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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Crete for Easter!

33 replies

AlpacaLypse · 22/03/2014 10:59

Hi, we've done it, booked ridiculously cheap flights to Kandia, Crete, for the second week of April.

Anyone been there so early in the season? What clothing should we pack? Any point in bothering with bikinis?

Also any recommendations for cheap hotel/apartment? It's me, DH and our 15 year old twin daughters.

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Original poster

AlpacaLypse · 22/03/2014 11:31

Hopeful bump?

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BuzzardBird · 22/03/2014 11:34

You need to do a bit of tripadvisor I think? I find it very good for finding good accomodation and you can see weather expectations by reading reviews of people that visited at the same time.

Original poster

AlpacaLypse · 22/03/2014 11:42

I'm on Trip Advisor at the moment but thought it worth a MN thread as well.

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specialsubject · 22/03/2014 12:00

this looks like Agios Nikolaos - where there is no beach. You might want to find somewhere else. Which airport are you going to?

weather average appears to be 17 to 20 C.Strong sun of course, a long way south.

yourlittlesecret · 22/03/2014 12:52

Might be a bit quiet at Easter, especially for teens? I don't think the season really starts until May, hence cheapness.

Original poster

AlpacaLypse · 22/03/2014 13:12

Kandia.

Hoping to do rather more sightseeing than beaching, Knossos better be open is all I can say... Rough Guide book seems to indicate that it should be.

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yourlittlesecret · 22/03/2014 13:17

Knossos is definitely better in cooler weather, I went in July and it was too hot for sightseeing.

ruby1234 · 22/03/2014 13:17

Not sure Knossos will be that interesting to 15 year old girls....

You could hike down/up the Samaria Gorge, lovely walk, in the summer season you can get a boat back rom the beach.

There is a small beach at AgNik called (something like) anouda, right along the seafront away from the town centre.

You could get the boat trip to Spinalonga Island, that is an interesting trip, but again not sure if it runs all year round.

Heraklion is a nice place, plenty of shops and bars and a nice harbour.

NigellasDealer · 22/03/2014 13:25

i have been in Crete at Easter although as I am sure you know, Greek Easter is a little later than ours.
i think this 'candia' place is near Aghios Nikolaos right?
the sea there is filthy btw, my daughter got an horrendous ear infection and trust me you do not want to deal with the hospital at Aghios.
I would pack light clothes proper shoes and fleeces.
a trip to Spinalonga might be good. other than that some of the old villages in the interior and Gournia might be interesting, or a trip to Ierapetra the southernmost town in Europe (next stop Libya).

NigellasDealer · 22/03/2014 13:26

or take a bus to Sitia but remember the sick bags.

Original poster

AlpacaLypse · 22/03/2014 13:33

Why do I keep writing Kandia? Probably too much study of medieval history - it's Chania now. A bit like calling Istanbul Byzantium

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NigellasDealer · 22/03/2014 13:38

oh Chania, that is a bit nice than Ag. Nik tbh.
there is a lovely old harbour with cafes, restaurants etc.
you could hire a car and drive down to Paleochora on the south coast, there is a lovely gorge walk there that you cannot do later in the year, not the samarian gorge but a smaller one.
i was there at Greek Easter on the campsite, pre-kids, it was wild, there were crazed mountain men firing off guns etc.
ahh happy days...

NigellasDealer · 22/03/2014 13:39

i think there are some nice beaches close to Chania but it will be cold and is filthy there too these days sadly

yourlittlesecret · 22/03/2014 13:43

Ah Chania, that is at the other side of the island to AgNic.
If you plan to do Spinalonga, which is a bit touristy but well worth it, make sure to read Victoria Hislop's "The Island" before you go.

NigellasDealer · 22/03/2014 13:44

why would she visit spinalonga if she is going to chania?

yourlittlesecret · 22/03/2014 13:59

The OP said Hoping to do rather more sightseeing than beaching,

Perhaps hire a car?

Original poster

AlpacaLypse · 22/03/2014 14:02

Thanks everyone so far! Nigella that gorge walk sounds good - as far as I can make out, Samaria doesn't open until May, and in any case I don't think DP would like it - at least, he'd do it, but not enjoy it. My own fault for choosing to love an older man really.

I'm telling the girls it's going to be a bit like Cornwall at Easter weather-wise, and secretly hoping that it's a bit warmer.

I'm thinking of taking the wetsuits over for snorkelling purposes - is the sea filthy all the way round or just by busy town sewage outfalls?

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Original poster

AlpacaLypse · 22/03/2014 14:03

And yes, will be hiring a car. The next thing to research on Trip Advisor after accommodation

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NigellasDealer · 22/03/2014 14:08

the Anidri gorge that was it!
kind of demanding but not too strenuous if you know what i mean.
and it was at the top of that gorge where i found all the empty shell cases
IMO the sea is dirty all the way round but i was paranoid mummy/child with ear infection last time i was there.

NigellasDealer · 22/03/2014 14:08

anidri link here

NigellasDealer · 22/03/2014 14:19

aww I am well jell I love Crete, have a great time!
btw if you do the anidri gorge, take water and a small first aid kit, just in case!

NigellasDealer · 22/03/2014 14:33

maybe book a couple of nights in Chania and take it from there, you could easily find rooms while you are there, for example in Chania itself or in Paleochora. (trans. 'ancient village' - sorry am getting carried away here.....hell of a dramatic drive over the mountains...

mrsnec · 22/03/2014 14:44

Hi, I don't know much about crete but thought I'd let you know orthodox easter is the 20th April this year so you may see some festivities also it's 27 degrees where I am today. Everyone is confident we'll get an early summer in the med this year yes pack your bikini just in case.

Original poster

AlpacaLypse · 22/03/2014 14:51

Oooo I'm beginning to get rather excited! Yes, mrsnec bikinis are definitely going in, after all they don't take much room even with RyanAir size luggage restrictions.

Yes Nigella, I'm thinking that way, although DP has muttered a bit about not wanting to change base. But it honestly doesn't take that long to repack a suitcase! Thanks for the link.

A friend was in Chania last year for a couple of nights, beginning and end of a sailing holiday, and has been raving about the place. But he knows bugger all about the rest of the island.

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chocolatewine · 22/03/2014 15:05

Well its about 23 degrees in Athens today and I would expect Crete to be warmer. It definitely feels like winter has finished and we are into warm spring weather already (could change)

Chania is lovely a good place to base yourselves especially if you are going to hire a car whilst you are there. It is a busy town so won't be very quiet like some of the mainly tourist spots.

Orthodox and Catholic Easter are the same dates this year but from what I can see you will be in Crete the week before Holy week but I think you will have an great time!

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