Messages

31

Holiday Companies / Taxi share in August 2010?

« on: November 18, 2009, 01:18:20 PM »

We have booked our perennial Crete flight this year from Manchester on August 17th 2010, so we land at Heraklion in the evening.

Our return flight to Manchester is the night of August 31st 2010.

We normally book a return taxi ride from the airport to Plakias.

If by some stroke of luck there is anybody that would like to share the costs of the taxi with us as a couple, either there and or back, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Steve & Dawn

Hi Guys,

I've thought about this in the past but never tried it. My one concern is that a normal taxi simply wouldn't be large enough for 4 people and all their luggage.

I might start looking into the airport transfer options that you can seem to book these days. Trouble is with Plakias you may end up with a really long trip like some of the nightmare package transfers we have been on or hear about.

Has anyone tried this alternative yet?

Hi

We have done a taxi journey with 4 people & luggage & it was tight but fine, they will always get the luggage in somehow. I also have done the Easy jet transfer on the return leg, it was cheap £24 & a taxi to myself so fantastic,however I have not been able to find anywhere near such a good deal since.

Rowena

32

Where to go / Resorts similar to Plakias

« on: October 27, 2009, 12:18:21 AM »

noob

I know exactly how you feel.

It's true, I can't really explain it to any one but Plakias has a strange magnetic force that draws you back, I never thought I would find a place I wanted to visit all the time that felt like home but it happened & now it is our 2nd home. Some of you know we bought an apartment at the Plakia Panorama development & in years to come I hope we will spend more & more time there.

We are off on Saturday also & can't wait.

Rowena

33

Gossip / cat control

« on: September 27, 2009, 11:58:01 PM »

Here we go again!

What do you mean?

I think it was a strange post from Dimitri seeing as in previous posts he claims to know Plakias & Crete very well?! The situation in Plakias regarding cats/dogs has improved alot over the years mainly due to local animal welfare organisations i.e Friends of Rethymno & more. It is still bad but slowly getting better.

I do not understand either if an animal lover surely you would not just watch some one throw kittens down the mountain? I for one would not!

I have to say I also found the other posts odd except from Travellin Gran who clearly shares my love of animals. I agree with her, spend a minute donating a few euro's to a worth while cause in Crete rather than pointless comments on the forum.
 
I have thought for a long time that we are all meant to love Crete & especially Plakias & share info etc so why are there such hostile comments being made so often, life is too short...

Rowena

34

Where to go / Timeos Stavros

« on: September 08, 2009, 02:41:13 PM »

Thanks everyone for the advice, looking forward to it now.

Think I will go with a mountain bike and see how far up I can get!
Any other ideas where I can go not too far away? May as well get the most from my rental.

Next battle will be getting Margherita to come with me

From Lefkoyia, you can easily get to Amoudi and Skinaria beaches.

You can mountain bike or walk to Rodakino from Souda bay, it is pretty amazing we did it last winter.

Rowena

35

Plakias / Aegean moving from Stansted

« on: September 03, 2009, 03:01:57 PM »

Our Sept. flight is Easyjet from Gatwick. Looks like they fly on Thursdays during the winter

Thanks for that will have to have another look, maybe for early 2010, to be honest Heathrow is better placed for us but would consider Gatwick if the price is right

36

Plakias / Aegean moving from Stansted

« on: September 02, 2009, 04:20:44 PM »

That is interesting. I wonder how their fares will compare with the likes of Olympic and BA, what their flight timings will be, and whether they will now offer non-stop flights to Heraklion/Chania or whether they will continue to fly via Athens like the other two. There are non-stop flights to Heraklion from Gatwick, so why not from Heathrow?

I've just booked with them from Heathrow & good prices much cheaper than Olympic & BA £344 return for 2 of us. Flight times are good but all via Athens with a short wait.

Who does the non stop flight from Gatwick? I could only find via Athens out of season.

