Messages

1

Where to stay / Plakias Virgins!

« on: March 23, 2008, 07:50:44 PM »

but taxi pick up from Heraklion is 90 euros which sounds a bit steep.

Depending on how fast you drive, it is an hour or two from Iraklion to Plakias, so 90 euros sounds about right. You can take a bus (with a change in Rethymno) to save most of that 90 euros. But if you can deal with driving, I wouldn't be surprised if the cheapest option is to rent a car in Iraklion and return it there too. One-way car rentals can be expensive and the cheapest daily rate in Plakias (pickup and returning to Plakias) is somewhere around 40 or more euros. With weekly rates in Iraklion at around 100-150 euros, there's a lot to be said for dealing with driving between Iraklion and Plakias.

2

Where to stay / Kids learning English

« on: February 09, 2008, 08:59:52 PM »

It looks like my next trip to Plakias will be my first not staying at the Youth Hostel. I have a 2 year old son who lives in Germany, and if I can't bring him to America to see my relatives this year, my 2nd choice is to Plakias during May (when I all the youth hostel regulars I know will be there).

Can anyone recommend a hotel to stay at which has plenty of English speaking children (and preferrably little or no German speaking ones). The last point is because he needs to be in a place where he won't have any luck trying out German words. I also prefer a place with a pool for him, while still being in town, so it would seem Allanthios is the only place. But if the German issue is a problem there, then we'll skip the pool.

Sorry if this seems anti-German, but I just don't see the point of finally getting a vacation with my son away from his home if all I'm going to do is speak German with Germans. I can do that at home.

Hello,

if you have a look... I am from Germany.
I know we have so called "preschools" or better "Kindergarten" in Germany and I am sure your son can learn English there.
The children speak German and learn English, both together. I think this a good and easy way to learn an foreign language.

Kerstin

I'd like to keep this thread limited to the topic of finding a good hotel in Plakias for a 2 year old where there's plenty of English speaking around, and not devolve to the topic of English in Germany.

3

Where to stay / Kids learning English

« on: February 09, 2008, 01:28:26 PM »

It looks like my next trip to Plakias will be my first not staying at the Youth Hostel. I have a 2 year old son who lives in Germany, and if I can't bring him to America to see my relatives this year, my 2nd choice is to Plakias during May (when I all the youth hostel regulars I know will be there).

Can anyone recommend a hotel to stay at which has plenty of English speaking children (and preferrably little or no German speaking ones). The last point is because he needs to be in a place where he won't have any luck trying out German words. I also prefer a place with a pool for him, while still being in town, so it would seem Allanthios is the only place. But if the German issue is a problem there, then we'll skip the pool.

Sorry if this seems anti-German, but I just don't see the point of finally getting a vacation with my son away from his home if all I'm going to do is speak German with Germans. I can do that at home.

4

Plakias / End of an era Dismantling of Meltemi

« on: November 21, 2006, 09:33:54 PM »

Found following poem from Jeff Winchell (forum member from the USA):

http://winchell.org/Hope.htm

It tells it all?

Leen

It's interesting that I randomly happened upon this. I did have other plans tonight besides ego surfing, but then I guess you know about me and plans.  

Well, back to learning German, or should I say, hoping to learn German (and hoping to add Greek to that list someday).

5

Plakias / Nudist beaches

« on: May 20, 2005, 06:22:50 PM »

Hi,

I will visit to Plakias in July.
I prefer nudist beaches.
Please recommend to me some nice beaches.
Thanks Joe
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3339\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

The two beaches just east of Damnoni beach are nudist. The eastmost of those two, One Rock Beach, is a favorite of those of us at Youth Hostel Plakias. It is small, secluded/sheltered, has some fun places to jump off the rocks, or swim through a tunnel to the first nudist beach.

6

Where to eat...or not! / Buying/Cooking Food in Plakias

« on: May 18, 2005, 06:41:34 PM »

Despite all the microbreweries in and around Seattle, my favorite beer is Guinness. Is that available in Plakias, and if so, where might I find myself spending a lot of time sipping some?

I don't know of any bars/restuarants in Plakias that serve Guinness but I have seen it in several supermarkets in the area, sold in cans.

george g...

I've been here two weeks, found SEVEN supermarkets (though they're all so small I'd call them a mini-market in The States, and have found NO Guinness. Fortunately Filip (the DJ at Joe's bar) found some for me during one of his shopping trips to Rethymnon.

BTW, the best place for fresh vegetables/fruits is easily the stand next to the market at the east end of town (behind Meltemi's). Organic tomatos, sweet yellow peppers, very yummy (and non-moldy) strawberries, etc.

7

Plakias / Underwater photography

« on: April 28, 2005, 03:33:53 PM »

Hallo Jeff,
it´s definitely worth to take it with you.   There´s not really much huge fish or dolphins around but the underwaterscenery is fantastic. Especially around the cliffs at the far end, at microamoudi, and shinaria. From microamoudi you can reach the next - even smaller beach- by diving through an underwater tunnel [aprox 10m long] that  leads through the rock. I took some nice submarine pictures there a few years ago. [From my avatar you may guess a little bit of the sceneries magic as it shows a painting I made in memory of the place... "Entering microamoudi" But never try alone cause if you fail in reaching the other side you will not be easily found...

