Messages

1

Plakias / Re: Lovely to be Back!

« on: July 18, 2024, 10:57:03 AM »

Hi - just returned (15 Jul) after glorious 14 days in sunny Plakias 

Some random jottings which may (or not) be of interest:

- weather was amazing - 34-39 every day, which may be too hot for some!
- last year was calm but this year we had med-strong winds on most days.
- the new promenade looked smart and a nice walk along the full length of the front. Nice grass running all the way too.
- the road is all brickwork too - also nice
- 'no parking' signs all along the west end, but these are completely ignored!
- tourist profile different to recent years: say 30% German, UK, French
- definitely busier than previous years but not overly so

- some significant changes in the tavernas - Tasomanolis is sadly completely gone - turned into apartments and an office
- GioMa under new management - still excellent view, but no longer able to book a table, and rather offhand woman running the show. And be warned about fresh fish price - we paid e42 for a medium seabass!.

Other dining out experiences:
- Plateia (Myrthios): went 3 times - excellent. Pre-order moussaka to avoid disappointment. VG mixed mezze.
- Dionyssos (Myr): guided tour of the kitchen so you can see exactly what you're getting. VG food and views
- Mariou: Great place as always - very friendly great views and great food.
- Panostrati (Selia) - nice authentic, out-of-the-way spot. VG fish.
- Sirocco - excellent place - friendly, good food, service and view. A new top 3 for us
- Merastri (Selia) - another great food spot with lovely views

And for nice spots for a drink:
- Foinikas Kantina (above Souda beach) - breathtaking view and friendly staff
- Ostraco - a fave late nightcap spot
- Cantina o Petros - great cheap rustic place on the Plakias - Lefkogia roadside. Good wraps too.
- great tavernas along the coast going E towards Frangokastello : Tav Galini/Lakki beach, Tav Koutelo
- and along the coast going W towards Triopetra - spectacular Tav Fotia (Ag Fotini) and Tav Filenia on Triopetra to Spili road (fill your water bottles with spring water gushing from the fountain!)

The Kotsifou gorge is still closed and prob for some time to come.
We were getting e1.18/? using credit card but drawing atm cash was much lower - e1.03 at the blue/yellow ATM points, but best bet is the 'Eurobank' atm at the shop next to the fish spa place by Moto Plakias. They gave e1.08 AND you just tap your card, so no fears of card being swallowed (as happened to us a few years ago)
Petrol rather pricey - best we found was e1.94/l

Anyway, enough rambling! Enjoyed our 2 weeks thoroughly. Yassas!

2

Plakias / Re: The Kotsifou Gorge has been closed since March 13, 2024 due to a landslide

« on: June 14, 2024, 03:56:23 PM »

kv - καλησπέρα - ευχαριστώ πολύ.

Not going to be open by the time we get there in 2 weeks time then?

3

Plakias / Re: Seafront work

« on: June 12, 2024, 03:23:02 PM »

kv - nice video 

Looking forward to our annual Plakias visit soon - end of June!!

4

Plakias / Re: The Kotsifou Gorge has been closed since March 13, 2024 due to a landslide

« on: June 12, 2024, 03:20:07 PM »

kv - thanks for update.

5

Plakias / Re: Update Plakias: At the end of March/April 2024

« on: June 03, 2024, 10:30:43 AM »

philj - welcome back!

yes - Ostraco is still very much around. Look out for it in this video at 0:39, 5:35 and 6:10 - thanks to KV for the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_674DMtmGbc

6

Plakias / Re: The Kotsifou Gorge has been closed since March 13, 2024 due to a landslide

« on: June 03, 2024, 10:21:21 AM »

Hi - Any update on whether Kotsifou is reopening any time soon?
We're due to go to Plak Jul 1st 

7

Plakias / Re: The Livikon, still going?

« on: May 17, 2024, 01:17:51 PM »

JBM - why don't you just ask them???!!!

info@livikonhotel.com

8

Plakias / Re: Travel report Plakias in October/November 2023

« on: November 27, 2023, 04:47:13 PM »

KV - thanks very much for the interesting and informative update 

9

Plakias / Re: Changes over the past few years

« on: July 10, 2023, 02:34:53 PM »

Hi - just returned (8 Jul) after glorious 14 days in sunny Plakias 

Some random jottings which may (or not) be of interest:

- weather was amazing - 34-37 every day, which may be too hot for some! (looks like it's set to climb even higher this week!!)
- every year has been fairly windy but this year we had med-strong winds on only 2 days out of 14!
- the promenade looked mainly complete and all signs of construction work removed.
- Lots of trees removed - apparently due to disease. Couple of large circular concrete bases in place - looks like plans for a couple of fountains along the front.
- tourist profile different to recent years: say 50% German, 20% UK, 10% each French/Dutch. Also quite a few Aussies!

