Our initial contact was through Valia at ThinkVilla. She was very efficient, responding quickly to any queries. Because of COVID we had to change our booking dates several times and Valia was an immense help in ensuring our holiday finally went ahead.
We (9 adults) stayed at Villa Diamantis. The accommodation was excellent, with many balconies and eating/drinking places and perfect for a large group. We also benefitted from the outdoor pool which we were able to use every day despite our visit being in early October. The poolside BBQ we arranged for one evening was great fun and a highlight.
All in all a great holiday, and enjoyed visiting Knossos and other Minoan sites, plus mountain villages. We ate out several times and whilst plenty of restaurants on the coastal strip we much preferred the more authentic Cretan experience of eating in the local tavernas in Adele and Pigi.
If there was any downside it was only that the villa is set apart, on a hill, so whilst this allowed spectacular views it was a good 20 minute walk to nearest bars and restaurants and further to the beach.
However one of the greatest things about the week was the incredible kindness of the host and his family. They brought gifts every day and we were able to use the produce from the surrounding garden (courgettes, eggplant, figs, grapes, persimmon, pomegranates etc). Nothing was too much trouble.
We returned home happy from an enjoyable holiday, and with warmth in our heart from experiencing such Cretan hospitality.