Gouves & the Open Sea

Perched above the northern Cretan coast outside Gouves, this single-storey villa is built around one central pleasure – the pool terrace where the Mediterranean fills the horizon. Sliding glass doors connect the living area directly to the outside, so mornings can drift from kitchen to lounger without a second thought. The bedrooms are calm and cool, and the covered terrace means you can eat alfresco even when the afternoon sun is at its peak. Heraklion airport is approximately 14 km away, making arrivals and departures mercifully painless.

Home truths:
* Air conditioning is only available in three of the bedrooms – the single bedroom doesn't have air conditioning.
* If you're travelling with a baby or toddler, a high chair and cot are available at the villa.
* The beach is around 2.5 km away and the nearest restaurant is roughly 1.3 km, so you'll want a car or be comfortable with a walk to reach them easily.
* You'll need to contact the reservation team at least three days before arrival to arrange check-in and share your flight details – it's worth getting this sorted well ahead of your trip.
* While the home can sleep up to 8 people, the maximum occupancy is 7 guests.