Hi All,
We decided to extend our Greece trip in September and travel from Lesvos to stay on Crete for 5 days. We will be flying into Chania and flying out of Heraklion. I've done a lot of searching on the internet and think I've decided on 2 places to stay: Ammos Hotel in Chania for 2 days and Nymphes Apartments in Agia Pelagia for 3. I've seen good reviews of Ammos Hotel here on fodors, and really nice reviews of Nymphes Apartments elsewhere on the internet (although it's barely mentioned on Fodors.com). However, I don't think that I want to rent a car on Crete. I've seen a lot of posts saying that it's a must-do thing, but I will have just spent a week driving on Lesvos, and was hoping that we could just go by bus or train on Crete. I can probably be persuaded to drive if it's really necessary, but given the choice I'd rather not if it's doable to still get around. I see on the Ammos Hotel website that buses come by every 15 min. I was wondering for anyone who has stayed at Nymphes Apartments whether it would be fine to stay there without a car. I can't tell from the location. I also welcome any comments on the hotels themselves, and any other comments people might have on Crete, our itinerary, etc. Thanks a lot.

In Chania there is enough to do if you don't have a car. I believe that Agia Pelagia is fairly remote and if you wanted to travel to Iraklio to the museum or Knossos to the ruins a car would be helpful. However, if you are going for the beach your carless plans are fine.

We recently spent 4 days in Crete and found that having a car to go anywhere we could anytime we want to be a great convenience, especially for traveling into the interior. Since you will be in Crete in September, you should have no problem waiting until you arrive to get a lay of the land to determine whether renting a car is necesary. There are plenty of auto rental agencies and most will bring the car to your hotel and allow you to drop off the car at a different location or the airport at the end of the rental term, at no charge.

You would certainly find taking the train on Crete to be a challenge

However the service buses are excellent and cheap. There are also masses of excursions to Knossos if that's what you want

You'll get very frustrated without a car, tho'. You'll keep looking at those great mountains and thinking...what if?

On the other hand you'll pick up a rental dead easy if you want one.

Thanks for the responses! I'll take the advice given and see how I feel about renting a car once I arrive and can actually see things.
Does anyone have any first-hand advice re: Nymphes Apartments and the Agia Pelagia area? I saw the message that the area is rather remote. Does anyone know whether there is anything around it at all, or whether one must take the bus to be around anything other than the hotel? -Thanks

It's not n area I know, but you'll find a bunch of experts of the message board at www.explorecrete.com

The Nymphes Apts are about 3 km from Agia Pelagia and the Beach (that's just under 2 miles), so whether you consider that to be too remote depends on your walking skills. Even in September it will most likely be warm, so when you consider the distance, think about walking in pretty warm weather, also from the beach to the Nymphes is uphill. It is about 20 km give or take a few km to the airport or to downtown Iraklion. On Crete, I'm far happier with a car because there is so much to see there outside the main towns. If you are, for example, at the Nymphes without a car, I suspect you would spend most of your time in the complex there, or on activities organized by the hotel. This is the most comfortable way to travel for many people. I prefer getting away from a hotel and it's organized activities and exploring a place on my own, so for me, a car is essential.
If what you want to do on Crete is see Knossos, you will want to stay on the Iraklion side of the island. I prefer the western side of the island though -- communites like Chania are much more "charming" that the more modern, busier, cement box city of Iraklion. But Knossos is definitely worth seeing if you haven't been there. If you go, be sure to hire one of the guides that you will see at the gate. Since the site is ruins, it really helps to have someone who is able to tell you what the various buildings were used for, and to point out interesting features. You will get much more out of it by using a guide, no matter how good of a guidebook you have.
Good luck, and have a wonderful trip!

Thanks so much for the info.
Sheila, now I see what you were referring to re: the "train" in Crete. Of course, there's no train! Sorry, I'm also planning a trip to Sicily right now and everything's starting to get confused and mushed together!
Everyone is saying I should rent a car! Hmmm. I'm just such a 'fraidy-cat when it comes to driving in Europe, not that I've done it, but I've just watched it, which feels like enough! I've driven on the coastal roads of Kauai as well as Hwy 1 in Northern California, so maybe I can do this too. It probably won't seem so daunting once I see it, it's just that all I can see in my head when I think of European driving is a jam of cars in Rome paying no attention to the traffic signals (saw this when I was a teenager, and the memory still sticks with me!) and speeding drivers in Vienna telling each other off!

I would not drive in Rome. I would not even drive in Athens, a city where I have spent an awful lot of time. Driving in Crete (and on Lesvos) is very easy. If you can drive on Hwy 1, Crete will be a breeze.

I agree with Elini. Although I read on several boards that Cretins were crazy drivers, I found driving around Crete to be as safe as stateside. We rented a convertable. It was very enjoyable.

We also found driving on Crete to be really easy. The most difficult thing is reading some of the road signs. But getting lost is a lovely experience in itself and may lead to any number of charming discoveries.

If you just want to swim and relax, you might as well just stay in a resort anywhere. But if you don't get a car, you will miss the real heart and personality of the island.

(Sheila, thanks for the chuckle.)

Ok, I'm convinced. We're going to stay in Chania without a car (that should be fine, right?) for 2 days, and then rent a car and head over to the Agia Pelagia area, and wherever else we end up! Thanks a lot, everyone, for your help. I really appreciate it.

Sounds like a good plan! You may find a discount if you reserve your rental car ahead of time.

Yes it sounds good, but I agree with greecube that you should make arrangements for a car in advance or you are likely to pay more. We've gotten good rates from autoeurope.com, but I'm sure there are other discount auto rental places around.