Rowena

37

Where to go / Post Office

« on: September 02, 2009, 03:45:49 PM »

Hi All,

I have just heard from a friend that the Post Office was held up at gunpoint this morning, 8.30am aparently, it was pay day yesterday so there should have been a ton of money there but luckily & typically Greek the securicor van was late so they didn't get much! The place is surrounded by crime tape & there are police everywhere i'm told. Can't believe it in sleepy old Plakias

Rowena

38

Holiday Companies / Escape the airport and live a little

« on: July 14, 2009, 11:15:57 PM »

Agaean are more expensive than Easyjet but they fly every day (via Athens) which opens up the possibility of adding an extra few days over our usual 2 weeks  . Their website is excellent. If we return to Plakias in 2010 (here's hoping  ) we'll definitely consider Agaean. The only downside is that, being Greek based, on any particular day, the return flights are earlier than the outbound flights. The route via Athens, seems ok as it's overnight so no usable time lost. In fact, arriving later, around 7 or 8am is better than 2 or 3am when you then pay a premium for night pick up of a hire car.

Quick update on Aegean having flown with them now. Yes, their website is good: I was able to check-in on-line at Athens Airport, saving me hanging around waiting for the check-in desks to open. Their ground staff are also good, they provided a large aircraft for the short hop to Crete - unlike the flying sardine can usually laid on by Olympic - and there was a pleasant atmosphere on board. My travel agent also informs me that they provide a business class on the flight from the UK - an important consideration for me - so I shall definitely consider them as an option for next year.
Noopsy

Hi

We would definately advise Aegean, we flew with them in December outbound & inbound on New Years Day fantastic (Complimentary Champagne on both flights for the New Year.) Flight times were good with 3 hours in Athens on journey out & 1 on the return, but Athens is a great airport so 3 hours passed very, even too quickly!

Yes they do offer a very small area for business class so book ahead if you want but it.

Too sum it up Aegean are one of the best airlines we have travelled with & we will always look ay their prices first.

Rowena & Carl

39

PlakChat / Electric Wheelchair

« on: June 21, 2009, 03:07:01 PM »

Yes Easyride the motor/ mountain bike hire was run by a Greek/Austrian couple and is now part of Adonis empire, but I don't somehow see Adonis cycling

Odysses who ran the bike hire  near the main Anso offices was disabled and as far as I can remember he moved his buisiness to Rethymno

Hi. I am sure one of the links will know if you can hire an Electric Wheelchair in Rethymnon.
I will try and post this information as an attachment.
Here goes.!

Hi John & Zell

Georgia from the Livicon has just come back to me, she has asked but said it is not possible to hire a electric wheelchair.

Rowena

40

Plakias / Exchange Rates

« on: June 18, 2009, 01:22:24 AM »

If you have an Abbey credit card or Nationwide debit or credit card, they are the cheapest ways of paying when abroad. I remember the rates, last year seemed reasonable but will get the the Euros we need in the UK, using the MoneySavingExpert site to find out what the best deal is just prior to going.

Correcting my earlier quote. Just checked and Abbey Debit card is actually one of the worst. It's the Abbey credit card that is good to use for June and July (normal 3% charge waived) . Best of all though is to use Nationwide Debit card if you already have an account or have a Nationwide savings a/c. All info available from the MoneySavingExpert site

Nationwide in our experience is definately the best, used for 2 years now, enjoy the spending! We are off on Tuesday & can't wait!

Rowena & Carl

41

Where to stay / design your own accomodation

« on: June 12, 2009, 01:11:47 AM »

Well - we're in for a hectic Saturday - land in HER early am and hope to find the car thats been left for us - grab a couple of hours zzz in the car then call in at heraklion to test whether the Bank of Pireaus has upped the number of euros I can take out of my Crete account (as they have promised) - then find some shops to buy bed linen , crockery and cutlery and a few pots n pans - just a starter pack - oh yes and some grub I suppose. Then back to the airport early afternoon to pick up son and his family and so to Plakias (via Agia Pelagia - to pay someone for some 2nd hand furniture we saw on the internet) in time to intercept that furniture that's being delivered by someone else we found on the internet plus some beds that we ordered from a bed maker (carpenter type bed maker - not room maid) in Chania. And everyone wants paid in cash (hence bank arrangement I made via phone today - hope it all works). Then ceremonial opening of new villa with bottle of lemonade - try the new cooker and make something to eat - put grandkids to bed - try the pool - cup o tea - game set n match.

