The Villa Ostria it's about 200 m down a track to a small harbour and there are numerous places where you can bathe or snorkel from the rocks. However for the less adventurous swimmers the pink, coral-fringed beaches of Elafonisi are only a 20 minute drive, 12 km away. The nearest small grocery shops and tavernas are located in the Village of Kefali, which is also a 20 minute drive. 

The tiny Village of Lavadia on the very western tip of Crete is 72 km from Chania, a good 2 hours drive and anybody you speak to has never heard of it. The Village boasts a total of 3 simple tavernas. 

For a change of scene and a spectacular drive, the Village of Sfinari, just up the coast to the north, has 3 pretty little tavernas, shaded by Mimosa trees and overlooking a pebbly beach.