Other resorts

[wakefossil]

if you're expecting Ierapetra to be anything like plakias you'll be disappointed 
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Expecting anything comparable to Plakias would set the standard quite high for a start...  
But I'll rent a bike and explore the surroundings (trip to Lassithi on gravel tracks planned), so I 'm quite confident to find some sweet spots nearby. I did the same in Chania, and it worked well.
I'll update you on this when I get back.

The second half of my holiday will be spent in Plakias though. And if I find Ierapetra really bad, I'll just go to Plakias earlier.

[harribobs]

But I'll rent a bike and explore the surroundings (trip to Lassithi on gravel tracks planned), so I 'm quite confident to find some sweet spots nearby. I did the same in Chania, and it worked well.
I'll update you on this when I get back.

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of course! you'll be quite close to Lassithi, on our walks (last sept) we were up in the hills above Ierapetra, the amount of greenhouses around it are unbelievable

we've never been around lassithi before then, but found it to be a great place

[fraoula]

Sfakia,
Most of you will know that it's located further up the coast (towards the Samaria gorge) is looking to be a possible holiday dest. for us. A pretty little village, still I would say very traditional. Accomodation is fairly basic- but how much time are you going to be in it!? Tavernas dotted about serving traditional greek and local dishes,lots of Greek charm and hospitality, there's not really a main beach but there is a marina and plenty of coves to choose from. And the scenery is, well breath taking ( as is Crete in itself! ). Well sounds good to me!
And although you really have to book it all independantly, you will get a good price for the accom. ( We've already priced it up  )


Patmos,
Has anyone ever had the pleasure of visiting this Greek Isle? The other 'alf(Daskaloyannis) is insistent that we visit as it is where John wrote the book of Revelations. We looked  at some pictures on the web and we couldn't quite put our finger on it but it looks unlike anywhere in Greece we've seen before?Not just on the outside but inside buildings aswell? However, What I do know is that if your a beach lover, then only spend a day there as I think every beach is pebble or rock. Ahh, I just thought, perhaps its because there's no real development happening on the island...maybe that's why it seems different, hmm not sure   but there is something enchanting about Patmos....

[Greecemad]

Fraoula,

I visited Patmos a few years ago. I only stayed two nights, and only really had one full day there so I didn't see all of the island.

I didn't think it was vastly different to other small greek islands. At the place where John is thought to have written the book of Revelation, there is a plaque on a wall and not much else to see. There is a tiny monastery but it was closed when I visited. The island is on the cruise-ship trail so there is a great long quay to accommodate them and there are a lot of tourist shops in the village, but most of the time things are pretty quiet. I found one sandy beach (forgotten its name) a long way from the village. There are infrequent buses half way to it. There is supposed to be a boat service to it, but it wasn't running when I was there due to the winds. Also, it was uncomfortable because of the wind and although I was told it was nudist, it wasn't, so I didn't stay long. There were, however, some secluded coves (pebble and shingle) along the way, with several people sunbathing nude.

I don't know whether this helps, but it's what I know.

I have passed through Sfakia (or Chora Sfakion, literally the capital of Sfakia) twice, changing from boat to coach or coach to taxi, so I know very little of it.


Greecemad.

[fraoula]

Fraoula,

I visited Patmos a few years ago. I only stayed two nights, and only really had one full day there so I didn't see all of the island.

I didn't think it was vastly different to other small greek islands. At the place where John is thought to have written the book of Revelation, there is a plaque on a wall and not much else to see. There is a tiny monastery but it was closed when I visited. The island is on the cruise-ship trail so there is a great long quay to accommodate them and there are a lot of tourist shops in the village, but most of the time things are pretty quiet. I found one sandy beach (forgotten its name) a long way from the village. There are infrequent buses half way to it. There is supposed to be a boat service to it, but it wasn't running when I was there due to the winds. Also, it was uncomfortable because of the wind and although I was told it was nudist, it wasn't, so I didn't stay long. There were, however, some secluded coves (pebble and shingle) along the way, with several people sunbathing nude.

I don't know whether this helps, but it's what I know.

I have passed through Sfakia (or Chora Sfakion, literally the capital of Sfakia) twice, changing from boat to coach or coach to taxi, so I know very little of it.


Greecemad.
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Thanks Greecemad for the info on Patmos.


 Yes, I think we would only do a day trip there as I did read there is little on the island( which is  great,unspoilt, in most respects) to do except relax in one of the taverns!

