I spent my last night in Greece at Gabriella's Garden. Sleeping outside was great prior to the long trip back to the states. The bed was comfortable and beautifully set under an olive tree, beside a huge rocky hill. I would've liked to have stayed longer to enjoy the sanctuary that Gabriella's provided on her special piece of land. The beach (with it's super clear blue water) is a short walk away. As is a supermarket (where I would've bought goods to cook in Gabriella's provided kitchenette had I stayed longer). The 5 euro breakfast buffet was delightful.
Gabriella is kind and reliable. Her English is good too. The common area, as well as the open air "bedroom", have a mystical feel which was nice to retreat to after visiting the busy beach.
Palaiokastro is very small and to my knowledge there's not much there to explore, but it made for the perfect escape from the busy city Heraklion (15 min. away -airport's there). I reccomend staying at Gabriella's Garden for one or a few nights if you have a layover before flying out of Heraklion.