20 replies to this topic

[Bev]

Hi I am Bev flying into chania and accomodation is in gouves! how far is it and how long will it take to drive or should we try and get alternative accomodation????

[DaveW.]

Bev,

Oh dear! The time to drive from Chania to Gouves will depend on what time of day you arrive. A taxi would I think be out of the question and I am assuming that you have hired a car. The journey would, I think, take you about two /two and a half hours in the day. It may be quicker in the night but only if you know the road, if you haven't driven in Crete before then it could take you longer (and taking into account the fact that you will probably be tired after your flight). You will also have the problem of locating your hotel once you arrive in Gouves.

If arriving late you could do worse than booking into an hotel in Chania for the night but again it depends if you have hired a car or not as to where you should look.

I'm sure that you will have lots of other suggestions and hope that it all works out for you....and I haven't asked once if you are blonde!!!!


Dave

PS Coward that I am, thought I had better apologise for the last remark before I get taken to task!!!!

xx

[Bev]

No. think I would call it a senior moment. Have to wait till monday to talk to someone should be able to sort something thanks for your reply Bev

[Tim]

There is a bit of sod's law with your arrival airport and accommodation village, usually people want the exact opposite, to get from Heraklion to the west!
I would agreed with Dave's rough estimation of the time - but would suggest that it might also be worth exploring the alternative accommodation that you mention - if it isn't going to cost too much extra. I'm not a great fan of Gouves, lot of concrete and largely an ex-USAF base if I remember. Anyone confirm or otherwise?
Of course other factors for the ideal location are what you are wanting from the holiday. If the senior moment was indeed a senior moment rather than a turn of phrase, then a lot of what is to the west and immediate east of Gouves (i.e from Heraklion to Malia in general) is more suited to the younger set. A fair bit further East, Elounda eastward is better though.
There is a touristy area west of Chania but I would describe it as less frantic than it's eastern counterpart.
If you cannot change accommodation, fear not, you can find quieter places in the Gouves area.
Good luck with it
Tim (the white haired!)

[Bev]

let you know monday dave hoping to just change flight as we like the accomodation

[Bev]

sorry i mean Tim

[DaveW.]

..that's OK Bev! Another senior blonde moment?
I'm the younger, more handsome one!
As Tim says some of Gouves is predominantly the old US base but having said that friends of mine stayed in Gouves a couple of years ago and had a great time in the area. I found driving around the old US base fascinating, it was like one of those old sci fi films where all the inhabitants had disappeared, leaving the buildings and streets deserted. I've got something in the back of my mind that they have opened an aquarium somewhere on that site but I may well be wrong.

Anyhow, hope you manage to change the flight without too much trouble. Let us know.

Dave

[Tim]

What can I say- to Dave! (I'd have to moderate myself!)
Hope you get what you want Bev.

[DaveW.]

Tim,
What can I say? Forever the gentleman.

Bev,
As Tim says please let us know how you fare with the plans, how you enjoyed your holiday and take loads of photos to share with us.

Dave

[DaveW.]

Bev,

...............some things do stick in the ol' grey matter! I was sure that I'd seen something about it, well almost sure!!

If you 'Google' CretAquarium or Thalassocosmos you will find quite a bit of information about the site that is based on the old US airbase in Gouves. Sounds quite an interesting experience.

Dave

[Julie]

Bev, your senior moment, or blondness, or both, have done you a real favour. There are two good things about your situation.

The first is that you booked the right airport. Chania is an infinitely better airport to fly into - and particularly out of - than Heraklion. Heraklion airport is disorganised, mad chaos at the best of times. . Mostly, panic reigns. In May it took me more than two hours to get through security for my flight home - the queues were winding three times around the check-in hall and outside the airport building, and if you wanted to catch your plane you had to jump the queue, risking the wrath of fellow passengers. Best avoided.

The second, as others have said, is that Gouves may not be the nicest place to stay. If you had no particular reason for booking accommodation there, I think you'll be better off changing your accommodation to one of the resorts near Chania. I would avoid the ones closest to Chania, which are overdeveloped now, but further west Gerani, Maleme, Tavronitis, Kolymbari and others all have decent accommodation and good beaches. East of Chania, there are good resorts near Rethymnon, a delightful and interesting town. And Chania of course is wonderful. You should also look into the resorts on the Akrotiti peninsula, which are nearest to the airport, and not as busy as some of the others. A search on this website should give you useful information about all of these places.

Let us know what you decide, and how you get on. But the bottom lines, for me, would be: don't stick to the booked accommodation in Gouves unless you have real reason to do so; and avoid flying out of Heraklion. That you have already managed, thanks to your senior moment.

Have a nice time, wherever you stay, and let us know what you decide.

[Tim]

Just to add to Julie's comments, even though I have had the privilege and pleasure of seeing some of the more interesting parts of Heraklion with our good friend the webmaster Yannis, I think many people would prefer Chania waterfront to that of Heraklion!

[Julie]

Tim, I like Heraklion enormously too - I just wish it were closer to Chania airport.

Agree absolutely about the two waterfronts.

[Bev]

Hi bev here you will be pleased to hear we couldn't change flight's, so we are now going to Agia Marina but we have a problem you may be able to advise, we are about 25 mins from airport only taxi's available 60 to 80 pounds or do we hire a car for a little extra also wait for it we only have paper liciences someone said you need picture ones is this correct. Thanx all your views have been very helpful xx Bev

[tom]

25 minutes cost less then 50 Euro
about the driver licence I didn't even know there were ones without a photo

[Ros21]

I still have the old style UK paper driving licence, in fact it's valid until 2029!!! I've had absolutely no problems hiring a car with it in Crete over the last couple of years.
2 years ago I was stopped by the police who were checking drivers' documents & when I showed them my licence they did say they'd never seen one of these before, but they accepted it.

Ros.

[Nick D]

I, too, have a paper licence which is almost falling apart. I have never had a problem with hiring cars using it.

[Bev]

Thanks for all your advise people much apprieciated W will enjoy xxxx

[Julie]

Bev, a taxi from Chania airport to Agia Marina should NOT cost £60-£80! I see that the companies advertising on the internet are charging exhorbitant fees for booked taxis, but it's a rip-off, and unnecessary: you don't have to book a taxi in advance.

Unless you want to hire a car for your holiday, there is no point in doing so if all you want is to get to your accommodation from the airport. Taxis are plentiful and always available outside the airport. Just go through the door when you've collected your bags, and there they are.

According to the information on this website, the 2007 fare from the airport to Platanias, which is further west, was 30 euro. It would be more now, but not very much more. I would be surprised if the current fare to Agia Marina is more than 30 euro.

http://www.explorecr...crete-taxis.htm shows the 2007 fares.

[Gelis]

Hi Bev

Just to add that if you are staying in the Aghia Marina area there are regular buses into Chania until fairly late in the evening, so once you are there getting around is easy.

We visited that area last year, and were amazed how much it had changed since the last time we were there (probably about 10 years ago), but agree that Chania is beautiful. We now live in Sitia - about as far away as you can get at the other end of Crete - and love it because it is not built up and "touristy".