If you don't mind the slightly longer journey, we think this is the perfect house for a tranquil family Greek holiday by the sea. Set 8 minutes' walk above a secluded sandy beach, you get homely living spaces stacked with books and games, a well equipped kitchen, 5-6 bedrooms across two floors, plus shady stepped gardens with olive and fruit trees (and the odd hammock), and a big vine-shaded patio for alfresco meals and table tennis games. But its trump card - and this is where we spent most of our time - is its big covered balcony out front, with mesmerising views past olive groves to the mirror-still seas of the Pagasitic Gulf, framed by misty blue mountains.
The house is owned by an Anglo-Greek family who divide their time between Athens, USA and here (I know which I prefer!), and is perhaps less flashy than some of our other Greek villas. For example there's no pool or air-conditioning, and only 3 bathrooms in total; but this is all reflected in the prices, which are extremely reasonable. We spent a blissful week here with two other families, swimming and snorkelling, wandering along the coast to pretty Kalamos, buying fresh fish and honey at Argalasti market, exploring frescoed churches and Centaurs' caves; and I know we would all return like a shot.