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Turn Your Holidays In Crete Into Your Best Break Ever
An experienced Greek traveler reveals his ideas on how to turn a usual packaged vacation into a truly enjoyable and memorable experience.
I must have been to Crete a hundred times; I go more frequently nowadays but I still haven’t managed to see even half of it.
It is a remarkable and complex combination of places, landscapes, people, customs, smells - what can I say? I have more than enough in me to share with others, and this is why I decided to write about it.
All I ask you is to keep an open mind, get a fully insured car, and decide to expand your eating and drinking habits (after all you will be visiting the World’s capital of what is known as ‘Mediterranean Diet’).
Firstly, think seriously before packing your bags: do you deserve a good holiday? If yes, then: one, switch off your blackberry; two, don’t sit next to a hotels swimming pool for two weeks pretending you are enjoying yourself with a drink in one hand and a paperback on the other. You didn’t work hard for a year to deserve just this.
After landing, unpacking and taking a good sleep, prepare to expose yourself to the place and get the most out of it. Remember: you are safe, locals can help you anytime, thieves are practically non-existent, and you are an arm’s length away from an English speaker.
Hit the road with your family on a daily basis leaving around 9am; make every day an excursion somewhere on the island, no matter where your location. Your hotel is for breakfast and sleep, for at least one week of your stay.
I recommend places like Vai in Sitia, Agia Fotia in Ierapetra, Ledas outside Heraklion, Falasserna outside Chania, Fodele and Panormo which are both close to Rethymno, and Skala village in Elounda. They all have beaches so take your umbrella, towels suntan lotions and plenty of water with you on every journey. Sunbathing on a beach is more effective than swimming pools: you get a glorious tan to keep for months to come. To be on the safe side, ask for the existence of jelly fish and wear plastic shoes when you walk inside the sea.
For those who look for places truly untouched by tourism, I will recommend the beach of Xerokambos near Zakros, located in the South East of Crete. If you wish to see miles of golden sand, layered with white flowers, this is the place.
The other way of doing excursions is to join a safari group; ask your hotel for details. You will have a wonderful time, and you will be in a safer, more controlled environment with people guiding you, and people from your own group joining you. You will still see lots of places off the beaten track, and keep it all on a daily excursion mode.
You should eat at the local tavernas; aim for the one that attracts most of the crowd. Open yourself to local food: try Dakos (wet rusk) small dolmadakia, fresh fish, oven food (like stuffed tomatoes and peppers), local pastries, and meat on the barbeque. Always have a salad on your table; ask for the local specialty. And always try the local sweets with honey and white sugar.
Except excursions, try and mix with the locals getting the most out of your journey. The unbeatable way of doing this is by sneaking into a local wedding; the best weddings take place on Saturdays at nearby villages. If you don’t manage to get invited, just head for one uninvited in one evening of your first days, leaving it to pot luck. People will invite you on the spot, and it will be a unique opportunity to get acquainted, eat fantastic wedding food and get lots of tips for your stay. If you have thoughts about a more permanent stay, it will be good for you to start making contacts anyway; in Crete people are very social and you will soon discover the snowball effect that this will have on you.
Keep the last couple of days to ease off; it’s time for swimming pool rest with plenty of reading, drinking and socializing with people from your group. Try to compare your experiences with theirs and see what difference this will make. I can definitely guarantee you that when you go back home you will talk about your holiday for the rest of the year. And maybe think of coming to stay in Crete for longer periods of time.
I still haven’t managed to see even half of Crete-it is a remarkable and complex combination of places, landscapes, people, customs, smells ‘ what can I say? I have suggestions in my mind to pass on to others, and this is why I decided to write about it. All I ask from you is to keep an open mind, get a fully insured car, and decide to expand your eating and drinking habits (after all you will be visiting the World’s capital of what is known as ‘Mediterranean Diet’).
Firstly, think seriously before packing your bags: do you deserve a good holiday? If yes, then: one, switch off your blackberry; two, avoid sitting next to the pool for two weeks pretending you are having fun, with a drink in one hand and a paperback on the other. You didn’t work hard for a year to deserve just this.
After landing, unpacking and taking a good sleep, prepare to expose yourself to the place and get the most out of it. Remember: you are safe, locals can help you anytime, thieves are practically non-existent, and you are an arm’s length away from an English speaker.
Try to begin your daily journey at about 9am; make an excursion everyday somewhere near or far, no matter where your hotel is. Your hotel is for breakfast and sleep, for at least one week of your stay.
I recommend places like Vai in Sitia, Agia Fotia in Ierapetra, Ledas outside Heraklion, Falasserna outside Chania, Fodele and Panormo which are both close to Rethymno, and Skala village in Elounda. They all have beaches so take your umbrella, towels suntan lotions and plenty of water with you on every journey. Sunbathing on a beach is more effective than swimming pools: you get a glorious tan to keep for months to come. To be on the safe side, ask for the existence of jelly fish and wear plastic shoes when you walk inside the sea.
The other way of doing excursions is to join a safari group; ask your hotel for details. You will have a wonderful time, and you will be in a safer, more controlled environment with people guiding you, and people from your own group joining you. You will still see lots of places off the beaten track, and keep it all on a daily excursion mode.
You should eat at the local tavernas; aim for the one that attracts most of the crowd. Open yourself to local food: try Dakos (wet rusk) small dolmadakia, fresh fish, oven food (like stuffed tomatoes and peppers), local pastries, and meat on the barbeque. Always pick up a vegetable salad; ask for the local specialty. Don’t forget to have a go at the local sweets, made with cheese, honey and powder sugar.
Except excursions, try and mix with the locals getting the most out of your journey. The unbeatable way of doing this is by sneaking into a local wedding; the best weddings take place on Saturdays at nearby villages. If you don’t manage to get invited, just head for one uninvited in one evening of your first days, leaving it to pot luck. People will invite you on the spot, and it will be a unique opportunity to get acquainted, eat fantastic wedding food and get lots of tips for your stay. If you have thoughts about a more permanent stay, it will be good for you to start making contacts anyway; in Crete people are very social and you will soon discover the snowball effect that this will have on you.
Keep the last couple of days to ease off; it’s time to rest next to the swimming pool with plenty of reading, drinking and socializing with other people. Try to compare your experiences with theirs and see what difference this will make. I can definitely guarantee you that when you go back home you will talk about your holiday for the rest of the year. And maybe think of coming to stay in Crete for longer periods of time.