Well thank you for the positive feedback and trying help, all. I feel better already. However, and I'm so sorry about this, I'd totally forgotten to take the fact into account that there aren't anymore "just flights" to Crete from here (we're in Munich!), and that's why we're pretty stuck with a package tour. :/
The spouse put up a stink, and now the travel agent has contacted the hotel(s) to see what can be done other than cancel the trip. We "just" have to wait a couple more days to get confirmation either way. *fingers crossed*. If it works out after all, I hope the Myrtis is going to be an alright hotel? Actually, it seems that all the hotels in the area are not bad at all (from what the reviews pages say). We're all fussy about clean rooms ... There appear to be a ton of Dutch fans of Plakias - or they're just feedback-crazy.
I just don't want to believe that after we've literally already visited the Plakias area online, we might not be going. I'll keep you informed and thanks again for your help, George, Susan, Xamas.
megs