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I’m looking for advice from perhaps more knowledgeable members.
My better half (Canadian) watched the movie Shirley Valentine years ago and since then has always had Greece/Islands on her bucket list.
Assuming next year allows traveling to be more accessible, it’s possible that we might make the trip.
Are there any recommendations from your experiences?
At present I’m favouring Crete. A larger island with easy connections for flights. I believe it’s one change at Heathrow.
We’re not spring chickens and therefore don’t need the clubbing nightlife.
Although a little time will be spent on the beach, it would be limited and selective (quiet sandy beaches, not popular and full of bodies).
Would rent a car.
Walking/activity, although not to the mountainous extremes of endurance.
Probably Airbnb for accommodation…not in a major urban area. We would really prefer to eat and drink where the locals do, rather than where the jolly ol’ tourists do.
I’m big on scenery.
I love Crete. I’m someone that loves green rolling hills etc so I don’t understand why I love it so much but I do. We used to stay at Chania. Ok it is touristy and the beaches weren’t pretty little coves but I used to sunbathe in the early morning [good for my arthritis] and early evening and in the afternoon I used to walk up into the foothills of the mountains. There was one spot where I used to watch two birds of prey every afternoon and one day I saw a Pine Marten there. There was a little church that someone had built all by themselves and I always wanted to see inside it but it was always shut. There’s always a slight breeze in Crete so the heat is bearable [unlike Cyprus where we went one year]. We also went to Kefalonia and wondered why it was so green and lush until the rain started. I’ve never seen rain like it but we probably went at the wrong time of year. Just thinking about Crete makes me remember the smell of thyme and the sound of the cicadas [you only hear them when you stop hearing them…].I’ve often said that it is the most spiritual place I’ve ever been too and people have agreed with me.I’m sure there are prettier, smaller islands that I haven’t been to. I loved using the local buses. We did walk the Samaria Gorge once but I wouldn’t be able to do that now. They also love English people; I used to come back from my walks laden with fruit that people had given me. There’s probably more to see round Heraklion [Knossos, Spinalonga…] but we just used to go back to Chania. I’d love to go back.
Thanks Moehat,
Actually sat here at the moment with the cicadas chirping away, they help make it a lovely evening.
Samararia Gorge was more the type of walk I was referring to (downhill), from what I’ve read it sounds a must…….for us at least.
We’ll have a car, so all of the island will be available to explore.
How did you find the mosquito situation when you see there? Here they are larger and far more aggressive than in the UK, and it seems they are similar in Crete. They love me here………I put it down to the quality of my English blood, being blue and all that. 😊
We’re looking at visiting in September 2022, after the high season and the kids have returned to school.
Have a look at Naxos. It’s a reasonable size compared to many Greek islands but nothing like the size of Crete so I would certainly combine it with somewhere else. It’s got some great beaches as well as a mountainous interior for scenery and walking.
I went in May (I think) and even the accesible beaches were quiet so if you had a car you’d probably find a practically deserted one.
The main town is quite touristy but you’d be able to stay outside that with a car obviously, although do take the time to visit it.
I have to work now but if I think of anything else I’ll put it here.
If you fancy an easy ‘island hop’ from Athens/Pireaus then I’d recommend the small Saronic Gulf islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra: all quiet and pictuesque, 25 years ago anyway. They were connected by hydrofoil and after a couple of nights in each we rejoined the mainland at Ermioni, spent a night in nearby Nafplio and then commenced a splendid slow drive up through the Peloponnese and Corinth back to Athens
These are the only Greek islands I’ve visited so can’t rate them relative to the myriad others but I found it a wonderful holiday. Late April and the wildflowers were amazing
Rhodes is a beautiful island, and the old town of Rhodes I think will offer you everything you want.
Shirley Valentine was filmed on the island of Mykonos.
You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.
- Total Posts 2553
I enjoyed Corfu back in the 90s, if that’s any use, Chief
Got a towel to prove
I second that Tank,
. Been Corfu twice. First time to Dassia then to Sadari, both are lovely places to stay.You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.- Total Posts 2553
I need to see a towel to prove it, Rummy, or maybe a straw donkey.
I remember Sidari, we walked along the beach from our place to there.
Friend of mine used to go to Rhodes. I’m sure she said one part of the island is very windy so it’s best to go to the other bit but I can’t remember if that’s north or south. Got a feeling it’s got some Venetian architecture there as well; one of the reasons I like Crete so much is because of the old Venetian areas. A lot of people like Santorini but the only time I went there I spent hours on a boat getting there and only had a few hours on the island and I hate boat trips. A cruise would be my idea of hell. On the subject of mosquitoes I don’t remember there being too much of a problem but then again I always plaster myself with Jungle formula. Strange thing about mozzie bites is that they always remind me of holidays so when I do get bitten at home [which happens a lot these days] I find myself relating them to holidays I’ve enjoyed and it sort of releases endorphins. Most peculiar!No mozzies thus far this year though. Just ticks. Yuk. Up until a few weeks ago I actually had a pull out from one of the Sunday papers about Greek Islands. Kept it for years but I reckon I threw it out having decided I wouldn’t be going on holiday for the forseeable future. Typical.
That bit about the wind on Rhodes is true Moehat. It’s the West side of Rhodes that’s gets the wind, whereas the East coast is very calm. That’s probably why the tourist resorts on the island are mainly on the East coast. In the height of summer though, the West coast breeze can be very welcome. It’s a nice island, definitely worth a visit.
Thank you all for your personal advice and contributions, I’ll now get on The Google and my old friend Tripadvisor and do some research.
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