Maria's villa is just perfect! We were greeted with smiles by Vaso and Maria, who waited there for us after we had been delayed. They couldn't have been more hospitable, unexpectedly leaving us supplies in the fridge and cupboards to start our holiday off. Such a lovely extra touch. The villa is done throughout to a very high standard and there was plenty of room for our family (2 adults and 3 pre teens!). Each room has air conditioning which was very welcome at night time and the beds were comfortable, so we all slept well, which is always a bonus! The kids were barely out of the pool on the days we stayed up at the villa and were straight in as soon as we returned from a day's exploration! It is very inviting! The whole area is beautifully lit in the evening, making it a lovely calm place to sit out on the terrace and wile away a few hours together before bed. The barbecue area is super and we used it often (thank you, Vaso and Maria for keeping it stocked up with charcoal for our use...very kind), taking advantage of dining outside under the canopy on the terrace. Surrounding the terrace are borders of beautiful flowers and pots on the walls, and a grassed area, making it feel like home from home. There are mosquito screens on all the doors and windows, although we were not aware of any but we kept them closed just in case. The kitchen has everything you could need, and more! As coffee lovers, the choice of two different coffee machines made us smile! The washing machine was a welcome touch, too. We came home with a case full of clean clothes for a change!
The setting is in a very peaceful village up in the mountains (you need a car!) and is very safe. Our satnav got us there easily and Vaso came to guide us in to the villa. It is centrally situated on the island, making it perfect to explore the whole island if you want to. We kept to the Chania and Rethymno areas, the farthest places being just over a couple of hours drive for us. All in all we had a fabulous stay at Maria's house and we cannot wait to book again for another visit. This was our second visit to Crete and we hope our third will come soon and be at Maria's house! If you like a peaceful holiday, away from the crowds, with comfort, calm, charm and beautiful views, this is the perfect place.
Our thanks to Maria and Vaso. We will be back!