CRETE or Corfu - any recommendations

Cat72

HI
Can anyone recommend a nice area to stay in crete or corfu ? Crete seems quite dear to get to from scotland. I dont want to stay anywhere were there is clubbing but want somewhere nice , friendly , picturesque and with a reasonable amount to do.Also somewhere were you can walk around at night ok but has good links to other places.

jaymac_2

Don't go to Malia, Stalis or Hersonissos! The season in Crete is nearly over - or are you looking for next year?

Weymouth_Man

jaymac wrote:

Don't go to Malia, Stalis or Hersonissos! The season in Crete is nearly over - or are you looking for next year?

We went to Stalis AWAY from Malia noise, have a look at thomson 'Small & friendly' book, available from travel agents.

Great value if you haggle !!!! :cool: Look at the Moonlight Hotel

Small hotel, but family run, we thought it was great in May this year. :beer:

simonne15_2

Many years of going to Corfu..... we love it - but certainly now places to avoid are: Kavos, Benitses, Perama, Messonghi, some would also include Sidari and Kassiopi these days spoiled by the night-noise, similarly even once-lovely Glyfada had horrendous disco blasting out across whole beach in the afternmoon last time we were there!
Roda is still quite nice but remote at north of the island. Also Aghios Stefanos and Agni in the north-west but difficult to reach without your own transport which tends to be why they're relatively unspoiled!

Best suggestion is stay in Corfu town- tho not many tour operators have accommodation there- they send everyone out to resorts.The NTOGreece tourist office will suggest places to stay.
In resorts you are relatively trapped from getting about unless you hire a vehicle because all the public bus routes radiate from corfu town and you have to wait until they reach you - typically not until lunchtime, then you have to go to the town to get out to anywhere else and your day's gone travelling!
Advantages of staying(sleeping) in town are many - you can get cheap public buses out to all parts of the island i.e. different trip each day if you wish and get back to the town with lively tavernas,tiny authentic non-tourist bars in picturesque back-streets, the Art cafe near the new Fort, frequented by locals and a 'disco stretch' if you want it etc in the evening all in safe walking streets.
Also you can go across to the nearest island (sorry forgotten it's name) where the townsfolk swim and sunbathe- 10mins by boat - v. cheap trip from the old port -and use beaches there if it gets too hot during the day; there's also a good restaurant there with idyllic setting looking back at the lights of Corfu town during the evening. (Can't you tell I'm homesick for the place!)
Last week in October is the last week of the season in resorts so they will be pretty dead after that; you're far better off in the town.
Good Luck

Rikki

The airport on the island of Corfu closes this month until April. I hope you are looking for ideas for next year.

Cat72

Hi yes thanks it is for next summer. Have been looking at Crete today and AGIOS Nikolas looks nice as does Rethymnon- anyone have any opinions of the two. Brochures are soo decieving!

lozkate

We have stayed 4 times in a small village called Istron in Crete about 10 mins by bus from Agios Nikolios and we loved it. We first stayed at the Elpida hotel in Kalo Choro which we could only find in the Thompson brochure, and on the first night we went to a Taverna which was suberb - the family looked after us so well and made us feel like part of their family. Since then we always stay in their apartments as does everybody else, most people who go go back year after year, we also saved about £400. The evenings are spent with a Greek phrase book trying to communicate, not that it is necessary as everyone speaks English but the apartments are part of the village so staying you join the community, there are a couple of bars, tavernas and supermarkets and two fantastic quiet beaches. Ag Nik is really close and a lovely place to visit although the beches arent that big and the area is quite steep with lots of hills, but the place has loads of restaurants etc.
I have tried to find the Kavousanos appartments website but can only get it on a Dutch site but if you want further info please let me know. We love it and wouldnt go near Malia!

Kate

lozkate

I found a link under https://www.crete.holidays.net but the site under Advised winter accomodation. Hope it helps.

Kate

emma_b_4

rethymnon is very continental.. ie full of germans!! we went two yrs ago, it was ok, not fab, our hotel was about 45min walk into rethymnon, even tho brochure said 5!! beach was abit like a building site but closer to reth, nicer it gets. its set around a fishing harbour,, were they haggle you and its expensive to eat but very nice!!

we went to corfu last yr to stgeorge in the sounth which is quite a small but ver nice little place..best holiday weve had in greece. some nighlife but not nighclubs and they have to turn ther music down at midnight. there wer trips to do, but in the place it was just lazy days on each or pool. again, our hotle was a walk inot stgoerge but we did go to a nice hotel that had good location, i will ask OH what name was when he gets in

just got backl from turkey and we loved it we went to altinkum £259 pp for 2weeks BB 3*

Dude

this website will give you reviews of hotels and will search the net for the cheapest prices http://www.tripadvisor.com/

Weymouth_Man

Dude wrote:

this website will give you reviews of hotels and will search the net for the cheapest prices http://www.tripadvisor.com/

Also worth looking at to check out holiday's B4 booking :beer:
http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk/