We had a perfect two weeks at Villa Arietta. It was just right for our family of four, and we had many happy days playing in the pool as the swallows dipped down and drank from it and the falcons circled in the thermals over the valley. The villa is in such a beautiful and peaceful area, yet still well situated for the beaches (Falasarna is really stunning and an easy 35 min drive away, and not too busy but get there before 10.30 to get a good spot. We preferred the bay at the far east of the area. There are good beach tavernas there too. Elafonisi was just too packed for our liking, but I bet it is lovely in spring or autumn). The villa is a short drive to Kissamos, which has some good restaurants - we particularly liked the fish one at one end of the promenade, and the Cellar at the other end (the tomato balls were amazing, and the wild greens) - and a ok beach. The hill villages, and Chania are also close and worth the drive. Just beware of using googlemaps as you may end up taking a shortcut down an unpaved road only really suitable for tractors! Arietta has created a comfortable and elegant villa, and she and her husband go above and beyond to provide the little extras, from toiletries to home baked pastries when they come to clean every few days. We've stayed in quite a few villas over the years and this was in a different league. We were very sad to leave.