- some significant changes in the tavernas - the sunken area previously occupied by Lysseos is now filled in and construction going on there now
- GioMa under new management - still excellent, but no longer able to book a table
- Tasomanolis also under new management. Also excellent but care needed in ordering the fresh fish: it's VG but rather pricey, charged at 60 euro/kilo

Other dining out experiences:
- Eleia (in the alleyway off main drag) - very disappointingly dry/overcooked 'Gopes' fish
- Plateia (Myrthios): went 3 times - excellent. Pre-order mousaka to avoid disappointment. VG mixed mezze.
- Dionyssos (Myr): guided tour of the kitchen so you can see exactly what you're getting. VG food and views
- Vrisi (Myr): like last year, they had given away our reserved table but gave us an adjacent (also reserved!) table. A knock-on effect of annoyed punters ensued. The 8-9 HUGE king prawns with creme freche were excellent.
- Mariou: Great place, very friendly and great food.
- To brizolaki (Mariou): tiny new spot. Home-produced white wine VG, and complementary (large) salad platter. Ridiculously cheap - wine+orange juice+bottle water+salad was e3.50!!! Left a very fat tip!
- Panostrati (Selia) - nice authentic, out-of-the-way spot. VG fish.

Mysteriously, the Nymfes bar and restaurant have jumped in at #1 and #2 spots in TripAdvisor after years in spots 12-35!! We visited briefly out of interest: yes, they're smart and tidy and clean etc, but you could be in any 3-4* hotel bar/ restaurant in the world. The bar especially is like a hotel lobby. All just rather characterless.

btw - I was misled in my quote of 1/6/23 saying the alleyway was pedestrianised at night - must have been a one-of!! It's open to traffic - Apologies!

Anyway, enough rambling! Enjoyed our 2 weeks thoroughly. Yassas!

10

Plakias / Re: Changes over the past few years

« on: June 01, 2023, 02:02:50 PM »

I see the alley with several tavernas (eg Thoubi, Elia) is pedestrianized in the evening now! Nice move!
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g319776-d12326244-Reviews-Throubi-Plakias_Agios_Vasileios_Municipality_Rethymnon_Prefecture_Crete.html#photos;aggregationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=414232971

11

Plakias / Re: Seafront work

« on: April 14, 2023, 10:15:24 AM »

Some detail from the TripAdvisor thread https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g319776-i11116-k14353405-Plakias_2023_roadworks-Plakias_Agios_Vasileios_Municipality_Rethymnon_Prefecture_Crete.html#117240838.

Interesting to hear of the plans for pedestrianisation and ringroad by next year.

For those that are interested this is what is being done to improve Plakias:

The major bioclimatic regeneration project concerning the tourist zone of Plakias is in full progress, which is progressing rapidly by the contractor and the continuous supervision of the municipality of Agios Vasilios.This is an intervention with a total length of 900 meters in the heart of the tourist settlement, designed to upgrade aesthetically and functionally the area of the south that attracts many visitors every summer.According to the mayor of Agios Vasilios, the sidewalks on the side of commercial enterprises and shops of sanitary interest from the entrance of Plakias to the bridge have already been completed, while now works are progressing on the sea side with the construction of sidewalks and bicycle paths. According to the schedule, as Mr. Tatarakis told the "R.N.", the works will be suspended on May 15-20 in order to avoid any disturbance during the tourist season. By then, as he underlined, the first part of the project will have been completed from the entrance of Plakias (Alianhtos Hotel up to the bridge) on both sides and there will be no dugouts, while until then, as he added, a piece will be worked on after the bridge and up to the junction for Souda on the sea side. At the same time, as he said, the project for the underground cables of HEDNO by May 20 will be completed at a rate of 75-80%, while the pending issues for autumn, when the project will restart, concern four closed-type transformers while the engraved asphalt will be pending. However, as the mayor pointed out, the project that will restart in mid-October will be completed and delivered on December 10, since as he said it is an NSRF project and there is no room for extensions." The works are in full swing and according to our schedule, they will continue until May 15-20.By then, all the ditches of HEDNO will have been restored, which will have completed most of the planned works (75-80%). I would like to thank very much HEDNO and its contractor Mr Papoutsakis for the progress of the works, which are progressing very quickly. Also, by then (mid-May) the sidewalks, bicycle paths and lighting fixtures will have been installed on the section from the entrance of Plakias to the bridge, While the contractor is proceeding at this time and after the bridge a piece on the sea side. On the sea side there will be sidewalks, planting, bicycle path, pedestrian path. All work stops around May 15-20 and will restart on October 15 to complete the project and deliver it later than December 10. Let us remind you that a flood protection project that is included in the bioclimatic regeneration has been completed", said Yiannis Tatarakis, pointing out that this project will transform the area by upgrading it aesthetically and functionally. He also added that the goal is for Plakias to be pedestrianized in the next tourist season, as then, as he said, the ring road will be completed while the municipality will have at its disposal two municipal parking spaces and a private one.

