Citrus Rainfall

Surrounded by vineyards, citrus groves, and fragrant herbs, this villa near Rethymno is built around a 12-metre pool with an integrated plunge section – and two ground-floor bedrooms step directly out to their own private pools, so mornings feel unhurried. The organic kitchen gardens invite you to pick what's in season, making meals at the twelve-seat poolside table feel effortless and grounded in the landscape. When the villa pulls you out, Rethymno Old Town's Venetian harbour and labyrinthine lanes are a twenty-seven-minute drive, and Fortezza Castle is reachable in about twenty-two-minutes.

Home truths:
* The villa sits in a rural village setting near Rethymno, so you'll need a car to reach shops, restaurants, and the coast. The good news is that free private parking is available at the villa.
* The two upstairs bedrooms each have an attic level with a sofa bed – at full occupancy, four guests will sleep across these two sofa beds.
* If you're travelling with little ones, your host can provide a cot and high chair.
* For those with reduced mobility, there's a ground floor bedroom and bathroom here.
* The swimming pool isn't fenced.