If a relaxing holiday with the sound of goat bells ringing in your ears and vultures circling overhead is your cup of tea then Belvedere Villas in Rethmynon is perfect. Set on the side of a mountain and a 15 minute drive from Rethymnon, the villa Argiro is part of a complex of 4 villas. The villas are a good distance apart and all have their own facilities, including pool and BBQ. The view from the pool and veranda area is spectacular, with hills each side and the sea in the distance. The villa itself is clean and comfortable, and well equipped with everything you need to cook for yourself (minus a pizza cutter). There is a separate twin bedroom which leads on to the veranda, and another double bed on a mezzanine above the kitchen, which means 4 people could share quite comfortably. There is a great guest book in the villa which details a number of good local restaurants, walks and other attractions that are of interest, all recommended by previous guests.

One word of warning - there are a number of cats that live around the villas, and they have a habit of coming looking for food at meal times. If you're not a cat fan they can be quite annoying.

The villa is an excellent base in which to explore the island, and I would not hesitate in recommending it. We visited on a late deal and paid £300 per person for a week. An absolute bargain and worth every penny. Rethymnon itself is a great little town, with a lovely old town and lots of bars, shops and restaurants to choose from. Not a particularly British resort, which on the whole could be a good thing!