# Crete Advice **URL:** \ **Category:** Travel\ **Created:** [29 May 2016 11:12 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907 "2016-05-29T11:12:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sadoldgit](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/sadoldgit/32/44_2.png) [@Sadoldgit](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Sadoldgit)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 11:12 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/1 "2016-05-29T11:12:53Z")
## Off to Crete soon for a bit of a jolly. I know that the Sotonians are a well travelled bunch and would appreciate some tips of where to go when there (apart from Knossos which is already on the list). We will be based on the top NW corner I believe. :lou_sunglasses: ---
**Author:** ![CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/cb-saint/32/95251_2.png) [@CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/u/CB-Saint)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 11:32 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/2 "2016-05-29T11:32:24Z")
Sorry SOG. cant help with the west side - I when to Elounda a few years back on the East. The prices of souveniers are inflated thanks to the Russians (like 90€ for a small olive wood bowl). Dont be surprised if you see fur coat shops as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sfcsim](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/sfcsim/32/88192_2.png) [@Sfcsim](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Sfcsim)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 11:59 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/3 "2016-05-29T11:59:59Z")
I have been to Crete a couple of times, both to Malia. But I would I would not bother, it was full of 18-30 holidays. Was nice but not my cup of tea now. ---
**Author:** ![pap](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/pap/32/74795_2.png) [@pap](https://www.sotonians.com/u/pap)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 12:03 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/4 "2016-05-29T12:03:38Z")
I’ve been to Malia, gotta be 15 years ago now. Don’t be tempted to hire a moped. It seems cheap enough but the insurance is a bastard and when you say “actually, we’ll give the whole thing a miss” some of the locals will say “this is Greece. We will kill you”. My only other piece of advice is not to take an additional girlfriend, especially if your existing girlfriend is also going on holiday with you. ---
**Author:** ![Sadoldgit](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/sadoldgit/32/44_2.png) [@Sadoldgit](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Sadoldgit)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 12:16 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/5 "2016-05-29T12:16:15Z")
Sounds like Mrs SOG made a good choice of venue! I have had many cool holidays on Greek Islands years ago, before the economic problems, but we went to Rhodes for a day when we were in Turkey a couple of years back and it sucked. The Greeks, who had been so friendly before, just wanted our money. I was a bit worried when I heard she had booked Crete but I guess we can always just hide under a sunshade once we have done the antiquities! ---
**Author:** ![CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/cb-saint/32/95251_2.png) [@CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/u/CB-Saint)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 12:39 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/6 "2016-05-29T12:39:56Z")
Don’t worry SOG, we still enjoyed it - the 18-30’s are mainly in the middle (Malia) so they can be avoided. Its like any place. some really nice villages and some totally spolit shit holes ---
**Author:** ![Sfcsim](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/sfcsim/32/88192_2.png) [@Sfcsim](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Sfcsim)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 12:44 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/7 "2016-05-29T12:44:49Z")
I think he is a long way from Malia, so pretty safe. There are much nicer places in Crete for sure. I went in June 2001 because it was cheap and trashy! ---
**Author:** ![Intiniki](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/intiniki/32/9_2.png) [@Intiniki](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Intiniki)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 14:57 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/8 "2016-05-29T14:57:42Z")
Is Malia the most popular Crete destination on papsweb? For I too went there. With another off this fair site. Didn’t see the rest of the place. Booked a holiday for my parents a few years ago. Think my dad did a bit of archaeological stuff which I could find out. Let us know how you get on as thinking if going there next year. Chania looks nice. ---
**Author:** ![Ex-Trader](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/ex-trader/32/32_2.png) [@Ex-Trader](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Ex-Trader)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 15:58 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/9 "2016-05-29T15:58:12Z")
SOG, you strike me as a bit of an old hippy - maybe you should check this place out. It’s on the north coast not far from where you’re staying. It’s the usual Greek coastal town with bars and tavernas, but made famous by the Joni Mitchell song. When I was there in about 86 the Mermaid Cafe was unaware of their fame. [![](https://discourse-sotonians-uploads.s3.dualstack.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/1/f/1fb54d04b9a3b19621137459a013df13131de2b6.jpeg "YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1kcTjtdVE8) Hire a car and drive to the interior and see the real Crete - it’s surprisingly mountainous and pretty. The locals are friendly as long as they don’t think you’re German, the tavernas up there are fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Ex-Trader](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/ex-trader/32/32_2.png) [@Ex-Trader](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Ex-Trader)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 16:16 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/10 "2016-05-29T16:16:48Z")
Just shows you what a 30 year old memory can do - Matala is apparently in the south-west of Crete. If you hire that car though, still worth a visit. :lou_facepalm_2: ---
**Author:** ![Sadoldgit](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/sadoldgit/32/44_2.png) [@Sadoldgit](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Sadoldgit)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 17:08 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/11 "2016-05-29T17:08:15Z")
We are just outside Charnia apparently so pleased to hear we will avoid the 18-30s crowd!! ---
**Author:** ![Sadoldgit](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/sadoldgit/32/44_2.png) [@Sadoldgit](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Sadoldgit)\ **Post date:** [29 May 2016 17:11 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/crete-advice/2907/12 "2016-05-29T17:11:04Z")
I was a hippy/mod hybrid, if you can have such a thing but definate had full on hippy aspirations! I like the sound of the interior so thanks for the heads up Ex-T!