Panokosmos - Kalives

Very lovely family and the experience was amazing. If you are ever in the area suggest checking this place out you will not be disappointed. Also, make sure you buy some of the Olive Oil

Ideal place to stay near Chania to relax (away from the touristy crowds) & admire the sublime views.. Many thanks again to John and Yasmin! We will certainly be back.

I stayed at Panokosmos for three nights with my mother at the end of May/early June 2015. Owners and hosts John and Yasmin were very welcoming and took very good care of us. John was exceptionally attentive and diligent with e-mailing pre-trip, everything was covered, he organised car hire for me (from Chania, dropping off 10days later in Heraklion) and sent the most remarkably detailed directions from the exact car park in Chania to their doorstep! Directions that included not only kms but also photos with big red arrows saying "turn right HERE". We were the only people staying at Panokosmos at the time so it was just the four of us on-site. They don't usually do full-board but that is what we ended up doing. Breakfast is included but other than that you need to ask in advance (John does the cooking) for meals to be provided. I had not realised quite how isolated Panokosmos is - it's wonderfully peaceful, just the sound of occasional goat bells :-) but - although I thought there was a taverna 5mins walk away, i was either mistaken or not yet open for tourist season. I'd seen a note in the e-mails from John saying "we request you don't eat your own food" and then I overlooked the fact I'd booked a suite with a (fully and well equipped I might add!) kitchen - so we didn't bring anything to eat/drink with us. In fact the 'note' was - please don't eat/drink your own food/drink AT THE POOLSIDE, which is quite understandable :"-) John and Yasmin were going to a lunchtime concert on the Sunday that we were going to be staying - John e-mailed to ask if we'd like to join them, driving us there and back. Very considerate. It was my mother's birthday while we were there - and we got big, beautiful cake with Happy Birthday on it :-) plus a couple of slices to take away with us when we checked out the next day. And they upgraded the bottle of wine (in the set dinner menu) to a bottle of local bubbly which was a lovely touch :-) My only other comments are: - there is a lot of good, competitively priced, accommodation available in Crete and Panokosmos is comparatively expensive - thank goodness John had advised us to bring jackets for the 'cool breeze in the evening' because it was chilly! We were on the top floor in the Rooftop Apartment which is actually two separate double bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom, and a kitchen in the middle. The double rooms can be rented separately, we took them as a suite. Huge terrace outside :-) The rooms and bathrooms were all very well designed and equipped. Whizzy wifi throughout. They offer yoga, painting classes and massage. - I booked a (great) massage for my mother - didn't ask for yoga - the woman who does the painting classes was unavailable (either the evening of our arrival or the afternoon of my mother's birthday) Panokosmos fitted-the-bill for what we wanted at that point in our round-Crete holiday :-)

For our first trip to Crete we wanted a comfortable villa with a pool away from all the crowds and the pictures of Panokosmos nestled in the foothills of the mountains looked exactly what we wanted. When we arrived, we were amazed by the location of the villa, the attention to detail and, most of all, the view. Our family of four rented the entire top floor which meant that we had balconies facing in virtually every direction meaning we had uninterrupted views of the high mountains, the nearby gorge and out to the sea - we never got fed up of the view or the stars at night! The only noise to break the tranquility is the gentle tinkling of the goats' and sheeps' bells as they comb the mountainsides looking for whatever goodness they can find from the dry land. The villa is beautiful with everything you'd expect from a luxury, well-appointed place but the whole experience is made so much more special by the wonderful host and hostess, John and Yasmin. From even before we arrived when John helped us arrange car hire from Heraklion airport (we can recommend this - they were waiting for us at 3:30am in arrivals after a badly delayed outbound flight!!) they made the holiday so much more special. From the delicious breakfasts they served up to the local knowledge to recommend secret beaches and great gorge walks (to avoid the hordes at Samaria), they made the whole trip so enjoyable and relaxing. A particular highlight was the romantic 5 course meal (no kids!) cooked by John and Yasmin which started with cocktails in the pool and then proceeded with different courses, all delicious and Michelin Star quality, in different locations around the villa before finishing with Raki watching the moon rise by the pool. John and Yasmin also had a great knack of being there when you needed them but mysteriously disappearing when you don't! The villa is wonderfully secluded (though only 15 mins from the nearest shop/Taverna in Stylos and 20-25mins from supermarket/beach in Kalyves) and although there are many hairpin bends, the road is very good all the way (rough driveway for the last 200 metres only) so nervous drivers need not worry. Overall, we had a perfect 2 weeks. The villa is so comfortable that some days we didn't get out till 6pm after chilling all day and taking advantage of the pool and poolside bar. The location is perfectly secluded but also within easy reach of Chania and the main road to get to most places in the west of Crete easily. John and Yasmin were perfect hosts and made the whole holiday more special in so many ways. If you want to experience the relaxing, romantic, secluded side of Crete, Panokosmos is for you! Stayed July 2014, travelled with family

