Anyone been to Crete? • Non-Gaming • Travel • Eurogamer.net

ProfessorLesser 26 Jun 2010 13:16:07 19,693 posts
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Going on holiday with my girlfriend next week, and I hadn't thought to ask EG first! Now it's doomed to fail :-(

Any tips/tricks/do's/dont's?

:-)

Deleted user 26 June 2010 13:23:12

There's so many tourists this time of the year you'll think you are in UK/Germany/Sweden depending on which charter hotel is the closest to your location...

Rent a car and GTFO to some small place far away is what I'd recommend. Nicer people, better food, cheaper, more relaxed, the works!

Ignatius_Cheese Moderator 26 Jun 2010 13:37:42 11,104 posts
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Definitely agree with Valli. Worth doing Knossos but it will be heaving with tourists.

Escape to the south of the island as it is beautiful and fairly untouched by commerce.

Chania in the north west is also worth a visit if only to see the incredible Turkish architecture and covered market.

Samaria Gorge is stunning but quite a knackered trek and will probably be close to 35oC this time of year.

Oh, and don't pet the stray cats in the parks in towns. As cute as they are, they're proper manky...

)

ProfessorLesser 26 Jun 2010 13:49:17 19,693 posts
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Thanks guys! We're staying in a small town called Kissamos about an hour west of Chania, and spending the day there after we land. Already planned to walk the gorge (in fact I just bought new walking shoes!), and we've been recommended a southern beach to visit.

The place we're staying is a small 4/5 bedroom hotel owned by a mutual friend's parents, so it should be quite secluded. Apparently the cats there are nice, too, which is a major bonus :-)

Can't wait, gonna be awesomes. Hope the heat wave holds out as well ^_^

Zidargh 28 Jun 2010 09:17:06 2,048 posts
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I'm going as well this year but I'm going to MALIA......

Not.

Hersonnisos.

Murbs 28 Jun 2010 09:19:25 25,151 posts
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It was 40º+ when I went to Crete back in 2000. People were dropping like flies and it was too hot to do anything except cool off in the Med :-(

Murbs 28 Jun 2010 09:25:33 25,151 posts
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ProfessorLesser wrote:
with my girlfriend

This is what this thread is really about ;-)

Load_2.0 28 Jun 2010 09:28:16 33,582 posts
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ProfessorLesser wrote:
Going on holiday with my girlfriend next week, and I hadn't thought to ask EG first! Now it's doomed to fail

Any tips/tricks/do's/dont's?

Don't take any paper, they have plenty of their own.

Alastair 28 Jun 2010 09:36:54 24,828 posts
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You can go visit Knossos for a bit of culture. Although some argue that the 'restoration' has spoiled it a bit.
There's also a monastery you can visit on the south side of the island that was vital in the evacuation of allied troops during the war. And the beach just below it is lovely, with a river flowing out in to the sea at one end - it's noticable colder where the freshwater is running into the sea.

Zidargh 28 Jun 2010 10:05:21 2,048 posts
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Actually, on this... Has anyone been to Hersonissos? I'm not looking for a chavvy atmosphere i.e; Malia, but I want some crazy nights.

Zerobob 28 Jun 2010 10:28:44 3,017 posts
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Strange, me and 3 friends are about to book a week in Crete!

I haven't a clue about the island either. We were considering this or similar.

mrpon 28 Jun 2010 10:29:52 37,366 posts
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Murbal wrote:
ProfessorLesser wrote:
with my girlfriend

This is what this thread is really about ;-)

Tomo 28 Jun 2010 10:31:07 19,565 posts
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Post deleted

Tomo 28 Jun 2010 10:31:13 19,565 posts
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Think I've been to Hersonissos – that's on the Eastern end right? Think it was alright. The Western end is best though, Chania way, rather that over by Heraklion.

That said, if you can go to the Southern side, it is far less touristy. There's less to 'see', but if you can find some unspoiled beaches you'll love it. We found an amazing kind of shallow lake with a small opening that led to the sea. It was crystal clear, with a sandy beach going round the entire bowl of the lake and a few pedalos and other tourists (say 20-30) and a single shack selling ice-creams. It was fucking heaven. My mum went back a few years later and it had been engulfed in sunbathers ;_;

jonsaan 28 Jun 2010 15:30:10 27,052 posts
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Great food, hospitality,unique culture, temperature is wonderful and the atmosphere is to die for..

/riffing on mrpon's glory

ProfessorLesser 6 Jul 2010 18:28:03 19,693 posts
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Got back early yesterday morning - what a fantastic trip!

Zerobob, have you planned your holiday yet? I could give you lots of help now, as well as the perfect place to stay! We were in a small, secluded hotel in the hills, overlooking Kissamos, on the eastern end of the island. Every drive was breathtaking, and the beaches are gorgeous. The only disappointment really was the food - which was very good, but very limited. EAT MOUSSAKA. My sheltered, supermarket upbringing had me believe it was simply a slight variation on lasagne, but it's so much more! ^_^ Like a savoury custard tart, with meat. Brilliant.

We also walked the Samaria Gorge, which was fairly incredible.