It was a good decision booking us into the charming Arthouse of Clive and Chantal in Heraklion. The Arthouse is a wonderful place to stay, a little haven after a day of typical holiday impressions, good and bad.
The traditional house restored by Clive himself (awesome work, especially on the tiles) with its cool and shady downstairs area has everything you need for summer holidays including 3 balconies and a cute little kitchen for cooking your own meals (absolutely necessary if you are vegan on Crete btw).
Clive is one of the most generous hosts we have ever met. He even got us soy milk for starters, something that’s not particulary easy to get over there, we couldn’t be more thankful! There was also welcome wine and other food and drinking in the fridge, toast, oil, vinegar… you got it, I felt like in a home from home.
He also explored the neighborhood with us on the first day and showed us where to find everything plus he was there for you during the stay no matter what. If you wanted to know something you just dropped him a line and he got back to you in no time.
Heraklion and Crete itself can be a bit rough, the driving of the residents alone makes you shiver and shake in those tight little streets with loads of stray cats to look after but it was exactely the thing we wanted to see: Crete as is, not Crete as polished as you can get it.
Give yourself a little time to also explore the rural environment around Heraklion and look for tavernas not right in the center of everything. You may find the nicest bunch of people and little gourmet treasures, even as a vegan ;D