Hi - I'm looking into some info on Crete for friends. But I am finding it so confusing! Where would you suggest that a honeymoon couple stay with a beautiful beach in close proximity to a town with some nightlife - doesn't have to be nightclubs/discos, just somewhere that is exciting? Would you suggest visiting two different spots? They were thinking about visiting for 5 days. Is that sufficient?

All your help and opinions are appreciated greatly!!

The beaches are along the southern shores of the island.

Crete is an easy place to get around by car. None of the places are very far from each other. Obviously, a visit to the ruins in Heraklion are a must. But even those can be visited on a day trip from the southern beaches.

I have not been in Crete for a while so I cannot recommend a particular town or hotel.

5 days are fine.

Actually the whole island is surrounded by beaches.

If it were me (actually, if it were me, this is not what I would be doing, but...) I'd go for Elounda. It's on Mirabella Bay in the East of the island.

It has some of the classier hotels and lovely views.

Here's an OK article about it with links to more photos

subjects known as Bridgeview, Market Street/ North Esplanade West, Aberdeen, more fully described in the Lease (“the Subjects”

Crete is a large island, so you're not going to see it all in 5 days but I'd recommend staying in one spot and hiring a car. There are wonderful beaches all over the island.

I'd recommend staying near Chania, for wonderful romantic meals at harbourside restaurants watching the sunset. I've not stayed in the Minoa Palace personally but a good friend highly recommended it:

http://www.minoapalace-chania.gr/

topping...

I'd stay near Chania for a more pure Cretan experience; there are lovely beaches to the west of Chania. Elounda would not be my choice, although there are certainly wonderful resorts there.