Yours diving

Shinaria
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3204\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

That works for me. Thanks!

8

Plakias / Recent weather cool?

« on: April 28, 2005, 03:31:42 PM »

Hello again Jeff,

On studying the temps on Yahoo I would say they are about typical for Greek Islands at the end of April. Good walking weather, still warm enough for sitting outside (bars, tavernas, etc), and beach. Will be significantly warmer in a month's time.

Mike
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3210\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yeah. Though for me, a month later is when I leave Plakias. I guess I'm looking for the averages I saw for Crete in May (60's at night, 70's in the day), which is perfect for me. Still, even if it's just low 60's, that's warmer than where I am now.

9

Plakias / Recent weather cool?

« on: April 28, 2005, 03:29:28 PM »

Hi Jeff,

I use Yahoo. You get a 10 day forecast. Click here.

You can easily change to Celsius if you are "metric".

Mike
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3206\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I was wondering how much regional variation there is for the 3 major cities vs. Plakias. Just looking at the major cities, there's a 10 degree F difference on the same day in different cities. From my casual glancing and memory, it appears that Iraklion is warmer than Chania which is warmer than Rethymnon. And I don't know where that puts Plakias.

10

Plakias / Underwater photography

« on: April 28, 2005, 11:17:58 AM »

What's the sealife like near the beaches? I got a camera that has an underwater enclosure that I thought I'd bring to take some pictures while wading around the beaches/rocks. Assuming there's anything interesting to see underwater near the beach. Is there?

Thanks.

11

Plakias / Recent weather cool?

« on: April 28, 2005, 11:09:47 AM »

I've been watching the Chania and Rethymnon weather pages on http://wunderground.com and I've noticed the past 2 weeks they are running cooler than average for this time of year. I'm going to be arriving early next week and I'm hoping it will be warmer than a high of 62 F about every day (though I see occasionally it gets into the low 70's).

Is anyone currently in Plakias and if so is it 5-10 degrees F warmer than what it's been on those northern Crete cities? Or has it been unseasonably cooler than typical Plakias temperatures these past few weeks?

Thanks.

Jeff

12

Where to eat...or not! / Buying/Cooking Food in Plakias

« on: March 18, 2005, 12:35:25 AM »

How much would a can be in Seattle, Jeff? My guess is that it will be a similar price in a Plakias supermarket to a UK supermarket.

Normally £1 a can, but on sale I've bought it for 65 pence.

I think you will find they are better than US beers such as Budweiser (US version not the Czech) or Miller Light

Anything is better than that.  

As you mention Seattle microbreweries it may be that you are into real ale- if so all I can say is "Good Man"

Some are OK, but Guinness, Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale and Chimay are my favorites.

Why not try the local drinks such as retsina, raki, ouzo, or the excellent local red wine.

I will. I already found one red Vin De Crete in a Greek restaurant in the university district of Seattle (going there tonight with a friend for some leg of lamb)

Whatever you end up drinking my bet is that you will enjoy it in Plakias.

Mike
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2934\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Definitely.

Thanks.

13

Where to eat...or not! / Buying/Cooking Food in Plakias

« on: March 16, 2005, 07:12:43 PM »

I don't know of any bars/restuarants in Plakias that serve Guinness but I have seen it in several supermarkets in the area, sold in cans.
george g...
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2928\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

You mean those cans with the special whatchamacallit that turn them into a draft beer like it came from a tap?

That will do nicely.
Any idea how pricey (so I can allocate sufficient funds to my Guinness budget  )

14

Where to eat...or not! / Buying/Cooking Food in Plakias

« on: March 16, 2005, 02:38:05 AM »

But I wonder... I'm fortunate to live in a city (Seattle) that LOVES its food (and local beers and wines)[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2909\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Despite all the microbreweries in and around Seattle, my favorite beer is Guinness. Is that available in Plakias, and if so, where might I find myself spending a lot of time sipping some?

15

Plakias / Currency Exchange

« on: March 15, 2005, 06:51:01 AM »

I was thinking of buying Euros before I left the US, but checking with my local currency exchange, they're giving me about .64 Euros per US Dollar, when the official exchange rate is more like .74 Euros per US Dollar. That's absurd.

I hear that people like to use ATMs in Crete to get local currency.

However, in the US, we're kind of annoyed at ATMs because we're always getting charged a fee by the operator of the ATM, plus another fee by our bank for not using one of their ATMs.

So how much does it typically cost (vs. the official exchange rate) to get Euros via an ATM in Plakias?

Checking with my bank, Washington Mutual, they charge 3 US Dollars every time I use an ATM. They also, strangely quoted an exchange rate of 1 Euro costing 1.2638 US Dollars while Yahoo.com (and other official exchange rate websites) say a Euro costs about 1.336 US Dollars). And just to confuse things, my bank thinks it has a different rate for using my ATM as a Visa... but they don't know what that rate is.

Also, my bank says my ATM card will only work in machines that are part of the Plus, Interlink or Star networks. Which (if any) of the Plakias ATMs are part of one or more of those networks?