Crete Island, Greece - one week vacation in October 2017

I visited the island of Crete for the first time about 8 years ago. At that time with my sister. This time with a best friend. Mid-October in Crete is pretty much the last time to visit this place if you want to fill up on a handful of vitamin D and swim in the sea. November already tends to get cold. We were really lucky with the weather.
The new view of Crete was definitely different on our second visit. Although my friend and I visited the so-called main places that we did not seem to have seen without visiting Crete, it was now nice to remember and discover new aspects of the places we had visited. Would we go a third time? Maybe so. Crete is diverse, large and wide enough to explore the local culture and nature.
This time we focused on the western part of the island. And why? Reading the literature, we have the impression that there are more different and varied experiences to discover there. If we go again now, we would definitely like to discover the east side to create a moment of comparison.
What did we do this time?
This time my friend and I rented a nice convertible to make the most of the October weather, and we practically drove around the area for a week discovering well-known and lesser-known beaches and towns. Of course, the great advantage of the convertible is that you can soak up the sun while driving:) So you got more than enough vitamin D in a week. Moreover, in October the weather is mild enough to afford such a long stay in the sun.
What were the best experiences?
Definitely these main beaches: Elafonisi, Balos, Preveli. Of course, I liked the city of Chania the most. Just such a nice and beautiful city. We spent many evenings there in restaurants just because of the beautiful historical harbor and the noise. The city of Rethymno was also attractive. Very similar to Chania, only smaller.
This time we were near the city of Rethymno. And with a package tour, because the packages were still quite cheap in October, and there was also a small discount, if I remember correctly. Getting your own plane ticket and accommodation would have been more expensive. The package was comfortable, the meals inside, the hotel should be logistically so that you can be somewhere in the evening, otherwise only the bustle in the hotel can be boring.
It was cool that the best beaches are the hardest to reach by car or on foot. You can really clean up the hill. There is also a nature reserve and access is available at an extra cost. 1-2 €.
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Kreeta saarel käisin esimest korda ca 8 aastat tagasi. Tookord oma õega. Seekord parima sõbraga. Oktoobri keskpaik Kreetal on üsna viimane aeg seda kohta külastada, kui tahad veel peotäis D vitamiini saada ning meres ujuda. Novembrist kipub juba külmaks minema. Ilmadega tõepoolest väga vedas.
Uus pilk Kreetale oli teistkordsel külastusel kindlasti teistsugune. Kuigi käisime ka sõbraga nendes nö põhikohtades, mida külastamata pole justkui Kreetal käinud, aga nüüd uue pilguga oligi mõnus meenutada ja avastada käidud kohtades uusi külgi. Kas läheks veel kolmandat korda? Võib-olla küll. Kreeta on piisavalt mitmekesine, suur ja lai, et kohalikku kultuuri ja loodust avastada.
Keskendusime ka seekord saare läänepoolsele osale. Miks? Lihtsalt tundub kirjandust lugedes, et seal on justkui rohkem erinevaid ja mitmekülgseid elamusi, millest osa saada. Kui nüüd uuesti minna, siis juba kindlasti sooviks idapoolset külge avastada, et tekiks võrdlusmoment.
Mida me seekord tegime?
Seekord rentisime sõbraga ühe toreda cabrio, et oktoobri ilmast veel maksimum võtta ning kõik need nädal aega praktiliselt sõitsimegi ringi, avastasime tuttavaid ja vähemtuttavaid randu, linnu. Cabrio suureks eeliseks on muidugi ka see, et päikest saad ka sõidul olles : ) Seega nädalaga sai D vitamiini enam kui küll. Oktoobris on ka ilm piisavalt pehme, et sellist pikemalt päikese käes viibimist endale lubada.
Mis olid suurimad elamused?
Eks kindlasti need peamised rannad: Elafonisi, Balos, Preveli. Linnadest meeldis kõige rohkem muidugi Chania. Lihtsalt nii mõnus ja ilus linn. Ainuüksi selle ilusa ajaloolise sadama ja melu tõttu veetsimegi mitmed õhtud seal restoranides. Ka Rethymno linn oli ahvatlev. Väga sarnane Chaniale, lihtsalt väiksem.
Rethymnoni linna külje all olime seekord. Ja paketireisiga, sest paketireisid olid ikka päris soodsad oktoobrikuus, lisaks oli ka väike allahindlus minu mäletamist mööda. Ise lennupilet ja öömaja hankida oleks tulnud kallim. Paketiga oli mugav, söögid sees, hotell peaks olema logistiliselt nii et õhtul saaks ka kuskil melus olla, muidu ainult hotellis sumisemine võib igavaks osutuda.
Lahe oli asjaolu, et parimad rannad on ka kõige raskemini nii autoga kui jalgsi ligipääsetavad. Korralikult saab mäest üles alla kompida. Mōni ka looduskaitsealas ja juurde pääseb lisatasu eest. 1-2 €.

[@bddybdz]

Thank you!

[@roseb1979]

what was the weather like? Were there days when it didn't stop raining? was it tanning weather?

[@rb7007]

Looks fab!
Whereabouts in Crete were you btw?

[@teiselpoolmaakera]

Rachel Brown Hi there! We were driving through basically all sights of the western part of Crete.

[@bddybdz]

Hi, when in october was this?

[@teiselpoolmaakera]

Buddy Buds Hi! It was the beginning of October.