Alexandra’s place hit all the right spots and ticked all the boxes.
The location, on the hills between Chania and Rethymno, with views of the sea, is brilliant for exploring the many beauties of central, north-west, west, and southern Crete.
The house itself was an olive mill belonging to Alexandra’s great-grandfather, and she has updated it to suit modern tastes and needs while preserving a certain distinctive cachet. It’s simple but very attractive and with character, and has everything one might require for a wonderfully relaxing stay. It is also spotlessly clean.
It is right in the village of Kefalas, so one can get a taste of local life, such as getting a coffee and watching the locals go by at one of the kafeneio on the main square, or buying wonderful yogurt at the local dairy (which is apparently and rightly-so renowned for it), etc... there are a few tavernas and a couple of mini markets in the village itself.
The view from the pool is just like in the photos, with the added bonus of an extra layer: a lovely small terraced native plants garden just below the pool.
The photos do the house justice, the kitchen is well appointed, the living area downstairs quite spacious and the veranda very pleasant and again with that gorgeous view to the Aegean Sea. The upstairs roof terrace is larger than it appears as well.
There are houses next door, but the way the grounds of the house have been set up give it total privacy, with nobody looking over the pool and veranda.
But the photos cannot show how comfortable the bed is, or what good quality the bed and bath linens are. Alexandra also provided lovely cotton bath sheets for our use around the pool and at the beach. Mosquito repellent coils and sprays are also provided. The wifi is perhaps not fast enough for gaming, but it works well enough to use it for work and leisure.
Alexandra is a host who goes above and beyond hospitality rules: she was there to greet us upon arrival with local treats and had graciously stocked the kitchen with a few essential food items to tide us over for a couple of days. Throughout our stay we felt pampered with small gestures that we very much appreciated.
She always responded very promptly and extensively to our requests for suggestions of places for sightseeing, shopping, and eating. There is also a handy guide of unmissable sights nearby that she has put together for guests.
All in all, it was a perfect place for my wife and I for our first trip to Crete and we hope to come again. We most definitely highly recommend 1891 home!