Crete info requested

[ronturner]

Travelled extensively over the years but Crete.. never. Looking to spend 10/14 days there at the end of our summer. Can get good flights to and from Nantes even with the possibility of a return from Santorini.
Problem is we know nothing of Crete. Looking at places to stay there is a bewildering choice of locations and accomodation.
Asking for recommendations based on experience.
Preferences:-
A smaller hotel rather than a larger one but must have nice pool and access to a nice beach. Beach sports not required but safe swimming...yes! Preference for a smaller town or village with some night life such as choice of tavernas and places to eat. Clubs and rowdiness definitely not.
I am not necessarily looking for a budget place. Its for a significant wedding anniversary so can afford something decent but not "over the top" ... Just really nice, traditional,comfortable clean and relaxing and a location from where we can get out and about by bus or hire car.
Looking forward to the usual positive response from this forum.
Thanks in advance.

[radiostationx]

They say Ron the temp is around 26-28 average, this is total and utter boll**!s.
More like +10 degrees on top of that, relentless from 8am to 6pm.
Blimey, its red hot !
Lovely place though, we have stayed in a pension (a side property to someones house) there twice in Sept.
Takes a bit of time to get used to that sort of heat.

[Beemer]

We went about 20 years ago in September and the weather was brilliant with not a cloud in two weeks. We landed at Chania Airport that was/ or still is a USAF base. The terminal was a Nissen hut. Great hotel but not a lot to do then, once you had eaten at the two tavernas you had no where else to go. If you like walking there is the Samara Gorge or you could go to the ex German airfield at Maleme that has a about 6 military aircraft as gate guards. When we were there the military were flying crop sprayers early morning and fighter jets at night. If you like history you could visit the The Palace of Knossos. I used to go running every day along the roads and beaches as I was a lot fitter then, and younger. If you asked me would I go again I would say no as there are nicer places like Protarus in Cyprus. Beemer.

[loobyloo]

Hi Ron if your looking for somewhere quiet have a look at Alykes or Alykanas in Zakynthos,beautiful beaches were you can walk out 25m before the water gets to deep,loads of bars restaurants etc.Also if you hire a car there's some great beaches with tavernas for lunch,Greek people and food are amazing.Airport nowhere near as crowded as Crete as only small and is very modern.

[kevmul]

Ron,

We've been twice to a small place called Elounda. It's about an hour from Heraklion and is a lovely place for a relaxing holiday. Great selection of restaurants and tavernas and the friendliest people.

You can get the local bus (it's a luxury coach!) to nearby Aghios Nikolaos for a day too.

There are local boats which take you to an island called Spinalonga (20 minute crossing. Spinalonga used to be a leper colony and its got a really interesting history. Well worth a visit.


Kev

[Deleted]

I would second kevmul's suggestion Ron. It's donkey's years since I was last in Crete, but all the points he mentions above are worth noting. Elounda is one of the more up-market areas (not that the others are tatty) and Aghios Nikolaos is definitely worth a visit, as is Spinalonga - a very haunting place. (No need for an injection, the lepers and the lerposy have all gone now!).

I don't know whether you remember the Lotus Eaters Ron, but that was set in AN: link

Hiring a car is definitely a good idea, but just be ready for anything -and I mean anything - on the roads! (I speak as someone who spent four years working in Greece!). Oh, and remember not to take your camera anywhere near a Hellenic Air Force base, or your missus will be coming home on her own!