Tucked into Mirabello Bay in northeastern Crete, Plaka is a popular seaside hamlet close to lively Elounda. A string of local tavernas flanks the water's edge and leads to a pretty stretch of pebbly beach, gazing out to Spinalonga Island. It's an atmospheric spot, but the best views are reserved for the Plaka Seaview Villas, perched on a hillside above the far end of the village, which opens up wide panoramas of sea, shoreline and distant mountains.
These villas couldn't be more perfect for a family or group getaway. With three bedrooms and bathrooms, two lounges, kitchens and terraces, and a fabulous pool apiece, you can bring the whole clan without fear of being on top of each other. Your hosts, Tina and Vangelis, live nearby and are a mine of local knowledge, whether you fancy a boat trip around the bay, snorkelling in the clear waters below, or a wander around Spinalonga’s Venetian fortress. Drawn-out evenings drift by at the villas, with everyone gathered around the terrace table as the sun fades and the bay begins to sparkle with taverna lights. A relaxed, luxurious base in an appealing corner of Crete – we can't wait to see them for ourselves.