Crete is likely to be one of the more popular destinations with those heading in search of sun this summer and if you’re one of them, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your holiday.
Beaches
Malia is the party capital of Crete and as such you’ll be delighted to know that the beaches here are designed with partying in mind. As well as gorgeous white sand and blue water, you’ll find all the food, drinks, shops and entertainment you need is right there on the beach, while there are also regular DJs and parties starting up when the sun goes down.
As well as having a cool name, Dolphin Beach, Malia’s main beach, has arguably the best views on the island and is a great spot to relax and soak up the sun as well as partying. It is also home to one of the most popular beach bars in the resort. If you’re looking for somewhere to relax a little away from the Malia’s crazy heart then the pretty, sandy Tropical beach is the beach for you.
A word of warning, those of you who like to, eh, let it all hang out when on holiday should know that it’s actually illegal to sunbath nude on a Greek beach. The Greek police will generally turn a blind eye to those who do, but there are some who mightn’t be so lenient and besides, the locals don’t like it much either. Can you blame them?
So, to be safe – do we actually need to stress the risk of sunburn in places the sun doesn’t normally shine – just avoid putting your bits on display, even if it’s only a banana hammock preserving your dignity on the beach.
Old Town
Any tourists holidaying in sunnier climes should take at least one day to be a bit of a culture vulture and in Crete, Rethymnon old town is well worth a visit.
The ancient architecture and narrow cobble streets make the old town very popular with tourists and besides, it will serve as a nice change of pace and help recharge the batteries for a couple of more wild nights before getting back on the plane home and adjusting to miserable reality.
Greek food
Tourists, particularly Irish ones, can be hard pressed to sample the local cuisine when abroad but it shouldn’t be too much of a problem in any of the Greek islands because the food is fantastic.
Moussaka, for example, might sound like the fatherly figure from The Lion King but it is also a classic Greek casserole made by layering with eggplant and a spiced meat filling. Delish.
If cheese is your thing then give halloumi cheese a try, while you can expect to be given Tzatziki – a cool natural yoghurt based sauce with cucumber and mint – before eating in many restaurants but if not, request it as an appetiser, you won’t be disappointed.
Tzatziki goes especially well with Souvlaki, which sounds exotic but is really just a fancy Greek word for kebab. You can get pork, lamb or chicken and they are just as good served in a pitta bread as they are on a skewer so mix it up a little, you’re on holidays for God’s sake.
Lads’ nights out
Crete isn’t a bad spot to take the missus, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad spot to go away with the lads; on the contrary, it’s mighty.
Malia, being the party capital of the island, is the best place to start and the animal-themed Zoo Bar – you’re probably expecting to go a little wild after all – is great for theme nights.
If you fancy stretching the vocal cords the Premier Bar on Beach Road is great for karaoke, the nearby Zig-Zag club is renowned for house music, while if you’re looking to quieten things down a little, the silent disco at Candy Club, also on Beach Road, goes on until two in the morning.
For the couples…
Like we said, Crete ain’t a bad spot to bring the missus and if it’s just the two of you, or the two of you and a group of other couples, why not go all out and stay at the five-star superior St. Nicholas Bay hotel.
Decorated in the style of a Greek home it not only looks lovely but also has a stunning beachfront location with a choice of water sports including waterskiing, sailing, windsurfing, canoes and scuba diving.
There is a variety of restaurants to choose from in the hotel including a Greek and an Asian and International restaurant and if you’re looking for a relaxing holiday this is the perfect choice.
The stunning hotel is based in Agios Nikolaos where there is a marina surrounded by plenty of café bars on the harbour including “Molto” and “Yiannis Rock Bar” which is an institution and a former haunt of rock stars including U2 and Jimmy Page if you don’t mind. La-dee-da indeed.
Thomas Cook are offering a special summer holiday sale to Crete starting from only €299pp. For more information click here!
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