Crete-Chania vs. Elounda
Mar 21st, 2011 | 12:14 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Crete-Chania vs. Elounda
Hi All-
Arriving into Athens from DTW/JFK at 9:20am and going to hop a flight directly to Crete where we have five nights before going to Santorini via ferry from Heraklion for two nights and then Athens for two nights.
I have SPG points and we would like to spend two nights at the Blue Palace.
I was thinking of flying into Chania and spending three nights there and then driving to Blue Palace however now I am thinking of a slower pace and staying in Elounda for all five nights and maybe doing a daytip to Chania.
We are generally looking to do a mix of sightseeing and relaxation on this trip.
Any feedback to offer?
Arriving into Athens from DTW/JFK at 9:20am and going to hop a flight directly to Crete where we have five nights before going to Santorini via ferry from Heraklion for two nights and then Athens for two nights.
I have SPG points and we would like to spend two nights at the Blue Palace.
I was thinking of flying into Chania and spending three nights there and then driving to Blue Palace however now I am thinking of a slower pace and staying in Elounda for all five nights and maybe doing a daytip to Chania.
We are generally looking to do a mix of sightseeing and relaxation on this trip.
Any feedback to offer?
Mar 22nd, 2011 | 07:46 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,258
Likes: 0
Way too far .... it depends on what you want from your visit to Crete. Elounda is more of a "resort" experience... newer, luxe hotels, nice beaches I hear, but because it's become a holiday-oriented place, not that historical or visually interesting in same way as Chania.
It would help if you shared more, like, when is y our tip?? Beach weather (June on) or earlier? If you wanted the best of both --- a beach-hotel experience and also the charms of Crete's most attractive Old Town, look at Hotel Ammos, just outside Chania(10 minutes on local bus)
http://www.ammoshotel.com/
ON the beach WITH a pool, all amenities, a gourmet chef for Cretan cuisine, only 30 rooms, a top place without top prices -- hard to book, hard to leave: -- unanimous rave Trip Advisor Reviews http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ure_Crete.html
-- it's an experience (top review says Best hotel in our 35 years of visiting greece)...
Ammos is not cheap, but u don't have to rent a car until you drive east to Heraklion, so the savings of 40-50€ a day may compensate. You can take local bus into Chania to sightsee... then as u leave. on your drive east to Heraklion you can do more sightseeing before your Ferry to Santorini. Jump off the highway for an hour to Rethymnon just to see the Fortezza. Other things along the way might be the Melidoni Cave near Panormos ... you could go PAST Heraklion in late afternoon to see Knossos after the cruise-crowds have left. Then u could go into Heraklion, stay at Hotel Leto just above the dock, to be handy for 9:45 am ferry.
Just an option...
It would help if you shared more, like, when is y our tip?? Beach weather (June on) or earlier? If you wanted the best of both --- a beach-hotel experience and also the charms of Crete's most attractive Old Town, look at Hotel Ammos, just outside Chania(10 minutes on local bus)
http://www.ammoshotel.com/
ON the beach WITH a pool, all amenities, a gourmet chef for Cretan cuisine, only 30 rooms, a top place without top prices -- hard to book, hard to leave: -- unanimous rave Trip Advisor Reviews http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ure_Crete.html
-- it's an experience (top review says Best hotel in our 35 years of visiting greece)...
Ammos is not cheap, but u don't have to rent a car until you drive east to Heraklion, so the savings of 40-50€ a day may compensate. You can take local bus into Chania to sightsee... then as u leave. on your drive east to Heraklion you can do more sightseeing before your Ferry to Santorini. Jump off the highway for an hour to Rethymnon just to see the Fortezza. Other things along the way might be the Melidoni Cave near Panormos ... you could go PAST Heraklion in late afternoon to see Knossos after the cruise-crowds have left. Then u could go into Heraklion, stay at Hotel Leto just above the dock, to be handy for 9:45 am ferry.
Just an option...
