Tastefully furnished, equipped and decorated, No1 Old Vineyard is a delightful family house situated only 1200m from one of the most appealing beaches on Crete and 150m from the nearest taverna (with a further three easily walkable) as well as an excellent minimarket. Such an appealing balance of comfort and convenience is guaranteed to enhance any holiday.
Well-proportioned and imaginatively designed, the property flows easily over three floors, including a large, open plan lower level where a kitchenette, living area, shower room and twin beds offer an added degree of independence sure to appeal to families with older children or perhaps a nanny/childminder to accommodate.
Hallmarks of the house décor include colourful modern and abstract artwork, soft pastel shades and eye-catching ornaments. Plump soft furnishings adorn the living room while a variety of terraces (including one off each bedroom) provide space in which to admire the country or distant sea views, dine together, enjoy a snooze or just escape for a quiet moment to oneself with a drink and a book.
Outside, wrought iron gates welcome you at the front entrance with a separate driveway and garage providing ample parking to one side. The grounds house an interesting selection of indigenous shrubs, an herb garden and a lovely kidney shaped private pool bordered by a spacious sun terrace of natural sandstone fringed by mature olive trees offering shade.
Horafakia village has two mini-markets and four tavernas - the nearest found 100m from the house, one more at 200m and another at 700m. You will also find a popular beachside taverna perched on the rocks above the pretty cove of Tersanas which is 1.2km or about a 15 minute walk.
Also easily accessible is Kalathas Beach (2.8km), a fine swathe of sandy coastline facing a picturesque little island and where two more tavernas will surely tempt you. A drive of just ten minutes northwards, the magnificent beach of Stavros is renowned for its role in the 1964 Hollywood movie Zorba the Greek starring Alan Bates and Anthony Quinn. The film ends with both men dancing the famous folkdance, the sitaki, on the beach where today several local tavernas offer tasty meals, refreshments (and occasional sitaki performances!) throughout the day. We should also mention two other enticing sandy beaches, Marathi and Loutraki which are 20 minutes by car and very deserving of a visit.
The nearest large town, Kounoupidiana (6.3km), has comprehensive amenities that include supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, a petrol garage, newsagents, doctor, dentist, greengrocer, bakery, zaxaroplastio (cake shop), post office, pizzeria and various bars and tavernas.
With a delightful Venetian harbour and some of the best restaurants and night life on the island, Chania, Crete’s second largest town is a thirty minute drive (twenty minutes to the airport).
