My fiancee and I will be spending 5 days of our honeymoon in Crete (remainder in Santorini and Athens). We'll be there in early October. Other than a day at the Palace in Knossos, we haven't made any other plans. We don't want to spend the rest of our time in Heraklion and doubt we'll want to hike the gorge. If the weather is suitable (anyone know the average temperature?), we'd like to spend some time at a nice, quiet beach. We're also thinking about picking a city west of Heraklion as a home base for day trips. <BR><BR>Suggestions? <BR>

Highly recommend Chania as a base for Crete. The Casa Delfino would be a lovely place to stay although it is in the old city. Weather in October will likely be lows in the 60's and highs in the 70's. Most beach hotels I believe close sometime in October so I do not know if one will be open when you go. <BR>Hope you enjoy yourselves!

Stay in Hania or Rethymnon, Iraklion is plain ugly, but those two are charming. You don´t need to stay in Iraklion to visit Knossos, just use busses or hire a car.<BR><BR>The museum in Iraklion is good, though. The southern beaches are quiet enough in October, because the tourist season is drawing towards the end. It is usually still warm, rhough. So, Elafonissi beach in the south-western corner is the best in Crete, but the surroundings are quite deserted. You could go to Paleohora, a small village on the south-western coast. Nice beach and nice little village.

Agree with above posters; having been there, I wouldn't bother to go east of Herakion. Western Crete is much nicer.

The best two bases would be the north coast towns of Chania and Rethymnon. Stay at the Casa Delfino or Veneto Suites, respectively. you can see the reviews and pics I've posted onthese places at <BR>www.i-escape.com/casadelfino.php<BR>www.i-escape.com/venetosuites.php<BR>and more info about the area also.<BR><BR>For beaches, most of the north coast is very developed, and rather ugly even in October when it is quiet. Your best bets on the south coast are:<BR>From Rethymnon - Plakias (palm trees and monastery) or Frangokastello (ruined castle, long sandy strip)<BR>From Chania - Elafonisi (as suggested above), or Falassarna / Balos in the far west near Kastelli (you would need to walk /boat to the latter), or Anidri(the most accessible of the 3, though the last 3km from Paleochora are a small dirt road which you are not really supposed to drive along, but it should be OK in Oct).<BR><BR>Drop me a line if you want more info, I know western Crete inside out.<BR>Kala stefana (happy wedding!)<BR>Michael<BR>

Hi and pardon my interruption, Jeff. (Maybe you'll graciously pretend to be interested in my question) Michael! Can you tell me which rural churches you consider to have the most beautiful Byzantine frescoes? Thanks, J.

I third the vote Chania and the Casa Delfino. Just make sure that your fiance does not accidentally shove the rental car keys instead of the hotel keys in his pocket as you leave for the evening to go out. We spent a lovely night from 2 am to 7 am wandering the streets of Chania half drunk until the hotel opened. They don't stay on site at night. We stayed in the big two story 'room' with a rooftop terrace. Incredible place, right in the middle of the old section of Chania so food and nightlife are steps away. It was quiet at night where the hotel is. Check it out on the net. <BR><BR>Also, I recommend asking around for directions to Falassarna Beach(I think that is how it is spelled. I think it is on a map. I have no idea whatsoever what kind of drive we were on, or how we found the beach. We weren't out looking for it. It is quite a ways from Chania, maybe an hour or so, but the scenery on the drive is great, beach is incredible, quiet, and beautiful. Nicest beach I have found on Crete. Also, go and visit Knossos earlier in the day. It won't take all day. It is a couple hour ride from Chania. But when you are done, instead of coming right back, go up for a ride into the hills. There is an incredible wine country on the island of Crete, and some nice villages. You will have more of a sense of the people and the real country. I have been to Crete three times now, and stayed in different places. Chania was the best of those three, but that isn't to say others may not have some good ideas. <BR><BR>And finally, there is the 'local' drink called Raki (aka Cretan fire water). Drink in moderation if you can, but what the heck...enjoy! <BR><BR>I have told my friends on many occasions if I was forced to live anywhere in the world, but had to pick one place, it would be Crete. Enjoy your five days. I'm envious!!

the weather in october is the best ,so is your timing.<BR><BR>my suggestion is to arrive with a morning flight or boat at heraklion,then rent a car and go direclty to visit knosssos,<BR><BR>then in the afternoon you will have the choice between rethymnon and chania<BR><BR>chania is an excellent choice.<BR><BR>as for the beaches:<BR>1/ frangokastello on the south shores wich allows you to cross the mountains and visit the rough cosatline of Sfakia.<BR><BR>2/ elafonissos (for a carribean style beach and even better) and fallasserna on the(west coast(the pink sandy beach like the one at the bahamas)<BR><BR>in chania casa delfino is an excellent choice as is the best western in the old harbour(cheaper/clean/nice service and excellent location)

A very nice place near from Heraklion is Agia Pelagia with nice and quite beach.<BR>Agia Pelagia is famous for its clean beaches and located on the north coast of the central Crete,just 20 minutes from the main Airport and it gives visitores the opportunity to travel all around Crete both to the west and to the east of Crete.Whatever it is you want,just mention it!Excursions,arheological sites and trips all around Crete.Just use Agia Pelagia as your base and leave the rest to your imagination.<BR>Visit : www.cretesunday.com<BR>

Paleochora is lovely, used to be a small sleepy fishing village with a large Pelican! From there you can get to Elafonisi (lovely lagoon) and also go dolphin watching (not sure in Oct tho, we were there in May.<BR>Have a fab time, the Cretans are lovely.

Hi Jeff,<BR>I would highly recommend Hania and Paleohora. I was there last November and absolutely love them. We had a lonely planet guide which claimed that a lot of places in Hania closed for the off-season and that Paleohora stayed open. This is not the case. We found most places in Hania to still be open at the end of November. However, most of the hotels in Paleohora are closed. <BR>That being said--we loved the fact that we were practically the only tourists in Paleohora. Very relaxing beach town! The view from the top of the old Venetian castle is incredible.

Paleochora is a lovely place to be in October. It's still warm enough to swim, and you could always do "Samaria the easy way"(grr). Take the boat from Palechora to Agia Roumeli, and walk the relatively short distance up to the Iron Gates, then walk back down again- takes maybe an hour?<BR><BR>Unless you hit the British school holidays you wouldn't even need to book anywhere. Plentiful varied accommodation

Just back from two weeks in Crete (one week in the East, near Malia, one week near Retyhmnon).<BR>Chania was very nice! but the eastern part near Aghios Nikolaos and Elounda with the Mirambello Bay deserves a visit/stay.