Villa Liostasi was a wonderful find, a very comfortable home built in an idyllic location on a hill with spectacular views over the olive groves with the snow-capped mountains in the background and the only sound being the occasional bleating of sheep.Our hosts Amalia and Haris were helpful with excellent directions to the house (approx 1hr from Chania airport) and with maps and tourist guides at the house.Haris waited for us at the villa even though we were late arriving, greeted us warmly and supplied us with local food and his own wine and olive oil, which was very welcome as it was too late for shopping. The only disappointment was that the pool wasn't filled but Haris explained that the winds in March and April cause leaves from the olive trees to get into the pool and clog the filters.It actually made us use our time better in sightseeing, and what sights there are to see! The local villages are gorgeous with beautiful architecture and very reasonably priced tavernas where you can get fresh homemade traditional dishes and local wine,and very friendly service. Poliou House in Asteri comes to mind here.We all gained weight eating fresh crusty bread, fresh orange juice, delicious local yogurt and honey,braised lamb dishes and moussaka! The best scenery is to be had the further up the mountains you travel.The roads are narrow and don't all have walls so travel carefully but the sights are so worth it -olive groves, vineyards, mountain passes, gorges,herbs growing wild at the side of the road and beehives nearby.If history interests you, there are numerous historical and archeological sights to see- Arkadi Monastery, Knossos, Eleftheri,Roman ruins at the mountain village of Axos, Venetian fortress in Rethymnon town are all within a very reasonable drive. The teenagers were impressed with these and with the shopping in the quaint narrow streets of Rethymnon old town. Over-developed tourist towns are in every country, but if its an experience of how people actually live in another culture you want,Crete is the place to see before its too late,and Liostasi House is the perfect base. The sort of hospitality shown by these hosts is heartwarming.