Beach lodging advice -- Crete
 

We fly to Crete in early October with two 15 year old boys and need advice about reasonably priced lodging for four that is on the beach, not up the hill away from the seashore. We have 4 nights and want to stay within an hour taxi ride of Heraklion airport, but have been told to avoid Malia!

Originally we were going for one of the large all inclusive places, thinking that would work well for the boys (since their buffets allow lots of food choices) and the many in-house entertainment/recreation activities would be good. But the well-priced big all-inclusive places all seem to either be located on top of a big hill removed from the beach, or have lots of bad reviews due to what sounds like cut-rate management.

My current thought is to find a smaller place on a sandy beach (not sand&shale or rocky) that is organized with vendors for water sports the boys can try (kayaks, windsurfers, etc), and umbrellas & loungers for the moms, with a pool & table tennis at the hotel, and hopefully breakfast onsite and lots of restaurants/tavernas within easy walking. Local bus transport is a plus since we won't have a car. Too impossible of a wish list? Any suggestions for places that you have tried?

There's a "Destination Expert" for Crete on Trip Advisor who goes by the handle "GB from Devises" ... UK guy ... and he has written at length about Mikes Place at Anissaras (sp?) which seems perfect for you http://www.mikesbeach.gr ... directly on a good beach between larger "resort-type" areas, good public transportation ... go see reviews and youll agree. It's family-run (as are all the best places, right?), and Gordon (GB) has been going there for donkey's years. You'll thank him!

Gordon??? Haha, that's not his name!

Sorry, finger slip. Graham. Just heard from him... brain freeze. Heimdall you must get tired waiting for me to make a mistake. Get a life.

I am glad you guys are in here to help -- I could not find the destination expert stuff on TA, but I did check out Mike's Place on the web. Great beach photos (the hotel opens right to the beach front which I like) plus lots of good beach stuff nearby from the description, BUT sadly, no swimming pool. With two 15 year old boys, we don't want to cut the pool out.

Someone suggested Stalis -- does anyone know of good places on the beachfront there?

I'd suggest that you go to the Crete section of TA Greece and ask your Stalis question ... It's so popular there is even a subsection just on stalis ... http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum...lis_Crete.html there are MANY devotees of that location who can describe the offerings, down to the best room in a given lodging!

thank you for the suggestion -- I will do that right now!

And I did find that destination expert on TA -- thanks for alerting me to that!

Check out Damnoni Paradise
Damnoni- paradise . kreta-sun.com
We just stayed there one night . I saw public buses and walking distance to a beautiful beach. People were kyacking and you can take a boat to Perveli Beech. A fantastic place.