Lavender & Wild Orchids

The scent of lavender and oleander is in the air around this charming, rustic-style villa on Paros. Within the Santa Maria area, the island’s most kid-friendly beach (Santa Maria Beach) is just a short stroll away, so you can spend the day making castles in the bone-white sand, paddling in the calm crystal shallows or lounging the day away on lounger shaded by palm-front umbrellas. There’s a lively taverna here too.

The beach is popular and can get crowded in peak season, so it’s a delight to return to this villa’s quiet garden filled with wild herbs and fruit trees. Forage for rosemary and thyme to flavour fresh fish on the barbecue. The covered terrace is set up for group dining. Inside, the farmhouse-style living area is open-plan and we love the vintage-style pink fridge with plenty of room to cool bottles of bubbly. A little collection of books has you covered for beach reads and there’s a desk in the hallway for those that need to catch up on work. Waking in the main bedroom, sunlight filters through sheer white curtains – so much better than the alarm for work.

Home truths:
*At capacity, two guests will be on a sofa bed in the living room
*In a fairly remote location, having a car is recommended and there is private parking for two cars at this villa
*Linen and towels are changed every three days during your stay
*There are stairs to access all the bedrooms of this home so it may not be suitable for those with limited mobility
*There is a laptop-friendly work desk in the hallway rather than a separate office room
*At full occupancy, there isn't enough seating around the dining table for all guests here
*Your host provides a high chair for infants for free, just ask
*You'll have your own private entrance here