A Winter Experience in Crete

For the most of us, Crete is a Summer destination. That is mostly correct. Perfect beaches, the sun...wonderful hotels and villas to stay, lively bars and clubs. And above all reasonable prices.
Yet Crete has more to offer. Think this : You play golf, and with the northern Europe heavy weather, you can only play during late spring or summer. In Crete you can have really bargain vacations, as hotels are dramatically reducing their winter prices, and play as long as you desire in the exceptional Cretan Golf Club.
In fact your hotel will be happy to arrange transfers to and from the club and make all the necessary reservations for you.
Now if you are more the bon viveur type, and you are looking for gourmet dinners, and fine wines. Also Crete is the place for you. Appart that you can schedule excursions in the beautiful cretan mountains and try local specialties with the locals, there are numerous restaurants, and wine bars in the main cities (heraklion, rethymno, chania, Agios Nikolaos) where you can dine like a king.

Crete is really beautiful every season. Yet during winter it will be a memorable break conidering you might spend for 10 days what you might spend for a weekend in a ski resort in France.

15th of AUGUST IN CRETE

One of the most important Bank Holidays in Greece is the 15th of August. Celebrating the grace of Virgin Mary, as well as the remebrance of an historical event, the sinking of the Battleship "Elli" in Tinos on the 15th of August 1940, by an Italian submarine.
This day for the whole country not only has religious and historical meaning, but for the modern Greeks marks the week of summer holidays.

During the weeks before and after the 15th, all beaches will be crowded, beach bars will be packed with people having fun.
Therefore as exeperienced travelers would do if they want to visit Crete during this time, please make prior reservations practically for everything. Not only for accomodation, where even the doghouses will be overboked, but restaurants, clubs, sunbeds, make arrangements, and you will have a far better time than the rest.
For the visitor of Crete, these days of August offer the possibility to be able to visit monasteries that are all over the island. Monks will be more than happy to offer you a cup of coffee, a glass of wine and talk about the history of the place. If interested in that it will be a unique opportunity.
Moreover during mid August as the travelers are quite a lot, many towns in Crete organize festivals, concerts and other cultural activities that will entertain the visitor.

If you have not yet decided to visit Crete, moreover, if you have not visited Crete yet, now is the time.
And do not forget that BEEINNET has the best last minute offers for Crete INCLUDING Car rental!

ORDER RESTORED IN THE GREEK FUEL MARKET

Order is restored in the Greek fuel market, after causing major confusion and problems in transportation.

As from today, by a mandate of the Greek government, fuel transportation trucks are ordered to stop their ilegal strike and make deliveries.
This will restore the market into normal as fuel was scarce, and in Greece this time of year with almost all rented cars on the road by visitors was a major loss for many Rent A Car companies.

In Crete there were major problems, many visitors abandoned their rented cars in the hotels and requested a fair refund. By the end of the day, tomorrow the latest in many spots there will be adequate gas for cars and trucks and transportations begin to work again. Business as usual!

Remember that Crete is a great place to discover, with fantastic secluded spots, waiting to visit. Natural beauty mixed with the friendliness of the locals and their hospitality, plus an excellent healthy cuisine make Crete on of the best destinations to visit in without beaking your bank account!!!!

August - The SPA Month

Dear Friends of Beeinnet,

Some people believe that during August Greece, due to extreme winds, might not be the best place to be...

Although meteorological conditions are a fact and usually the north coast of Crete is troubled by winds in August, there are really a million things to do during August vacations in Crete.

Many of the hotels that you can check extensively at our site http://www.beeinnet.com/ offer SPA treatments to the customers, some free, some for a nominal fee.

As all of us are tired and troubled during work and city living, it is a great opportunity to grab and treat yourself in a SPA.
There you will find (in most of them at least) swimming pools with salt water, face and body treatments, massages, Yoga classes, shiatsu massage, sauna, turkish baths etc.

Many of these Hotels have exclusive premium offers in beeinnet, that you should not miss...

Drop the sea for a while, and treat yourself in order to charge for the rough city life. Enjoy Crete in a SPA...

HERAKLION SUMMER 2010 FESTIVAL

Dear friends of Beeinnet,

As the summer is here, the city of Heraklion, is pereparing a wide range of cultural events.

