Planning your next holiday is always exciting. There are so many places you’d like to see, at least once in a lifetime. However, there are some places you simply can’t enjoy to the fullest even on a month long stay. One of those places would be Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands. Unless you’ve ever been to this amazing island, you can’t imagine all there is to see and experience. Once you’ve been there, you’ll understand why you can’t just go there once in a lifetime. Here are five of those reasons.
1. Greek Cuisine at Its Very Best
There is no denying that Greece is a foodie’s paradise but when it comes to Crete, it’s beyond paradise if there is any such thing! While you are probably familiar with many of the more famous Greek dishes such as souvlaki and moussaka, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried two amazing Cretan cheeses: Dakos and Kalitsounia. Dakos is made from sheep’s milk and flavoured with ripe tomatoes and rusk while Kalitsounia is actually a cheese pie, usually a bit sweet but not overwhelmingly so. While you can find these dough-wrapped delights throughout all of Greece, they are a specialty of Crete as you’ll soon see.
2. Luxury Accommodations Mediterranean Style
Then there are the luxury villas in Crete you can stay in instead of the hotels in busier and much noisier parts of the island. You might want to consider the luxury accommodation here because BlueVillas offer only the most luxurious and comfortable villas for rent on the entire island. Many holiday goers find that they like to visit the local shops to bring home those amazing cheeses and other delicacies to eat whilst looking out at the crystal blue waters or sitting around the pool at their villa. It’s really the most economical way to spend several weeks on this spectacular island, but when you have luxury and comfort thrown into the mix, who would want to stay in a crowded hotel?
3. Hidden Gems Like the Tiny Village of Loutro
You will often hear of places to visit which are “off the beaten path” Well, Loutro truly is off the beaten path because it is inaccessible by land! The only way you can reach this tiny fishing village nestled behind steep hills is by boat and that makes it all the more exciting. Not only will you get to enjoy a tiny town almost untouched by modernisation, but you will have the pleasure of a boat ride. You could always hike across the mountains, but most people aren’t on Crete for such strenuous activities. You are here for the luxurious lifestyle you can enjoy, so why settle for anything less than a boat ride captained by a man who is probably part of a family that has lived on the island for hundreds of years?
4. Spend a Day in Chania
As the largest city in the Greek Islands, you will find much to do and see in Chania. Since Greece has a total of 6,000 islands, that’s saying a lot. However, only 227 of those 6,000 islands are inhabited, so don’t let that number fool you. Even so, when it comes to a bit of nightlife or shopping, you’ll likely find it in this amazing city that is the perfect blend of old and new. Shop at new malls that cater to tourists or visit local shops along the narrower streets away from the main hub of activity. The choice is yours but you will most definitely find something to do in Chania.
5. Get Out and About to Mingle with the Locals
If there is just one thing you will want to do on your extended holiday in Crete, it would be to get out and about to mingle with the locals. You will likely find old storytellers who have a family line dating back many, many generations. These old men (and a few women scattered about!) love nothing more than to spin a tale or two of times gone by. They have perfected the art of storytelling and will recite the history of their amazing island back to its many conquerors and will also be able to give you the low down on more recent history as well, from a local perspective. There’s nothing like getting a history lesson from a local vantage point and these men can keep you mesmerised for hours on end.
What wasn’t mentioned above is the spectacular panoramic view of some of the bluest water on earth or the wild and rough terrain on this, the largest of the Greek islands. Anyone looking for a bit of adventure might want to spend a few days exploring out in the wild, but for those of you seeking a luxurious holiday, enjoy that villa while you can. There’s nowhere on earth with weather and beauty like this, so make the most of it and you’ll see why Crete is not someplace you’ll only want to visit once in a lifetime. The allure of this amazing island will bring you back year after year after year.
