Marilia

Raki or Tsikoudia is distilled from the stalks and skins of grapes left over from wine pressing. It is drunk widely and you are likely to be offered a thimble-full glass of raki wherever you go. It can contain anything between 35-65% alcohol – you have been warned!

This vast agora (market) is a bustling noisy colourful place, where the abundance of fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, meat and everything edible is spread out over four sections fashioned like a cross. It is based on the famous marketplace of Marseille. There are plenty of bargains to haggle and great for barbecues!

All sorts of watersports are available in this part of Crete including scuba diving, wind surfing, parascending, water skiing, kayaking, jet skiing, rib inflatable trips and hire, surfing, fishing trips etc. Ask your representative for details.

A rare thing to find is a South American cafe/bar and restaurant in Crete!  Bossa Nova is that rare thing, this wonderful restaurant is within 5-8 minutes drive of the Blue Sea - but don't take our word for it - here is one of the recommendations on Trip Advisor : The restaurant is placed in a small village between Gerani and Platanias, in a little grove along the road. It's not as much a Greek restaurant as it is a Brazilian jazz bar. The menu however offers both a traditional Greek cuisine with a variety of Souvlaki, Moussaka and Gyros as well as grill, pizza and pasta, which for the record is excellent. Over all the food was very good and the desserts (espresso chocolate cheesecake speaks for itself) was mind blowing. The staff is very welcoming and adds conviviality to the atmosphere and do not hesitate to spoil you with some ice cream or sweets on the house. If you just want to sit in the bar and take a beer or a cocktail this is also the place to be. With a large menu of beers (since it's actually a beer bar), wine and nice cocktails to affordable prices it's perfect. I can recommend this to everyone who wants to take a beer and chat with your friends at the bar or to have a romantic meal. The cosiness and the nice jazzy lounge music in the background will make you to want to come back.

Go up to the Main Street, opposite the Maleme supermarket. Luxury local buses come every half an hour and go to the bus terminus at Chania. It takes 45 minutes and stops at different resorts along the way. This bus will also allow you to go to nearby sandy beaches, last bus back from Chania is around 10.30pm. To return go to the bus terminus and get off outside Maleme supermarket again.

The Manousakis Winery is the culmination of the dream and passion of founder Theodore Manousakis. Ted, as he is more frequently called, was born in Vatolakkos in 1943, and spent his early childhood years in the village until the age of 11. For reasons much beyond his control and much too complex for a young boy to understand, he left his home to find a better future in the far away “Promised Land”, America. Following his university education in the U.S., he entered business and was successful in a number of business endeavours including industrial security, real estate development, and hotels. Meanwhile, he assimilated in the great melting pot of the world, America, and nearly forgot his native language and Cretan traditions. Yet during the years away from his native village he always yearned to return home and find his roots; if not permanently, certainly more than as a mere visitor. Wine was a way of life in the village for as long as he could remember from his boyhood years. What a way to pay tribute to and honour the Cretan traditions and way of life, he thought. And, what a wonderful and civilized way to bring people together to enjoy the simple joys of life! The combination of nostalgia or “nostos”, as the ancient Greeks made reference, along with the perfect soil, sun, and weather conditions of Crete were the driving forces behind our first vineyards in the foothills above Vatolakkos. For Ted, the Manousakis Winery represents his roots; his yearning to return, his tradition, his heritage, and, above all, his family. Our logo with the three flowers called “Manousakia” in the Cretan dialect, (from which our name is derived), represents his three daughters. It is only fitting that the inspiration of this symbol is a blending of the beauty and exquisite fragrance of nature and the warmth and comfort of family! Ted Manousakis has his permanent home in Washington, D.C., but the winery remains a family-run business. His youngest daughter, Alexandra, moved to Chania in 2007 following studies at New York University, and now manages the Manousakis Winery. - See more at: http://nostoswines.com

Tiny streets come alive with shops with ceramics, leather, clothes, jewellery to browse through, and if you get tired, try a coffee and a pastry in the cafes lining the picturesque harbour front.

Elafonisi (Island of Deer) is like paradise on earth, and posessess a wonderful beach with pink coral sand and crystalline waters, a small islet connected to the rest of Crete by a shallow reef that can be crossed when the sea is calm. This islet is lying on the south-west corner of Crete, the journey itself is amazing, with a narrow tunnel and stunning wild Cretan scenery. Beware in high season, it can get very busy, but is so large, there is always a peaceful spot to be found. There is an excellent taverna at the beginning of the sand dunes.

The museum is close to Heraklion and opens Tuesday – Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00 hrs. Visit by far the world's largest collection of Minoan artefacts.

Here you can visit the remains of a very important city dating back to the 5th century BC. It really is a lovely walk, and with there being no admission charge, a great cheap day out!

This water park is past Heraklion so a bit of a drive but it is a great fun day out for couples or parents with children!  Plan to go for the day and take food and drink as it can be pricey. We're advised by some experts (average age 8-10) that the best slides are sidewinder, hyper race, the black hole, kamikazee and freefall. Beware of the turbo guns - you have been warned!

Chania is the capital of the Prefecture of the same name and the second biggest town in Crete, with a population of 60.000 inhabitants. Chania is one of the nicest towns of Crete with wonderful houses, parks and squares. The old city has preserved the charm of the Venetian and Turkish periods. Entire Venetian, Turkish and Jewish quarters are saved, with many well preserved buildings in the narrow picturesque streets. On Leather Lane near the harbour you can find all kinds and qualities of leather goods and a really interesting indoor covered market.  Chania Town is worth a visit just for the shopping. The harbour is beautiful with an old mosque providing interesting architecture. Museums from the Naval Museum to the Byzantine Museum there is something for everyone. Restaurants and Taverna`s surround the harbour and boats leave from here for 2-3hr trips and you can also catch a horse and buggy.  Have a wander around the back streets, they are mainly pedestrianised and the houses and shops are very Interesting and pretty, with little restaurants and Café`s tucked away in corners - very romantic.

Treat yourself to a typical Meze a series of tiny dishes that accompany the aniseed based liquor, you can try an Ouzerie, that is similar to a Spanish Tapas bar, a great way to spend a lazy afternoon, there are plenty in Chania Town in the old sector - try To Avgo tou Kokkora - behind the big church, Mitropoli, off Halidon.

A Cretan speciality served in most tavernas as a starter. Dried crusts soaked in tomatoes and topped with crumbled feta cheese and oregano – delicious!

If it gets too hot down by the sea, drive up to Spili a picturesque village located at an altitude of 430 metres, 28 kilometres south-east of Rethymno. Due to its altitude the village offers an astonishing view and is surrounded by verdant vegetation and is filled with trees, fountains, springs and chapels and churches with wonderful murals. The main square of the village is lovely and has a fine stone fountain consisting of a row of stone carved lion heads from where crystal-clear water flows.The water guarantees that the air is fresh, cool and pure. It is also known for a unique type of weaving and has a few tavernas and an old fashioned atmosphere.