Think it'll work ?

Hi Paleo,

Sounds fantastic,

I've just been out in May to try & furnish our new apartment, which I say was more difficult than I imagined on my own. I had a lot of help from Greek & English friends. I know some great places now to buy furniture & kitchen things etc. It does depend the sort of things you want of course.  If you are interested, give me a call or e-mail me & I'll tell you about the places I went to, all mainly in Rethymno but with bigger stores in Chania & Heraklion. I also would be interested in
any places you know or find as we still need more & are going back last week of June & 1st week of July.

My tel number is ? & e-mail ?@hotmail.co.uk

Hope to hear from you

Rowena

P.S Do know a great place for Bed linen & another for crockery & pot's & pans!

42

Plakias / Plakias to Chania

« on: June 09, 2009, 10:53:44 AM »

Hi everyone
The good lady would like to go to Chania whilst we have the hire car, can anyone recommend a good route to get there, and how long might it take to get there? As we will be making a day of it, any ideas of good places to stop on the way there or back?
Cheers John & Debbie

Hi John & Debbie,

I would suggest driving from Plakias to Selia along the south coast road to Rodakino then to the imbros gorge taking a right away from the coast there, it is quite a long way round but the views are amazing. There is a nice village just before the gorge which could be nice for breakfast. Once following the road to the north coast another nice place to stop is the village of Virisses from here you can carry on up to Chania. The route back then I would just follow the North Coast road back to Rethymno & down to Plakias. About 1 hr 15 mins. The drive there would be long but worth it to make full use of your hire car & especially if you've never done this route before as it's spectacular. If you decide to go along the North coast there then I would suggest stopping in either Georgioupoli or Kalives.

It depends what you want out of your day & how long you want in Chania etc.

Hope thats useful

Rowena

43

Plakias / Taxi fares

« on: June 09, 2009, 10:37:22 AM »

Anybody know how much a cab from Rethymnon to Plak costs?

I've always used the buses before but this year I'm flying in mid-afternoon rather than my usual early morning and while it's easy enough to get to Rethymnon, I'm likely to get there too late for the last bus to Plakias. Trying to decide whether to get a cab or spend a night in Rethymnon or maybe Heraklion and go to Plak the next day.

Taxi from Heraklion is 85 if you book in Plakias, may have some one who can give you a lift for less around 65, let me know if your interested & I'll contact them. Might be able to do from Rethymnon too but don't know the price.

44

PlakChat / Lift Request / Taxi Share - Sept 2009

« on: May 29, 2009, 11:27:36 PM »

The bus is tempting but I suspect we'll bite the bullett and hire a car.

Well my story is very different, I booked a return transfer to Heraklion & it cost me £22.80 & arrived om time & I had a brand new taxi all to myself all the way to Heraklion, guess this will not happen every time but so far no compaints!

Hope your having a good time

Rowena xx

45

Plakias / another question or two

« on: May 16, 2009, 09:48:19 AM »

Hallo john&debbie,

There are a number of cash machines along the seafront, starting with one outside the Alianthos Beach Hotel. They will also cash your traveller's cheques, as will one or two other places (which have signs outside to that effect) again along the seafront.

Noopsy

When the wind really blows the best & only place to get away from it is a small bay on the way to Souda Bay just a the bottom of the very steep hill. It is a lovely queit cove although at weekends it does get busy with greek families. About 45 minute stroll from Plakias.

Rowena