Messages

1

Holiday Companies / Re: Car Hire

« on: October 08, 2019, 08:02:06 AM »

I would use Moto Plakias, local family run company with about 50 cars very easy to deal with, Harris the owner will arrange for the car to be at either airport with the keys at one of the car booths very importantly these are open 24 hrs he will ask for your details by email so no hassle at the airport filling in papers, once you get to plakias just visit his office the next day to take the papers you will need.

Prices are about the same as everywhere else but you know that you will not be asked to pay a trumped up charge for minor scratches and damage that some car hire firms do although the damage was already there.
And we had some friends coming to Plakias and the plane was delayed 2 hrs so didn't arrive until 11pm this meant the car hire office was closed although they rang them before to explain the situation they just said there was nothing they could do and they would have to get a taxi into Chania find a hotel for the night and pick up the car the net day, so I went and picked them up brought them to Plakias and hire a car from Harris the next day.
Its also good to support local companies.
His email is maplakia@otenet.gr

2

Plakias / Re: Question re Plakias - Agia Galini ferry

« on: July 27, 2019, 06:46:00 AM »

Forgot to mention you can buy tickets from Anso Travel in the town, note that the boat is big but does not take cars !
Also note that Plakias Boat Tours do private and fishing trips to some private beaches only accessible by boat, we can drop you off and you can swim snorkel and sunbath in complete privacy ! I might even be the Captain ! Details from Tasomanolis Taverna.

3

Plakias / Re: Question re Plakias - Agia Galini ferry

« on: July 25, 2019, 06:55:17 AM »

Yes there is indeed a regular boat crossing from the new harbour at Plakias to Gavdos it leaves at 10am on a Friday and Sunday Morning and gets back about 7pm so you could do a day trip or even stop over for a couple of nights, its quite a big boat and I think the tickets are 18 euros per person.

4

Holiday Companies / Re: Olympic 2019

« on: June 09, 2019, 06:05:02 PM »

The app is called "Hangout on holiday" it is not just an Olympic app it covers loads of tour operators for many destinations.

5

Where to eat...or not! / Re: Different tavernas to try this year

« on: June 09, 2019, 06:00:35 PM »

Can I suggest a very good taverner in Myrthios called Vrisi, this has come on big time over the last year and now they have a very good high quality menu and surroundings well worth a visit if you have not been there before of not in the last year or so.
Say Hi to Nickos (the young guy with a lot of tattoos ) from me !
 

6

Plakias / Re: Observered imbalance

« on: June 08, 2019, 01:17:11 PM »

I would guess that 70 to 80 percent of tourists are German here, and have been for quite a few years, Olympic not doing transfers and the general decline in british tour operators willing to use Plakias as the 2hrs from the airport puts a lot of people off I think, but this is also the reason it has largely stayed unchanged and has a lot slower progress of mass tourism than a lot of of other destinations nearer to the airports on the north side, also the big hotels such as Hapimag and Calypso Rocks are mainly German occupants, and they love the nudist beaches in the area, I don't think it is a bad thing I like the Germans dare I say more than the british visitors except people from this forum or course

7

Plakias / Re: Car hire

« on: June 08, 2019, 01:07:40 PM »

Harris is a very fair guy and would never trump up costs at the end of the hire if anything he would go the other way, unless you have an argument with a large rock or something I am sure your car hire cost will be exactly as you expected.
Enjoy your time here !

8

Plakias / Re: Impromptu music ???

« on: June 08, 2019, 01:04:49 PM »

The film crew were from Alfa TV one of Greeks main TV stations, I had gone out earlier in the day on Tasomanolis fishing boat as a "tourist" so they could film us fishing and ask questions about our experience and staying / living in Crete, a bit funny as I had to pretend that I had not gone fishing before let alone tell them that Me and Taso regularly take out people for fishing trips as I skipper for him.
The show is scheduled to be aired on July 9th I think it is the main anchor breakfast show a bit like "This Morning" on brit Tv .
Me and a local friend then went on to Kseoni later in the evening and enjoyed the show that they put on again for the TV.

9

Plakias / Re: Car hire

« on: June 06, 2019, 05:56:25 AM »

Harris at Moto Plakias email address is : maplakia@otenet.gr
I will have a word with him and let him know that he needs to put this on his website.
If anyone wants detailed directions from Chania airport to Plakias message me as I have done one for visitors to our house, I am sure most of you have been many times but if you have used a transfer service / taxi you are not always looking the where you are going and what roads to take !

