I cannot describe just how kind, thoughtful and generous George, his father and Maria were right from the start, and all through the 5 nights we stayed there. I had forgotten a plug adaptor: George provided one - though I found out on the final day of our holiday that they are available to buy at the mini-mart 50m away. I was on crutches, which made access to the rooms a little unwieldy, but our hosts could not do enough for us. We were invited to join them in the evening on the patio, where they shared food and drinks with us. (The fresh figs were delicious).
Old Malia is so quiet in the evening, that you can hear everyone and everything around you. During the night, the heat was such that we needed to keep doors open, which meant that the noise of the cicadas was deafening, and the antics of the very drunk party people next door were clearly audible. Nothing that the owners of Villa Contessa could do about that, but if you are going during the 'season', I suggest that you pack a pair of earplugs - max strength - if like me, you are used to a very quiet environment.
We booked a number of activities during our stay. Pick ups were available for all, and even with the unexpected addition of my crutches, the people of Crete could not have been kinder. They were determined that we should enjoy our time and experiences with them. If I had known about the scooter/quad-bike hire before we left, I would have been tempted to explore inland a little more. Defo going back!
