beanweb24

I'm just about to confirm hotel reservations for our end of April/beginning of May 2006 stay on Crete. After reading several trip reports and comments here, we've decided to forego Heraklion area and use Chania as a base for exploring Western/Southwestern Crete. We will rent a car for our trip.

Our vacations are really about doing a whole bunch of nothing...walking, eating, drinking, more walking, etc. We never travel with a planned itinerary beyond hotels and flights. Rather, we let our vacation "happen" as it may. We spent one week in Oia, Santorini, last April and really enjoyed our most relaxing vacation yet. Our biggest "must have's" on a vacation: places to eat/drink within walking distance of our lodging and beautiful scenery. We prefer quaint towns/villages to resort areas.

My question to those familiar with Chania and...will Chania be a suitable base for exploration during our 7 night stay? For some reason I'm having more angst than normal planning this trip to Crete. I think my problem is that I don't think anything could ever compare to the beauty of Oia, but I also really want to go to Crete to sample more of Greece.

Thanks for any opinions you can offer on using Chania as a base for our Cretan adventure!

sheila

I love Chania and think you will find it just top. You MIGHT like to look at Paleochora tho'. It has all of what Chania has, plus is a smaller village and has fantastic scenery. Not that Chania hasn't.

Which hotel had you picked?

Maria_H

Crete is certainly beautiful and Chania is a good base to stay in. It's more typically Greek than Santorini, which is pretty unique. You won't be short of good restaurants - eating as the sun went down overlooking the harbour in Chania was one of the highlights of our trip to western Crete. Don't miss the Samaria Gorge, if it's open that early. I believe it opens sometime in May. As at bonus, the countryside should be full of wild flowers at that time of year.

Have a look for this book on walks and tours, it should be available through Amazon.

http://www.sunflowerbooks.co.uk/westcrete.htm

bermudacalling

Beanweb24, My wife is Greek so we get to Greece every other year or so. She, our first child and I spent a week in Crete a few years ago, and Crete is now my favorite spot in Greece, and Hania is my favorite spot in Crete. That said, it is a bit of a drive from Hania to the southern coast (Paleohora/Sfakia) region or Knossos, if memory serves.

We spent (wasted) one night in Heraklion, then enjoyed a couple dreamy nights in Hania, after which we drove to Paleochora and took a car ferry along the southern coast stopping at various towns & beaches (they are almost inaccessible except by ferry). The ferry ended up at Sfakia (I believe that's the name), where we spent a night then drove back north.

If what you are looking for is laid back, the little villages along southern coast are the ultimate. But, Hania has a little more going on, a little more color and is definitely my favorite.

Enjoy.

beanweb24

Wow -- thank you for all of the great advice and comments so far.

Sheila -- I would like to stay at Palazzo di Pietro. Casa Delfino is a little out of our budget, and Palazzo seems to get rave reviews. The reviews imply a personal touch from the people running it, and the comments remind me of my own experience in Venice with Locanda Orseolo. The honeymoon suite is available, and while we won't be on honeymoon, I'm happy to pretend for a week.

Maria -- I will definitely look at that book. Thank you for the recommendation!

Bermudacalling -- Lucky you to be married into Greece! I am only married into Wisconsin...not nearly as exotic. So glad to hear you describe Hania as dreamy...sounds perfect. The ferry trip really appeals to me, but my husband doesn't do boats -- he's too sensitive to the motion. We'll plan on some long day trips while we're in Chania!

parzmom

For your trip to Chania, I just heard from a good friend (Greek) who is an authority on Crete (her husband is a Cretan so they return frequently) that the BEST WESTERN in Chania is charming and a wonderful value. Also, she highly recommends the Aphrodite Restaurant in Chania. You mention OIA...where did you stay. I'm in the process of planning a September stay. Thanks for any input.

beanweb24

Parzmom -- thanks for the recommendations!

In Oia, we stayed at Esperas. I sent you a link to my trip report on the US board, but not sure you saw it. Here it is again -- enjoy:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34615427

sheila

OK. I THINK I've placed it. Okish location, not far from the harbour.

