Owned by an award-winning garden designer and TV presenter, and his partner, who is also a gardener, if you love being surrounded by foliage and flora, bird song and scenery, then The Buoys Villa is definitely the place for you. Enjoying a privileged and peaceful location in the heart of the countryside, at the end of a 300m track on the very edge of the small, quaint, and typically Cretan village of Paleloni, but only 1.8km from the 4 tavernas and 2 minimarkets in Kefalas, 6 minutes drive from a rocky cove with spectacular, crystal clear turquoise water, great snorkelling, and a lovely taverna nestled on the rocks, and is 15 minutes from the many amenities and soft golden sand, blue flag beaches in Almyrida. From its truly wonderful spot on an elevated hillside 500m above sea level, the living room and 3 bedrooms, the private pool and the outside terraces all take in the quite exceptional and far-reaching views over the sparkling blue Aegean Sea, along the north coastline to Rethymnon, and inland to Mount Ida in the Psiloritis mountain range. The Buoys Villa is undoubtedly welcoming and stylish, cool and airy, and ideal for laid-back summer living. The tasteful design cleverly fuses traditional elements including stone archways and nooks, and beamed ceilings made from fragrant local cypress wood, with contemporary furnishings and every modern comfort including gleaming bathrooms, a fully fitted kitchen with a comprehensive inventory, air conditioning throughout, WIFI, a TV with an Amazon fire stick, a portable WIFI speaker, and the most sumptuous memory foam mattresses that we have come across. In addition, there are a myriad of delightful embellishments including ancient irons, a shepherd’s crook, a goat bell, turtle-shaped pot stands, a traditional wall hanging, and shells, sponges, and coral from the sea to name just a few. The benevolent Cretan climate guarantees that, despite the charming interiors, our guests at The Buoys Villa spend most of their time relaxing outside, but with an array of furniture on the different terraces, you may find it difficult to decide where to sit. Perhaps it will be in the 2000m2+ enchanting garden and pool area, enjoying the peace and quiet and the breathtaking vista. Taking centre stage is the infinity edge swimming pool surrounded by non-slip natural stone paving and tiles, which is the place for family fun and cooling off, flanked by a dining area shaded by a pergola covered in delicate Wisteria, a summer kitchen with a traditional barbeque, and a private outside shower room. Alternatively, the spacious upstairs terrace with the best views of all and a comfortable couch, armchairs and coffee table could be your choice, particularly if you want to chill out with a good holiday read or have an early morning breakfast whilst watching the sun rise over the sea. With the owners being professional gardeners, it is no surprise that for the different sections of the grounds, they have carefully selected a multitude of typically Mediterranean flora that will flourish in the long, hot summers. Growing up the exterior walls of The Buoys Villa are colourful and fragrant Cape Honeysuckle, climbing Roses, and Bougainvillaea. There are terracotta pots with geranium and succulents, well-tended gravel flowerbeds encircle the house and pool terrace and are planted with Lavender, Oleander, Pride of Madeira, Aloe Ferox, Aloe arborescens, Tulbaghia, Dasylirion, Gaura, Palms, Pomegranate and Bitter Orange trees among others. The north side and the rear of the plot have Almond bushes and are blessed with shade from Olive, Pine, and Cypress trees, whilst the lower level of the slope that drops away below the villa and pool terrace has been left natural with wildflowers and shrubs which are at their most vibrant in the Spring. The private parking area is set just outside the main garden gate and has a shaded area for 1 car and space for 2 further cars. The Buoys Villa couldn’t be more perfect for anyone seeking quality accommodation, in a quiet Cretan hamlet where it is easy to leave behind the hustle and bustle of daily life yet is well placed for a short drive to a choice of village tavernas for a delicious meal, and for exploring west Crete. *** As of January 01, 2024, the Greek government have replaced the old “bed tax” with a new tax that is applied to all stays in short-term rental accommodation in Greece. The Climate Resilience Levy is a response to the devastating forest fires and floods that Greece has experienced in recent years, with the government hoping to generate extra funding that will go towards financing reconstruction, supporting victims, and increasing the country’s defences against future natural disasters. The owners of all short-term rental accommodation are legally obliged to collect the Climate Resilience Levy as a separate tax for all overnight stays (per villa) as follows: In 2024: €10.00 per night on stays between March 01 and October 31, and €4.00 per night on stays between November 01 and February 28/29. In 2025: €15.00 per night on stays between March 01 and October 31, and €4.00 per night on stays between November 01 and February 28/29. The Vrbo system does not yet have a section for collecting the Climate Resilience Levy and we have, therefore, had to add it to the billing section as an extra fee which will show on the booking as a Host Fee (until Vrbo update their system). Whilst we understand the potential budget concerns of our guests, this tax/levy is beyond our control and we encourage our guests to see this as a way of contributing to the protection of the planet and the beautiful area where they are holidaying.