We are planning a trip to Crete for a week in September. Specifically, western and souther Crete. We would appreciate advice on hotel accommodations. We hear that it is nice in Chania area. We usually stay in 4-5 star hotels. However, in reading, we hear that Elounda area is full of tourists which we want to avoid. Any suggestions on very clean accommodations? Much appreciated.

In Chania, Casa Delfino usually gets the vote.

I'm not sure there is a 4 or 5 star hotel west or south of there. Elounda is a high class resort towrds the north east of the island. Certainly tourists, but probably a higher number of 4 and 5 star places than elsewhere on the island

For your info,Elounda has the finest resorts one could find in Greece!
Luxurious amenities,superb service,privacy and 4 of the best restaurants in Greece.
In the Villages the Greek elite travellers have their own secret places for gastronomy discoveries.

I can assure you that they never mix with 'mass tourism invaders' (anyway elounda is expensive for such type of tourism)
If one day you get the chance to book a room and to be pampered in one of these resorts- the Elounda beach,Elounda Bay or the Porto elounda or the Imperial - then you will know how paradise should be like.

Of course these resorts protect the privacy of their guestyou 'll never have the feeling of a crowded place:mass tourism is kept away!!!

In Rethymno the Creta Palace(Grecotel) should satisfy you.

In Chania,there is now a new 4/5 stars resort, La Perle with excellent service, spacious rooms easy access to Chania spa facilities www.perle-spa.com

I appreciate hearing from both of you. From what we have been reading, it seems like Western Crete is the area to go. More Cretan and less touched by tourists. The Casa Delfino does not have a pool. That seems to be a drawback. However, it says, the beach is .5 km away. Has anyone gone to the beach they recommend? Any suggestions? Secondly, I hear that the best beaches to visit are Moni Preveli or Phalasarna Beach. Anyone been to either one?

Secondly, we truly enjoy ethnic food -tavernas. Any suggestions for great Cretan food in Crete?

I haven't used the Chania town beach, and, indeed, probably wouldn't. There are nice beaches round the Akrotiri much nearer than Moni Preveli or Falasarna.

Falasarna is beautiful and very quiet, and a good 2 hours from Chania.

There are dozens, quite literally, of lovely places to eat in Chania.

I have posted trip reports here before about Crete. If you can't find them, drop me an email, and I'll sned tehm to you.

I would not consider to swim to the suggested beach wich is near the Casa Delfino.....It is the harbour! and of course the beaches surrounding it are not recommended as the cleanest of the island.

If you want a hotel with a prime location ON the beach with a pool,and a friendly ambiance...then check the www.ammoshotel.com, and you'll understand what i mean!

If you are looking for upscale amenities
the renovated Panorama hotel is recommended.

beaches not to be missed:

Falassarna its pink sand is found only in the Bahamas(check the weather,as the beach should be avoided when it is hit by a western wind)

Preveli and the monastry worth the visit.

Do not miss Elafonissos.(caribean in Crete...)

Ethnic food..the real cretan diet:

In Chania Carnayio near the old harbour.
Tamam and Piyadi tou tourkou are outstanding.

O Milos tou Kerata in Platanias(15 km from Chania) is a UNIQUE experience and the best kept secret...is Nychterida in Korakies village (some people are flying to Chania for the day just for a lunch and dinner at these places)

Do not miss a visit in the open market of the city for fresh fruits,olives and vegetables and end your city walk with a greek coffee and a cheese pie -ask for the best 'mbougatsa'(...ask specifically your concierge who is making the best....mbougatsa in town...,he is known by generations of greek gourmets.
An other delicacy is 'loukoumades' or cretan donuts topped with pure honey and almonds.

Suggest before your trip to buy the english version of Athinorama. 100% reliable info Michelin guide like!

We stayed at the Creta Palace last year.
Very impressive lobby, but rooms could do with some refurbishment and additional sound insulation.

Nice beach. Good food but the regular restaurant (when you are in half board) is too crowded and service can be so-so.

Thanks again for your help. It sounds like we should not just stay in one location (ie., Chania) and move around each day. It may be better to stay in around 3-4 spots during the 7-9 day stay. Do you agree? Sheila, I still am looking for your previous post.

You may want to try the Grand Leonki web site www.leoniki.com

Byron

if you email me I'll send you copies.

We were in Crete last October for 6 days and stayed in Rethymnon. (Palazzo Rimondi, which was nice but we should have spent more $ for a better room.) It was a good base-city for day trips (Iraklion for Knossos & the museum, Chania, the Lake, Moni Prevali and Elafonisi).

We thought the most beautiful beach, hands down, was Elafonisi (if you can ignore the busloads of tourists, who leave around 2 pm).

I have spent a couple of hours at the beach near town in Chania. It's ok but nothing special. Locals use it and it can be fairly crowded with Greek kids. Elafonissos is by far the best beach. Only drawback is without a car you are stuck there for the day which is not a bad thing but limited services.
Mon Preveli is ok but I think it had fine pebble in places rather than sand and I don't recall being very impressed by it once you are on it. It is very beautiful to see from above but a long steep climb down from the bus. It is a Kodak moment. Falsarna when I was there had patches of tar that you had to be careful to not step in but it is a beautiful beach and less crowded. The beach at Paleohora was very nice and close to town but was quite busy. The beach I have not been to is Balos on the Gramvoussa peninsula and I have wondered if it is as nice as it looks in pictures. Pictures of the beaches can be seen on www.interkriti.org/
or www.c-v.net/crete/fly/index.html/