Right on the sandy Plakias in Crete, family-run Paligremnos studios offer self-catered rooms with free Wi-Fi and a balcony overlooking the Cretan Sea. The traditional restaurant serves local food in the garden. All rooms at the Paligremnos are equipped with air conditioning and an iron. Each has a well-equipped kitchenette with a fridge, a coffee maker and a dining area. A private bathroom with shower is included. Staff at the reception can offer tips on nearby beaches such as Damnoni within 1.9 miles. The centre of Plakias a 10-minutes walk away and offers bars and shops. Free private parking is possible on site.

Crete. As well as the magnificent beaches and warm seas, the size and physical variety of the island of Crete invites exploration, and Paligremnos Studios, located at Plakias, 74060, Crete, Greece, is the ideal staring point. Uniquely among Greek islands, Crete’s mountainous spine creates a sense of spaciousness, a life distinct from sea and sand. Fly-drive holidays to Crete – or simply the hire of a car for some days during your stay in Paligremnos Studios, – will enable you to seek out the rugged formations of the interior, the fertile countryside and tiny chapels filled with frescoes, the mountain villages where time has stood still. Always, the authentic spirit of the islanders, their fierce independence and pride – as well as the best cooking and most delicious meals that constitute the famed “Cretan Diet” – will more likely be found where few others are looking. With so much to see, with dolphins to watch, shaded squares to paint, olive trees and wild orchids, Minoan remains and sweeping beaches, no wonder Crete holidays and Paligremnos Studios are revisited so often.