With a prime hilltop position close to the Cretan coastline, this villa is treated to some truly stunning views. In one direction, the Aegean Sea glistens underneath the sunlight, while the island's mountainous interior rises high behind the home.

As you would hope, there are plenty of spots where you can marvel at this gorgeous landscape. The balconies off two of the bedrooms, plus the terrace, offer great vantage points with some seating, but you can also appreciate the locale while gliding gracefully through the swimming pool. The double-height windows in the living room mean that heading indoors doesn't mean shutting yourself off from the outside world, either.

Built only in 2009, there's a luxurious feel to the interior, with chic furnishings, a large minimalist kitchen and spa-worthy bathrooms. There's an exercise bike and running machine in case you want to keep up with your workouts, as well as an outdoor tennis court shared with neighbouring villas.

Although there's plenty to keep you content at the address, Paralia Macherida is only seven minutes' walk away when you fancy a spot of sunbathing and sea-swimming. The village of Stavros in which iconic scenes from the 1964 film Zorba the Greek were filmed takes ten minutes to reach in the car, while the historic city of Chania takes half an hour.

Home truths:
*The home is spread over three floors, so it might not be suitable for guests with reduced mobility
*A cot and high chair can be provided if required
*There's private parking available on the premises
*The villa has a manager that's reachable twenty-four-seven in case of any issues