"Pros: Most travelers will arrive in Crete through Chania or Heraklion, then either drive or get a bus eastward. They might do as I did and hop to Agios Nikolaos, then to Sitia, and finally will travel further east to the small town of Zakros. At that point there are two ways to the village of Kato Zakros; either a short drive or a hike through the Gorge of the Dead. The Gorge is not particularly long but the ground is covered in loose rocks, which means every step must be carefully taken and you must be physically apt with good mobility. For the love of God, make sure you and your friends wear good boots with ankle support. I took the hike on a nice breezy day. The Gorge of the Dead is where the ancient Minoans of the region laid their dead to rest — and if you go there on a quiet day you'll understand why. It is a place of introspective peace and quiet. I arrived at Kato Zakros around noon, finding a very quiet and peaceful village in the process of preparing itself for the approaching tourist season. The studio was atop a hill, with an absolutely stunning view of the village, the Minoan ruins of Kato Zakros, the olive groves and the sea. Georgia welcomed me with food and drink, and her hospitality was so great that during my stay I even had lunch with her and her family. The studio is a cozy, compact home with a small kitchen and spacious bathroom, and a bed with some kind of magical capacity to induce incredible sleep. The whole place gives off a sense of peace and quiet that cannot be conveyed with words. After crossing the Gorge of the Dead all the problems and stresses of life back home are so far away. The insanely wealthy burn small fortunes building excessive homes that cannot give the sense of peace that Georgia's studio gives. Plus the combo of Gorge of the Dead + Georgia's Studio + Minoan Palace + Beach is the kind of thing psychologists should seriously consider a high tech therapy method. Cons: Georgia's Studio sits atop a hill with a stunning view, which is great and all, but you either have to walk or drive uphill. Physics is cruel like that. If you have a car it shouldn't be an issue at all but if you're walking it's some extra exercise." ~Gustavo

"Pros: Quiet, clean, tidy, comfortable, well equipped. Eagle view Cons: Quite remote. You will be basically on your own up there -which in some cases can be a plus:). Nothing around apart from the view and the other few sparse bungalows surrounded by the rocks and the (arid) nature. Note that the access is technical with a minibus, at the far end of a winding, not completely asphalted road, with a steep slope to enter the property and a tricky turn between stone walls. Manageable, but with great care on a windy night with no assistance;)" ~Lonaïs

"Pros: The house is well-equipped. The views are great and it's really quiet. It was great to be able to use the washing machine! There's lots of private outdoor space. Simple breakfast was provided. The taverna options are good (but see below). Cons: It's at least a 20 minute walk from the beach and tavernas. Uphill coming back! We were 2 friends, so needed separate rooms- the second one is only separated by a curtain and blinds, not walls and a door, which wasn't ideal. Also, the bathroom door jammed shut the first time we used it so we couldn't shut it after that (hopefully that's been fixed now)." ~Helen