Recent Posts

11

Where to eat...or not! / Kyma

« Last post by kokkinos vrachos 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

12

Plakias / Re: Kourtaliotiko Gorge

« Last post by kokkinos vrachos 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

13

Plakias / Re: Nikos at 'On The Rocks'

« Last post by kokkinos vrachos on November 11, 2025, 04:10:40 PM »

Nikos ran a beach bar at Paligremnos beach this season.

Best regards from Souda/Plakias, kv

14

Plakias / Re: Kourtaliotiko Gorge

« Last post by kokkinos vrachos 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

15

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

« Last post by kokkinos vrachos 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

16

Plakias / Re: Kourtaliotiko Gorge

« Last post by kokkinos vrachos 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

17

PlakChat / Re: May / June

« Last post by kokkinos vrachos 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

18

PlakChat / Re: Long absence

« Last post by kokkinos vrachos 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

19

PlakChat / Re: Long absence

« Last post by ian s on September 12, 2025, 07:49:17 PM »

i just feel it has become busy and lost a bit if its laid back feel e.g. people reserving tables in restaurants was never a thing before.  we now tend to eat late afternoon or in the mountain restaurants to avoid the crowds.  anyhow we still love Plakias and have many friends here. The surrounding landscape remains as spectacular as ever.  in process of booking for next year!

20

PlakChat / Re: Long absence

« Last post by kokkinos vrachos 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