Find the message of the mayor of the city following concerning the Festival :

"Welcome to the 2010 Heraklion Summer Arts Festival, and to one of the


best established cultural institutions run by our Municipality, which has

been held every summer for the past 32 years.

Through the plays, music, dance and open air cinema shows on offer in this

year’s programme, held in the historic, highly attractive venues around the

Venetian Walls, we aim to offer enjoyment and optimism in the tough times

we are currently experiencing.

In addition to the performances in the main festival, we have arranged various

other events in all the neighbourhoods in the central and outlying municipal

wards, to which admission is free.

In doing so, we attain one of our fundamental goals, which is to support and

showcase local groups of artists via the programme.

At the same time, we have included events that promote our tradition and

hand on the lasting values in our culture to younger people.

We firmly believe that contact with cultural values is a fundamental need for

all citizens, which the state and the Town Hall have an obligation to meet on

their own. Despite the tough financial climate now prevailing, the Municipality

of Heraklion is doing everything in its power to cater for that need.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, healthy and optimistic

time this summer."
 
You can find some of the evnets in our site http://www.beeinnet.com/

ANOTHER BEEINNET SUGGESTION

As we try to give you the best of everything here in the Beeinnet Travel Blog, here is another suggestion to have a wonderful time in Crete.

Just a few minutes off Heraklion in the village of Gouves, the most successful nightlife team in heraklion opened the beach bar/restaurant Isla.

Although the sea in the specific spot is not the best compared to other secluded spots in Crete, the whole feel is more than great. You will find excellent wooden sunbeds with matresses, umbrellas, a 5*+ service on the beach. The waiters will try to help whatever your requirement might be.
You can have coffee, drinks or a light lunch on your sunbed.

The restaurant for lunch is excellent also. Not to mention dinner where you can dine on the deck by the sea...

The plates are executed very nicely most of the times. The meat used is of very good quality! It is not very often to find waiters that know how to service you and isla is one of these places that will remind you a micelin restaurant by the sea, in a quite affordable price.

A BEEINNET BLOG SUGGESTION

As holidays, especially in the summer are not only about lodging and hotels, and Villas etc. It is also about good food, nice wine, tasting local specialties, relaxing under the stars by the sea...

We thought to suggest one of the places we prefer to spend our nights, eating out.

This is the Olive & Mint Restaurant in Skalani. Skalani is a little village just outside Heraklion, it is very close to the city, it was actually planned to host the office of the prefecture. Just 5 min. drive off the city center you will be able to experience the narrow streets of a little cretan village, people sitting on their porch...
It is very easy to find Olive&mint as there are signs everywhere, plus you can ask the locals to guide you.

Argyro the lady owner of Olive&Mint is a really talented chef, a multi winner of the greek gourmet awards. The restaurant, her pride and joy is really a temple of good fooding.

The backgound of Argyro is local, so the basis of her recipes is the local traditional cretan cuisine, however, understanding that the modern Cretan needs a refinement in taste she has made minor inspirational alterations in traditional plates so they will easily fuse the needs of a foreigner or a younger person, without insulting nor the taste nor tradition.
By visitng Argyro you will have a clear and full idea of what the Cretan cuisine is all about. In the experience you can add one of the selected Cretan wines of the restaurant or a specially selected wine from Chile (I admit my personal favourite...) or a red full wine from northern Greece or even France...

Argyro and her daughter will make the extra mile to satisfy your needs and make you enjoy your dinner there.

During your visit please mention Beeinnet to Argyro to enjoy a privileged treatment.

A BOOK FOR UNDER THE SUN

VICTORIA HISLOP - "THE ISLAND"

This Book that got excellent critique from The Times and other Book reviews will accmpany your holidays in Crete and imagine reading it somewhere in Elounda, having a great view of Spinalonga that is all about this book.
Also there is a TV series shoot about this Book for the Greek TV these days and who knows you might bump into the crew or the actors and have a chat about the book and how the are going to turn it into a mini TV series.

