Gournes is a small quite town. It is great for vacation. The Gournes beach is 200 meters away. There are taverns and cafeterias accross that street, so there is no need for a car to get a meal or enjoy the sunset by the sea. Personaly I recomend a car because North bay extends in many km and the small golfs and sandy beaches are stretching for many kilometers and is worth exploring the many small bays with golden sand. The hinterland has dozens of villages with hospitable locals and of course excellent food. Generally on Crete you will find beaches but also mountain villages. All this is easy to visit staying at our house, because it is located at a distance of almost 2 km from the highway that connects you with the rest of the island.