Travel Information | Villas Crete Holidays 2/2

Travel Information

We are villa specialists and therefore do not arrange flight or ferry tickets for our guests. Our guests are usually independent travellers who prefer the flexibility to make their own arrangements to suit their needs. We can, however, arrange airport or ferry transfers for you, and/or suggest a reliable car hire company if required.

When booking your flight and/or ferry tickets you may want to consider the following points:

1. The changeover days at most of the villas is flexible during Low Season. During Mid Season many of the villas book with a Tuesday and/or Saturday changeover day but there may be some flexibility dependent upon the existing bookings each villa. During High Season many of the villa owners prefer to have a Saturday changeover day but this is also dependent upon the other bookings at the villa. We It is always best to put your villa on hold whilst looking for flights, rather than booking your flights and then finding out that they do not fit in with the changeover day/s at your preferred villa. We will have to decline any booking request that will leave a number of empty nights between bookings that results in an unacceptable loss of income for the owners.

2. The standard check in time on the day of arrival is 16.00 hours.

3. The standard check out time on the day of departure is 10.00 – 10.30 hours.

4. If you have a late flight on your departure day, dependent upon the arrival time of the next guests, and for a fee paid locally to the house manager in resort, it may be possible for you to stay on later at the villa. There is also the hotel option (see Number 6).

5. If you have an early arrival on the island you it may be possible for you to leave the luggage at the villa (after the departing guests have left) and then leave the villa and go to the beach, shops, or tavernas so that the maid and house manager can clean and fully prepare the villa without interruption. If you leave your luggage at the villa the house manager will be able to let you know at what time you can return to the villa (it will most likely be earlier than 16.00). There is also the hotel option (see Number 6).

6. If it is not possible for you to have a late check-out from the villa, or an early check-in you may be interested in knowing about The Almyrida Beach Hotel. For a charge of €20.00 per person (this may increase during the season), non-residents of the hotel can have full use of the facilities. This includes a pool towel, use of the pools, use of the luggage room, a drink (wine, beer or a soft drink), a snack from the menu, and use of the showers and changing rooms), and you can also go to the beach and tavernas. Spaces are limited, however, particularly during high season, so please go to the hotel with the windmill outside it, prior to your day of departure (or call before your arrival on Crete) and speak with reception. If they have space they will make the arrangement for you so that you can go there on the day that you book for. They will tell you where to leave your luggage, and will give you the pool towels if you ask for them. You can use the facilities at both of the hotels (the Almyrida Residence across the car park has a lovely roof top pool). You can also ask to pay a day rate for a private room if there is one available (though this is for a limited number of people per room, not for an entire party).

7. The only way to guarantee a late check out, or an early check in, is to book an extra day at either the beginning or end of your holiday (whichever is needed) if that day is available.

8. Many of the ferries from the Greek mainland (usually Athens/Piraeus) arrive into port very early in the morning.

Arriving by Air

The majority of travelers who visit Crete arrive by plane into either Daskalogiannis Airport Chania (CHQ) or Nikos Kazantsakis Airport Heraklion (HER). Between April and October, there are many direct charter flights flying direct to Crete from most European countries, therefore saving time and avoiding having to change planes in Athens.

Chania airport is situated on the Akrotiri Peninsula about 20 minutes drive from the centre of Chania Town and 30 - 45 minutes drive from our villas in the Apokoronas area (just east of Chania Town) , and 45 – 50 minutes from our villas to the west of Chania Town. Chania airport has been extended but is still the smaller of the 2 airports and is the often the better option for our guests. It is a very easy airport to find your way around, it is less chaotic than Heraklion Airport, and closer to our holiday villas.

More information about Chania Airport can be found at the following link: https://www.chq-airport.gr/en

There are more flights to Heraklion than to Chania which means that the airport is busier. The advantages to flying in and out of Heraklion airport can be the increased number of airports in Europe that you can fly in from, and the greater availability of seats, which in turn can lead to cheaper prices (though the selection at Chania airport has greatly increased over the years). Heraklion airport is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes drive from our villas. The vast majority of the very easy route is on the national highway which starts just 800m from the airport exit. The national highway follows the north coastline and the drive is therefore very scenic with the sea on your right hand side for most of the way. The journey takes longer in the dark because there are areas without street lights.

