Crete

Advantages: Hot weather, nice food, everythings cheaper than in England
Disadvantages: Dangerous roads

...Introduction ~~ Having just got back from Crete I thought I perhaps should write an opinion on the Greek island that has something for everyone. Out of the 1,400 odd Greek islands Crete is the largest and the most popular place in Greece for tourists. And having now been there twice I can see why its so popular with English tourists? Places to stay ~~ The main towns of Crete are on the North of the island and all of the main towns are on the coast and most hotels are in the towns or a few miles outside of them. I stayed very near Rethymno in the Rithyma Beach hotel which was part of the Grecotel chain. Though I won't go into detail about the hotel I'll stick to category - Crete in general! Places to stay in Crete vary quite widely and there are hotels to suit every budget. Though the overall cost of the holiday will be a bit more...

Disillusioned 24.08.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Crete (Greece)

Parallel Crete

Advantages: scenic and beautiful especially in spring and late summer
Disadvantages: Millions of other tourists if you go to the wrong place

...I look out over the tiny waves as they peacefully roll and break. To my right is a clear view of the flora-flecked mountains which plunge into the sun speckled sea. This unassumingly charming view is remarkably undisturbed by the throngs of boisterous, beach-crazy tourists that plague so much of Northern Crete. Having had my ambitious plans of holidaying in exotic South East Asia cruelly thwarted by a last-minute practical review of personal finances, I had dreaded arriving in a drunken Brit-infested Mediterranean hell-hole. Instead, the village of Panormos is the embodiment of everything I?d hoped for: tranquil beaches surrounded by impeccably clear sapphire waters, pretty cobbled streets, baking under a flamboyant summer sky. I lunch on delicious meze, alternating that with less pleasureable sips of the well meant complimentary...

flickpugh 01.07.2004 (20.09.2004) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Crete (Greece)

Crete overall

Advantages: Sightseeing, markets, weather, amenities, culture, friendly people, nightlife, food.
Disadvantages: Euro rate. Some places shut due to economy. Drivers.

...Welcome to Crete. Do you want to come for a relaxing holiday or to go crazy clubbing all night. You can do both on this island, but if you dont want drunken teenagers at all hours disturbing you do not go to Malia or some other areas where Club 18-30 or equivalent teenage holidays operate. Check with your tour operator first before your book. Also, if you have walking problems or small children, check that the hotels are not stuck up a hill as some in Hersonissos area are and pulling a pram up steps in heat is not much fun. Crete has a wide range of things to do and see. The beautiful scenic area of Elounda and Chania is for a quieter holiday. You can also visit Santorini on a day trip but beware that the boat can be a bit choppy sometimes and delayed. There is also the 'leper' island of Spinalonga, which is interesting...

Phweeter 28.04.2009 (25.09.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Crete (Greece)

  Malia, Crete

Advantages: Lots of nightlife
Disadvantages: quite expensive

...I?ve been a bit quite on my reviews lately, a mixture of being busy at work, and having taken a week?s holiday in the sun! I usually like to holiday at a different destination every year as I find it just too exciting packing my bags and imaging what it might actually be like at my chosen destination, rather than the glossy pictures displayed in the brochure. But this year I backed down and agreed to go to the same place as last year, out of season, to help my friend find a job and a place to live so she could work out there for 4 months. The lucky so and so. The destination was Malia on the Greek Island of Crete. This year I went at the beginning of May when the season was just starting to get into swing, and last year I went in mid August when the party had well and truly started. The resort of Malia Before last year...

Christina666 07.06.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Malia, Crete

A 4 Star Pretending to be a 5 Star.

Advantages: Great for Families
Disadvantages: Nothing to do at night.

...Sensatori Hotel, Crete. The flight from terminal 2 Manchester was a standard, cramped affair with the usual tasteless flight meal and rushing to get off the plane before it has even stopped moving. Upon arrival at Crete, your luggage comes through fairly quickly. It is smallish airport with 4 small carousels. You will need to exit the terminal between carousels 1 and 2 because right outside of there are the 2 Thomson huts waiting to check off your name. Your cases are loaded onto the coach and the next time you see them is in your room. You will have to fill in a small form listing your full name and passport number and this will be taken from you at reception check in. 20 minutes later and the coach drops you right outside main reception. You are greeted with a soft drink or alcoholic cocktail. Check in takes 5...

