Villa Eleana

Surrounded by gloriously unspoilt countryside, Villa Eleana is perfect for a real get-away-from-it-all holiday. It is rare to find villas with private pools in the south of the island, so we were surprised and delighted to find this attractive villa on the edge of the small village of Agouseliana, approximately 13 km from the appealing south-coast resort of Plakias.

The villa is comfortably furnished, and has four bedrooms, three bathrooms (one with a bath, two with showers) a living room, dining room and a well-equipped kitchen. Three of the bedrooms are on the ground floor together with the living area, whilst the fourth bedroom under the eaves is especially spacious and virtually self-contained, making it ideal for teenage children or any other members of your party that like to feel that they have their own domain. Air-conditioning is included in the holiday price, and there is also a washing machine/dryer, as well as a TV and stereo.

Villa Eleana's star attraction is the private swimming pool, which is blessed with uninterrupted views over an Arcadian landscape of rolling fields and olive groves. The adjoining terrace is the perfect spot for enjoying a simple al fresco lunch or dinner cooked on the villa's barbecue.

When you can tear yourself away from Villa Eleana's seclusion, Plakias with its lovely sandy beach and wide range of shops and tavernas makes a pleasant spot for a day or night out. A number of lesser-known - and less visited - beaches can be found by exploring along the coast in either direction from Plakias. Heading north, it takes just half an hour or so to reach the bustling Venetian port town of Rethymnon, whilst the little inland town of Spili, with its famous lion head fountain, is just a 20-minute drive east and certainly worth a visit. Whether you choose to spend your days just relaxing by the pool or exploring the island by car, one of the joys of staying at Villa Eleana is that you can forget about the car in the evenings (unless you want to sample the laid-back nightlife in the seafront bars and cafés of Plakias), for Agouseliana itself boasts a couple of charming village tavernas, as well as a simple shop or two for your basic day-to-day needs.