Istron Villas, Istron, Crete

• high-quality modern houses each with its own pool • suit couples & families of all ages & groups of friends • sleep 2, 4 or 6 (1, 2 or 3 bedrooms)

Special offer for a 1 week stay starting 15th April

These stylish and luxurious villas boast everything you could possibly want for a relaxing holiday: a fantastic location close to an idyllic bay washed by turquoise waters, a very high level of comfort, full use of the first-rate facilities of the neighbouring deluxe-category Istron Bay Hotel, and - the icing on the cake - a swimming pool each.

If you can bear to leave such idyllic surroundings, there is no shortage of places to visit nearby. A short drive along the coast will bring you to Gournia, the best preserved Minoan site on Crete, while, a little further along is Mochlos, a tiny fishing hamlet opposite the island of Mochlos where there is an underwater Minoan harbour. At the eastern end of Crete is the Minoan palace of Zakros, which became the centre of trade with the Middle East in the 18th century, and the superb Minoan palace at Knossos is only an hour’s drive away, and is a must. There are plenty of natural attractions, too: the island’s interior rewards walkers with spectacular views and varied wildlife. The Lassithi Plateau is great for spotting colourful hoopoes (as well as being famous for its windmills), and the slopes of Mount Dikti are covered with wild flowers in the spring, including Cretan bee orchids.

You get the best of both worlds at Istron. The villas, staggered up the hillside, are far enough away from their sister hotel to remain private, yet close enough for you to benefit from the wide-ranging facilities of a luxury hotel, including its own sandy beach.

Choose from a one, two or three-bedroom villa, all of which exude an understated elegance and are equipped to an unusually high standard, with air-conditioning, satellite television, a CD player, DVD player, telephone and internet connection. The very spacious accommodation comprises a master bedroom with king-size bed and bathroom and, in the larger houses, one or two other bedrooms and a marble shower room. The stylish open-plan lounge encompasses a dining area and an attractive modern kitchen with creature comforts such as a dishwasher, microwave, fridge-freezer, cooker, percolator and toaster. French windows open onto stone-flagged terraces and a private pool.

You can dine at the hotel, which is renowned for its Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine, taking your pick of its two restaurants, take breakfast there or simply use the room-service facility to get a snack delivered to your villa. (Pay locally in all cases.) The owner, Adonis Panayiatopoulos, and his family are always on hand should you need them. They keep a stock of supplies in case you run out of anything and even rent DVDs. Katy, Adonis’s wife, offers a home-made catering service and she will bake you a traditional cheese pie, or anything on request (pay locally), to pop in your freezer to be enjoyed whenever the mood takes you.

Activities & Facilities:

• walking (owners advise) • tennis • beach/water sports (2mins’ walk) • scuba diving centre • table tennis, billiards • Greek dance classes • beach volleyball • children’s playground • massage sessions • nearest restaurant 2mins’ walk • nearest shop 5mins’ walk

Prices & travel 2008

All prices in £ per person, based on the number of people in the party

Start: Tuesday
Nights: 7
Board: self-catering
1 wk price includes: 7 days' category C car hire
Recommended airport: Heraklion
Driving time from airport: 1h15

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