12

Plakias / Re: Seafront work

« on: March 28, 2023, 12:24:45 PM »

Interesting to see Plakias in the off-season! Lot of work going on, that's for sure. Thanks for posting.
Hope it's tidied up by Jun 23rd !

13

Holiday Companies / Re: taxi transfer from Chania

« on: October 14, 2022, 12:11:11 PM »

You could hire a car for 3 days for the price of a 1-way transfer!!
I'd look into it and can thoroughly recommend contacting Yannis at:

Moto Auto Plakias (MAP) Car Rental
Est. 1986 Rental in Plakias! #motoautoplakias
? Car Rental 365 Days a Year ? Transfer & Accommodation Info ? 24hrs Road & Web Service.

? Request a quote & book your car directly via E-mail, WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, FB/Messenger & Google Website:
E-mail: maplakia@otenet.gr
Business WhatsApp, Viber & Telegram: +30 6977924305 
FB/Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/motoautoplakiasrethimnocrete

Website 1: https://motoautoplakias.business.site/   
Website 2: www.motoautoplakias.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motoautoplakias.crete/
 
Tel.: +30 28320  31908
Mob.: +30  697 848 7793, +30 697 792 4305 
Plakias 74053  Dimos Ag. Vasileiou RETHIMNO ? CRETE ? GREECE

They also do transfers if you really want to go that route.

14

Plakias / Re: Plakias 2022

« on: June 20, 2022, 11:05:38 AM »

For the east coast road, just head towards Preveli monastery, but cross the river at Gefyra taverna and continue eastwards, passing the taverna on your left. Follow signs for Palm Beach (crossing small humpback bridge) down to the coast. Then just follow coast road eastwards via agia Foteini and Ligres, and on to Triopetra.

15

Plakias / Re: Plakias 2022

« on: June 17, 2022, 04:02:14 PM »

Yammas - just back from 12 dys in Plak.

Horrendous (2hrs+) check in (late Sun evening) at Leeds LBA to Chania 12 days ago. And ONE person checking passports (grrr)

Car hire again from Moto Auto Plakias - again highly recommended - vv quick pick up at Chania airport then wander into their office in Plakias next day to pay etc!
But petrol here!!!!!.......e2.57/l in Plakias!

Weather spot-on - 30-32 and little wind (for a change!)

Visited lots of nice spots again - hadn't appreciated the very decent coastal roads now both East (all the way from Plak to Triopetra) and West (Souda to Korakas/Rodakino). East coast route has loads of lovely deserted beaches. Westwards - do stop at Foinikas taverna for spectacular views over Souda/Plak. Must say these roads were not on any of our maps!! (but are VG)

Busyness? somehow not as full as our last trip in Oct 21. Maybe 80% full in restaurants though the best places and tables need booking! Our faves are GioMa, Tasomanolis, Mariou, Plateia and all lived up to expectations. Prices about same as last year for dining out.
L'etoile du Sud seemed shut, as did Corali :-(  Also Atlantis (but no great loss there).

Flight back from Chania (late Thu evening) complete opposite to Leeds outbound - the 'queue' to check in to security etc was maybe 10 people - a calming experience (if check-in/security can ever be called that).

At least we returned yesterday to decent UK weather to 'break us in'!

Yassas!