suebee6

May 15 my fiance and I leave for 13 days in Greece - hopefully to get married, at the "least" to have a lovely trip/honeymoon. We are going immediately to Santorini where we stay for 5 days, and then we are in Athens for 3 days at the end. We still have the middle 5 days to figure out. The top contender right now is Crete, but we are still open to other suggestions as well. If we settle with Crete, east or west?? Heraklion looks very pretty, but Chania also looks interesting. The Ferry to Heraklion from Santorini looks pretty fast, but then to drive to Chania - it sounds long....wasted time with travel? Stay in Heraklion and save the time? And, what about hotel suggestions? We were looking in a book and found the Lato Boutique recommended in Chania and the Atrion in Heraklion. Any info on either of these, or recommend another? What would be the must see/do things? We probably want to mix it up between relaxing times and interesting things to do. We are pretty open to any suggestions. We do appreciate great food and wine, so any suggestions there? We are an active couple in our 40s. Thanks!

travelerjan

Go WEST, young woman!

IF you are going for a romantic trip... stay out of Iraklion. Sorry to say, it is a big bustling concrete-slab city, and the hotels are over-priced for what you get (actually the Lato is in Heraklion) ... People usually stay in Heraklion to see the museum (but it's closed, with just one small room open on the side) or to go to the Palace of Knossos ... but archeology is not top on your list right now...

However, Chania is a whole other story! YOu can get there in 2 hours on the bus ... and the bus station is right at the pier where you get off the fast-ferry at 5:30.

If you want to stay in Old TOwn, stay on the West Side of town, there are a dozen or more cute small hotels/pensions on the pedestrianized street of Theotokopoulu STreet (Note - that is the real name of the painter El Greco)... Here is a Map to orient you.

I don't know what your budget is, but Palazzo Hotel is authentic older building, very classy and moderate price. Casa Leone is more pricey, but gorgeous. There are a dozen smaller "studio" type places (the room has a small mini-kitchen)... all rooms have balconies, A/C and fridges.

However -- If you want the IDEAL place -- right on a sandy beach, WITH a pool facing the beach, just outside Chania (a bus stops by the door, 15 minutes into the heart of old town... an authentic Cretan Restaurant right there ... try Hotel AMMOS. It is PERFECT for you! However, you need good luck to book... only 30 rooms! In fact, I would suggest that you TELEPHONE immediately. It is THE hotel for romantic cosmopolitan grown-ups... who appreciate good food & wine.

http://www.hotelsofgreece.com/crete/ammos/ -- good description
HOtel's Own website --http://www.ammoshotel.com/
Here are rave reviews from Trip Advisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...nia_Crete.html

If you have 5 days, and get to Chania area by 9 pm or so that first night... you can devote a full day to exploring the fascinating Old Town of Chania. YOu might want to rent a car for a couple of days... the village of VAMOS is fascinating -- they have saved their traditional ways, by selling their crafts, offering cooking lessons, there are walks offered throug small villages ... here's a link to Vamos... http://www.vamossa.gr/content/view/15/12/lang,english/

When it's time to leave Crete, you can take an overnight Large ferry right from the Chania area to Piraeus. OR you can get an Aegean Air flight from Chania airport to Athens airport.

stanbr

Western Crete is lovely and Chania is a great town with its Venetian era harbour and walls.
Not much more I can add to Jan's description.
I have pictures of Chania and western Crete.

Chania
http://travel.webshots.com/album/571195659jPcKjK

Trip through Western Crete
http://travel.webshots.com/album/559511069PIlVxI

Enjoy

suebee6

Thank you Jan for the great detail - I feel nearly convinced. You read us correctly. Haven't had a chance to open the pictures from both of you, but I appreciate it and sure it will also help (a picture is worth a thousand words!) Thank you Stan for your confirmations. I'm glad to hear the trip to the west is not so far - I had gotten a different impression from something I read.

travelerjan

Sue that's why a guide book is so useful (despite the wonders of the internet) it gives you some basic background so you do not get as misled by "something I read." Chania is 138 Km from Heraklion (83 miles) on a modern 4-lane highway = just over 2 hours.

Here is a large map of Crete (click on it & it gets huuuuge) that clearly shows the major modern highway that links (and bypasses) Heraklion, Rethymnon, and Chania. It will help you visualize your travel and transport options very clearly
http://www.explorecrete.com/crete-ma.../Crete-eot.png
here is the bus schedule from Heraklion - Chania Bus Station A, just by the port -- there are busses leaving 5:30, 6:30, 8, 9.
http://www.cretetravel.com/Bus_sched...Bus%20stations
... here is a good map of Chania old Town (all streets labeled in English)
http://www.explorecrete.com/crete-ma...a-city-map.gif
... if u are planning to stay in Old Town, & come by bus, please NOTE: Bus staion is labeled "Coach Stop" in blue right on Kydonias Street (in Yellow) Theotokopolou St starts at sea front on top left... it is no-cars, so cabs take u to sea front (Sq. Talo).

Chania

I agree with everything Jan has said. I have been to Crete several times. Chania is my favourite city. I avoid Herklion like the plague. A cheaper alternative for accomodation in Chania is Anatasia Apartments on the street that Jan references. This is a good area to be in. Close to the harbour with lots of atmosphere. Lots of hoteles and pensions to choose from in May.
http://www.anastasia-apartments.com/