molyneux

My husband and I are meeting our daughter in Istanbul at the end of May, spending a few days in Istanbul and then thinking of heading to Greece for 1 week. Where should we go? We are considering a few nights in Athens (for my husband is a history buff) and then to Crete. My daughter is 21years old so we don't want anything too remote but also don't want a busy cosmopolitan city or too touristy island. Nice restaurants, some cycling, relaxation is the goal. thoughts?

brotherleelove2004

Suggestions might depend on which airport you have to use for your return flight home.

If it's Athens I suggest you fly to Chania on the west end of Crete. A return to Athens will be easily accomplished on several flights each day.

If it's Istanbul you can fly south to Bodrum and take a short ferry across to Kos or Rhodes, then return to Bodrum for your flight back to IST.

molyneux

Thanks brotherleelove2004. My daughter flys back to Istanbul from Greece and and we fly back to Canada. it would be great to fly into Istanbul and fly out of Athens for us. the most important thing is to find the right island for us.

mariha2912

Kos is one of the very few places in Greece where there is a bicycle lanes network if by cycling you mean the pedal one.

travelerjan

For Crete I would second the idea of Chania ... you could stay in Old Town or there's a great place just about 15 minutes outside of Old town that's right on a beautiful beach,also has a pool, and the landward side is a bus stop straight to chania town. Name: Ammos: just 30 rooms.. best of both worlds. Or if u want to stay in Old town, look at Hotel Palazzo on Theotokopoulu st... a no-cars lane right by the sea. If your daughter wants some clubbing, there are plenty of clubs w. good music, & her age cohort of greeks, after 11 pm on weekends, just a few hundred yards east of the Old Harbor .. Get to Apostolis II (seafood place) on E. end of Harbor, then keep walking till she hears sounds she likes.

molyneux

thanks for the suggestion about the recommendations. can I assume clubbing and being alone is safe if she takes the bus?
will look into KOS as we do like cycling...with the pedals.
sue

travelerjan

Yes, unless she decides to overdo! After all, she IS 21, mom! And there are always taxis at €4 or 5 in town, €10 to Ammos.

molyneux

ok, ok...cant help myself. She's living in Istanbul alone so it's a dumb question. I'm having a hard time landing on Greece. Never been but need some activity and feel like it's largish city in Chania which isn't what I want. need some activity like cycling and hanging at a café.

brotherleelove2004

If Chania's too large for you stay at one of the beaches west of town where it's a lot less hectic.

travelerjan

I have never been in Turkey, don't particularly want to go, because of the way men treat women in Muslim countries, unless they cover up ... your daughter will not have a problem in Greece.

BTW, Chania New Town is a large city, Chania Old town has immense charm, and does not feel "largish", almost no buildings more than 3 stories ... right on the sea... Greeks live there and go about their business And there are a blue million cafes where you can hang ... wander down a quiet street, and all the people sitting at the cafes will be Greek. We had dinner in a back lane at ONEIRO DROMIO (Street of Dreams) when we sat down at 9:30 only 2 others there, when we left at 12, it was PACKED. We were the only non-greeks. Seek out new things...

As for activity, why not do some googling, do your own online research if you do not want to invest $10 in a guidebook, how costly!!... have you tried googling Walks & Activities in West Crete??? Here are a few links:
Daily walks -- http://www.happywalker.com/pages/home_e.php
Chania Old Town Walks - http://www.chania-oldtown-walks.gr/
http://www.west-crete.com/walking_hi...rete-walks.htm
Cycling: http://cretansportscycling.gr/
Top 30 things to do in Chania Top 30 things to do in Chania Town, Greece: Chania Town Attractions – Find what to do today, this weekend, or in April - TripAdvisor
CHANIA CITY TOUR - http://www.diktynna-travel.gr/Catego.../index.en.html
Crete bus excursions: http://www.rethymnoatcrete.com/tours.htm

-- and here is a website of the BEST links about West Crete -- a treasure trove if you wan to do some of your own research instead of us telling you everything: http://www.west-crete.com/crete-links.htm

independent travel is a voyage of discovery, but it is you that must launch out into the unknown ... I've traveled to Greece 12x, always researched the heck out of it, then went off & made my discoveries.

travelerjan

Here's an album of Chania views . https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7917828/page1/

And here are some webcams of West Crete: http://www.chaniaweb.com/index.php/webcams

dogknowsapp

Well said!! Chania old town is a charming place, safe, buzzling with life. West Crete has wonderful beaches and the mountains are offered for excursions. Between Chania and Rethimno,you can find Argiroupoli, a place with beautiful nature and water springs. Nearby, you can find Lake Kourna, where you can actually swim. (http://bit.ly/1T38Lql)

molyneux

travelerjan, dogknowsapp ....THANK YOU! I'm packed with great info about Crete. I'm excited to take my daughter and husband. I really hope 7 days is enough there.