21 replies to this topic

[daveg]

Hi Mel2004 and Victor
I know Koutouloufari quite well and went there recently to a friends wedding reception Yes a very nice pretty place which does cater well for the tourists too
Its a bit of a jaunt If the family wants some beach time aswell though Victor best to budget for car hire! also with a car you have more chance of seeing a REAL "Traditional Greek Village"
DaveG


http://www.cretansales.com/

[Sheila]

How about Paleochora? Lovely village, two beaches, dozens of tavernas, and well off the beaten track

[Henry Hooray]

To be honest, Victor, yes - IMHO all the bigger resorts are pretty naff. But of course they suit a lot of people, and that's one of the great things about Crete: there's something for everyone.

If the kids don't need discos and the like then I'd like to add my vote to Sheila's recommendation of Paleochora.

Henry.

[daveg]

Hi Daveg,
yeah Koutouloufari is a lovely relaxing place, but a bit of a trek to the beach, although as far as I know Stalis beach is nicer than Hersonissos beach....where did you stay in Koutouloufari?  We were there in August...great times, especially eating in the famous Galini Restaurant!

Hi Mel2004
I actually live about another 10km's up the road towards the mountains where you can find some "Real" Cretan villages I agree with your point about beaches though. We first stayed on Crete in Stalis/Stalida
at the La Luna Apartments on the main road the family are now great friends and gave us loads of help with our move,Book up now if anyones interested [Libra I think] as they are normally sold out by Christmas!
Lots and lots of return visitors some more than 10years and Madame Xrysoula's BBQ's have to be tasted to be believed The potatoes melt in your mouth!! Very Good people.
DaveG


http://www.cretansales.com/

[Henry Hooray]

Paleochora: the easiest airport for the south-west of Crete is the one outside Chania. There is a good public bus connction between Chania and Paleochora, and unless you travel at the height of the season then my advice is not to book in advance - there's always plenty of accommodation available.

I hope I didn't offend too many by stating that my opinion is that the bigger resorts in Crete are pretty naff. It is entirely my own opinion, and as I said earlier, Crete is plenty big enough to have something for everybody. My guess is that the people who flock to malia would be bored with Paleochora and th other small placses that we go to. Ag Nik is very pretty, but personally I wouldn't want to spend more than a few days there. Long live la difference

Henry.

[santo]

I agree with you Henry i'm a kind of confused Brit/Greek as i love the beach road at Hersonnissos (older clubbers, I'm the good side of 21) than Malia and at the same time love Koutoulafari where i sit and talk and relax with many friends of many years and put the world to rights.
I also love the quiteness and quaintness of places like Agia Galini/Kalo Horia and Falasarnia (probably all spelt wrong).
At the end of the day my many changing feelings depict the life i want and Crete provides ALL that i need.

[john4d]

Victor

Many of the big tour companys fly to Chania, but nearly if not all, only from Manchester or Gatwick. Where were you trying to fly from?

John

[Henry Hooray]

Victor: - first, I don’t believe there’s a bus from Chania airport to the town centre; however, a taxi costs 13 Euro (less then £10), so it’s not expensive. The bus from Chania to Paleochora costs about 6 E each (each way), whereas a taxi from the airport all the way to Paleochora is in the order of 60 E each way - and will take about an hour and a half. If you are a family of four or five then a taxi may be an option worth serious consideration.

In the season there are quite a few charters flying straight to Chania. This autumn it was very difficult to find one at a sensible price, so we went Olympic Airways from Heathrow via Athens at a cost of about £200 each (there’s just Mrs H and lil ole me). Takes a bit longer, but comfortable planes with legroom and semi-edible grub, and can be daytime flights as well. Or fly to Athens with Easyjet, and then sail from Piraeus to Souda (the harbour at Chania), or fly on with Olympic or Agean. As it ‘appens, we decided to extend our stay from two and a half weeks by another week, and it being scheduled flights we were able to do at only a small charge.

Alternatively, get a charter flight to Heraklion - there are many more going there. Then it’s quite easy to catch a bus from the airport there to the town centre, catch a quick bus from Heraklion to Chania (but be aware: one of the two bus companies that ply this route is somewhat preferable, because they use the main bus station in Chania - the other one dumps you on a building site a little walk away).

Henry.

[yannis_s]

Dear Henry,
I have removed the links from your message because they promote certain companies. I am sure your intention was to give an idea about the existing offers to Paleochora but similar companies ignore "Explore Crete" altough many times they have used my articles for their own purposes. It is not a problem of these companies specificaly but most travel agents and tour operators in general.
Thank you for your understanding.

[Sheila]

Viktor

Ag Nik, to my mind, is just as Henry said. And the area round Elounda is similar.

there are 2 companies in the UK (to my knowledge) which will do accommodatio only stuff or, independently, accommodation, flights and or car hire.

One is Freelance Travel (which I know has places in Paleochora) and the other is Smart Travel.

There's a web site http://www.charterfl...rter_flight.php which gives Charter flights out of Manchester to Chania, if you look.

Yannis, I don't intend to do harm by giving those addresses. If I do, just delete please, and Viktor can send me a PM