Other resorts

[Mike G]

As I understand it the meltemi is a summer wind from the north caused by low pressure over Asia Minor generating an anti-clockwise flow down the Aegean. This means that islands around Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, etc are less affected than Crete. As it is a northerly wind, imagine what it must be like on Crete's north coast! That said, the local gorges around Plakias probably have a funnelling effect.

In May and October, when I holiday, it can still be extremely windy at times but it iis from various directions. Wind can temper the heat in high summer but is less welcome early and late.

Putting "meltemi and wind" into Google produces a host of hits.

meltemi

Mike

[John R]

As it is a northerly wind, imagine what it must be like on Crete's north coast! That said, the local gorges around Plakias probably have a funnelling effect.

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2341\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

It is indeed the funnelling effect of the gorges and the drop down from the hills behind Plakias (UK North Pennines Helm wind effect) that causes the meltemi to be unusually extreme at Plakias. When very bad at Plakias we often travel by car not very far North, east or west away from Plakias and the wind is often almost not noticable away from this area. It is often very quiet on the North coast when bad at Plakias.

Don't be put off though.

John R

[Noopsy]

Our man on the spot reports:

STOP PRESS

On Thursday, 2nd September a fierce wind sprang up - locally known as the "meltemi" - and proceeded to move the beach from west to east.  The wind continued with this (eventually) desireable task throughout the night and into the following day.  Local authorities were, at the time of writing, unavailable for comment.

Noopsy 500, Ostraco Bar, Plakias, 3 September, 2004

[harribobs]

we got back from crete last week and we 13/14 days of strong to gale force winds

we were mainly in the east of the island, the one still day was at matala, but the wind was even stroger the next day

there was a close call when a large restaurant umbrella came loose and the steel pole came crashing through the canvas roof of the place we were eating :'(

[Graham_and_Karen]

Comforting to know it wasn't just Plakias that was windy

[compage]

Plakias?  Windy?

[attachment=62:attachment]

[Ploppy]

Plakias?  Windy?


[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2466\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Very good John, very good!

[compage]

Thanks Paul.  There's more to come like that!

[wakefossil]

Almost all places I've been to have been mentioned earlier in this thread, except Naxos.
Been there in '94. Really nice (and not too small (like Santorini)).
The occasional power failure gives you a nice view of the stars (and I don't mean the stars that appear when you run into a wall because of the darkness).
Only setback: This one lacks an airport where jets can land. So you can only go there with a turboprop or via Santorini.

But still: nothing compares to Plakias.

Cheers,
Andy

[Mike G]

If anyone wants a really rural resort with several beaches (best was Gerakas; clothes optional at one end), they could do worse than consider Vasilikos, Zakynthos. If you're interested, my report on Holidays Uncovered should appear next week. See Vasilikos report. It's much smaller and quieter than Plakias though, which might not please some.  15 superb days of weather out of 20 in the first three weeks of October.

[harribobs]

I thought I’d bring this thread back up, on re-reading it, I'm not sure anyone really answered the butties original question about Ierapetra,

We did briefly visit there last September and was very disappointed with it, too big (it's a city I know) too noisy (see above) and to be quite honest we found very little there to endear it to us

[wakefossil]

I thought I’d bring this thread back up, on re-reading it, I'm not sure anyone really answered the butties original question about Ierapetra,
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3143\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

The original question was about Myrtos, and Greecemad, John R and Mike G did answer it.
I'm going to Ierapetra in 4 weeks, and I'll post a brief review on Ierapetra and it's surroundings if there's still interest in this topic.

Andy

[Mike G]

The original question was about other good Greek resorts for the sort of folk who like Plakias, for which Mark Buttie suggested Ierapetra (starting with an "i" not an "L" and pronounced air/rap/etra, with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable- or at least that was how a bus driver pronounced it when I was last there).

Not sure I leant much except that Matala seems a "possible", Georgiopoulis a "risky" and have learned elsewhere that for those who prefer the clothes optional beaches, Skala (Kefalonia) is now a "no go". I gathered that many local tradespeople are upset by this beach ban as it has affected bookings markedly. A lesson here to resorts to provide what their regular punters want!

Mike

[George]

Both are likely to be in Crete and one will be in Plakias, but we are also looking to try new pastures.


[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2098\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Not sure I leant much except that Matala seems a "possible", Georgiopoulis a "risky"

Mike
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3160\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Totally agree with Mike, Matala is a good bet, Georgiopoulis is is my opinion a definate risky, I found it 'grubby' and too busy.
I am hoping to do a bit more exploring this September along the NW coast from Rethymnon. If I find anything worth mentioning as an (what am I saying!!!) alternative to Plakias, I'll get back to you.

An alternative Island?? Try Samos Butties, I stayed in Pythogoria, lovely place and very comfortable atmosphere, but the beaches are C***, except for 'Tsamadou', my inlaws in Totland Bay IOW will vouch, they named their house after it.
george g...

[harribobs]

I'm going to Ierapetra in 4 weeks, and I'll post a brief review on Ierapetra and it's surroundings if there's still interest in this topic.

Andy
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3153\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

if you're expecting Ierapetra to be anything like plakias you'll be disappointed