In this blog you will find a lot of useful information about the island of Crete and how to visit it. As also about the private daytrips I’ve organised, so you can live with me the real Cretan life. Information about these daytrips you will find on the right hand side under pages, Live Crete Alive daytrips.
And in case you are still looking for a place to stay, have a look at my post about Fodele Relax.
When you buy an excursion be sure you get the right information from the seller.
A lot of sellers won’t give you all the information. Here are some examples of what they may forget to tell you:
extra fees, for example : entrance fees, travel taxes, a meal that is not included, a boat trip fee, etc.
that the duration of the pick up (before the excursion starts) can take one hour or more.
that the guide will not speak only your language in the bus, but also 2 or 3 other languages.
the duration of the excursion. (the giving of a false return time is very common)
that you can’t pay everywhere with a credit card.
that cash money will be gathered in the bus by the guide.
if you will be the first or last ones on the pick up list.
If your hotel is at the end of the list you may ask if they can arrange 2 seats together. (unless you don’t mind sitting apart during the whole trip.
Here is already some more information about beach excursions on Crete.
Have with you of course your bathing suit (we have only very few nudist beaches and no organised excursion will take you there 😉) and instead of taking a towel (takes a lot of space in your bag and is quit heavy) take a large scarf to lay on, they dry fast and or very light. You will also need a pair of surf shoes because at nearly all the beaches here there are rocks in the water. Most of the beaches have sunbeds and umbrellas, but then if you don’t want to be all the time with a lot of people around you buy yourself an umbrella (they’re not expensive) so you can find yourself a quit spot on the beach. The waters in Crete are very clear so take a diving mask with you!
If you want to go for a walk in the mountains then this is what you will need.
First of all take enough water with you as also some nuts and raisons, these are light to take with you and a perfect energy source. Make sure you wear walking shoes ( no brand new onces please) and use walking sticks if you have (they will help you stepping down from rocks and stones). Protect yourself against the sun (not only your head but your whole body) by covering yourself and you should also protect yourself against the heat, so take a small towel with you that you can make wet from time to time and put it in your neck, not on your head! If you go into the mountains without a guide (something I do not recommend) take a compass with you or download one on your phone and inform some people of the hike you’re going to do.
So before you book an excursion be sure to ask about these points or try to look them up on the internet. This is easy to do for entrance fees and for distances, so you can figure out by yourself the extra money you will need, and the return time of the excursion you want to do.
And the most easy way is to send me an email to livecretealive@outlook.com with your questions about excursions organised in Crete. I will answer you accurate and within a day.
June 2019, I have never seen such a bad tourist june in the 27 years that I live and work here.
I worked only 1 day the last week but you know, it doesn’t really bother me. Last year I would have been in a very bad and anxious mood. But since I started doing yoga and meditation (I started last winter a yoga teacher course) I have a totally different look on life now.
So yesterday evening when I heard that I do not work again I decided to go to the beach, do a nice morning meditation sitting on the sand and go for a swim.
It’s like I’m on holidays and it really feels like holidays too. It’s like I’m having my first holidays in a real long time!
Covid19 is nearly gone and also here in Crete life is nearly bavk to normal , so for those who want to escape for a while and enjoy the sun, sea, mountains and our private pool Fodele Relax is still open.
I’m totally prepared to welcome you again in our beautiful villa.
Fodele is a typical Cretan village and my house is built outside of the village with great view over it. The house is also surrounded by orange trees which give me every spring a great view and a lovely blossom smell every time I open my balcony door.
What is amazing here during summer time is that twice a day swallows come to the pool to drink water or to bath here. Even while you are swimming in the pool, they come along to have their bath.