Beware of Rumours About Greece

Dear Friends of Beeinnet,

In the last few days we have observed a certain behaviour in some internet forums regarding Greece.
Some forum authors are constantly trying to disseminate rumours that Greece is unsafe, that there are violent rioting that might endanger ths safety of visitors.
Let us put things straight here.
There are no special traveling advises from governments like USA or UK that advise their citizens to avoid Greece.
Greece despite the financial problems that escalated recently, is a democratic, constitutional country with deep respect to the tourist that decides to visit Greece.
It is true that there are protests outside the parliament but they rarely go out of hand and never these protests endangered the life of any of the thousands of tourists that are visiting Athens.
One other factor, in the islands like Crete the protests are almost non existent, there is peace and quiet and no one is going to harm a tourist that is in the area to have decent fun, enjoy the sun and the sea and relax. Greece like any other country has laws that must be obeyed by everybody like we do at home but that's understandable I think...Therefore anyone who expects to go out of hand in Greece and get away with it is far from it.

Greece is in the EU, and a coup or an airport occupation (even for protesting reasons) is far from truth and not a possibility.

Persons or services disseminating these rumours together with some bogus state department reports are those who profit to damage greek tourism, especially now.

Crete is a beautiful island, worth to discover. People in the villages are polite, hospitable, beaches are clean and magical, food is healthy and tasty, plus that prices are competitive and worth the investment...

If you plan your holidays in Greece come and you will have a great time. It is more than certain you will come back again and again...

A NEW SERVICE FROM BEEINNET - FERRY TICKETS!!!!

We are always thinking of ways how to facilitate the holidays of the Beeinnet friends.

Thinking how to make their life during holidays a lot easier, we have established a cooperation with major Greek Ferries shipping companies. Superfast ferries and Seajets.
Now any beeinnet visitor will be able to issue ONLINE his/hers ferry ticket and travel to the Greek islands, easily, cheap, and -above all- hassle free...

WHY NOT ENJOY THE WOLRD CUP IN CRETE?

The World Cup is about to start in a few days. Do you have tickets and arrangements for South Africa? No? You are right, too far away, and the prices these days....sky rocketing.
Then we have another suggestion for you. You might not be able to smell the sweat of the players, yet you can enjoy few days or relaxation without taking another mortgage.

You can visit a hotel in Crete, in Greece. These days, due to the economic crisis, Greece is an ideal destination. Prices are falling as all local businesses are desperately looking for money. Hotel deals are on their best, qulaity of sun, and sea is exceptional.

Plus all hoteliers are well equiped with large screens, where you can enjoy the football matches together with free drinks, beers local finger food...

Is there anything better, than having a great time with less money? Plus not to miss the World Cup?

A Beeinnet Suggestion

Although making dine&wine suggestions from Beeinnet will be arranged formally in a while, and all Beeinnet.com visitors will have the chance to try our selections, we are tempted to propose a restaurant that is great every time we have the time to visit and try it's delicious food.

It is called Don Rosario and it is based in Chania.
The restaurant used to be last summer in a great place by the sea, near the Ravdoucha village, yet now is situated in the Souda Interchange, just over the National Road.
The environment is now more civilized but simple. No extravagant decoration, no extra luxuries. Plain simple quality Italian cuisine.

All pasta come served in a large pan and the tastes and the quality are way above average. In fact to eat similar food in any European capital you will be needing 3-4 times more money.
Service is smart and polite, they try to be more smart than polite though, yet they are fast and try to meke you comfortable and help with any request you may have.
The owner is like coming out from an old Italian movie. Although I believe he is Greek he speaks fluently italian and he prefers to act like an Italiano around the restaurant to support his image.

The wine list improved during this winter, yet do not expect to find a large variety of wines. Some basic Italians are on their wine list, yet with substantial absences (no Frascati etc).

Call them to make a reservation on 28240-23781, it will make your visit and your money worth.

Beat the Crisis Travelling

The recent economic turbulence has created high levels of uncertanity to all. Most of us consider travelling a luxury and it is the first expense to cut back when in financial trouble.

However, consider that you need recreation to be able to cope with work problems, get some sun, a suntan, relax with your wife or girlfriend, have a good relaxed time, and get back to work ready to struggle for some more months.
Expenses for travelling can be quite high, especially when travelling abroad. Yet smart choices can help you save lots of money and be able to still have these moments you deserve in the sun.
Now with the interent you can search easily for the best price and for an affordable lodging, rent a car, book tickets. If you do all these early enough, you can save up to 50% from the expenses.
You can start of course by visiting www.beeinnet.com if plan to travel to Crete or Santorini. There you will find excellent Hotels, Villas, Apartments, Houses, carefully selected, in great value for money prices.

