September update

[Daniel]

Checked into the updated Crete Mare with George at 3.30 pm.
Only one sugestion about his Raki:
Don't get it on your clothes as I suspect that it is corrosive!!
But that did not stop us from enjoying his hospitality.

Updates and modifications to the place are excellent and improve an already beautiful hotel.

Been to see Siffi and Anna and had a beer with them .
Will be eating with them a couple of times during this holiday.

Table booked at Gio Ma for 8.15.

Flights with Ryanair first class and arrived at Chania 15 mins early ( but could do without the fanfair  on arrival.)
Picked a car up at the airport and leasurly drive down to Plakias.
Will update as the holiday goes on.o

[Daniel]

Major thunderstorm and heavy rain overnight but now fine by lunch time.

As promised, an update on the town.

Fair bit of work has been going on since our last visit September of last year.
The actual town and Main Street from Alianthos thru to Crete Mare is very much as it was, with just a few minor changes/improvements.

The main building work is on the periphery of the town.

Multicoloured Sea View Luxury Appartments are now open on the hillside behind the main supermarket.

Just behind that supermarket, and attached to it,are now Belvedere Spa and Appartments

On the main junction, by the Alianthos Hotel, is now a new block of appartments with a snack bar/caffe in front called Blu.

Now on to the road towards the "far end":
There is now a sign for a major new development next to Plakias Resorts.
Looks like it could be for a lot of apartments, according to Siffi.

Additional building next to Plakias Suits of just a small development.

2 largish blocks of appartments part built behind Antonines Place.

Various other bits and pieces of building going on but not major work.

Will update on the holiday later in the week.

[Barny]

2 largish blocks of apartments part built behind Antonis Place.

How big? are they spoiling my favourite place?
 
                Barny.

[Daniel]

The 2 blocks are a bit back from Antonia Place so do not encroach on it.
How big?
I will have another look tomorrow afternoon when passing andreport back.

[Daniel]

Barny
Back from our morning stroll along the front.
The two blocks of new appartments are about 120 yards behind and slightly to thr right as you look from the sea..
Do not look like they will have much, if any, effect on Antonios Place.
Had a word with the team building these apartments.
There will be only 6 in total but they will be 2 or 3 bedroom luxury appartments, more like holiday homes than holiday appartments.
Looking at other builds in the area, this now seems to be more of the norm.
No longer one bed studios.
Now multi roomed appartments.
As for the rest of the town, a lot of buildings have been updated and some have hade slight additions to then.
But all in keeping with the "feel" of Plakias and nothing which stands out and offends the eye.
Will report back on the holiday as a whole later next week.

[Barny]

Daniel,
Thanks for the update.

            Barny.

[Daniel]

Now back home after 11 days in Plakias.

One of the best  holidays we have had there.

Accommodation at Creta Mare was excellent.

Eating out was as usual first class.

Beach and swimming has no equal in our view.

Weather could have been kinder.
One thunder storm and heavy rain one night/morning and 3 or 4 days were very windy, even for Plakias.
But non of this detracted from our enjoyment of our holiday.

The town was getting fairly busy as we left with a lot of British holiday makers coming in during the last few days of our stay.
But still a good mix of nationalities using the town, which we like to see.
But many, many regular returnees to be seen, of all nationalities.
And this is what gives the locals their optimism for the future. With so many people coming back year after year, it lets them know that they must be doing something right.

In my previous post I outlined some of the changes to the town but our general feeling was this:

The whole area is now looking more prosperous and the locals seem to us to have more faith in their towns future as a successful holiday resort.
Most accommodation is full and Tavernas well used (booking a table now necessary in some of them).
Beaches very busy and particularly with holiday makers coming into town from other resorts for the day. So pressure on sun beds in some areas.
Minor changes/improvements/enlargements to accommodation are ongoing and many of the tired or run down sites are now updated, re painted and back in use.
The town overall now looks much better and looks like it means it.

We will be back in Plakias with George at Creta Mare again next year in early June and again in early September.

[Noggy]

Today is extremely windy! The expected rain is holding off for now although the forecast is for rain later today and tomorrow. Doesn't look like there will be a town party, at least for now.

[ian s]

I remember the tourist festival being cancelled 4 years ago due to wind/rain - a shame after all the work that went on.  We arrive Friday so will try and bring better weather with us - the forecasts are mixed to say the least, but we’re used to September/October weather in Plakias and hoping all will be fine.

[Noggy]

Yesterday had the strongest wind we've ever experienced here. We still went to Damnoni for lunch but it was a battle coming back! Luckily it didn't rain until the late evening.

Today is not quite so windy but I did get wet on my morning walk. It's cloudy now but expected to get a bit better later on. A shame that our last days here this year are not good for the girls to sunbathe.

[Noggy]

Yesterday turned out to be wet and windy all day. The town was jam packed with cars but not many people braved the weather.

During the night there was thunder, lightning, lots of rain - the sea looks brown today with all the run off. I didn't hear a thing as I have to use earplugs because of the wife's snoring.

Today is a lot better, less wind and some blue skies. +22. Our last day here, tomorrow we fly back to cold, wet Norway for another long winter. As usual we've had a wonderful three weeks here.

[Yvonne]

Thanks for the updates, Noggy.

[TonyH]

Been here for 11days go home next Tuesday.  As has been reported some dodgy weather and there is more to come currently the sky is very grey and the wind is still strong.  The thunder storm the other night was violent with associated heavy rain.  Today we have a Red Alert for thunderstorms, so will wait and see.  Seems like the cyclone has got us.  Much of the islands have been effected also, with tales of ferry and flight cancellations.  With any luck our flight home could be effected and we have to stop here, what a shame.  Notwithstanding the weather, we have and will continue to enjoy Plakias.

[ian s]

Huge waves today but sun now shining.  Warm and very humid.

[Noggy]

I forgot to mention that we had to pay an extra 1.5Euros per day in tax for each room. Only for places rated 3 stars and above, apparently. We were given the safe for free, though (would have cost 31.5Euros otherwise). Interestingly, we couldn't pay it with the room bill but had to pay it seperately, in cash.