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Original poster

Crete - can anyone help me find the best place to stay with this wishlist?

28 replies

FridayNightFever · 30/03/2025 19:33

I'm looking at Crete for our holiday this year and have literally NO CLUE about the place. There are 4 of us - me, DP, DD11 and DS7. We'll probably get a villa/Airbnb and organise flights separately as we prefer this type of holiday to a resort/hotel break. We'll hire a car too. Can anyone recommend a great town/area to focus my searches on?

Our wishlist -

  • DP is vegan so, whilst this isn't a huge problem because of the self-catering, it would be nice to be able to go out for a few meals without him having to make do with chips and a green salad 😁. The rest of us are veggies, as well, so this is a consideration too.
  • we tend to like being in a small town/village with a few bars, restaurants and shops but don't like it too busy where we're staying - we can drive to the busier places! Don't mind being inland, as long as the coast isn't too far a drive.
  • we're not massive sightseers but my DS loves history so proximity to some sort of historical /archaeological site would be a bonus.
  • a few nice beaches nearby would be great
  • we like a view from the terrace 😁.

We don't want much do we?!

Any suggestions for towns/areas that might tick our boxes?

Also, I'm tied to school holidays because of my job so considering both July/August and October - is there a better time to go? We don't mind the heat (I'll make sure we have aircon in the villa) and we like a warm pool/sea to swim in!

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
Littlefish · 30/03/2025 19:57

We’ve stayed near Kalyves a few times. It’s a lovely seaside village/small town.

We tend to stay a little further away, into the hills. Last time we stayed near a lovely village called Vamos. It has several restaurants/bars, a small shop, a fabulous little bread shop etc.

Littlefish · 30/03/2025 20:00

Have a look at Almyrida as well - another seaside town.

Kalyves has a good supermarket.

Soontobe60 · 30/03/2025 20:03

July / August in Crete will likely hit 40 degrees! Chania is a beautiful port, and the peninsular nearby has nice beaches.

LifeIsGreatForUnicorns · 30/03/2025 20:06

We stayed here..
Download the Vrbo app to look at this great place in Rethymnon. https://t.vrbo.io/NXYDG2LkaSb

3 restaurants in the village .. all did a great Greek sales .. but we all eat meat so no idea what the veggie/vegan meals were like.
we hired a car and went to lovely beaches and lakes nearby…
approx 20-30 minutes from the coast… village itself is really busy in the day but we didn’t notice as we were in our pool at the villa…
Villa was amazing… air con inside/ great kitchen / lovely views .. spent our life at the pool and using the outside bbq

LifeIsGreatForUnicorns · 30/03/2025 20:07

*salad not sales 🙄

Original poster
FridayNightFever · 30/03/2025 20:09

Ooh, thank you! Great to have some leads to be getting on with!
Anyone been in October?

OP posts:
Keepingcalmnotdrowningatall · 30/03/2025 22:17

Also second the Kalyves/Almyrida area for lovely beaches, excellent restaurants, a few bars, very child friendly (no clubs etc) and some little shops. There are also a few archeological sights nearby. I’ve been visiting this area for the last 20 years and it is still unspoilt and relatively cheap.
Being Vegan can be an issue, but vegetarians are well catered for as most tavernas also have a variety of delicious traditional hot vegetable side dishes as well as salads.
October in Crete is a bit iffy weather wise and also everything starts closing down for the Autumn and some airlines stop flying there. If 40 degree August is out of the question, May is the better school holiday to go.

Littlefish · 30/03/2025 22:18

We went last year in July. Because we were up in the hills and had a pool, it really wasn’t too hot (about 33 degrees). We tended to go out to the beach in the morning, then home in the afternoon so we had shade.

BareBelliedSneetch · 30/03/2025 22:27

FridayNightFever · 30/03/2025 20:09

Ooh, thank you! Great to have some leads to be getting on with!
Anyone been in October?

We went to Chania last October. It was mid 20s and lovely.

Starlight1984 · 31/03/2025 09:55

FridayNightFever · 30/03/2025 20:09

Ooh, thank you! Great to have some leads to be getting on with!
Anyone been in October?

We're going in September and it's usually about 30 during the day so will probably still be at least mid-20s in October!

Agree with others re Kalyves and Almyrida. Both lovely and not far from Chania and Rethymnon (both gorgeous towns 😍)

We're actually staying in Bali this time which will be a first but I can't wait!!!

Keepingcalmnotdrowningatall · 31/03/2025 13:07

@Starlight1984 Have you been to Bali before? It is gorgeous. More Almyrida vibes with small cove beaches and water sports below the town which is on a hill. Lots of little shops and beach side tavernas. September, May and June are my favourite months for Crete.

Yes, early October can be pleasant early 20s, but be aware that sunshine, as you get closer to the middle of the month, is not at all guaranteed.

Starlight1984 · 31/03/2025 14:07

Keepingcalmnotdrowningatall · 31/03/2025 13:07

@Starlight1984 Have you been to Bali before? It is gorgeous. More Almyrida vibes with small cove beaches and water sports below the town which is on a hill. Lots of little shops and beach side tavernas. September, May and June are my favourite months for Crete.

Yes, early October can be pleasant early 20s, but be aware that sunshine, as you get closer to the middle of the month, is not at all guaranteed.

No never!!! I hadn't even heard of Bali until I found the hotel and then had a look at the area (I actually looked on Google maps but the street view was from 2014 so probably not a great representation of what it's like now 😂)

I'm really looking forward to it already😍

Original poster
FridayNightFever · 31/03/2025 14:59

Gosh, thanks for all of these tips.

