I received this query from a friend who knows I like to travel/ research travel.

However I don't know much about this area (other than a drunken trip to Crete as a teen many years ago) so would appreciate any input.

QUOTE
I'm contemplating taking a late September holiday. Thinking of Greece, possibly Naxos. But am a bit worried that the last week in Sept. may be pushing it weatherwise. Crete would be safer, but I'm paranoid we'll be stuck in a huge touristy resort with "nite" life!! We always make the most it wherever we go (tend to combine walking, hiring pedal bikes, a bit of beach and lots of looking round ruins, local features). We went to Kos last year (Kos Town yuk, but enjoyed trip to volcanic Nissyros and cycling down lanes to unspoilt, unserviced beaches). Crete also looks very mountainous, and whilst I say we enjoy walking, doing the Samarian Gorge (11 miles there, seems like 20 miles back) may be too far to be classified as fun. We're not too frightened of having to speak basic Greek if it means avoiding the truly commercial places, but I'm not keen on being so remote that we spend half the holiday getting to where we're staying. Palace of Knossos looks interesting ... but that means staying east, which is the most spoilt bit. Chania sounds more likely ....

Any suggestions?
END QUOTE

Thanks for your help
Kavey

Kavey, I'm sure Sheila will give you excellent advice on Crete. I am not knowledgeable about the island at all, having only gone to Heraklion, but do tell your friend not to miss the Palace of Knossos and the Museum in town. The ruins are so old, and yet there are beautiful, highly colored frescoes on the walls that look as if they could have been done just a few years ago. It was so interesting, and our guide did such a good job of telling us how the legend of the Minotaur got started--convinced me, anyway. We were told the Minoan water supply and disposal system was better than any until quite late in history. It was fascinating to me, and my daughter who loves archeological stuff was in heaven.

I like museums in small doses, but this one was quite wonderful. There are more lovely frescoes, jewelry, enormous pottery jars, exquisite items from this pre-Greek civilization. It really makes you think about how many times we have to relearn our lessons.

Well, as you can tell, I loved it!

Thanks so much, Carolyn!

I appreciate it - a personal opinion of a site can be so much more enjoyable to read (and sometimes more helpful too) than a guidebook entry.

Kavey, your friend is right about pushing it weather-wise on the Cycladic islands at the end of September. We were on Paros (right next to Naxos) at that time of year and it got windy and cool every day about 3pm, forcing us to leave the beach a lot earlier than we would have liked.

This was many years ago, so I don't know if it's still the case, but we also found that being at the very end of the tourist season, some restaurants were closed and the food selection in general was a lot more limited than in summer.

As for Crete, I would advise your friend to use Chania as a base and rent a car. Western Crete, in my opinion, is wonderful and not nearly as developed as eastern Crete. There are great beaches, small towns to explore, and lots of walks that are not as strenuous as the Gorge.

From Chania Knossos is do-able as a day trip, although it is easier if they spend 1-2 nights at either the beginning or end in Heraklion. I agree that the museum should not be missed as it has many of the original works taken from Knossos, including some of the best wall paintings.

In the Chania area, one of our favorite days was spent on the Akrotiri Peninsula walking down to the deserted monastery ruins at Governetsou (?sp).

Thank you! I'll pass all this back on!

Our one trip to Athens and then a 4-day Greek Isle cruise (Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Kusadasi and Patmos) was in October and the weather was lovely. We walked about comfortably evenings with no sweaters/jackets and daytime temps were very pleasant.

We too visited Knossos and the museum and enjoyed it, but Ephesus was the highlight of our trip in terms of visiting ancient cities. It is incredible. Of course, we are very interested in Roman history and visit ruins everywhere we go if available.

I loved the old walled city part of Rhodes and had my first Greek salad there, now a favorite in our house (not as good as there, but I try to duplicate). We visited the Archeological Museum, which I believe was a knight's hospital. It was very interesting and had a garden we walked through. I could tell you more about it, but I was so busy visiting with the shopkeeper where I bought my booklet I failed to notice it was in Italian instead of English. Didn't notice my mistake until I got back to the ship. My Italian isn't that great! I was asking him about the port entrance where the Collossus of Rhodes was said to stand (it's now two pillars with a deer atop each). He was so pleased I showed an interest he gave me a postcard with a picture of both the collossus and deer on it. Sadly I never did see the deer though I sure tried to figure out where they were.

