Crete town advice
 

We are staying 6 days in Crete in May 2006. From researching the internet and this board, I have decided to stay 3 days in Chania. We will be renting a car. I am having a very difficult time picking another “town” for the remaining 3 days. We like quaint, old-style, near the water. Can anyone recommend a town on the opposite end of the island (southeast). There are so many places to stay too. I am looking for a double under 50 Euro preferably centrally located with some view. I don’t want to “play it by ear” even though it is the slow time. We did that in the Tuscany area on our trip to Italy and honestly, it is too time consuming. I rather research now and just enjoy while there. Thank you all you lovely travelors.

Palekastro or Makriyialos

Ierapetra is the only significant town in the south east of Crete, this is a working town. In the northeast is Ag. Nikolaos, a tourist town and Sitia another working town. None of these are 'quaint' or have very old centres (now tourist traps) such as in Chania or Rethymnon.

Thank you both. I will research them.

We stayed two nights in Iraklion in order to have a full day at Knossos and the Archeological Museum. The town is a living town, not super touristy which we found to be a really nice change after Santorini. One warning though - the town is directly under the flight path of the airplanes going to Athens so it can be a bit noisy in the evening and morning.

Iraklion can by no stretch of the imagination be described as quaint. Nor is it in the south east.

Akin, you may find some useful stuff on explorecrete.com

Sheila, thanks for the URL. I also found this Internet site on Crete,
http://www.interkriti.gr/fly/index.html

It is FANTASTIC and I will use both. Thanks again.

We found Iraklion to be quite fun--we had a hotel with a lovely view of the wharf and old fort area, the most incredible breakfast of our trip (Hotel Marin), had a great dinner in an ouzeria on the waterfront (it had clear sheeting protection), loved the market with great veggie and fruit vendors and fish mongers. And I got some great photos of old buildings with interesting features during our walk. While it is not quaint, it is very much a living city with much to recommend.

Take care,
Robyn France

Well, I love this board so much. After extensive research and reading previous messages, especially from Brotherleelove2004, I have decided that Agia Galini will be our second town after Chania. Thanks to all.

No don't bother with Ag Galini it not quaint at all. A classic tourist trap.

It's your holiday, so you must do what you thnk, but Agia Galini is not quaint or old style and it's not on the south east.

If you're going to go south rather than south east, look at Frangokatello or Plakias instead

Wow, thanks, Sheila and Retsina! I can’t believe how difficult this is without seeing these places. I thought I had hit a perfect second point. I just want to be able to go back to the same room at night after our exploring day. Maybe I am being too picky. Chania seems so perfect. Good thing I have not reserved any room or studio yet. I will check into the suggestions you both have given me. We are spending a week following our week in Crete in Santorini. I have told my husband that Santorini is now, basically, a tourist island. I was there 26 years ago when it wasn’t. He is a photographer and just wants to take pictures while we are there. So, in Crete, I am looking for a place that will fill both our vacation needs – great shots for him and interesting interactions with locals with a pretty setting for me. I like to learn enough of the local language to chat. It worked beautifully in Italy. I mingled with the locals while my husband did his thing. Sorry for all the rambling, but it helps to know a person’s interest to give good suggestions. That is why I say “quaint” and “near the water” so I can do my thing.