This is a house that gives you a blissful Greek experience. Everything about it -- from the private pool to the stone floors to the gorgeous veranda that overlooks the beautiful Aegean Sea -- gave us the sense that we were really in a special, timeless kind of place. The decor in and around the home evokes the familial past of the owners, as well as the unique colors and sea-faring geography of the island.

The house is situated perfectly as a base camp for exploring all that is Paros. It's in easy striking distance to off-the-beaten-path beaches that even in peak season don't feel overcrowded. It's near the charming waterfront town of Aliki. It's far enough away (20-minutes) from the busy port city of Parikia. It's close to a variety of water sports (wind surfing + kite boarding in Punta). And it's a 30-minute drive along a breathtaking shoreline to the Park Avenue-meets-fishing-village vibe of Naoussa, with it's high-end shops and charming, white-drenched walk ways -- the kind of place where fishing boats intermingle with It girls.

But the best thing about this place is the owners. Host Vangelis and his artist wife Maria are longtime residents of Paros (and Athens). They really make you feel welcome, from picking you up at the port to showing you the ropes around the island.

Vangelis and Maria are truly unique people. If you get the opportunity to meet with them, either in passing as they periodically tend to the property (they stay in an apartment below the house), or (if you're lucky) for a great Greek feast on the veranda, definitely take it. They are fantastic companions who can talk about everything from Greek culture to the dynamics of Paros. We were very lucky that they decided to make their home available to travelers. They are now our friends, and that is the best thing you can take from a trip.