Patriko Traditional Residence

The hosts were so kind, and they even made me a lovely cake. I stayed in the chrysi apartment, which was cool and comfortable. It has air conditioning, though I didn't need it, perhaps because I came early in the season. I slept better than I have in a long time. The village is very quiet, while the village below is busier and has a supermarket. If you want a peaceful area, typical Greek feel, and lots of lovely walks, this is for you.

We can't thank Mr. Manolis enough for how kind and helpful he was in Vafes. He met us at the local café, less than a minute from Patriko Residence, when we arrived at night, and had already lit a fire so the house felt cosy. It's spacious and comfortable, and we slept very well. We only saw how lovely the house and village were in the morning. Mr. Manolis met us for coffee then, and we had some passionate conversations before he took us to see the village's two traditional olive mills. It was a short stay, but a memorable one.

Such a little paradise, with a garden full of trees. The clean, traditional accommodation has loads of amenities, and the hosts are warm, kind, and ready to help with whatever you need. If you're thinking of visiting, go for it!

The place is an old stone family home, renovated nicely in keeping with local architecture and its natural surroundings. It was very clean and had the space we needed for a holiday, though anyone after luxuries should look elsewhere. Vafes is quiet, with the local road basically ending there, and it's close enough to the house that traffic wasn't something we heard. There's a taverna and cosy café in the village, while nearby Vryses has supermarkets, a bakery with many kinds of local rusks, and several other tavernas. Vafes also sits between Chania and Rethymno, making it an easy base for the sea and places like the Sfakia region, whose striking coastline can otherwise be hard to reach. For a peaceful, pleasant holiday at good value, Patriko is a very good choice if you want traditional Cretan life and hospitality away from busy, commercialized hotspots affected by overtourism. Mrs Evangelia and Mr Manolis are among the sweetest people you'll meet. They welcome you with treats like raki, cakes, and traditional Cretan rusks, and give useful, accurate tips on places to visit and eat around Apokoronas, which has plenty of interesting sights and traditional tavernas. Mr. Manolis knows the local cultural scene well from a lifetime of involvement and can give a thorough, fascinating overview of local history.