Villa Zeus 3

Zeus 3 is one of the Zeus villas at Kounali Mountain Resort — 120 m², two floors, and a private pool on the terrace that becomes the centre of the trip within about an hour of arrival.

The arrangement suits two couples or a group of friends. Each bedroom has a queen bed and its own bathroom, on the same landing but at opposite ends of it; downstairs there is a third bathroom, so nobody queues and nobody negotiates. Living room, kitchen and dining table are one open space that opens onto the terrace, which is where you will actually spend the evening.

Practical things, because groups care about them: parking for two cars behind the gate, a washing machine, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a barbecue, and a kitchen with a full-size fridge — useful when four people arrive with four opinions about breakfast.

The house has stairs. Nobody has ever complained, but the suitcase has to go up them.

Travelling with friends works when everyone can close a door. Two en-suites mean two morning routines that never collide; the guest WC downstairs keeps the living room a living room.

The rest is arithmetic: split the car, split the shopping, split the cooking, and take turns choosing the taverna. The village one, 200 m up the lane, is the obvious first night. After that you will have opinions.

Yours exclusively: the villa, the private pool, the barbecue and two parking spaces behind the gate.

Shared with the other villas: the saltwater infinity pool and sunbeds (May to October), the gym, the padel and basketball courts, the children's playground and the snack bar.

Check-in from 15:00 with resort staff; check-out by 11:00. Linen and towels are provided.

We have hosted groups here for years and we know what makes them work: a table big enough, two parking spaces and a host who answers fast. Message us for restaurant bookings, the boat to Spinalonga, or a taxi on the night the designated driver would rather not be. Resort managers are on site during the day.

Kounali gives a group exactly what it needs: somewhere to make noise without disturbing anyone, and somewhere quiet to recover.

The village taverna is 200 m away and has been in the same family since 1921 — long tables, whatever is in the pot, and no hurry to turn it over. It is the natural first and last night.

Ten to fifteen minutes down the hill, the coast offers the other half of the week: the harbour tavernas at Milatos, the waterfront bars and very good tables at Sissi, the bigger beaches and later nights of Malia twenty minutes away, and Agios Nikolaos half an hour on for the marina and a smarter dinner.

One car works for four; two cars work better, and both fit behind the gate. The drive down to the coast is ten to fifteen minutes and the drive home is the same road, quieter.

Milatos 6 km · Sissi 10 km · Malia 17 km · Agios Nikolaos 23 km · Heraklion airport 49 km. Taxis can be arranged through the resort when the evening runs long.

Sleeps four: two en-suite queen bedrooms plus a guest WC. Stairs between the floors.

Private pool at the villa all year; the shared saltwater pool is seasonal (May–October).

The terrace is yours until late, but please take the music inside after 23:00.

Pets welcome with prior agreement.