More information about Heraklion airport can be found at the following link: https://www.heraklion-airport.gr/en/

For most of the villas you exit the national highway at Kalives and then travel for about 10- 15 minutes on a smaller road/s until you arrive at your villa.

Anyone not travelling from countries with direct charter flights will need to take a scheduled international flight to Athens and then change planes to a scheduled domestic flight. There are many domestic flights a day from Athens to either Chania or Heraklion with Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, or Sky Express. Changing at Athens airport has become relatively easy since the new airport was opened a few years ago. If you have flown in with either Aegean, Olympic, or Sky Express you should already have your boarding pass for your connecting plane and your luggage will be automatically transferred for you. If you are changing from a different airline you just collect your luggage and then go upstairs to check-in at either Aegean, Olympic. or Sky Express.

Detailed information about Athens Airport can be found at the following link: https://www.athens-airport.info/

For travellers who have a long lay-over at Athens Airport, they could leave their luggage so that they can go into the city centre to see the sites. The left luggage office is at the Arrivals hall next to Gate 1. Further information about the left luggage office at Athens Airport and fees for stored baggage can be found at the following link: http://www.care4bag.gr/

Domestic Scheduled Flights

Anyone wanting more flexibility with flight times and arrival days, or anyone travelling from countries which do not have direct flights, may need to take a scheduled international flight to Athens and then change planes to a scheduled domestic flight. There are many domestic flights a day from Athens to either Chania or Heraklion with Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, and Sky Express. They merged in 2013 and Olympic is now a subsidiary of Aegean. Changing at Athens airport is relatively easy and if you have flown in with either Aegean, Olympic (or one of their Star Alliance partners), and Sky Express you should already have your boarding pass for your connecting plane and your luggage will be automatically transferred for you. If you are changing from a different airline you just collect your luggage and then go upstairs to check-in at either Aegean, Olympic, or Sky Express.

Domestic Scheduled Flights

When you are looking for flight seats we suggest that you try the following companies who sell airline tickets:

Arriving by Sea

You can take a ferry from the port of Piraeus (Athens) to either Souda (Chania) or Heraklion. There is a regular overnight ferry service and the ships depart each evening around 8:30 PM and they take approximately 10.5 hours to complete the journey, arriving at their destination at about 6.00am. During the summer there is also a high speed catamaran that runs between Piraeus (Athens) and Chania, that takes about 4.5 hours.

Travelling by ferry is generally cheaper than flying and can be quite an adventure. For those on a budget you can go deck class, and for those of you who require a little more comfort sleeper cabins can be bought with bunks for either 2 or 4 persons (best to book in advance). The ferries have cafes, bars and restaurants, and some have entertainment areas and occasionally a swimming pool. An overnight summer sailing is the cheapest option but you might prefer to avoid weekends and travelling at the beginning or end of Greek holidays as the ferries can then be very crowded. Particularly during the winter, stormy weather can cause the ferries to be delayed of cancelled, whereas planes can fly in almost any weather. For ferry schedules and prices, go to:

Airline	Countries
AEGEAN AIRLINES	Many Countries, some via Athens.
BRITISH AIRWAYS	UK
EASY JET	UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Switzerland direct.
EUROWINGS	Many countries in Europe
JET2	UK
NORWEGIAN	UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden
OLYMPIC AIR	A subsidiary of Aegean Airlines via Athens
RYAN AIR	UK, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania.
SKY EXPRESS	Via Athens: UK, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland.
THOMAS COOK AIRLINES	UK
TRANSAVIA	France, Netherlands direct.
TUI FLIGHTS UK	UK
TUI FLIGHTS EUROPE	Europe
TUI FLIGHTS IRELAND	Republic of Ireland
WIZZ AIR	Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania.