Just perfect! The house was a jewel and the host made it shine!
I will cover the host, traveling party, house, pool, location, neighborhood, Chania, and surroundings in the following review.
The host: A better host than Petros is near impossible to imagine. He was truly service-minded and professional in a warm and pleasant manner. We communicated through the Airbnb app and in person. The response time to our inquiries was very swift. We had his telephone number just in case but never had to use it. Petros assisted on all issues from car rentals, boat rentals, trips, and restaurants. Yes, on just about everything. Petros made the whole stay an unforgettable experience!
The travel party: We were a Norwegian/Danish family with "kids" between the age of 16-26 years and a couple of girlfriends. A group of 9-10 in total (10 people for one night). This was our first time in Crete and Chania. The group was looking forward to an active two-week vacation in an area that had something for everyone. The Chania area was recommended by two of our Greek friends. All had a great stay!
The house: The house was just beautiful. With a generally high standard and good layout, the house was a perfect basecamp for our stay. It was spacious, clean, and very well equipped. You could really feel that the host was taking good care of the premises and paying attention to every detail. Great terraces with tables and chairs for outdoor meals on both sides of the house. The space made it possible for everyone to be in the house and still have a lot of room and privacy. A great combination!
The pool: Big, clean, and well designed. About 13 meters long, so you could swim properly. Deep in one end and shallow in the other end. Diving was a popular activity! With 10 sunbeds, two parasols, and bath mattresses, the pool was the natural hang-around point for the group. A true oasis!
The location: Situated nicely in a quiet neighborhood 10-15 minutes drive from downtown Chania and with easy access to the rest of western Crete, the house was perfectly placed for our activities. There were four bicycles available to explore the neighborhood. You could possibly use them for trips to the town, but we used our two rental cars.
The neighborhood: It's worth exploring the surrounding area around the house. We went for several bike rides and a memorable one was a trip to the "Archaeological Area Kastelos" (about an hour southwest by bike). Some steep parts, but totally worth the sweat when you get to the top. What a view! The local restaurant "To Antikristo" serves delicious Greek food and we went there twice. Just 5-7 minutes away on foot, you will find a grocery store, a bakery, and a convenience store.
Chania and the surroundings: A rich historical city with a good combination of old and new, quiet and busy. We explored the city both during the day and at night. Several good restaurants. A lot of tourists of course, but what can you expect on such an island and with such beauty.
The western part of Crete is just beautiful with a combination of sea, beaches (many), flowers, rugged terrain, and mountains. We took several trips to the southern part (50-90 minutes drives). Breathtaking views and isolated beaches. We explored three gorges and especially the world-famous "Samaria Gorge" is highly recommended. We thank our Greek friends for the recommendation to choose this area of Crete.
You are lucky if you are able to secure a stay at this magnificent place with Petros as a host. The highest possible recommendations!