The White Houses

Rooms

These 3 cottages and 2 apartments vary in size and layout, but one thing they all have in common is style: splashes of bright colour against whitewashed walls, pretty wooden or wrought iron furniture, and a few antiques(fading kilims, brass candlesticks, a historic diver’s bell). Some have wooden floorboards and beamed ceilings, others marble floors and bright downlighters set into the plaster overhead. And a few have retained the corner hearth from their days as fishermen’s homes. All properties have a well-equipped kitchen, gratifyingly efficient bathrooms (some ensuite, others adjoining; some with tub, others with shower).

Pride of place goes to the White House (sleeps up to 7), with its two gorgeous double bedrooms, one with a wrought-iron four-poster, and a pair of generous sitting rooms with massive wooden sofas. The Double House is the largest, with 2 lovely bedrooms (one has stairs to a roof terrace) and 3 cosy rooms which can be used as single bedrooms or sitting rooms; it boasts a small private chapel with bucket-style terracotta chairs (based on a Minoan design). The Winter House is smaller, newer and cheaper than the other 2 - perfect for families of 3-4 - with the same blue-on-white minimalist design, including a blue-tiled shower cylinder planted inside the master bedroom.

The apartments would suit a couple, each occupying one floor of a newer building. They are clean, white and refreshingly minimal, but lack the exotic touches and decorative flair of the cottages. The Balcony Apt has (you guessed it) a balcony overlooking the harbour; the Harbour Apt has no outside areas but, unlike the others, there are no stairs to negotiate.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Central heating
• Cots available
• DVD player
• TV
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

All properties have a well-equipped kitchen (fridge-freezer, kettle, coffee machine, toaster), with a dining area for the appropriate number of guests. They too are decorated with rustic chic - old bread trays and meshed larders on the wall, or huge amphorae and clay vases on the floor - and stocked with breakfast provisions and cooking staples, including organic oil from their own olive groves. All the cottages have some form of outside dining area; guests in the ‘Harbour Apt’ can take a table out onto the quayside and have a Greek-style café breakfast.

If you prefer to eat out, Makriyialos harbour has a string of old-fashioned tavernas serving fresh-grilled fish, home-baked veg dishes and the juiciest of Greek salads, all accompanied by tangy retsina and goats’ cheese. Alternatively, Olympio café serves good snacks and pizzas, or there’s an Italian restaurant in neighbouring Analipsi.

Features include:

• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• In-house cook
• Kids' meals
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Makriyialos is the prettiest town on this stretch of coast, with a picturesque fishing harbour, traces of Minoan and Roman settlements, a wide choice of waterfront tavernas and a bustling Friday market
  
• Nearby is a gently sloping, sandy beach with watersports in summer (water skiing, wind surfing, 'banana rides', para sailing and sailboat hire)
  
• Hikers can explore marked, pine-shaded tracks through the Pefki valley, a few miles east of Makriyialos; climb the rocky 1500-metre summit of Afendis Estravromenos; or trek through the breathtaking Thripti gorge that gashes through its flanks (start from Orino, 30 mins drive away)
  
• Hire a car and explore the stark and stunning far east of Crete (old maps may not show the new road): start at the sleepy town of Sitia, continue past Toplou monastery (forbidding exterior, welcoming monks), to the tropical palm beaches at Vai (crowded in summer) or Palekastro (less crowded, but less palmy); and don’t miss the breathtaking ‘Valley of the Dead’ and Minoan ruins at Zakros
  
• The buzzing north-coast town of Ayios Nikolaos, the swanky resorts of Elounda, the leper island of Spinalonga and the mountain plateau of Lasithi are all feasible as day-trips from here
  
• Crete is a wonderfully diverse island, with lots more to see and do. For more of our favourites, check out our destination guide

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Sailing
• Swimming
• Windsurfing

Kids

Children are welcome and the houses are perfect for families or groups. Extra beds cost the same whether for children or adults.

Best for:

Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Whatever the size of your family, there's something at The White Houses to suite you. Apartments can sleep 2 adults and a child, and the cottages can fit up to 9! Do note that none of the bathrooms have a tub.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 2 hours
• Hospital: 20 minutes
• Doctor: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The White Houses face the harbour of Makriyialos (also written Makris Gialos), in the far east of Crete, on its southern coast.

By Air:
The airstrip at Sitia (35km) accepts some international flights in the summer, but you will more likely fly to Heraklion (130km), the capital of Crete. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.

By Boat:
Heraklion can also be reached by daily overnight ferry from Athens.

From the Airport/ Port
If you choose not to hire a car you can catch a taxi from Heraklion; note it's best to agree a price before accepting the ride.

By Car
Hiring a car will allow you to explore the area better - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions to the houses will follow when you confirm a booking through our site.

More on getting to Greece and getting around.