovely with lemon and lime trees and plants.
Regarding the pool, there are steps at one end for access and these are fine but there is no handrail to assist getting in and out which was necessary for one of us and made using the pool very difficult.
The terrace is covered by a vine. The vine only provides patchy shade and it can get very hot.
The seating outside with the exception of the standard sunloungers is not very comfortable. Again it looks beautiful a large natural stone table built against stone benches, with taverna chairs but spending any length of time at the villa is not comfortable in spite of the beautiful pool as there is nowhere to sit for long periods of time and no area of constant shade.
Almyridia the beach resort nearby is very friendly and has a lot of good places to eat drink and make merry! A lot of the restaurants have sunloungers in front of their restaurants on the beach that are free to use if you buy a beer or a coffee, the beach is really good for kids as it is shallow and safe.
The villa is a really good base for exploring the west of Crete and daytrips across the island are easy with empty roads and beautiful views as you drive through the mountains.