Drop everything and book your stay at Villa Kyma in Crete. Without a doubt, Crete is an incredibly special place and so is Villa Kyma. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, trust me when I say that a picture of Villa Kyma simply can't do it justice: It's even better in person.
Built into the side of a cliff that affords the most spectacular views and a pervasive feeling of quiet and isolation, Villa Kyma is situated near Chania, one of the most beautiful spots in Crete. The villa's architecture takes full advantage of its views, whether inside or out. Our family--two adults arriving from Washington, D.C.., along with us and our two children (12 and 9) arriving from London--found ourselves torn between exploring the area and relaxing at the villa. Fortunately, there was enough time to do both successfully.
Modern and airy, with plenty of room, Villa Kyma makes it easy to have privacy while still affording its guests the opportunity to come together in the kitchen, the downstairs' reception and, of course, the deck, where we practically lived all week. It's a luxury rental in every way, to be sure, and the personalised care of the villa owner's staff, available at all turns to arrange outings, dinners, private chef, etc., was exceptional.
Waking up every morning to the uncompromising views of the sea was its own treat, and there's definitely no better place to see the sun rise with a cup of coffee than the lounge platform on the trail down to the beach. The gorgeous stone shower in our en suite also afforded direct views of the sea--another unexpected pleasure. And the children couldn't get enough of the infinity pool, whose reflections and positioning often blurred the line between sky and ocean. Each night on the deck, glass of wine in hand, we were captivated by the sunsets, to the point where we found we were planning our evenings around them.
Thanks to our wonderful host and his vision for such a special villa, and for sharing it with the rest of us.