The tourist season on Crete is about to take off, but travelers who book in late Spring can enjoy this top destination minus the burgeoning throng of fellow sun worshippers. Great prices and unique packages also offer added incentive for visiting one of the world’s most sought after destinations. Here’s a short list of fabulous deals we found for last minute Crete vacationing.
Budget UK Family Trips
Absolutely Travel has almost unbelievable family vacation packages from Manchester Airport for 7 Nights starting Sat 25 May 2019 and ending Sat 01 June 2019 for a family of 4. A wide selection of accommodations in the 3-star range is available with full-board, including flights from £614 per person. A wide selection of apartment and hotel choices are available from Maleme near Chania to Malia and beyond. Four-star packages at resorts like Istron Bay and Kalypso Cretan Village start at £639 per person. For more selections or information, please visit Absolutely Travel UK.
Americans in Paradise
As an American who lives on this Crete paradise, I often wonder why I don’t see more of my countrymen here. The biggest reason is that not too many Americans know that much about Crete. And as a second consideration, the costs to visit the Greek islands compared to the Caribbean, for instance, may seem excessive. Fortunately, with a little research, you can get AMAZING deals for flights and all-inclusive stays on the shining Aegean. Using TripAdvisor I was able to come up with several closeby 5-star packages with Atlanta as my departure pick. Right on the front beach in Heraklion, the Apollonia Beach Resort & Spa is a “best value” choice not because it’s less than $1,400 dollars per person for two weeks in Crete, but because this fabulous resort is just minutes from dozens of the island’s most visited attractions too.
From Paris
Lastminute.com offers some of the best 5-star couples deals we’ve found. Whether you want to stay in Heraklion and take excursions out, or if you want an all-inclusive luxurious stay at an amazing beach, all-inclusive deals for 15 nights range from £1,082 per person at the amazing Galaxy Hotel Heraklion, to £1,902 for the all-inclusive at the Minoa Palace Imperial Wing in Platanias outside Chania. Travelers will fly from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Heraklion and back via Transavia and Aegean Airlines. More economical deals are also available for destinations like Sissi village, in between Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos.
Doing Crete Your Way
For the traveler who would as soon do things his or her own way, there can be a huge relative value. As a “for instance” we found flights from London’s Gatwick to Heraklion for two persons for £289.96 via Thomas Cook Airline. By searching the island’s best-hidden gems it’s possible to get unbelievable last minute deals. If you book at the all-new SeaScape Luxury Residences in amazing Agia Pelagia, for instance, you get a self-catered 4-star deal for about £34 quid per night (£533 for 14 days) just steps from one of the world’s most amazing sun/swim spots. With the transfers to and from Heraklion Airport for less than £40, travelers will get a personalized trip to paradise £857. While self-catered stays are not for everyone, those wanting the real Crete experience will be dining (extra) at some of the island’s best (and cheapest) gastronomy spots. I recommend Almyra Seaside Food & Cocktails, a classy/cool hangout right on the pristine beach at Agia Pelagia Bay.
Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete Too!
If you’re thinking of taking the grand tour of Greek isles, Go Ahead Tours is offering savings of up to $400 per person on the June 25 departure of the 12-night Greek Islands: Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete. The tour costs $3,199 per person but includes lodging, 17 meals, motor coach transport, three ferry transfers, the flights in between Crete and Athens, the tour guide, three tours, and all taxes. This is a great package with only one flaw, travelers are only on Crete for a day and a half for touring Chania and Heraklion before returning to Athens. For more information or to book please call: 800-590-1161, or visit goaheadtours.com.
Porto Platanias Deal
Jetline Holidays offers an amazing 5-star luxury stay for 7 nights at the Porto Platanias Beach Resort & Spa outside Chania. With five restaurants, five bars, five fresh-water swimming pools, and a six-day animation programme, the resort is one of the most complete holiday destinations on the island. And for £299 per person with flights and half-board, the May deal we found is just tough to beat. The only downside to this holiday deal is that travelers will have to fly from the UK’s East Midlands Airport.
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Love Crete, especially the Chania western end of the island. Great port and some fab restaurants. Good tough to explore the back streets for restaurants and avoid those on the seafront.