My family and I had an excellent stay at the villa. We had never been to Crete before and had heard positive stories about the island and the people. All were correct.

Valia (from Think Villa) was helpful from our first enquiry, throughout our stay and also when we returned home. She was quick to answer any questions and proved to be a useful source of recommendations for restaurants etc.

During our stay, the hosts and their family were attentive without being overbearing. Upon our arrival, they were waiting for us at the villa, despite our evening flight arriving late. There was some food in the fridge and cupboards, but they had also made some Greek dishes which were most welcome after a long day travelling.

Their hospitality and generosity continued throughout our stay, with plates of food and freshly picked vegetables regularly being delivered to our villa. They really wanted to make sure we were being looked after and were having a good holiday.

The villa itself was great. Lots of space (indoors and out), a good sized swimming pool, with a shallow section, which was good for our young children. The pool was regularly cleaned during our stay.

I would suggest that you do need a car if you are to stay here as there is not an awful lot within walking distance. This wasn't a problem for us, as we like to be in a quieter spot, with the option to go to busier towns as and when we want to.

The town of Panormos, with its harbour, beaches and selection of restaurants is only a ten minute drive away. We went there often and found the restaurants to be good, both in terms of quality and value. The beach, whilst small, is sheltered and the water gradually gets deeper so was safe for our children to swim in.

Rethymnon, a larger town, is about 20-25 mins away by car, but (as you would expect) has a wider selection of shops, supermarkets, restaurants and things to do.

In summary, the villa was excellent, the hospitality and kindness from the hosts was unlike anything we have received in the likes of Spain and Italy (maybe we just went to the wrong places!), there was plenty to do nearby and we would highly recommend a visit.