Maximus-Qualitus 25.06.2009 (28.06.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Sensatori Hotel, Crete

A Lake with a myth - Lake Kournas, Crete

Advantages: Beautiful clear freshwater lake, need a car to get there
Disadvantages: expensive sun loungers and large slippery stones to negotiate before being able to swimg

...We drove from Gerani near Rethmynon to Lake Kournas in about 15 minutes, it is just off the main highway near Georgiopilis on Crete. The road meanders around and then you come to a tiny signpost pointing down between two house only just wide enough for a car to squeeze through. We turned in thinking that this must be a mistake, but it was indeed the road. No wonder all cars on Crete seem to have some scrape or other on their body work. I am pretty certain that having a car is the only way of reaching this sight. When we arrived there was plenty of parking under trees for shade just near a tavern. We did notice that as we were leaving at about 2pm that there were not so many spaces so going early was a good plan. This ilarge beautiful fresh water lake is surrounded by mountains or hills and gets its name from a derivation...

catsholiday 31.08.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Lake Kournas, Crete

ConCrete

Advantages: nice outside the peak season
Disadvantages: can't imagine being there during the peak season

...or: Concrete Crete (meaning we went to see the island and I won't present abstract ideas here!) One week at the beginning of November last year to fill ourselves up with sunshine before the drab and dreary season starts in Germany, how could we know that Crete would greet us with a cool wind blowing dark clouds across the sky and the tourists away from the beaches? We chose the resort Hersónissos, 40 km east of Heraklion, the capital of Crete, because it's nearly in the middle of the north coast and we thought it would be a good starting point for excursions. Hersónissos is the busiest resort on Crete with the most hotels and an active night-life, we had read about it in a guide book and heard about it from a taxi-driver, we didn't notice it, though, as the tourist season ends at the beginning of November and the pavements were...

MALU 08.09.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Crete (Greece)

Georgioupolis, Western Crete

Advantages: Long sandy beach, village feel, friendly locals, good base to explore
Disadvantages: Mosquitos can be a nuisance, maybe too quiet for teenagers

...Georgioupolis lies directly between Rethymnon and Chania on the North West coast of Crete. Despite several European tour operators bringing groups of tourists here throughout the summer months, the resort still manages to hold on to its fishing village atmosphere and is a good choice for a relaxing holiday. There are 9km of sandy beach, with crystal clear water, and sand dunes in places, so if all you want to do is sunbathe - no problem. If you like to explore the surrounding area, Georgioupolis is also a good base to discover the Western side of Crete. The main square is surrounded by cafeterias, bars and restaurants, and there is also a good selection along the main routes throughout the village. I stayed there a month and NEVER had a bad meal. Locally caught fish are a speciality in most of the restaurants and are generally...

Sandroulla 28.04.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Crete (Greece)

Stalis, Crete - lovely.

Advantages: It's beautiful, the weather's great and it's not expensive
Disadvantages: Eventually you have to come home

...I went to Stalis in Crete for two weeks in September 2004, with a couple of friends. We had an eventful flight there - a couple of hours after leaving Glasgow one of the passengers became ill and we were diverted to Salzburg to get medical attention for him. Then, the plane was overweight and needed to be checked before it could take off again - no 737 engineers in Salzburg, one had to be flown in from Manchester, we were stuck in Salzburg airport for 6 or 7 hours, eating Toblerone until we felt sick. But we have good holiday photos - here we are in Crete, and that's an Alp! Anyway, we should have arrived in Crete at lunchtime, but it was early evening by the time we got there, so it was 9ish by the time we got to our apartments, Triandafillo in Stalis, or Stalida. It was pitch black and we walked around in the dark for a little while...

Flossiesdoll 18.08.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Crete (Greece)

Welcome to Crete

Advantages: Rapid transit
Disadvantages: Finding your rep

...I have just returned from my last proper holiday this year. A wonderful week in sunny Crete. Our arrival at Heraklion airport was in the very early hours of the morning, never a particularly good time to arrive anywhere. Tired uncomfortable and glad to get off the aeroplane the best one can hope for is a rapid transit from the plane and a quick baggage collection. Upon arrival we didn't have to wait long to disembark from the plane before we had a short walk across the tarmac to the terminal buildings. The baggage collection hall was quite small, but as there were only passengers from two flights waiting for their luggage this was not a problem. We only waited about 10 minutes before our luggage arrived, all in good condition unfortunately we had no strong men to help us to lift our huge cases from the carousel and as we are no...

baeswoman 29.10.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Crete Airport