The Refuge of Zeus

The Refuge of Zeus: Crete

Hanging from a hilltop above the sea on Crete’s northeast coast, this villa has a stunning view of the Kalydon peninsula from every angle. It’s in the hills above Elounda, a bustling seaside town with a cute harbour and main square packed with tavernas.

The villa’s outdoor terrace has been designed to make the most of the sea and peninsula view, where an infinity pool dangles over the hillside and deck chairs sit on glass-fronted balconies facing the ocean. Alfresco dining comes at a rustic, beach-bar style table in the shade with equally fabulous views of the island-strewn water below.

Inside, you can choose between chilling out in the lounge, where wide windows keep the surrounding vista in sight, or indulge in a movie night in the cinema room with its pull-down screen and projector. If you're feeling competitive, why not set up a ping-pong tournament in the garage?

A big bench in the kitchen provides plenty of room for the bustle of family breakfast time and the granite-topped kitchen counters have loads of space to prepare a meal. That’s if you’re not heading into town for the freshest seafood and souvlaki in buzzing tavernas.

Home truths:
* The super king bed in bedroom five can be converted into twin beds, just ask your host
* The nearest village is Plaka, 4km away, so having a car is recommended
* The road up to the villa is rather twisty and narrow
* The villa is cleaned for four hours every three days
*In addition to Netflix, the home has Disney and a decoder with global channels