Twenty years ago I spent a delightful four months in Georgiopoulis. It was then, a taster of the 'real' Crete. Simple but beautiful food under the stars. Lazy afternoons playing backgammon with the elderly men in one of the cafes around the square. Those lovely trees around the square providing cool shade even at noon. A deserted beach and not a sun bed or parasol in sight. Fields, fish and the lake at Kournos. Peace and quiet but wonderful evenings spent drinking the local wines with the locals.
I'm thinking of returning for just a week. Should I? Or should I keep my precious unspoiled memories?
I know that there has been a fair amount of development in 20 years but how bad is it?
Thanks
I'm thinking of returning for just a week. Should I? Or should I keep my precious unspoiled memories?
It is still a very nice place, but is quite a busy tourist resort now.
If you want somewhere which still has a flavour of the traditional, try Kaiives or Almerida.
Alan
You will definitely find that Georgioupoli has changed - plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach, numerous tavernas and apartment blocks... although the old men in the cafes are still there! I would say the same about Almerida too - which is where all the ex pats are buying and there is lots of building work going on. Kalives is pretty much unchanged though.
Hi, can anyone give me any info on Georgioupoulis, specifically the Foundoulis Apartments? I've heard the area suffers with mosquito problem because of the river? Also would like to know approx number of tavernas/shops etc...taking my 2 stepsons, aged 12 and 9, is there plenty to keep them occupied...they love the beach and the sea so should be ok! Many thanks in advance.
I stayed in Georgy P in Jun 2004. The Mozzie problem you refer to is non existant now, well at least I was not bit, nor the rest of our party and no complaints from others. Historically it was a mozzie haven due to the swamp area that was adjacent to the 2 rivers that are either side of Georgy P, that of course was nearly 100 years ago, or thereabouts.
Best to play safe though and take the anti mozzie After Sun cream, the room "plug ins" and eat plenty of garlic! Even Mozzies in the UK can beat the proverbial out of you!
I too am staying at the Foundoulis but in September!
I have been to Zante (3 times), Skiathos, Santorini, Crete (Gouves and Georgy P), Rhodes and think Georgy P takes some beating! It is ideal for families, small, lovely beach (choice of 3), everything within easy walking distance and whichever direction you go away from the sea you are not far from fields and the mountains, your partner can quite easily tire the boys out with a brisk beach walk whilst you take in the sun.
There are more Tavernas and shops than you need, Valentinos is a favourite.
An ideal evening usually involves an hour or two at Kids World (climbing frames, bouncy castle, bykes, football, slides etc), followed by dinner in one of the Tavernas and a couple of beers in the village square watching the world go by.
The locals are as friendly and helpful as anywhere in Greece.
Try logging onto Georgioupolis Exposed (a site devoted to this great resort) for any direct questions to be answered!
The Foundoulis Apts are on the Eastern (right as you look at the sea) extremity of the resort, quiet location with the choice of 3 supermarkets, the one next to Leonidas Apartments seem the best. As I understand it the Foundoulis Apts has several other buildings near them called Fereniki which has had some adverse comments, mainly about their age.
Dont worry about the kids, they will love it, shallow sea for the first 20 metres or so, clean beaches and plenty of other kids.
I reckon you will surprised at the size of Georgy P, not big at all, but it has all you need!
Have a great time.
Bob
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Edited by
CRAVEN
2006-01-17 12:10:47
Thanks for your quick reply! Sounds like an ideal place...any idea roughly how many taverna's are there? We've been to a number of Greek Islands before (Crete twice, Maleme; Santorini, Kos, Kefalonia, Skiathos & Samos)...is it still fairly Greek? I'm afraid I can't stand lager louts & the "britishness" of some resorts now.. we like a some life but not banging music if you see what I mean! Just been on the Exposed website, thanks for that! Mia
Based on my last visit in June 2004 there was no evidence of the traditional "Lager Lout", it has but one Night Club which if memory serves me right only becomes a Night Club after 11.00 pm, I think its called the Georgiouplis Cafe. Up until 11.00 pm its simply a bar. I certainly cannot recall hearing loud music coming from it, so its pretty discreet!
At a guess, rough numbers of Tavernas must be 25 or so, you certainly couldnt visit them all in a 14 day stay! My intention always is at the start of a holiday is to visit one each night, by night 4 we seem to identify one we like and use that one more often than not.
