We had a lovely two week stay in this beautiful village home located in the heart of Crete. Within walking distance, we could explore some of the remains of the ancient Minoan city, enjoy great coffee, buy grocery essentials, bread, and enjoy a good meal at a terrace rooftop restaurant (about 30 meters from our front door). The owner of a local coffee shop gave us fresh figs from his garden each time we sat down for coffee. We were also well equipped to do our own cooking in the home's kitchen.
Our host, Manolis, was 100% prompt and responsive, gave us good advice, and took care of any needs we had. He even gave us a heads up on an upcoming holiday with suggestions of festivities to attend. We found the kitchen well-equipped for home cooking. The neighbors were also warm, welcoming, and ready to give advice on places to visit, how to get there, and where to shop for particular items.
We took a number of family hikes from the house into the surrounding valleys, springs, and small chapels that dot the landscape. During our August visit, we found loads of blackberries growing around the trails and picked many. Our kids, ages 3 and 6, handled the hikes fine.
Tourist buses arrived most days in the village to explore the streets, shop in town, and visit the natural springs just down from the village in the valley. This place is a 20 minute drive from the nearest beach, 25 minutes from the Old City shopping and dining in Rethymno, and 1 hour 15 minutes from both Chania and Heraklion (and the Palace of Knososs). For a family exploring the island from this village, a rental car was a must.
Our on-site hostess, Sofia, took care of our needs. She does not speak English but neighbors or Manolis himself is available to help communicate if needed.
We felt like we were given the chance to see authentic village life, talk with local folks, and have a great home base for visiting the distant and beautiful parts of Crete. Thank you Manolis and Sofia!
Warmly,
Sarah