Messages

1

Plakias / Souda Beach Saison 2025

« on: December 06, 2025, 11:10:34 AM »

Kalimera, Welcome to the Cyclades!

At Souda Beach (near Plakias) at the Taverna Delfini, a gazzebo bed (those cosy, wide, covered beds) cost a whopping ?30 this season!!! Two normal sun loungers/parasols cost ?10.

A bottle of water costs ?1.80 in the Taverna. A basket of bread costs between ?4.20 and ?4.80. Cappuccino from the bar costs ?3.50.
Mythos beer 0.3 on tap costs ?4, 0.5 costs ?5.50. A bottle of Fix 0.5 costs ?5.50. A bottle of Kaiser 0.5 costs ?6.
Salads: between ?7.70 and ?11.
Starters: Fava ?7.40! Tzatziki ?5.90.
The portions are rather small and more expensive than in other Taverns. However, there are also many positive reviews.

(The family Taverna Delfini has leased its tavern this year.)

At Taverna Galini/Beach Bar Galini, a normal sun lounger and parasol cost between ?7 and ?10. Depending on the mood.
In previous years, guests of the beach bar could use the sun loungers free of charge.
At the beach bar, a 250 ml iced coffee cost ?6.50!!!

Best regards from Plakias, kv

2

Plakias / Laundry in Plakais

« on: December 04, 2025, 06:43:40 AM »

Kalimera, yes, there is a laundry opposite the Hotel Sofia.

If you turn into the small street at Corner Giropita & Souflaki, the laundry is on the left-hand side. There is also a sign (laundry) above the door.

Best regards from Plakias, kv

3

Plakias / Re: New Kyma

« on: November 29, 2025, 04:14:46 PM »

Kalispera Barny, yes, when it was windy, it was a little breezy under the covered terrace. That's why everything is being redone.

http://forums.plakias.co.uk/index.php?topic=2474.0

Best regards from Plakais, kv

4

Where to eat...or not! / Taverna Throubi

« on: November 24, 2025, 07:30:09 AM »

Kalimera, Taverna Throubi /Ταβέρνα Θρούμπι (Throubi = savoury) is, for me, one of the two best tavernas in Plakais, along with Taverna Apanemo.

Even now, at the beginning of November, it's impossible to get a table at Taverna Throubi in the evening.

Best regards from Plakais, kv

5

Where to eat...or not! / Kyma

« on: November 24, 2025, 07:12:45 AM »

Kalimera, the entire terrace, roof structure and bar area have been demolished. Only the rear area with the toilets remains.
An excavator was on site recently and new concrete has now been poured.
It is a complete renovation.

Best regards from Plakais, kv

6

Plakias / Re: Kourtaliotiko Gorge

« on: November 23, 2025, 11:22:51 AM »

The deputy governor of Rethymno, Maria Lioni, believes that the only permanent solution is to build a tunnel.

In an interview with the private radio station Skai, she emphasised that the area is now heavily congested and, unlike in the past, the road is used by tens of thousands of people ? both locals and visitors. In the local newspaper Rethymniotika Nea, the regional politician emphasised that although the tunnel construction would incur considerable costs ? estimated at around 70 million euros ? its implementation was ?urgently necessary, as there is no other way to guarantee safe travel.?

Best regards from Plakais, kv

7

Plakias / Re: Nikos at 'On The Rocks'

« on: November 11, 2025, 04:10:40 PM »

Nikos ran a beach bar at Paligremnos beach this season.

Best regards from Souda/Plakias, kv

8

Plakias / Re: Kourtaliotiko Gorge

« on: November 11, 2025, 03:50:35 PM »

Record Visitors at Kourtaliotis Gorge Despite ?5 Entrance Fee

https://www.argophilia.com/news/kourtaliotis-gorge-record-visitors-2/246287/

Best regards from Souda/Plakias, kv

9

Where to stay / Alianthos will undergo extensive renovation and extension work in winter 25/26

« on: October 23, 2025, 09:33:59 AM »

Kalimera, the Hotel Alianthos will undergo extensive renovation and extension work in winter 25/26.

Alianthos is not only undergoing (luxury) renovation, but is also getting an extension on the hillside and in the car park where the old Mercedes used to stand. Incidentally, the Mercedes is now parked about 30 metres south of Alianthos Garden.

Last week, the lawn on the main road between Hotel Alianthos, Butcher & Baker and the Syn.ka supermarket disappeared under a thick layer of gravel.

The site is now fenced off and there are three large shipping containers for machinery and materials, as well as an office container with electricity, telephone and water connections.

The two large trees in the hotel car park have been felled. The olive trees on the slope behind them are also gone, clear-cut.

