This was our first trip to Crete, We were not disappointed , the area around Plaka is lovely, there is a lot to see and do with or without a hire car, we hired a car from the airport and used it for six days of the ten , we drove up behind the cottage and followed the track upto the top of the hills where you will get spectacular views of the peninsula and the interia of the island there are a lot of caves around the cliff face to view. We had a trip to spinalonga very interesting . Olondi cottage was our home for the duration of our stay and it really did feel like home, there was everything we needed . Around the outside of Olondi there are lots of areas to sit and read or have your morning coffee or take oppertunety to bask in the sunshine, Fantastic just been transported back to the sun loungers, there are steps leading down to the beach where you can swim for hours, i recommend taking you goggles and snorkel as you can see all kind of fish, crabs, octopuss and huge sea snails the size of a melon. The Tavernas in Plaka are very good expensive at the harbour end though, we found a taverna that was perfect for us excellent food at a good price, the owner was called Nikos it was half way down on the sea front fourth place walking from the car park, the staff were excellent we had a lot of laughs with them and miss them . Our Contact when we arrived was a lovely lady called Christine, she was there when we needed her very knowledgeable having lived on Crete for a good time, it was also a pleasure to meet Christine, and all the cleaning staff for the cottage always clean sheets and towels a real pleasure of a holiday, we will be back, efharisto to all we met. Mark and Mandy Salmon.