Valentinos seems to be one of the favourites in Georgy P, the one I preferred was called NAXOS (I think) which is just on the main street before the bridge, it was here that we were invited into the kitchen to view "what was cooking", the kitchen was immaculate and the meat and fish on display were well kept and covered. The Kleftiko was as good as I had tasted anywhere!
One good thing is that they dont seem to have the "Chucker innerers" which you do find in some Greek resorts! The good Tavernas dont need them!
We had our 2 grandchildren with us for 2 weeks (then aged 6 and 4) who love Spaghetti dishes, and the occasional Burger and chips, wherever we ate they were always well catered for.
Georgy P is as "fairly Greek" as you will get and doesnt have the typical "Britishness" that many other Cretan resorts have. There are quite a few Germans, Austrians and Dutch that use the resort, which contrary to the opinion of many is a good thing, get the boys to practice (not wishing to sound patronising) Tusche (pronounced Chuse - meaning see ya), Gutten Tag (Good Day), Aufwiedersane (Good Bye), Morgan (Good Morning) etc as no doubt they will befriend the occasional German kid, as my grandchildren did! They will probably meet Greek kids too. Strange how kids can communicate without the need to understand the others language!
What I did find here was that the Euro went a little further than it did when I was in Santorini in 2002. Eating out seemed cheaper and I have to say better quality, dont be put off drinking the local red wine, its quite good. You can taste the wine in one of the supermarkets opposite the Leonidas Apts, they put it in litre bottle for 40 or 50 cents.
There are 3 beaches to choose from. The central one (opposite the EDAM Taverna) has sun beds for 5 or 6 Euro, this includes use of their pool and sun beds behind you across the road throughout that day, a free beer and or ice cream. You can keep moving from the pool to the beach if you choose!
The Western beach (left side as you view the sea) is across the river, has a lovely curved bay, a great beachside Taverna and the opportunity for your partner to take the boys on a coastal walk across the river to visit an old cave which the British Army used as an Ammo Storage compound for its guns which defended the harbour. Incidentally there is a guy who comes out every year and camps for the whole season near this cave.
The Eastern beach (right side as you view the sea) is again across another river, past an idylic taverna which is actually on the river (good for lunch). There are 2 or so areas for sun beds which each have a small bar supporting them.
The "idylic taverna" I refer to is called the Perastikos River Taverna, it has a lovely photograph on the Georgioupolis Exposed Site, view this and you will get a better feeling of Georgioupolis, it is typicaly quirky and quaint Greek.
I reckon a few beers in the square after a meal will be enough, there seems to be quite a bit going on with enough activity to cause a laugh yet nothing to irritate.
I am sure that you all have a good time and think fondly of Georgy P, certainly enough to cause you to consider going back!
Bob
The Western beach has very cold water - but I prefer it as it's not so "packaged " as the main beach - although the sun beds have multiplied since I first visited in 2000!
Thanks Bob, so much info, I will make a note, sounds ideal. It's all booked now, can't wait to go! Hope you have a wonderful time there too!
You too.
We are seriously looking at NW Crete for next year's hols. We would like a resort which is not Greece for the english i.e we do not want karaoke, english breakfast, burger bars, sunday roast etc. We do want greek food in nice tavernas, greek music, gyros pitta, sandy beach, smallish resort, studio apartment.
Has anyone been to Georgioupolis? Does it fit the bill? We could visit a lot of other places from there I think.
I have also looked at Aghia Marina, Kalives, Almirida, Maleme, Gerani.
I would really appreciate anyone's comments if they have visited any of these.
Thanks in anticipation,
Yiamass, Jean
Gerani - not much there, beach isn't up to musch and the "village" is just a strip along the road, couple of bars and tavernas and a good gyros joint. Excellent restaurant called Idonissos (as at 2005).
I'm now firmly a devotee of the south coast!
Where abouts on the south coast do you stay? I really fancy crete and looked at G'polis and fancied that..........open to suggestions.
Somebody mentioned "Valentinos" taverna.It's a lovely place,nice food and really nice prices..
Really thinking of getting there this year also...
I knew Georgiopoulis c. 25 years ago and yes it was charming. It's now very busy and very British.
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