melodyt13

Starting to plan next summer trip from Ny to Greece, first time traveling there for our family. ALthough I'd love to see several islands over two weeks we are traveling with two kids, 8 and 10. I've zeroed in on Crete, particularly Chania area. Is this too long for two weeks?

I'm also considering one week in Peloponnese first,but not sure.

We are most interested in good dining, sandy beaches for kids and good bases for daytrips. We'd rather take it slow than spend the two weeks unpacking and traveling.

Any tips would be appreciated.
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clausar

2 weeks in Chania is way too long, since you will be on a very big islands, you will have time enough to visit also other parts of the island.
You could make as well a mainland-crete combination... explore the Peloponnese, ferry from southern peloponnese to Kythira, a very beautiful, not touristy island, stay 2-3 days there and then ferry to Crete ( there is a connection to Kissamos, west of Chania )

HappyTrvlr

We spent two wonderful weeks in Chania and never ran out of things to do.I understand your desire to stay in one place with young kids.
It's an excellent base for W.Crete.
I highly recommend Maria at www.dyktynna-travel.gr, based in Chania for help with arrangements.

sheila

I agree with Happy. I've spent two weeks in Crete three times. You could easily move from one base to another, but I don't think you have to. We (and we have friends with kids who) love Paleochora on the south west corner. It closes down the town centre at night for dining in the street, and is very family friendly. There are two quite different beaches, boat trip, surfing, walking, heaps of restaurants and cafes. And it's an easy day trip to Chania. But equally a week in Chanis and a week on Paleochora is great too.

clausar

There are people who like to spend a whole day on the beach for 2 weeks, and others who like to explore and see more than just the beach , 14 days long.
OP should decide what is more suitable to her, but being on Crete and spending 14 days on the beach is doing unjustice to a fabulous island, that has lots to offer.
Combining Chania and Paleochora isn't really a good idea, i would combine the west and the east of the island, as to have a better picture of Crete.

melodyt13

Thanks so much for the info. Happy, I'm glad to hear two weeks isn't crazy. And Sheila, I'll definitely check out Paleochora. It sounds lovely and exactly what we're looking for.

As far as beaching or exploring, we try to do both on a vacation. With kids, you can only do so much exploring in one shot. It's a delicate balance between what makes mom and dad happy and keeping the kids happy too..For that reason one good solid base works for us as long as we can do manageable day trips from that point.

sheila

Maybe Clausar, you have little experience of travelling with 2 small kids?

I've never had a beach holiday in my life, but I have spent two separate weeks in Paleochora. We've taken jeeps over the hills to remote chapels, walked up Anidri and down the gorge then back along the sea shore, explored the town, gone dolphin spotting, taken boat tours to Elafonissi, Sougia and Agia Roumeli, used it as a base to " do" Samaria, climb mountains and explore caves and we've gone surfing and kite flying and just sat and read books in the sun on the balcony.

The one thing it doesn't work for is Minoan remains. You can easily reach Chania, but further is a loooong day out. We have seen all of the public Minoan sites on Crete over the years (with the exception of the palace at Malia) and some of the private ones.

Our first Cretan holiday was based in Stavros on the Akrotiri and we mixed up ruins, monasteries, beaches and the city; our second was Paleochora and Palekastro; and the third was Akrotiri and Paleochora. We also did a week in Chania at Easter one year.

It's absolutely wrong to say that combining Paleochora and Chania is not a good idea. It worked sooo well for us.

Doesn't mean other things don't work too. But I'd avoid any of the built up "strips" round Chania, Malia, Georgipulis, Iraklion or Agios Nikoliaos.

clausar

sheila , de gustibus et coloribus non disputandum est
I have been many times to Crete to know it very very well, as i was working there for a few years.

You like Paleochora so much, so that you are going there every year? That's great, i like this part of Crete too.
But it is not the only spot on the island where one can spend 1 or 2 weeks ...

The island is too beautiful, just to spend 2 weeks in one and the same place, but as i said before it's up to the taste of each and everyone of us.

txtree

I do think it's a matter of personal preferences, but I would not spend an entire two weeks in Chania. There is just too much to see on Crete (or in Greece, for that matter). Also, you might want to check out my trip report from this summer. We combined Crete, the Peloponnese and Kythira with our two boys (ages 10 and 8). It wasn't enough Crete - that will have to be another trip - but it was a very perfect vacation, with lots of beach time, lots of exploring, and lots of eating.

By the way, we stayed at the Ammos Hotel just outside of Chania. It was a great choice.

txtree

p.s. My youngest son might be upset that I said he was 8. He is actually 9 and my oldest son turned 11 on our trip this summer. They were great ages for exploring Greece.