FAQ
The island of Crete welcomes tourists throughout the year, but is quieter during the winter months. The season starts at the beginning of April and ends in the middle of November. Our winters are very mild and many of the locals, including a considerable number of older people, continue to swim right through the winter months. Although many shops in the Old Town close for a few months, plenty of tavernas and cafeterias remain open. We highly recommend traveling in the spring and fall, avoiding the months of July & August due to high temperatures.
Crete is a big island and if you really want to explore the island you need at least 10 days.
There are several appealing options if you want to discover the treasures of Crete, for example, you can stay for 3 nights in Chania and 2 nights in Elounda or 4 nights in Chania and 1 night in Heraklion so as to visit Knossos Palace and catch the early ferry to Santorini.
There are several appealing options if you want to discover the treasures of Crete, for example, you can stay for 3 nights in Chania and 2 nights in Elounda or 4 nights in Chania and 1 night in Heraklion so as to visit Knossos Palace and catch the early ferry to Santorini.
Crete is a wonderful destination for families with children of all ages. There are numerous beaches to visit such as Elafonissi (pink beach), Balos lagoon or Falassarna, all of which are sandy beaches with shallow waters.
Crete is a destination for people with mobility issues. The Old Town of Chania and Rethymnon are largely pedestrianized but still easily accessed. There are some steps in the Old Town but the waterfront itself is level, surrounded by flat cobblestone streets.
The best way is from Athens by plane and then drive to Elounda or Agios Nikolaos for 2 days so as to relax and then catch the early ferry to Santorini from Heraklion.
- Lovely beaches such as Elafonissi, Balos, Falassarna on the west coast and Sweet Waters (Glyka Nera) or Marmara accessed only by boat for the more adventurous guests!
- Gorges-such as the Samarian Gorge which is the longest gorge in Europe (12 miles- whole day excursion) or Imbros Gorge (3 hours hike).
- The Old Town of Chania is a MUST SEE! The Old Town of Rethymnon (1 hour drive ) is interesting too, just a bit smaller!
- Wine and olive oil tours
- Archaelogical sites such as Knossos Palace, the archaeological museum and Phaistos. The ancient towns of Aptera and Eleftherna are very interesting too!
- Visiting mountain villages
- Cooking or pottery classes
- Gorges-such as the Samarian Gorge which is the longest gorge in Europe (12 miles- whole day excursion) or Imbros Gorge (3 hours hike).
- The Old Town of Chania is a MUST SEE! The Old Town of Rethymnon (1 hour drive ) is interesting too, just a bit smaller!
- Wine and olive oil tours
- Archaelogical sites such as Knossos Palace, the archaeological museum and Phaistos. The ancient towns of Aptera and Eleftherna are very interesting too!
- Visiting mountain villages
- Cooking or pottery classes
Perhaps the most popular Cretan dish is the Dakos salad, with rusk bread topped with tomatoes, creamy myzithra cheese, herbs, spices and plenty of olive oil. But there are many other famous dishes, such as lamb fricassee (try it cooked with askolymbros, a fleshy and tasty root growing near the sea) and antikristo – lamb cooked around the fire rather than over it – a style of cooking that goes back to Minoan times. Other highlights include kolokythanthi (stuffed zucchini flowers), chochlii bουmbouristi (fried snails with sea salt and rosemary) and skioufichta (a traditional, distinctively shaped handmade pasta) with plenty of grated kefalotiri or anthorito cheese. A final treat is kalitsounia (small, sweet pies stuffed with whey cheese, honey and cinnamon), traditionally eaten at Easter after the fasting period. Graviera and mizithra cheese are made from goat milk and they are delicious.
Crete is a safe travel destination.
No it is not! Crete is a year round destination as well as being an island with over 600,000 permanent residents. Prices are still very low compared to the rest of the islands and the quality of food truly amazing!
It might be a nice idea for those who wish to explore the island and be independent. Parking of the hotel is provided without surcharge within 10 minutes walking distance. We could arrange a car rental for 1 or 2 days with pick up/drop off from the hotel.
Transfers are recommended upon arrival. After a day wandering around the narrow streets of the Old Town. Guests could rent a car so as to visit some of the beaches and cretan villages.
Transfers are recommended upon arrival. After a day wandering around the narrow streets of the Old Town. Guests could rent a car so as to visit some of the beaches and cretan villages.
It is overcrowded during July and August but even at these months due to the location of the hotel
and the parking facilities, our guests could avoid the crowds.
and the parking facilities, our guests could avoid the crowds.
25-30 minutes driving from/to Airport and 20 minutes from/to Souda port.
There is an airport in Heraklion which is a 2 hour drive from Chania through the National Highway.
Heraklion port is where all the ferries leave to the Cycladic Islands.
There is an airport in Heraklion which is a 2 hour drive from Chania through the National Highway.
Heraklion port is where all the ferries leave to the Cycladic Islands.