2 best bases for Crete?
 

I am in the pre-planning stage for trip #3 for me to Greece, for my friend it will be her 2nd time. So far, I think we will have 7 nights just for Crete in June. We will have a car, and after Crete we would probably take a ferry with our car to Santorini or Milos.

We're not big nightlife people, but probably don't want to be in completely sleepy towns either. For one of the bases being on or near an amazing beach is a must.

Does anyone have any recommendations? It sounds like Chania should be one. The Palace of Knossos doable from here? (it doesn't look like it would be from a quick look on a map). Also it seems most people agree that the southwest area of the island is the best.

If you have any thoughts on hotels also, please share!

AP - Knossos is doable from Chania - it's not that far.

I drove between Eraklion and Chania in about 1hr 45' earlier this year. The road is good except for the area around Rethymnon.

Don't miss the turn off for Knossos like I did :( - it's not very well signed.


If you were looking for a second base in the east I'd recommend Aghios Nikolaus - but it sounds like you're looking further west, so I'm sure Sheila or others will post on that area.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Actually, I'm not very knowledgable about the area around Ag Nik. I've stayed further east, and visited Vai, which I have to say I think is vastly over-rated (it's a beach, for the uninitiated). For a week, I'd sty in Chania, for the first part, and for the second I'd go to Paleochora. Paleochra has a nice beach, but, morimportantly it's on the south coast ferry run, and you can get on the boat in the morning and go to Elafonissos which is the beach to die for.

Falassarna is nice too, but the boats don't go that far. neither Falassarna nor Elafonissos have as much as sleepy towns. They are completely rural. But i wouldn't call the beach at Paleochora amazing; just nice.

Aghios Nikolaos was already very commercialized back in the 70s, when I did 4 or 5 trips to Greece. I would hate to think what it might be like now...

Commercialised but upmarket:)

Thanks for the ideas! Paleochora looks nice and I like the idea of being close to the ferry for daytrips. This will sound strange, but anyway, the area look pretty flat. Are there any more dramatic looking towns in the area that may be a good base?

It's flat along the coast but rises steeply away into hills which are pleasant to walk in.

There are small towns scattered all along the south coast, but relatively few as lively as Palechora.

have a look at explorecrete.com

Paleochora is only 77km from Chania. I'm wondering if spending all my time in one region will be the most effective use of our time?

Does anyone know of the most charming hotels in Paleochora? I've read about the Elman Hotel and On The Rocks.

The nicest hotel in the village is the Glaros. But do have a look at Harbour apartments.

Paleochora is a world away from Chania. I have to say, tho' that I wouldn't do east and west in one week, myself.

AP - <Paleochora is only 77km from Chania. I'm wondering if spending all my time in one region will be the most effective use of our time?>

My thought on this is that with those 2 bases you will only get to see the western half of the island.

If it's only 77 km you could day-trip there, couldn't you?

Steve

Yes, but you wouldn't want to. You wouldn't go 50 miles from one beach to visit another.

It's almost 2 hours to do those 77kms. You will only see the western half of the island, but I wouldn't try to do the whole thing in a week.

If I stretch the time in Crete to 10 days, can anyone suggest a town on the east side? I was thinking 7 days Crete- 3 days Santorini (it would be my 2nd visit)- and 3-4 on a small island, like Milos. But maybe I would drop the small island idea and add it to Crete.

On the east side, I think you either want Sitia or somewhere around Elounda.

personally I quite Palekastro, and although I've not stayed there, I quite like Makrigialos, but both of them are small and may be in your category of sleepy towns. Ieraptera might be good, but I haven't been there.

http://www.explorecrete.com/crete-maps/images/east.gif

We spent a couple days driving much of the island, having spent the bulk of our time in Chania. We spent a night at Sitia. It was pleasant enough and would work as a nice base if you wanted to tour some of the eastern end of the island. Zakros is a scenic but remote spot, but worth visiting from Sitia. We also spent a couple nights then at Agios Nikolaus. Sure it's touristy, but then so are all the other waterfront towns. It just has a little more "class" than most and more to do.

I'm surprised you folk suggest Sitia. Did I miss something?

I thought Ag Nik was much nicer.
The only thing it lacked was a beach - but Elounda's close by ...

Steve

As it happens I think you're quite right. Sitia is OK, but plain. It is, however MUCH further east than Ag Nik

Sheila, is there a website for the Harbour Apartments?

Thanks!

Ok, I found an old post by Sheila with the website, http://www.freelance-holidays.co.uk/index.php

Now the question is, they only rent these apartments weekly, or could I do 4 nights? Thanks! They look great.

Topping..........

Again.......