I think I'll give October a swerve then - I definitely want warmth and sun and it would be so gutting to be disappointed on that front!

I might look at May half term, or just brave it super hot in July/August!

OP posts:
Definitelylivedin · 31/03/2025 18:06

Brave the summer. We went I 2022 and it was around 28-30 every day. Crete gets windy which keeps the heat down. We split the holiday one week in the south in Makry Gailos (sp?) which is a lovely small town with loads of Tavernas on the bay. and one week near Rethymnon.

Veggie food is no problem as there is lots of stuffed vegetables and grilled aubergine etc.

crackofdoom · 31/03/2025 18:12

My favourite place is Plakias, and the Preveli Monastery valley nearby. My other favourite bit is the SW coast, where the White Mountains meet the sea. There's a string of villages with no road access there, so you have to get a boat, but you can get to Sougia and Chora Sfakion by road.

crackofdoom · 31/03/2025 18:14

Oh yes, and Greek/ Cretan food can be quite a treat for vegetarians! Spanakopitta, gigantes....

crackofdoom · 31/03/2025 18:16

FridayNightFever · 31/03/2025 14:59

Gosh, thanks for all of these tips.

I think I'll give October a swerve then - I definitely want warmth and sun and it would be so gutting to be disappointed on that front!

I might look at May half term, or just brave it super hot in July/August!

In May it will be green and full of wildflowers. In July/ August it will all be pretty parched.

JaninaDuszejko · 31/03/2025 18:41

We stayed in this gorgeous villa in Margarites last October half term. The villas are cleaned every 3 days and the owners also own a restaurant in the village. We ended up doing quite a lot of driving because we went to Heraklion twice to see Knossos and the Archaeology Museum which in hindsight was pretty tiring. We were about 20 minutes from the beach at Panormos but I'm not really a beach holiday person but there's lots to do. Not too far from Rethymo either. If we went again I'd go in the spring, it's suppose to be beautiful then.

https://margaritesvillas.com/

MoosakaWithFries · 31/03/2025 22:27

We stay in Vamos. A previous poster has recommended it already. It's 10 minutes from Kalyves and Almyrida in the hills.

The village itself has all you need. There are some lovely restaurants and also a cookery school which me and my teen DC really enjoyed.

You need a car to get around. We have a few favourite beaches in the area and tend to stay away from Kalyves and Almyrida. We head to Kalami beach, spending the day snorkeling and jumping off the jetty. We've also done a day biking from one side of the island to another on a guided tour.

You have the White Mountains to the one side and the sea to the other. Plus Chania is a 30 minute drive and a really nice evening out.

We go in August and I wouldn't let the heat put you off. Yes, it's hot but not unbearable. Plus, if you stay in the hills it's cooler.

Crete - can anyone help me find the best place to stay with this wishlist?
Crete - can anyone help me find the best place to stay with this wishlist?
Crete - can anyone help me find the best place to stay with this wishlist?
CharlotteCChapel · 31/03/2025 22:30

Georgiopoulos fits your bried. Unfortunately the Greek aren't really into vegetarian food. That doesn't mean you can't get it, but you may find that the vegan has a restricted diet. Off the top of my head there'll be tomato and cucumber salad, butter beans, in tomato sauce. See also green beans and okra.

There are plenty of pies that are filled with vegetarian fillings like spinakopita , or spinach pie.

There's a lot more options if he would eat cheese. .

FlatStanley50 · 31/03/2025 22:35

There’s a great vegetarian restaurant in Chania with lots of vegan options, uses home grown veg. We go every time we go to Crete. It’s called To Stachi.

user1471530109 · 31/03/2025 22:42

I love Crete. It's been probably 20 years since I last went. I must take my teenagers when I can afford it. Crete is definitely my favourite island I've been to and I've been to a fair few in the med!

Plakias was lovely and quiet (back then). A stunning beach but an even more wow one with a river and waterfall nearby.

Agios Nikolas is bigger but also amazing. Gorgeous lake in middle. Stayed in a hotel on edge with stunning views of lake all lit up at night. Think there was a waterfall too?

And rethymon was lovely too (but much bigger?). I didn't stay here so didn't fall in love like the other 2 above.

Chania was gorgeous. Went on a day trip. Crete was easy to drive around from what I remember. Not like Corfu!

Littlefish · 01/04/2025 00:43

MoosakaWithFries · 31/03/2025 22:27

We stay in Vamos. A previous poster has recommended it already. It's 10 minutes from Kalyves and Almyrida in the hills.

The village itself has all you need. There are some lovely restaurants and also a cookery school which me and my teen DC really enjoyed.

You need a car to get around. We have a few favourite beaches in the area and tend to stay away from Kalyves and Almyrida. We head to Kalami beach, spending the day snorkeling and jumping off the jetty. We've also done a day biking from one side of the island to another on a guided tour.

You have the White Mountains to the one side and the sea to the other. Plus Chania is a 30 minute drive and a really nice evening out.

We go in August and I wouldn't let the heat put you off. Yes, it's hot but not unbearable. Plus, if you stay in the hills it's cooler.

We went snorkelling at the tiny bay in your phots. The drive down was a bit hairy, but it was so beautiful and so quiet!

We’ve stayed in both Vamos and Kefalas and had great holidays.

SnowFrogJelly · 01/04/2025 01:16

Chania is lovely