I wore mostly cotton/linen pants, shirts, dresses and my husband likewise wore khakis, jeans and short sleeved shirts. Based on our experience I should think September weather would be as good if not better. Of course, mother nature does play tricks on us. I always take an umbrella and a wrap of some kind.

We generally travel in spring, but that October trip to Greece was one of our favorites.

Gionvanna, Did you book your cruise through an agency? I am just starting to do research into Greece and have noticed there is not a lot of info. on Greece (compared to places like Italy).

Did you have one day in each island? I am looking into going in late April. Any advice that you have would be appreciated, Thanks!

Kavey--I've been researching Crete like crazy for a trip the first half of Sept. We are like your friend, not interested in "nite life," and Chania as a base seems really exciting. If you look on a map, you'll see a walking path that runs along the coast, I've found numerous sites that have day hikes along there, as well as various villages that are supposed to be worth nosing around. We are flying into Chania from Athens and my only indecision is whether to fly out of Herkalion so we can spend a nice long day at Knossos. Hope that helps.

Thank you everyone - have been passing everything back on to her...

Your input is much appreciated...

Kavey

I think your friends could do to be even further off the beaten track than Chania.

I would suggest Paleochora, tho' my sisiter's just back from Plakias and said it was wonderful too. We've been in October and it wasn't pushing it one bit

Jennifer it has been about eight years since we made the trip. I believe we booked the whole trip through a tour company, but we were on our own. As best I recall it included transfers, hotel, half day city tour in Athens and the cruise. I'll try and find the name of the company and repost.

Sheila, we spent about 5 days in Plakias -- it was about 10 years ago, and Plakias already seemed well on its way to overdevelopment, discos, boutiques, etc. It's good to know that it's still a lovely place.

Jennifer: The company we used was Tourlite International, Inc., 551 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10176-1097. Reservations: 212-599-2727.

I have no idea if this is still accurate, as our trip was 8 years ago, but I promised the info I had and here it is.

Thank you Giovanna!

Thanks folks...

Hello. We were in Greece June 1 for 10 days this year. We went to Crete and loved it. We stayed outside of Chania, on the beach at Apladas. To our suprise it was very touristy, but in a fun way. A lot of German families taking their beach holiday there. Very inexpensive and delicious, fresh food.
Samaria Gorge is a must. You take the bus from Chania, walk the ten miles-very easy, all down, gorgeous scenary- then you end up at a cute little town at the sea, Ag Roumeli. You relax on the beach, eat a little, then take a ferry 2 stops, get your bus back to Chania. There are many tours that offer this for about 15- 25 Euros per person. We arranged it ourselves, it was more adventurous. A great place- Paleohora. Good rooms can be had there for 25 Euros, food dirt cheap, very nice beach, quiet and very Greek. Enjoy yourself.

Thank you all so much - I am passing each reply back to my friend so she can have a think and decide where and when to go.

Could those of you who have tooled around Crete answer this for me: how long a drive is it from Chania to Knossos? I am wondering if we should take one night off from our base in Chania to stay in Herkalion, go to the palace for the day and then fly back to the mainland from there. It would mean dropping the rental car in a different location from where we pick it up (Chania) but I'm not sure that's an issue. Any one have any thoughts?

jstockler, I think that's a good plan. I can't give you the exact driving time, but I think it would be a very long day to do the round trip drive and see the ruins, especially in hot weather.

Our car rental agency was a small local place in Plakias. When we requested dropping the car off in Heraklion, they sent someone up to the airport to meet us and pick up the car. No extra charge for this!

PS When we were there, about 10 years ago, you could ONLY fly in and out of Heraklion.

I answered some of these questions on a different thread . It had "Loutros" ion the title.