Sorry, but I haven't been to Crete myself yet but I have been doing alot of research on the internet about hotels on Crete(especially looking at tourists' own reviews) so thought you may be interested - at the moment the reviews for 5* Palazzo Villa Porto Platanias Beach Resort at Chania look amongst the best for value for money with excellent reviews. We are looking at booking hotel only through Medhotel.com and flights with Holidays-direct (flights to Chania with Freedom Flights) and car hire with Auto-europe as we have 2 children and booking everything separate is usually loads cheaper - however being just a couple it might be cheaper to get a package deal from another source ? Hope this may be useful to you or someone else.

Hi. Went to Crete in 2003. Stayed at Plakias in the south. It was lovely but very very windy. Like a bit of breeze but it sounded like mid winter outside our room all night with the wind howling. Evidently due to the gorge. Chania is wonderful with loads of little shops in the old part. OK if you like to but lots of jewellery. Rethymnon too is lovely. Dont think its so windy there. Perhaps stay on the Med coast. Lovely food, lovely greek people.

Hi

We have been to Crete a couple of times and we love it. Stayed in Elounda the first time and last year in Rethymnon. Elounda is lovely and the scenery is fab (now I'm sounding old !) we are in our early 40's with 2 children - seriously the views from Elounda, over to the Island of Spinalonga (think thats spelt right) are beautiful, we stayed at the Grecotel Elounda Village which was a lovely hotel. Rethymnon is nice too although we were slightly outside the town, must say beaches at both places were only ok - but I'm not particularly into sand anyway! won't bore you - any info needed just let me know.

J

I would echo Elounda. We went last May and stayed at Alikes appartments. Really nice, small pool, about 10 mins walk into the centre, nice shops, reasonable beaches and brilliant swimming. The tavernas ar mostly floating pontoons and we ate at a different one everyday. About 5 miles from Ag Nik if you want more noise, but to be honest we didn,t. Lots of trips on offer locally and also car hire. Opposite an island called spinalonga ( the island of tears) which was a leper colony until the 50's, you must go. Incidently we are in our 40s and had 2 teenage girls with us and we were all happy! ( mind you I think the waiters in the tavernas had something to do with that!!)

Thanks for all your replies, I am going to check out all the info you gave me, it is a great help.

Julie

My first visit to Greece was Parga..............I've since been to Crete Corfu Aegina Zakinthos Kos and Sivota..........but I can't find anywhere nicer than Parga! hence this year will be visit number 14 Crete was really commercialised I'd avoid Ag Nik Hersonissos and Malia like the plague! ( and that was 20 years ago)