Villa Creta

Eating

Prefer to self cater? The villas' kitchens are spacious and well equipped in terms of utensils and basic ingredients (herbs, olive oil, bin bags, sponges etc are provided). Both have gas cookers, electric stoves, coffee-makers, kettles and toasters (rare in Greece), as well as dishwashers - heaven on a group holiday. There's no shortage of shady spots to dine al fresco, and each villa has its own barbecue. There's a supermarket 1km away in Malades, but one of the highlights of Villa Creta is the hospitality: the owners leave fresh produce for the guests - fruit from the gardens, olive oil from the farm, home-made marmalade and freshly laid eggs.

Prefer to be spoilt? It almost seems churlish to cook when you could be eating home-made Cretan specialities every night. Miltos's wife, Stella, offers a vast array of traditional dishes (at additional cost - there's a menu in each villa), as well as cooking to request. Prepare for your day by the pool with a hearty continental breakfast (fruits, yogurts, cheese etc), all of which are produced by the farm or locally. At lunchtime, hop aboard the train to the communal villa and dine al fresco on salads, cheeses and moussaka. Then return in the evening for a 4-course feast accompanied by local wine, served on a candlelit table by the pool.

Prefer to eat out? There are several tavernas within a short drive, and Heraklion (12km away) has a wealth of restaurants and bars where you can mingle with the bronzed and beautiful Cretan crowds.