10

Plakias / Re: Car hire

« on: June 05, 2019, 09:35:21 AM »

Firstly please go with a local Plakias company the tourists are down this year, and any help you can give local companies will be gratefully received,, Harris at Moto Plakias will sort you out a car for collection at the airport ,if it is late at night asmost UK flights are all you have to do is get the orange shuttle bus and a 1min drive to pick up the keys the paperwork will be done the next day at the office in Plakias, avoid Gold Car I had some friends that when they got home were charged over a 1000 euros on there credit card for so called damage to the car, lucky the guy had taken photos time stamped and could prove no such damage occurred it still took them many months to get a refund!
Also be aware that some car hire companies based at the airport close at 10pm again I had some friends coming over to see us and the flight was delayed from 9pm to 11pm when they rang the hire company to explain they would be running late they were told that the office would be closed and it was not possible to collect the car they would have to get a taxi into Chania find a hotel for the night and return the next day to pick up the car, I also rang them to try to arrange a alternative but they simply were not interested in helping and said come back the next day, needless to say I drove to Chania  picked up my friends and arranged a car hire with Moto Plakias the next day.
The rates are good but for maybe a few euros more does it relay matter if it saves you a lot of hassle to get a car from someone you can trust.

11

PlakChat / Re: Kourtaliotiko Gorge road

« on: May 28, 2019, 07:12:29 AM »

The road has now tarmac and has been made wider at the first bend so is a bit safer if there is a lorry or coach coming the other way, only thing missing is a metal guard rail but I guess they will get around to this ....someday !

12

Holiday Companies / Re: Olympic 2019

« on: May 28, 2019, 07:09:15 AM »

The latest on he rep thing is that there is a rep who is based in Plakias for 2 or 3 days a week, she visits all the hotels makes up the welcome packs and advises of your departure date/time, also arranges and organise welcome meetings, she has very good local knowledge and will deal with any questions / problems you have, I have heard she is very good, you can also contact her by phone and there is a new app which you can book trips and get info from produced by Olympic.

13

PlakChat / Re: Kourtaliotiko Gorge road

« on: April 22, 2019, 07:10:10 AM »

Yes you can pass with a car now, the road has been re-built and stoned but no tarmac at the moment but this is due any day I am told.

14

Plakias / Update

« on: March 17, 2019, 10:52:57 PM »

Things are slowly getting ready for the new season here, still a lot of damage by the flooding with many roads badly damaged, it has not rained here a lot for a couple of weeks but there is still a lot of water coming down the mountains and running at the side of roads showing how much water there is still seeping through the ground.

The road by Preveli bridge was badly damaged as further up the river could not take the extra flow so it formed a new river running parallel to the main one going around rather than under the bridge taking the road with it, work has stared on the repair of this so should be finished for the new season.

The beach itself was also badly damaged as the river now runs straight into the sea and not curving at the beach this new outfall was so wide it washed away a good 1/3rd of the beach so I am guessing they will have to get a machine in there somehow to try and remodel the beach, the palm trees seem largely unaffected.

The road at the entrance of the Kourtaliotiko Gorge was completely destroyed and will take at least another 6 weeks to repair so all traffic is having to use the smaller Kotsifou Gorge.
There was a significant landslide caused by the rain just outside the new harbour, this blocked the road completely, it was quickly cleared but still is a big mess with piles of soil both sided of the road.

The ATM next to the fish spar was literally blown up a few weeks ago by a failed robbery attempt causing a lot of damage to the ATM and the front and side of the Fish Spa, I guess again this will be replaced by the new season but is just boarded up at the moment.
The new development at Palegrimnos has been put back a year so no change.

A bit of building work going on but no major new developments just the odd house here and there.
I’m sure it will be all put back together before the main season starts.

Charlie is getting older now and slowing down a bit (our dog) our niece is now living with us and we have also her Pug called Bella so you might see them both playing in the sea.

Life is good here we have many good friends and enjoy every day !

15

Plakias / The Maltese Falcon

« on: November 15, 2018, 08:39:15 AM »

The superYacht the Maltese Falcon was moored up just outside the new harbour  the other day, its is one of the biggest and most expensive yachts ever built 88m long with 2400m2 of sail  area and 3 number  66m masts, all rigged and controlled electronically , the statistics are amazing if you google it but that's what you get for over 100 million !

Me and a few local friends when out on my boat to get a closer look, and its a long story but they asked if we could take someone back to the port which we did, and in thanks they gave us a tour of the boat and invited us on board for a meal, a once in a lifetime experience.

Plakias might be quite now but it never stops to amaze me the things that happen.

All the tourist have gone now and it's nice a quite plans have been made to build the second phase of the Plakias suites at the far end construction is due to start any day they are just sorting out the last bit of paperwork reportedly.

Have a great winter everyone.

I will post updates now and then .