Ta Leme, kv

10

Plakias / Re: Kourtaliotiko Gorge

« on: September 15, 2025, 09:50:33 AM »

"If the plan was meant to discourage mass visitation, it has not worked. On the contrary, the gorge has already recorded more than 100,000 visitors?a staggering figure considering the entry fee and the fact that the site was closed for several days after the torrential rains of May 31, 2025.

Clearly, ?5 is not much of a deterrent. In Crete, it barely buys a coffee in Rethymno. For that price, you get cliffs, waterfalls, dragonflies, and the faint reassurance that someone is keeping an eye on the chaos."

https://www.argophilia.com/news/kourtaliotis-gorge-record-visitors/244987/

kali evdomada, kv

11

PlakChat / Re: May / June

« on: September 15, 2025, 08:02:53 AM »

Kalimera Barny, have you also noticed the extreme price increases in Plakias in the taverns, bars, caf?s and supermarkets?

I don't have anything to compare it to in August, but I think August (peak holiday season) has always been very busy in Plakias (and everywhere else).

This year, there has been a development/change in that there are more bookings in Crete for October and November. Many people now find it simply too hot and too busy in Crete in August and September.

However, as August is mainly the peak holiday season for Greeks, it remains very crowded and busy in Plalias, Agia Galini, Matala, etc. in August.

kali evdomada, kv

12

PlakChat / Re: Long absence

« on: September 15, 2025, 07:48:26 AM »

Kalimera, yes, in October/early November 2023, I also found Plakias extremely crowded, in the taverns and on the beaches. There was significantly more going on than in previous years.

In October/early November 2024, things have returned to normal. The beaches are significantly less busy than last year. The beaches are also not as crowded with sun loungers/umbrellas as last year ? possibly due to the new beach regulations.

This year, from mid-March to mid-April, significantly more taverns, bars, and cafes were open than usual at this time of year, and the town was also busier. But everything was still totally relaxed.

My observations over the past few years:

- In recent years, Plakias has developed from a summer resort that was virtually closed in winter to a proper coastal town with a school, etc. There are 7 supermarkets, a bakery, a butcher, a fish shop, a pharmacy, and a hairdresser.
The Plakias region has been very popular with Northern Europeans and residents for many years ? many own homes here. Many families from Albania have also settled in Plakias and the surrounding area in recent years.

- the massive construction boom around Plakias. Villas are springing up everywhere, often with pools. In Plakias, you can find new buildings with a sales price of 5,000 euros/m?, and in Asomatos, 4,000 euros/m?.

- This April, I noticed the extreme price increase in Plakias.

The biggest price increase I noticed in Plakias was in the cafes, bars, tavernas, and supermarkets. Some of the prices are simply outrageous. I'd say in every taverna in Plakias, you pay ?2 to ?3 more per dish than last season. The prices for salads and appetizers have also risen dramatically. In many tavernas, you no longer receive water as a welcome. Olive oil is now completely absent from the tables. Often, people charge ?2 to ?5 for the bread, dip, and olives provided. A bottle of beer in the tavernas is also very expensive. I always shared a bottle of beer with my girlfriend. For these reasons, I hardly ever go to a taverna in Plakias anymore.

In Paleochora, for example, the prices in the supermarkets were significantly cheaper than in Plakais.

kali evdomada, kv

13

PlakChat / Re: Long absence

« on: September 12, 2025, 09:39:48 AM »

the clientele too have changed.

Kalimera, I would be interested to hear your observations/experiences...

kalo savvatokyriako - καλo σαββατοκuριακο, kv

14

PlakChat / Re: Long absence

« on: September 12, 2025, 09:35:15 AM »

It may no longer have its end of the road feel and hardly a backpacker or hippie in sight but for us it still has its magic and we can reminisce about the old days.

Kalimera, although the youth hostel is still full of long-standing regulars/freaks. But they are also getting older...

kalo savvatokyriako - καλo σαββατοκuριακο, kv

15

Plakias / Kourtaliotiko gorge: More than 100,000 visitors from May to the end of August

« on: September 11, 2025, 07:20:04 PM »

"More than 100,000 visitors have welcomed this year the gorge of Kourtaliotis river, in Crete, which since the beginning of May has been operating under a new regime. On the initiative of the Municipality of Agios Vasileios, the Region of Crete, the OFYPEKA and the Ministry of Environment, a new, organized operating model was launched, with the aim of ensuring the experience of visitors and the promotion and protection of the natural environment."

https://creta24.gr/koyrtaliotiko-faraggi-perissoteroi-apo-100-000-episkeptes-apo-ton-maio-eos-to-telos-aygoystoy/

Best regards from Hamburg, kv