First visit to Plakias

[Dave Q]

Just like to say a big thanks to contributors to this board.

Never been to Crete before and was trying to decide where to spend the October half-term week with my wife and 2 kids.  Having read the posts on here decided to go for Plakias.

Just back at the weekend and had a fantastic time.  Weather was great and although a small number of places were closed for the season, it was far from "dead".

Went with Olympic and stayed at the Alianthos Beach - room was fine but the attached taverna is not the best.

Also ate at the following places:

Medousa - excellent
Muses - good food and very cheap
Gorgona - chose the "mixed fish" - was OK but have had better

Hired a car for the week from Alianthos (collected and returned to airport) - went smoothly and I would recommend them.

Days trips out to following places:

Knossos - long drive but worth it
Imbros Gorge - spectacular drive, great walk and few people around
Prevelli - beach is over-rated (best viewed from the top of the cliffs!)

It's going to be a long wait until next year!

Dave

[Graham_and_Karen]

Glad you had a good time Dave. Hope the forum will give you some ideas for next year. We can recommend driving around the Amari valley area. message cut short by karen coming in from work!

[harribobs]

i wouldn't mind spending some time in the Amari valley next year, how about a little write up from Graham and Karen ?

[Graham_and_Karen]

i wouldn't mind spending some time in the Amari valley next year, how about a little write up from Graham and Karen ?
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I'll do my best - I think I did write something in another post but I'll post something more between Christmas and New Year. My memory is hopeless but scanning the map should bring it all back.

[Graham_and_Karen]

i wouldn't mind spending some time in the Amari valley next year, how about a little write up from Graham and Karen ?
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As promised, more info on our day trip to the Amari valley. We drove out through the Kouraliotis Gorge, then took the right turn through Frati to the main road. Turn right towards Spili then left at Mixorouma to Lambini and Karines and Patsos. Around patsos you will see signs to Agios Antonios - a picturesque gorge with a cave chapel originally used by a sect worshiping Hermes. The walk down through the gorge is worth doing. You can walk right to the end but it gets quite demanding the further you go and, of course, if you are in a car, you've got to walk back up again! There is a cafe at the Patsos end where you can get a drink and freshen up. We got to the gorge around 10am. If you leave it until lunchtime, you you might be sharing the place with one or more coach parties. From there we continued on the road through Pantanassa and Voleones. Turning right at the main road takes you to Apostoli. Keeping left, you will see signs to Thronos on the left. We found the place fascinating. We parked at the church, noticing the outline of a larger building that once was where the road is now. The church was locked but walking further into the village, there is a house on the left with loads of plants or other greenery. The old man there has the key and was more than happy to open the church for us. the whole of the inside is painted with biblical scenes. A walk round the back streets was interesting as well. If you walk past the keyholder's house, on the left you see a concreted road/track leading up, signposted to the ancient site of Syvritos. This leads to a path upwards, passing underneath the largest fig tree I have ever seen (we were lucky enough to visit mid. Sept. when they were ripe). The track is long but easy enough to follow. You don't see the excavated site until you are right at the top but the view from there is fantastic. From Thronos, we followed the road round the Amari valley, passing through Amari on one side and Meronas on the other. Not sure whether a direct link will work, so here is a link to my MSN Share Space - go to Photos and select the Arari Area, Crete album. [a href=\"http://spaces.msn.com/members/gdalby/]MSN Share Space[/url]. You will also find the Crete TourNet site useful for maps and info. Crete Tournet.

[harribobs]

Thanks Graham, that's much appreciated

Its really whetted my appetite for a trip around there, and we can get some good walking in as well

the links worked fine, the pics are very good, but your cats are scruffy!!  ( we actually lost one of ours this year who could have been the brother of your two)

Tournet is a handy link, i think i'll be adding that to my favourites as well

thanks again

[Penny]

Just booked for our first visit to Plakias - at end of May. Never been to Crete before, just the smaller islands and Parga. We'll be staying at Nikos Studios (with Kosmar) and hope it will be warm enough to sunbathe and swim in the sea but cool enough to do some walking and exploring.

We've never been to Greece in May before, we've always had to go in July or August so usually experience temperatures too high to do much except laze about and cool off in tavernas! Went to Skiathos in the second week of September once and had beautiful weather except for the first night which was really cold - they'd had an unseasonal cold snap the previous week and all the tavernas were advertising "room indoors" and log fires!

Plakias sounds really good - don't want to wait five months!!

[harribobs]

Hi Penny

welcome to the forum

Plakias (and Crete) in May is wonderful, you certainly can sunbathe and swim and more importantly (at least to us) it's wonderful weather for walking. You'll be pleased to know that Plakias is a walkers paradise

you'll probably need a jumper for the evening, we usually choose to eat inside but plenty of people sit out all evening. i think (and hope) you'll be pleasantly surprised

[Penny]

Thankyou for the reply - and for putting my mind at rest. Really looking forward to going but it does seem a long time to May!

Still, reading everyone's messages in here does make it more real, so thankyou everyone and keep posting!

Penny

[Mike G]

Hello Penny,

As you are going at the end of May you may have to restrict the walking to the first few hours of the day as it may be too hot later. One advantage of that time of year is that it probably won't be as windy as later although that is the general trend rather than a specific prediction. My experience is that you often don't need a jumper in early-mid May in the evenings, so the chances are even less at the end of the month.

Personally, even though I have quite dark skin and tan easily, I am really careful with the sun at that time of year as it is high in the sky in Plakias then. Especially if you are a far-ender!

Hope you enjoy it.

Mike

[Graham_and_Karen]

Hello Penny,

As you are going at the end of May you may have to restrict the walking to the first few hours of the day as it may be too hot later. One advantage of that time of year is that it probably won't be as windy as later although that is the general trend rather than a specific prediction. My experience is that you often don't need a jumper in early-mid May in the evenings, so the chances are even less at the end of the month.

Personally, even though I have quite dark skin and tan easily, I am really careful with the sun at that time of year as it is high in the sky in Plakias then. Especially if you are a far-ender!

Hope you enjoy it.

Mike
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Sound advice Mike about being careful of the sun (nothing less than factor 25). Personally, we have not had a problem with it being too hot. Plenty of water and a light coloured head covering (something more substantial than a knotted handkerchief!) have been enough for us.  

[harribobs]

Sound advice Mike about being careful of the sun (nothing less than factor 25). Personally, we have not had a problem with it being too hot. Plenty of water and a light coloured head covering (something more substantial than a knotted handkerchief!) have been enough for us. 
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i've got to agree with Graham and Karen, we walk all day right up to June

a decent hat is a must especially if you're losing the natural covering on the top of your head!  (like me)

for water we use a bladder system and a feeding tube, i carry 2 litres and mandy 1, ( hmmm, must get that arranged better   )

there is a review of the Nikos Apartments by Ploppy here [a href=\"http://forums.plakias.co.uk/index.php?PHPSESSID=9f918f7b75dd914d78bb8ae4a186af0a&act=faq&article=4]reviews section[/url]