There’s a particular kind of freedom that comes with a villa holiday — no fixed breakfast times, no queuing for a sun lounger, no asking permission to stay out late. But if it’s your first time renting a villa in Crete, a few small adjustments can make the difference between a good holiday and an exceptional one.
Here’s what we’ve learned from hosting guests at Villa Antonis in Galatas, a quiet village just ten minutes west of Chania.
Arrive in the Evening if You Can
It sounds counterintuitive — why waste daylight hours travelling? But arriving in the evening means you step into a cool villa, take your time exploring the space, and wake up on your first full morning completely fresh. Chania’s old town is magical after dark, and a first-night dinner there will set the mood beautifully for the rest of the week. Save the beach for when you’ve slept.
Plan Your Big Days Early in the Week
The most popular spots in western Crete — Balos Lagoon, Elafonisi beach, the Samaria Gorge — fill up fast in July and August. If these are on your list, go on day two or three, before the holiday rhythm takes over and somehow the week is already half gone. Leave the slower mornings, the market visits, and the village taverna dinners for later in the week when you’re properly relaxed.
Shop at a Local Supermarket on Day One
One of the true pleasures of villa life is having a kitchen. On your first day, do a proper shop: local olive oil, Cretan thyme honey, fresh bread, village cheese, a few bottles of local wine. You don’t need to cook every night — you probably won’t — but having good things in the fridge means breakfast on the terrace every morning and easy lunches between swims. The Lidl and AB supermarkets near Chania are well stocked, but the small village shops and roadside stalls often have the best produce.
Learn the Rhythm of a Cretan Day
Crete runs on its own schedule, and once you match it, everything feels easier. Mornings are for early beach visits or village walks before the heat builds. Midday is for the pool, a long lunch, and a nap — don’t fight this, embrace it. Late afternoon comes alive again around 5pm. Dinner rarely starts before 8pm, and a table at a good taverna at 9:30pm is perfectly normal. Trying to eat at 6:30pm in a tourist mindset means empty restaurants and rushed service. Go local.
Don’t Over-Schedule
This is the most common mistake villa guests make. It’s tempting to fill every day with excursions and activities, but Crete rewards slowness. Some of the best moments happen when nothing is planned — a spontaneous drive down a dirt road that ends at a deserted cove, a conversation with the owner of a tiny kafeneion, a sunset watched from the villa terrace with a glass of local wine. Leave gaps in the itinerary. The island will fill them.
Keep a Day for Chania’s Old Town
Chania is one of the most beautiful towns in Greece — arguably in the whole Mediterranean. Its Venetian harbour, the covered market, the narrow alleyways of the old Jewish quarter, the waterfront at dusk — it deserves a full, unhurried day. Go in the morning when it’s cool, browse the market, have lunch somewhere with harbour views, disappear into the backstreets in the afternoon, and stay for dinner as the lights come on. Then walk back along the waterfront and wonder why you didn’t book longer.
A Note About Villa Antonis
Villa Antonis sits in Galatas village, 10 minutes from Chania’s old town and within easy reach of some of the best beaches and day trips in western Crete. It’s a 4-bedroom villa with a private pool, hot tub, and BBQ terrace — designed for families and groups who want space, comfort, and the freedom to set their own pace. If you’re planning a Crete holiday and wondering whether a villa or a hotel makes more sense, the answer is almost always the villa.
