Tommmo

Have an 18 day driving trip around Crete coming up in May and looking for good budget hotels . There seem to be a few that can't easily be reached by email and are set in lovely positions in the old towns, Good tavernas would be a bonus too......thanks

Tommmo

Hope at least there are a few nice budget hotels in that part of the world....?

travelerjan

In Chania, many nice budget hotels (you don't give a € range, but do you mean €30-40 in May?) that are on or just off Theotokopoulu Street. Ones with e-mail contact and/or online websites include Iason Studios, Pension Nora, Hera Hotel, Anemones Rooms, Casa di Pietra. The latter is a special favorite of mine, fab location, the Theo st locale closest to the sea end, just 5-6 rooms, 2 with front balcony, no breakfast but in-room coffeemakers, owner Josef has vineyard and and in past had a wine barrel over his desk in back... samples! All friendly family-run places.

Tommmo

Casa di Pietra sounds like our kind of place - thanks Jan.
I'll send emails to enquire at the others too...
Yes Eu 30-40 is good for us , we have a car booked at Eu 20 day and plan 4 nights based in Chania and 3 in Rethymno - 18 days touring in all arriving Herak. May 5 and from Ag.Nikolous to Matala ,Hora Sfakion to Balos then and back via Rethymno to Heraklion for ferries to Naxos

travelerjan

Sounds great, I wish you sunshine, high temps and not-too-brisk water ... one year in early May I tried swims in Lybian sea May 9-11 and brrrrrrr ... but it's wonderful weather for touring! You'll have the place to yourselves! (This year, w. aging bones, am doing Greece in June).

travelerjan

Almost forgot, re Chania tavernas ... Tammam on Zambeliou is mentioned in Guide books but don't let that spook you, food is good/prices too. I heard Alas that the good Fish place, Apostolis II, has closed (recession?). Ask Josef for fish recs ... he'll steer u away from harborside stuff. Also, a few yards from Tamam is Enetikon, family-run, last time I was there, many French patrons, always a good sign of good cooking AND value. And one you'll have to have your hotelier mark on a map ... Oneiro-Dromio (translation: "Street of Dreams", don't you love it??); it's on Daliani, (turn inland at the Start of Sifaki street). If it's still there (these days who knows). 6-7 tables, good, cheap, mainly for locals, we ate at 9:30, almost alone, by the time we left, 11, it was filling up.

clausar

Since you will have a car i can recommend Koulouridis in nearby Vamvakopoulo, which is a suburb of Chania.
Tel : 28210 95595, 28210 76437

Locals go to the fish restaurants that are located past the Porto Veneziano hotel ( Akti Miaouli )

My favourite restaurant in Rethymno is Avli, which is located in the old city close to the Rimondi fountain.

http://www.avli.gr/

Also Kompos in Violi Haraki, 2 km outside of Rethymno is a great restaurant, inexpensive and very popular among locals.

Tel : 28310 29725
Ask at the reception of your hotel for driving directions.

Zisis in Misiria ( on the main road as you leave Rethymno towards East) serves inexpensive delicious dishes.
Tel : 28310 28814
Again ask the reception for driving directions.

Tommmo

Jan, while there is mention of two restaurants on the Apostoli website I can only see one on the wharf in the text and map.. so maybe No.2 only closed?

Tommmo

thanks Clausar. Have to say the Avli Hotel is somewhat beyond budget level,so maybe the taverna is expensive too?

clausar

Tommmo
Since the restaurant is located in the centre of the old city, next to Rimondi fountain, you can check the prices on the board outside....

The hotel was added a few years ago, while the restaurant exists since 1992

Here is the menu :

http://www.avli.gr/pdf/the-menu

The restaurants offers modern cretan cuisine, and not the touristy food you can find elsewhere.

Tommmo

Thanks clausar
Prices are on the online menu you mentioned...http://www.avli.gr/pdf/the-menu

travelerjan

Apostoli II was the one I have visited several times... just beyond the East end of Harbor ... that's the one I heard had closed ... check Trip Advisor reviews, not clear which one people visited.

Bettina222

My husband and I stayed at Pension Nora twice and loved it!
great location, really nice owner.
their cafe is right next door.
Also, second travelerjan's recommendation of Tamam for dinner......ate there often!

Chania

I have stayed several times in Chania at the Anantasia Apt. hotel. http://www.anastasia-apartments.com/....ILUjub68.dpbs
good value, good location and I like the option of making some meals in the apt.