EUROPE REOPENS FOR FLIGHTS

London, England (CNN) -- Airports across Europe began reopening Wednesday, six days after ash from an Icelandic volcano forced the shutdown of airspace and stranded thousands of passengers around the world.

The airspace over the United Kingdom, Norway, Belgium and Ireland was open again, and German and Danish airspace was expected to reopen fully later in the day, air traffic authorities said.
French authorities said all long-haul flights were leaving from Paris airports, along with 60 percent of short-haul flights.

A British Airways flight from Vancouver was the first to land at London's Heathrow Airport late Tuesday, and a total of 25 mostly long-haul flights had landed by the morning, the airport said. There were no takeoffs by Wednesday morning, though, and the airport warned that not all flights would operate right away.

Latest air travel developments
Manchester Airport said four planes would land there Wednesday morning but no departures had yet been scheduled.
More on http://www.cnn.com/

Moreover, according to Crete local press, more than 8,000 tourists are stranded in Crete due to the volcanic activity, and the cost of this situation is estimated approx. 500,000 € daily. To help tourists move to their destination, the cretan agency Cretan Holidays S.A hired coaches to manage to send tourists with health problems or in emergency to Germany, using vessel to Piraeus and then by road to Germany.

THE CRETAN CULTURE

Tradition and culture on Crete are very closely linked to another. Even today in some of the villages the traditional customs and way of life still exist, e.g. the man is the undisputable head of the family. The women have their freedom, but this doesn't include all rights by a long way. Most of the rights and duties of the women are restricted to bringing up the children and looking after the house. The men enjoy going to the cafenion where they spend hours. A cafenion is a bare, plain, simple room, in which the men read their newspapers, enjoy their coffee, play backgammon, discuss and of course during all this time they play with their Komboloi, a sort of rosary of beads.

At every occasion the Cretans sing and dance. Particularly in the last years, the old folk dances are experiencing a comeback. Everything on this island is hotter. Words, songs, dances, love and hate as well as feelings and thinking. Most events and celebrations take place locally. The most important Greek-Orthodox celebration is Easter.

One of the best characteristics of the Cretans is without doubt their hospitality. This has an ancient tradition on the island and that still applies today.

On Crete not only is wine produced, but also drunken with pleasure. Greek food is usually served lukewarm, while cooking is done only once a day and the meals kept warm. During your trip through Cretan cuisine, don't forget that Cretan food doesn't just consist of "Greek salad" and "Tzatziki".

Souvenirs at amazingly good value are on sale. Souvenirs such as lace tablecloths, leather bags and belts, pottery jugs and figurines.

CRETAN MONASTERIES AND CHURCHES

Apart from the excavation sites of the Minoan Periods, there are a wealth of Byzantine cultural monuments: over 1.000 churches, chapels and paintings, and more than 30 impressive monasteries are strung out across the island between Chrissoskalitissa in the far west and Toplou in the east.

Also worth a visit: Agia Triada, Arkadi, Gonia, Gouverneto, Kapsa, Katholiko, Odigitrias, Preveli, Valsamonero and Vrondisi

ANISSARAS - PARADISE WITHIN REACH

Anissara was built a few years ago without any real planning and therefore does not have a village centre. The village is situated ca. 4 km west of Hersonissos and 1,5 km east of the tiny village of Analipsi.

However there are taverns offering Greek specialities and a few souvenir and jewellers' shops. The beach promenade is ideal for a stroll in the evening.

The neighbouring town of Hersonissos has quickly developed into a tourist centre in the last few years and offers more shopping facilities and entertainment. In the evening begins the lively activity in the numerous discotheques and bars.

PLACES TO VISIT IN CRETE - SFAKIA

The Sfakia region is one of the most mountainous, wildest and unspoilt landscapes and contains the most and largest gorges.

The main town of this county is Chora Sfakion, a picturesque harbour where boats from Agia Roumeli dock, bringing the hikers from the Samaria gorge. But despite this, visitors can enjoy the quiet and calm of the village at the seaside cafes and tavernas. Visit http://www.beeinnet.com/ to find where to stay in the Sfakia Region.

Chora Sfakion is famous as one of the centres of resistance. The White Mountains in the north, combined with the rocky beaches in the south, helped the locals to defend their freedom against all invaders.
Not only a paradise for hikers, apart from the gorges Samaria, Aradhena, Anopolis and Imbros, there are also several beaches accessible from Chora Sfakion.