If I were going for that style there are two other places I might look.

One is Erietta Apartments overlooking the harbour. Freelance Holidays have them on their site. One/two minor inconveniences- you enter through a bar, and that can be a slight challenge; and you are over the nightlife, so can be noisier than you might like.

The other is Pandora Suites. Great location, nice and quiet. Could I get the sods to answer the phone, or reply to an email?

(PS. pale into insignificance by comparison with the Harbour Apartments in Paleochora)

chepar

I'm looking around for a place to stay in Chania for next June. I checked out the Pandora Suites website - it looks great.

sheila - I guess by your response it's accurate to say that you never got a response from them at all?

I always like it when websites post their rates - that way I can quickly either dismiss them or add them to my "short list". Since I'm not real firm on my dates of travel yet, I guess I'll bookmark the site and send an info request later.

sheila

I didn't. We were going at Easter, tho' an I guessed they maybe wouldn't be up and running. But we went and had a look from the outside and they were.

And I phoned them, and the tourist people, and I emailed and...PAH!

babylene

Hi! We are planning a trip to Greece next May. We will not rent a car, so need bases that will have other easy transportation. We are thinking of dividing our trip into three parts, Athens (with tours outside the city), Santorini ( am must) and either Mykonos or Crete. We have been strongly advised by several people to choose Crete. Would Chania be a good choice if we do not have a car? We would like to spend 6 nights in each destination.

You are all so knowledgeable, I really value your input. Thanks.

sheila

It really depends what you want. Chania is, I think, the loveliest city on Crete, and I could, and have, happily spend/spent a week there. There are lots of people offering expeditions, if you are too iffy about taking the public bus, but it would be unthinkable to go to Crete and not see Knossos and the archaeological museum in Iraklion. That's a good day out.

The time we did it at Easter, frankly, I could have spent the week on our balcony overlooking the harbour, so long as I didn't run out of books,wine and nibbles.

Hania

Ok, since my screen name is Hania you know where I am coming from. Hania is my favourite place in Crete and it is a great base with or without a car. There is a large bus station in town with buses going everywhere. My opinion is reinforced by the fact that you are looking at late April and early May. Palechora may be just a little too quiet at that time of year. Nice beach but I would rather take a day trip to several nice beaches on the south coast. Hania has the restaurants, a great market, and life.
The hotels you are looking at are too pricey for my budget. I stayed several times at a modern effeciancy place in the old town called Studios Anatasia. No view but nice place and great location. At that time of year you can book 1 or 2 nights at one hotel and then look around and move if you see something else you like better. I have never arrived in May in Hania with hotel reservations. Just not necessary.

bermudacalling

When I visited Hania a number of years ago, we found a lovely apartment about 2 blocks from the harbor, brand new, swedish style furniture. Just the way you would decorate your own house (if your were 1/2 Greek and 1/2 swedish)! Right across the street they were excavating some ancient ruins. Can't remember the name, but I'll check my records and if I find it I'll let you know. We found it over the internet. I believe it was in july or August 1997. Oh well, things may have changed.

beanweb24

Thank you for the continued advice - I'm feeling much more confident about using Chania as a base for our trip!

krissykris

I'm with BeanWeb. Planning 5 nights in Crete. We were considering Rethymnon but I'm not sure why this isn't mentioned here and Chania is.
Which is preferred? Are there places to stay in Chania or near Chania that might be on or near the beach?
Also, doing Santorini. We are choosing are luxury lodging for Santorini and can't decide. Considering Oia or Immerovgli. Suggestions? We want romance and view and a super pool for Santorini!

greecenmay

As I mentioned, we're going in May and After MUCH research and agony I finally decided on the highly recommended Astra Apartments (www.astra.gr) and I'm thrilled with what I see. All suites have a private terrace overlooking the Caldera. Also highly recommended is the Heliotopos. both look absolutley wonderful. The Astra has a gorgeous pool and top restaurant.