We took our first trip to Crete to celebrate my daughter’s 30th birthday. The graciousness of our hosts and the beauty of this stone house, designed in the traditional style, surpassed our expectations. We arrived late to ham, sandwiches, beer & homemade cookies prepared for us, & the kitchen is stocked with some essentials (olive oil, dish soap, coffee, & salt/pepper). All very helpful as there is no village grocery store (though the tavern sells a few things).
The house is set on a steep hill right above the village. The views are amazing of the sea, rustling olive groves, and stars at night. We were happy to find it’s not at all isolated. The hosts are well-known and loved in Loutraki, and now live there part-time. They will greet you in person and dispatch neighbors to assist you if you have any trouble. The local taverna is a short walk downhill and there you’ll be treated as family and make instant friends, all while dining outside with a gorgeous view. On our first night, the cook dispatched her dad to follow our car & make sure we navigated home safely. (It took two tries and we walked thereafter ❤️. )
You will need a car to explore the area. It helps to be proficient behind the wheel in Crete. Most rental cars have standard transmission. On faster paved roads, it’s customary to drive halfway (or more) in the breakdown lane to allow others to pass, even on single-lane roads. But stay alert & nimble for ever-present stopped cars, mopeds, and pedestrians who share the side of the road with you.
The hosts are experts about local history & culture, & offer hand-drawn maps with suggestions for outings to museums & historic sites, vineyards, taverns, and more. (If you want to explore Minoan history, be sure to visit the world-class Archeological Museum in Irakleon.) Yanis & Poppi accommodated our request for hands-on lessons on preparing simple regional cuisine, and we shared a wonderful evening together and a delicious meal of grilled lamb, stuffed vegetables, tzatziki, and Green salad.
We regret not following Yanis’s hand-drawn map for a short & easy hike up into the mountain behind us. Due to jet lag & competing plans, we never rose early enough to tackle that outing before the heat of the day. Never mind though, it’s something we’ll do next time! Loved our stay.
Martha and Samantha Taggart
Arlington VA
July 2022