We spent a week here in 2013. Villa Azure is at the end of a country road and is suitable for people who want to isolate themselves, yet still want to be close to the beaches and all facilities. The last part to Villa Azure is over a good, fairly wide unpaved road through olive groves, fields of vines and forest. It is also a very nice area for walks. The quiet beaches of Kera (still a bit of a "secret" in this part of the Apokoronas) are just over a kilometer away and all amenities of the village Almiyrida (supermarkets, shops, a bakery, a pharmacy, a large number of tavernas and more beaches) are in walking distance. Further inland you will find other nice villages and beautiful scenery.

Villa Azure can accommodate up to 10 people and it is probably one of the most private villas in the whole of the Apokoronas area. You have no immediate neighbours and it is very quiet: no people, no dogs barking and no traffic. Because of its location on the hill and the trees that are in front of the villa there is a lot of privacy, so it is also suitable for people who prefer to go into the pool without swimwear. Villa Azure is a beautiful large villa of approximately 250m2 where you can relax, listen to the birds, watch the passing boats in Souda Bay and enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine in your hand.

All rooms at Villa Azure are situated on the same floor, with the exception of one large room where you can play games and where you can also find another sleeping area. The living room and kitchen are separated by a stone arch and there is a separate toilet on this floor (which we only just discovered on the last day of our stay ...). The living room is huge and has a comfortable seating area set up towards a large flat screen TV. There is a DVD player, and there is a large amount of DVDs to choose from. The ceiling is very high and made of wood with beautiful lamps which illuminate the living room in a very special way in the evening and night. There are three or four sliding doors from the living room that lead out to the pool and large terrace. Both the living room and the bedrooms have air conditioning. All doors and windows in the villa have an insect screen and they also have shutters.

The kitchen is large and fully equipped. There is a kitchen island where you can cook with both gas and with electricity, a microwave, an oven, a toaster, a kettle, a coffee maker, a dishwasher, a large fridge with separate freezer and all utensils (pots, frying pan, a large amount of plates, bowls, glasses, cups and cutlery). In the utility room you find a washing machine and for those wo enjoy this there is an ironing board and an iron. There are two dining areas inside and outside the villa there are even three, so you can choose where you want to eat.

Apart from the sleeping area in the games room downstairs in the villa you can find four spacious bedrooms on the floor, three of which have twin beds and the master bedroom with a double bed. All bedrooms are tastefully furnished and have air conditioning, a ceiling fan and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and sink. Each bedroom also has a wall of cabinets in which you can store the contents of your suitcase with ease. The master bedroom has sliding doors to a private balcony with a table and two chairs, where you look out over the green fields, the mountains and the bay of Souda. All other bedrooms also have sliding doors that open onto the garden or to the pool.

Villa Azure has a lovely pool, a so called "infinity pool", which is 52m2 large, where you have a magnificent view of the surroundings and the sea. In the pool are four marble stools and a bar where you can sit (in the pool itself). The bar has a sink and there is a mini fridge. There are two areas with sunbeds and parasols on-site around the pool and there is a terrace with two dining areas (one with the "Greek chairs" and one with comfortabale chairs) and an outdoor heater. The terrace is covered so you can sit in the shade. At the pool you will find the barbecue. There is a garden with plants and a lawn with another dining area (8 seats) under the grapes. From the pool there is a staircase leading to a large roof terrace where you have a beautiful view of the surroundings.

As you already understood the view from Villa Azure is really like a picture postcard, with the White Mountains on one side and the Bay of Souda on the other side. In between lie the fields with olive trees and pines, with here and there a cottage and in the distance a few small villages and the Turkish fortress Izedine that stands on top of a mountain and looks out over the Bay of Souda. The view of the mountains is different each time, in the morning very clear and well defined and later in the day some clouds hang on and it will become more blurred, and sometimes the mountains colour red. It's never boring a boring view. In Souda Bay you can see the naval ships, ferries, large yachts and other boats pass by. Sometimes you can spot a submarine or a large cruise boat. In the distance you can see the planes take off and land that visit the airport of Chania, something which is also nice in the evening when they appear in the air as tiny lights. You can also view the sunset from your terrace.

Our friend Frankie Miles manages this property and actually we book almost all of our villas at her Travel Agency. In total Frankie has around 80 villas in her portefolio. Over the years we have come to know her as extremely reliable, professional and very, very nice. You can check with her for the price and availability of the villa and it is also possible to send her your wishlist and your budget in an e-mail to see what else is available for the period you want to go on vacation.

Send an e-mail to Villa Azure in Kera Beach. - Tel: Frankie Miles 0030 6945 785673