Looking for Hotel suggestions for Crete 3 nights in October. Also should I rent a car and who might be the best place to rent a car from?

Where are you planning to stay? What kind of things do you want to see an do? The need for a car is totally determined by what you want to do. The bus system is good and can get you to just about anywhere except the most remote villages.

What is your price range?

Some more information would be helpful.

I don't know yet where I will be staying, hence the reason for the original post was for some suggestions. As far as what I want to do. I want to see as much of Crete as possible and I was told the best way for that was to rent a car. As far as price range, well, that depends. I would prefer the cheapest automatic car if possible which I know will more than a stick shift vehicle but that is OK. There will only be 2 of us.

Still looking for suggestions for a Hotel on Crete........anyone.....

Creta Maris Hotel would be fine. I' ve stayed there around 3 years ago and I was satisfied. It is located in the town of Hersonisos, close to Heraklion, the biggest city of Crete (closer to the east side of the island). The good thing is you are close to a city (Hersonisos - walking distance) and close to the main archaeological attraction of Crete, the prehistoric city of Knossos. Nevertheless, Chania is the most beautiful city of Crete (west part of the island) and, as long as you are going to rent a car, you might want to visit it (approx 2 hours driving). As for renting a car, in Hersonisos there are a lot of agents, I think it is not necessary to reserve earlier. Hope it helps.

Thanks, I was hoping someone would say it wasn't really necessary to pre-book the car rental. I'm just wondering if it will be an automatic or a manual? Hmm....

You have to specify automatic or manual when you book the car rental. We booked a convertible (manual) on Santorini for one day and the cost was about 75USD. Automatics are considerably more expensive than manuals, unfortunately...and usually larger, too!

Thanks beanweb...when did you go to
Santorini? I will be on Crete in October so I was hoping rates would drop by then. Also less traffic

I was in Santorini at the end of April and the beginning of May...if I remember correctly, we were in the low season for car rental rates (and, luckily for us, hotel rooms!).

I hope you'll post a trip report after you return. We're in the beginning stages of planning a weeklong trip to Crete next April! So far we're thinking of Chania and we can't decide whether to stay the whole week there or in another Cretan town. Our current top contender for a hotel is Palazzo di Pietro...looks really charming.

Areala and Beanweb,
We'll be staying at Palazzo di Pietro this October...Tripadvisor posts say that the place is charming and that the owners are very nice. We got a very good rate for a car through autoeurope (much cheaper than their rate for Sicily last October).. we only require a stick shift. We've used Autoeurope for years now and are very happy with them!
Happy planning! Lisa

lisabelina,
I too have used autoeurope for years with great success. This is my first trip where I am not booking everything in advance. The only thing booked besides the airfare thus far is our hotel in Athens for our arrival and the next night. After that we head off to the islands and because I have heard so much through this board and other boards that weather can effect ferry runnings and such I just don't think I need to lock in on hotels and car rentals then possibly get stuck changing things as I go. I figure I should have a pretty good idea of weather the day before and I will have my laptop any my netkey card so I can just go online the day before and book it or have my present hotel call ahead for me. It was just the car thing that is bothering me because I really do want an automatic. I guess I can make do with a stick shift but I am hoping to avoid that if possible but I am beginning to think that is not a possiblity. Oh well....this too shall pass.......