Hi, everybody,
As a 

 to this board, I'll put in my 2€ worth.
We chose Plakias for this visit because:
1.  It came up on a "late deals" discount search 
{I can hear the groans}.
2.  It has a wealth of web-based info for our research.
3.  The research ticked most of the boxes for our "wants" (the rest, will have to wait until we get there).
****
Our "boxes" don't have proper labels but other places that have ticked them are:
* -- Stoupa on the Messinian Mani
* -- Mastixari on Kos
Plakias has "reported" similarities to both, the gastro-delights of Stoupa and the working life of Mastixari.  It also has this forum, which has a solid core of enthusiastic members which manages to make their community extend far beyond Crete.
Thanks to 
all the regulars, it was you that clinched it for us. 