My wife and I are avid travelers who enjoy experiencing local culture, trying new foods, and spending time outdoors. Panokosmos is by far our favorite BnB to visit because of it's secluded location, gorgeous views, and most importantly, John and Yasmin, who are the most wonderful hosts you could ask for. This place has my highest recommendation for anyone looking for a chance to relax and experience the wonderful island of Crete.

HIGHLIGHT OF CRETE AND NEW FRIENDS!!! Panokosmos was more breathtaking than the pictures suggested. Honestly our favorite B/B we have ever stayed in during our travels in Europe/Mediterranean. We were warmly welcomed by John and Yasmin and then given a tour of the hilltop property and villa. After sharing a welcoming drink with our hosts, we were able to relax in the Beautiful Sunset (West) Studio (It was 5 star luxury with incredible views). Panokosmos gives a panoramic view of the white mountains and the Mediterranean can be seen towards the coast. The drive up the mountain only takes 10-15 minutes and Panokosmos is only about 35-40 minutes away from Hania Airport. A perfect location! We drove down to the southern coast to hike in Aradena Gorge which was beautiful and only took 1hr and 5 minutes to drive. Rethymnon was only 55 minutes away to the East. John and Yasmin are a lovely couple and their hospitality is unsurpassed. We cannot wait to go back. If you love solitude, a perfect location, and a great deal look no further! PS. The homemade rolls for breakfast were incredible!

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday at Panokosmos! The location is breath-taking (on top of a moutain!) and our hosts (John and Yasmin) made our stay truly unique and memorable. Breakfasts were my favourite part of the day, a banquet of freshly made bread rolls, orange juices, home-made jams, fresh fruits, waffles, omelettes, mueslis, etc and many other treats, all locally sourced and carefully prepared and delivered. Breakfast was presented to us in different parts of the garden each morning, so that we could enjoy the various wonderful mountain views. It was so lovely to have John and Yasmin describe the produce and food being served. We also got a different coffee blend each morning! For two of the nights we had 3 course dinners which were absolutely exceptional...( I'm still dreaming about Yasmins homade orange tiramisu - yum!) Our hosts were so friendly and were there when we needed them, they have extremely good knowledge of the area and were able to give recommendations, maps and directions depending on what we wanted to do. But also they were not intrusive in the slightest and left us alone to relax and enjoy our holiday. Our hosts made the effort to get to know us before and during our stay, and as a result, our experience felt tailored to us. We felt like VIP's! There were lots of lovely personal touches and menus were tailored to our likes/ dislikes and our preferred portion sizes!! They really thought of everything and the care and attention to detail shines throughout every aspect of Panokosmos. There is not one thing I would change and I am already planning to return! Wish I knew about this place for my honeymoon – it would make a lovely honeymoon destination as it is so beautiful, relaxing and private! My husband found it a lovely place to unwind, meditate and relax. Would highly recommend. We had the roof top apartment – great for us as we were a group of 3, also great for star gazing! All rooms very clean and extremely well equipped. My sister had the room with the sofa bed and found it very comfortable! We had loosely planned some things to do in the local area, but actually ended up spending most of our time at Panokosmoms because it was just so wonderful!!(However even though it feels very remote, there is lots do to near by if you fancy it, car reccommended though!) Thank you John & Yasmin for a memorable stay and for looking after us so well!

This is more a thank you to team Yasmin and John than a review, because everything I want to say has already been said, and each and every good review myself and my partner agree with everything previous guests have said. So a massive thank you for making our recent stay so special, whilst staying in one of your superb comfortable, immaculately kept apartments and sharing your wonderful garden and serving us such fabulous food...I will always remember looking out of the window one morning and seeing John picking figs which then appeared on our breakfast plates...If you are reading this and considering a visit to Crete you really could not stay in a better place...Go with an adventurous mind, or a lazy one, there's loads to do on the island, however, some days it's hard to leave Panocosmos, but when you do it's nice to get back to the cocktails waiting for you...oh and go with an appetite, Yasmin and John provide the most glorious breakfasts. You will also find good food in the local tavernas. On a practical note, a car is pretty much essential and will allow you to enjoy all that the island has to offer. Panokosmos is a delightful, tranquil place and we'd happily return when we can. Thanks again Yasmin and John!