Meronas Eco House

You’ll need a rental car here. The nearest beach is a 45-minute drive from Merona, and most of the hiking route starting points are reached by car, though a few walks can start on foot. Parking is easy, with spots near the house and free spaces everywhere. It’s a lovely, cozy place for families, friends, or couples. The owners make you feel at home with homemade food and warm hospitality, and nearby taverns add to the memorable Greek experience.

The house sits in the beautiful "paradise" of the Amari valley, in a small traditional village with underground streams that emerge as public fountains, complete with a drinking ladle. There’s a lovely family-run Taverna and two Kafineos in town, as well as a beautifully and sensitively restored Byzantine chapel. This is a place to slow down and experience unspoiled Cretan village life. Renting a car is probably best, though we managed quite a bit of travel on the excellent bus system. Manolis restored the house by hand over ten years. It has several levels and lots of places to gather indoors and out, with beautiful details and elegant salvaged marble and stone hiding in plain sight. Manolis, his mother and father were generous and welcoming. His mother brought us homemade dishes almost daily, and Manolis went out of his way to help us enjoy Meronas and this part of Crete. It’s a wonderful traditional home rather than a modern villa, but it has everything and more for anyone wanting to experience Crete deeply. There are lots of steps, which may be challenging for very young children or people with mobility issues. The two of us in our 60s managed just fine.

The town is small, but there’s plenty to enjoy. The Taverna serves excellent food, and one of the two kafenions makes delicious souvlaki in the evening. My wife and I rented Eco House in Meronas with two friends for about two weeks in July. My wife has already reviewed it, but I wanted to add that the house is wonderful, even nicer than the photos on the site. As an architect, I loved looking closely at all the details the owner put into it. Manolis and his mother were very friendly and generous, bringing us treats all the time. The whole experience was great, and I want to go back.

It’s a beautiful hotel in a lovely spot near the top of a quiet valley, ideal for a peaceful holiday away from it all. The staff and locals welcome you like family. Since you’re up in the mountains, the pool comes in handy. There’s no beach nearby, and Rethymno is about a 30-45 minute drive away. I’d highly recommend it!