The more adventurous visitor can follow the European hiking footpath, the E4, which crosses Crete from west to east.
Apart from the outstanding natural beauty of the indented rocky shoreline, the small Venetian fortress at Chora Sfakion, built in 1526 as part of a defence system of towers and fortresses and later taken over by the Turks, is worth visiting.
All the hotels around Chora Sfakion in http://www.beeinnet.com/

Palace of Phaestos

The palace of Phaestos stands dominantly on a hill at the edge of the Messara Plain with a wonderful panorama view of the plain to the Asteroussia Mountains and the Ida Range where, according to mythology, King Radamanthes, son of Zeus and brother of King Minos, ruled over the city with the same name and over the south of Crete, 4000 years ago. You can check all arcaheological sites in Crete. make your reservation now through http://www.beeinnet.com/ and visit the Land of Myth and Heart...

The city controlled the whole of the Messara Plain; its ports were Kommos and Matala.
Stone Age settlements covering the whole area up until 2600 BC have been documented.
The building of the first palace took place in 1800 BC and was destroyed in 1700 BC by a huge earthquake. The new palace was built on the foundations of the old one in 1600 BC, but was smaller. A natural disaster completely destroyed the complex in 1450 BC and it was never rebuilt.
Most of the ruins, which are visible today, are from the new palace. Any form of reconstruction was consciously rejected.

The finds of the new palace were not as splendid as those of the old palace. In Phaestos neither rich frescoes nor valuable things were found as in Knossos for example. As valuable finds were made in 3 km distant Villa of Agia Triada, it is assumed that the ruler of Phaestos used the villa as residence.
The Italian archaeologist Fredrico Halbherr, who had mainly been digging at Gortyna, began the excavation of Phaestos in 1900.
The most well known find is the Discus of Phaestos; up until today the script has still not been deciphered.

Check Villas, Houses, Appartments, Hotels near Phaestos in http://www.beeinnet.com/

CRETAN WINE & RAKI

Wine - the nectar of the gods

For centuries, much mythological and historical information indicated that Crete is the homeland of wine. Archaeological excavations have brought to light the oldest wine preparation system.
The long hours of sunshine, the temperatures, the earth and the sea are the best conditions for the vineyards on Crete.
Wine producing areas are spread over the whole of the island, giving a large choice of local wines ranging from dry white to rose and liqueur wine.

The best-known wine producing areas are Dafnes, Archanes, Peza and Sitia, just to mention a few.

Raki - The diversity

The diversity of raki is apparent as it is drunken in relaxed company with friends, used for cooking and baking, or even for medicinal purposes.
Raki is produced from the must or skins of pressed grapes, and is only allowed to be distilled during the months of August and September. Often the distillation is accompanied by a small celebration with grilled meat and lasting until the early hours of the morning.
Raki has an alcohol volume of 40%. One really should try raki, but shouldn't try to keep up with the consumption of the local inhabitants.

THE CRETAN DIET

The Cretan diet allows Cretans the highest life expectation in the whole of Europe, as doctors and scientists already discovered 15 years ago. A diet of nutrients containing vitamin E, which is to be found in poultry, seafood, wheat and raw or cooked green wild vegetables, protects against heart attacks, as published in a study by the American Heart Society. The fact that simple fatty acids in pure Cretan "extra virgin" olive oil, together with Vitamin E, slow down the oxidation process and protect the arteries against deposits of "bad" cholesterol, was only recently discovered by doctors.

For cooking, use only original, cold pressed olive oil with a fat content of 0,1 - 1% which Cretan cooperative societies and exporters send directly to the supermarkets of Europe.

An absolute must is the enjoyment of a glass of real, pure Cretan red wine, a naturally fermented wine, which ensures you a long and healthy life and which was delivered to all the royal courts of Europe in the Middle Ages by Venetian traders.

HAVE A GOOD JOURNEY WITH BEEINNET.COM !

Every year thousands of sun-hungry tourists visit Crete and search, each in his own way, during the few days of holiday a year, to fulfil the personal ideas, which have become the essence of sensible travel. Some like to educate themselves, others just want to "switch off" and enjoy themselves, some want to just enjoy life on the beach and others just to become conscious of themselves.

We have collected some information for a carefree holiday. The information contains a lot of different useful tips as well as background information about the country and the people.
We hope that our Blog will be of help.
We expect your feedback!