Crete Itinerary help needed- Rethymno, Sitia, or Agios Nikolaos? Hora Sfakion?
 

My husband and I are planning a Crete trip at the end of August into early Sept. for 10 nights.
We are in our 50's, love exploring, beach, excellent authentic food (foodies), charming towns, beautiful natural scenery, some energy (but no interest in clubs), a little shopping.
Hoping to avoid places that are too touristy - have menus in every language, hear English more than Greek, etc.
We're starting the trip in Chania and trying to decide where to base from there.
Considering:
Chania - 4 nights
Loutro- 1 night - but looks like hotel not available so may need to overnight in Hora Sfakion - in that case should we skip altogether since we would only be able to see Loutro at it's most crowded or is Hora Sfakion worth the stay?
Rethymo - 2 nights
Sitia or Agios Nikoloa - 3 nights - does anyone have personal experience at both for a comparison or which they like better?

TIA!

I preferred Chania to Rethymno, though I was glad to spend a bit of time in each.

Why just Loutro or Chora Sfakio?
There are so many (IMO) nicer places among the same ferry line. Frangokastello isn't bad neither.
Sitia is less touristy than Agios Nikolaos has it's own sandy beach and is the starting point for the beaches of Vai, Palekastro, Kato Zakros (antique site), Xerokambnos........
Direct flights and ferries from Sitia to Athens resp Piraeus.

Thanks Kja & Neckervd.
Neckervd, I was asking if I should skip Loutro/Chora Sfakio altogether. Is that what you meant or do you mean why just one or the other and not both?
Do you think Sitia is too quiet vs Agios?

The whole Sfakia is rather "quiet", except Paleochora which is the touristic center of the whole area.
Sitia is a Greek town with some 10,000 inhabitants, not a tourist trap. But it's far away from Southwestern Crete.
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/cit...ete/sitia-city