Villa Avra

A lovely villa with charm and a nice interior. The taps could do with attention. Being some distance from the pool was a plus for peace and quiet. It stayed very calm by the pool throughout our two weeks. I'd recommend it.

The house was spacious and very clean, with comfortable beds and a well-equipped kitchen. The only issue for us was the salty, undrinkable water. Even boiled, it made poor tea and coffee, so you'll need bottled spring water, or the local beer, which is very good 😉. We booked villa #28 through Airbnb, and everything went smoothly, from the owner's quick replies to the warm welcome and the villa itself. The price was reasonable; the owner said this was because the private pool wouldn't be operating until 2019. The communal pool in the middle of the complex is huge and beautiful, as the photos show. The complex has several villas and apartments and is new, with construction still underway, but it was very quiet because the workers were respectful. The garden is regularly looked after, and workers mowed the lawn during the week. It's a manageable sized complex, peaceful in October, though we wondered what it would be like in summer. Shops and restaurants are nearby, and you can get everywhere on foot. The complex is just a few steps from the sea, though the current layout doesn't allow swimming there. It's an hour by car from Heraklion airport and an hour and fifteen minutes from Chania. On arrival we found a welcome basket with three kinds of apples, pomegranates, bananas, marble cake, homemade cookies, olive oil and homemade raki.

A well-equipped villa with decent conditions, a small green garden and a nice pool. The beach is close, around 150m, but it's rocky; we swam at Bali beach instead. There are good tavernas nearby and a sandy beach too.

Rena was a wonderful host. The villa is beautiful inside and out, with all the amenities and facilities we needed. The sea is 50m away, and there's also a shared pool.