Crete for me is not about cream leather chairs and expensive places....rather a complimentary meze with retsina or raki in a small taverna up in the white mountains, followed by a cracking rabbit stifado ....and another raki or 2! That's a luxury I cannot find in England.

I didn't say it was any different for me Richard! I was merely describing a cocktail bar, to see if another person recognised it. If I wanted leather chairs I certainly wouldn't be going to Crete. One of the nicest hours we spent was at a tiny little cafe up in Krassi, where we bought a few plums and raki in a plastic bottle from a gentleman stood at his garden gate.

I'm with you Helen!

Richard,

I think we all appreciate the type of holiday you prefer but the original poster asked questions about Malia and not small tavernas up a mountain in Western Crete.

Everybody has different tastes and fortunately Crete caters for most of them.

Well said sir!

Can we keep on track please.....

yasus

wizard

consider us told Brian

thanks everyone, wel just had my nails done and got a few more things to pack then were off tomorrow!

Enjoy Report back when you return.
Have a great hol
John

Linzi_Lou, If I haven't missed you - have a ball!

I have just returned from Malia on the 30th Aug.... and all I can say is that all the news reports etc on the trouble in Malia is absolutely untrue (or at least for the week I spent there).

The general mood there was very friendly. I am a male and almost every other male I walked past and had eye contact with gave a head nod or a friendly smile.
Any treading on feet or bumping into peolpe was followed by a "sorry mate".
I'm no scary looking person so it wasn't because people were scared of me, it was just that everyone looked to be there to have a good time, and not a fight.
The only fight that I saw was between two guys, and they were from the same group of friends! And that fight only last for about two punches!
Oh, there was one other "fight" between two girls, a crowd formed around the clash, and everyone was just laughing and making silly comments like "I can see your knickers!". Eventually the two girls felt silly enough and gave it a rest.

This was my third time in Malia in the last 4 years and I would say that this was the friendliest and happiest year so far.
I was chatting to some of the locals and workers out there and they all said pretty much the same thing.... that this year has been the nicest for a while.

Obviously at any given time people can be unlucky and find themselves in a spot of bother, where ever you go. But the way all these news reports have painted Malia is so so far from the reality of it.

Yes its lively and there are numerous people worse for wear from the effects of alcohol. But looking around, I would say 95% of people are still on their feet, having a good dance, and loving their time in Malia.
I know I was!!

...and which aspects of Cretan life did you find most interesting in Malia?

If I'm honest, I didn't really experience any of the "cretan life"
The vast majority of people, including me, who choose to go to Malia are not there for the "cretan life". It's a party resort... cheap drinks, sun, beaches, holiday "romances", etc etc.
Most who book a holiday know what the resort has to offer and choose to travel there for those reasons.

However, I did take the opportunity to ride up into the mountains on two occasions, which I found to be amazing, and surprisingly enjoyed it almost, but not quite as much, as my nights out in Malia.

There is the old town, but I only passed through there on the way up into the mountains.

From what I've seen, the main part of Malia has lost all things Cretan, and is now geared almost purely to the English tourists who spend hundreds of euros each when visiting.
In my opinion Malia is a compact and sunny version of any nightclub/bar district you find in England.... but with less attitude!

For the three times I've been to Malia I can't fault it for offering what it was I was looking for by going on that type of holiday.

You pays your money - you pick your resort

Im not sure I like the reference to 'not going to experience Cretan Life' ! You can do Booze and party at home !!!!

You are not sure you like my reference to 'not going to experience Cretan life'???
Why would you not like that???
Like I said, I knew the type of holiday I wanted, did my research, found that Malia offered it.... so I went there.... for the "Malian life"!

I'm not sure I like or even understand the logic behind your ' You can do Booze and party at home'!!
Tell me where in London (or possibly the UK) that I can find sun/weather in the 30's every day, beaches, door to door clubs that are busy every night of the week, hotels with pools to lounge by during the day, the option of driving up a mountain to enjoy to amazing views.... do I really need to go on??

TIME OUT.... please keep it friendly we all wish, hope for and, expect different things from our holiday.. some want the sun sea and sangria experience with loud music thrown in fine some want a more traditional feel thats fine too.. but its horses for courses, please respect others opinions

yasus
wizard

Quite right Brian - Each to his own - it wouldn't do for us all to like the same thing

I absolutely agree!
It's just that some on here seem to have a slight issue with the concept of Malia and those who dare to go there.