Crete villa holidays are easy on the purse

Villa specialist Freelance Holidays has added some great value apartments and villas to its 2010 line up of 100 holiday homes on Crete.

With a large, shared pool, the three buildings that make up the Antilia Apartments are set in pretty gardens above the laid-back resort of Tavronitis and offer simple but spotlessly clean accommodation.  There are 20 one- and two-bedroom apartments and the pool area enjoys outstanding views to the coast.  The beach is five minutes down the hill by car and the village tavernas and shops are even closer. A week’s rental of a two-bedroom apartment sleeping four costs from just £510 for a week in May rising to £725 in August – including air-conditioning and daily maid service.

For those who prefer an individual villa with private pool, Villa Migdalia – also new for 2010 – is a converted bakery transformed into a pink-washed house to sleep four.  It’s in the heart of a thriving village with shops, cafenions and tavernas within 10 minutes’ walk, while the north-west coast is within 15 minutes’ drive.

The original bread oven is still in the courtyard but there’s a modern kitchen for more usual self-catering!  The double bedroom en-suite is on the first floor, with great views from its private terrace, plus a twin room and shower room on the ground floor, along with the dining/living area.  The small pool is in the private courtyard, complete with the almond tree that gives Villa Migdalia its name.  A week’s rental in May is £625, rising to £1,475 in August peak, including twice weekly maid service.

Flights are not included: Crete is well-served by firstchoice.co.uk, monarch-airways.com, jet2.com and easyjet.com.  Freelance can arrange car hire on request

For more information and bookings, visit freelance-holidays.co.uk.