Just generally speaking, ( this is not aimed at Greecemad!  )
 The spot in which John visioned the apocolypse, it's not just about what there is to see,for us it's about feeling   ,( I'm not sure how to describe it ) it's a bit like why people visit Lourdes or St peters Basilica or even non-religious ancient sites, like the acropolis at Lindos; some may view it as a bunch of rocks but if your aware of the history that's conected to it, you can see it as being alot more!
I'm not saying to anyone that you HAVE to know about somewhere before you visit it but at least be interested in what there is to see when you get there- I was reading a website last night and there was this guy talking about an ancient settlement he'd visited in Greece and all he could do was complain, he wasn't even interested in learning anything about the place and viewed it as a pile of rubble- why go there then? (Perhaps he was forced!  )
 Anyway don't go if you don't want to  
hey getting a bit s-e-r-io-u-s here!!

[harribobs]

Sfakia,
Most of you will know that it's located further up the coast (towards the Samaria gorge) is looking to be a possible holiday dest. for us. A pretty little village, still I would say very traditional. Accomodation is fairly basic- but how much time are you going to be in it!? Tavernas dotted about serving traditional greek and local dishes,lots of Greek charm and hospitality, there's not really a main beach but there is a marina and plenty of coves to choose from. And the scenery is, well breath taking ( as is Crete in itself! ). Well sounds good to me!
And although you really have to book it all independantly, you will get a good price for the accom. ( We've already priced it up  )

[/color]
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We're stayed at Sfakia (Sphakia, Chora Sfakion ) a few times, and ate at the Livicon Hotel there last week, after walking the Imbros. It's a lovely place, quite compact but we love it.

There is a small town beach, it's all peebles but very good, you walk through the covered road at the front then turn right and go up hill for about 20 yards and the beach is on your left (IIRC there's an old abandoned building on the corner)

To the east you have got the Vitromatis resort (if you like baring yout bits) and to the west there's sweetwater bay, it's a bit of a walk (ok it a lot of a walk) but you can drive up  (the road to anapolis) and leave your car near the E4 sign, you still have to walk some to get there but it's fun, and don't forget to take something for the goats!

[Mike G]

Another one not mentioned in this topic is Koukounaries on Skiathos. Excellent beaches (Koukounaries, Banana, Little Banana, and several others in a clockwise direction on from these). Excellent bus service to Skiathos Town, along what is virtually the only decent road on the island. Skiathos Town is quite cosmopolitan, with boats to other islands in the Sporades group.

Skiathos is a very wooded island and I found some decent walks.

The only downside I found was that Koukounaries doesn't have that many tavernas and I do like to have a decent number from which to choose.

It is a much smaller resort than Plakias.

Mike

[Mike G]

Could someone who has been recently please let me know what Paleochora is like. Do any tour operators go there other than Kosmar?

Thanks

Mike

[beachcombers]

Hi ther,
just came across the site of the acornman, he stayed in Paleochora a short while ago:

See http://MEMBERS.VIRTUALTOURIST.COM/m/71f79/670c3

Sounds like Plakias? However preferred the food in Plakias.

Regards
Beachcombers

SORRY previous adresses did not work. I meanwhile have corrected my typing errors.

[harribobs]

ahh the acornman cometh!!  )

[Mike G]

At the risk of being expelled from the Forum by Paul (Ploppy) I'd like to recommend Petra in Lesvos, from where I have just returned. Runs Plakias a very close race. In fact it is marginally better in the quality of the walks. The negative compared to Plakias is that the "far enders" beach is about 3 miles away, but with a wonderful compensatory view of Molyvos castle etc.

13/10/05 was the last British flight back home and the resort will now be virtually closed, unlike Plakias where I imagine things go on a bit longer.

Weather is a bit riskier out of season compared to Crete but we missed the storms which affected the latter about a week ago.

Anyone else been there?

Mike

[Greecemad]

Mike,

I went to Molyvos 14 years ago. In fact my introduction to Greek Islands was a SunMed walking holdiay in Plakias in 1990. I very much enjoyed this so I booked another SunMed walking holiday in Molyvos in 1991. I think it is sufficent to say that although I've been back to Plakias several times since, I have never ventured back to Lesbos. I didn't think the place was as good for walking (which wasn't helped by the leaders not being as good), the beach was no good (although that at Petra was a lot better). I presume the far-enders beach you found was the one near Molyvos. There was another pebbly one round the other (north) side of Molyvos.

Greecemad

[Graham_and_Karen]

So - we have differing opinions about Lesvos. A pity really as it would be nice to try somewhere other than Plakias that we could be sure of enjoying as much.

[harribobs]

So - we have differing opinions about Lesvos. A pity really as it would be nice to try somewhere other than Plakias that we could be sure of enjoying as much.
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I have always enjoyed Thassos, we've been back there 3 times and would re-visit it gladly. we find the south west the best part, (potos liminaria trypiti),

[harribobs]

Could someone who has been recently please let me know what Paleochora is like. Do any tour operators go there other than Kosmar?

Thanks

Mike
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i have some pics of paleohora, having stayed there a few times

Mike has seen these pics but i thought i'd post the link if anyone is interested

[a href=\"http://harribobs.smugmug.com/gallery/641521]paleohora gallery[/url]