I am just starting to try & conceptualize a vacation for June 2004. I am thinking Greece, and maybe Crete. I would probably spend a few days in a "touristy" area and then would like to move out into a beautiful, sandy and unspoiled beach area. I have read about Falassarna and Elafonissi. Any recommendations for beaches? Budget hotels?

Is Falassarna the name of that island south of Ierapetra? If it is, that was quite empty at least 15 years ago. I donyt know about today. But then there was absolutely nothing. One taverna, and I remember its name because it was so appropriate: Nirvana.

Elafonissi is great, but certainly not a deserted beach. Crete is so popular destination that it is just about impossible to find empty beaches. Although in June you have a better chance than in August.

ttt

Unspoiled is as unspoiled does.

Elafonissi is pretty busy these days. Falassarna was fairly deserted last week.

If you camp, you'll find places on teh Rodopou peninsula and n Gramvousa.

Personally I love Paleochora and teh area west of there does OK. Nice beach at Grameno, which is pretty undeveloped.

A lot of teh south coast beaches are stoney, but you could have a look at Makriyialos, and Zakros and Palekastro.

Accommodation will not be a problem.

Forget Makriyialos if you want unspoilt. I was there a few years ago and they were hiring out sunbeds then, so I imagine it's got more developed now. Can't remember whether it was pebbles or sand.

We were in Makriyialos 2 years ago, and yes, there are some sunbeds, but not many and it's pretty quiet still.

The beach is sandy, if a bit pebbly.

Have a look at www.explorecrete.com for more info

Glad to hear that Makriyialos hasn't been totally ruined Sheila. We went there for a week on a cheap last minute package and were pleasantly surprised by it.

BTW, did you try that hotel phone number I gave you? I was a bit dubious about passing on a phone number without a name or location but, given the absence of other suggestions, I thought that as you were already in Greece it could be worth the cost of a local phone call to check it out. I'd be interested to find out where it is.

No, I'm embarassed to say that we didn't. I came to the conclusion that we had to do the journey eitehr last thing at night or first thing in the morning, so I opted for B) and stayed in town.