Secret Recipe

Secret Recipe: Crete

Compared to many of the boxy white villas that can be found around Crete, this one is a little more rustic in flavour — but no less luxurious for it in our opinion.

Throughout the interior, you'll be able to spot traditional aspects, such as the stone walls, wooden ceiling beams, bare floorboards and vintage-inspired furniture. However, modern flourishes have been seamlessly added in too, like the light wells and large glass walls that open out onto the balconies. Down in the basement, there's even a games room featuring tables for pool and ping-pong, which should keep youngsters occupied for a while.

We're betting you didn't choose to come to a Greek island to marvel at interior design and the outside offering doesn't disappoint, either. In the middle of the garden bordered by olive groves, there's a swimming pool, as well as a covered terrace and an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and stone oven.

Although the villa has an air of rural seclusion, there are plenty of attractions nearby. There's a huge number of picturesque beaches starting from as close as ten minutes' walk away, while the historic town of Chania takes a similar amount of time to reach in the car.

Home truths:
*At maximum capacity, the home can sleep twelve adults and five children
*There's private parking available for guests
*Daily cleaning, twice-weekly linen change and pool maintenance is included in the price
*Although the villa is split across three levels, various modifications have been made to the entrance and ground-floor bedrooms to ensure its wheelchair accessible