About Crete

For our villas in Crete, the nearest airport is Chania (sometimes written as Hania). This is a easy
half-hour to forty minute drive away, depending on traffic.

Chania airport is your easiest option because there are regular flights on a Tuesday from most UK main
& regional airports. Most of the villa rental market in West Crete is geared towards
Tuesday. If you can organise your holiday to start on a Tuesday you are more likely to get the availability you prefer, but we can offer other days of the week to suite you.
The alternative airport is Heraklion. Compared to Chania, flights may be slightly cheaper, and there is a
wide choice of arrival dates. However, the drive is longer, around 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has easy access to the National Highway which is a straight road across the island and gives you the opportunity to see more of Crete.
Tuesday flights to Chania from: Birmingham, Gatwick, Manchester & Newcastle airports
Tuesday flights to Heraklion from: Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Humberside,
East Midlands, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Stansted & Exeter airports.

If you cannot manage a Tuesday, of course we will still try to accommodate you, especially in the early and late times of the season. Please email requirements and we will be as flexible as we can.

NEW! EasyJet now offer scheduled direct flights from Manchester/Gatwick to Chania AND Heraklion. They offer a good selection of dates between April and October and you can schedule your return flight on a different day of the week to the one you came out on.

Although the villa's are in the village of Kokkino Chorio, we would strongly advise that you hire a car, especially if you have children, and being able to explore in your car, you will be able to get far more from your holiday in Crete. You will also be able to explore some out-of-the-way places that are off the beaten track - a drive to Sfakia on the south coast is great road with spectacular views all the way!

First piece of advice: avoid the big brand 'name' companies that you often see in the airports. These are expensive and often guilty of unscrupulous charging which customers only find out about when they get their credit card bills later at home.

We would advice you to use small, local Greek companies as used by villa owners and Crete residents. Generally, you will get better more personal service, with no hidden extras, and at reasonable prices.

Whenever we visit, we use AutoClub with a branch office in Almyrida, and often staffed by English ex-pats, so language is never a problem.

The AutoClub and Flisvos agents (usually English) will meet you in the airport arrivals lounge (either Heraklion or Chania) and organise your paperwork. The drive from either airports is fairly straightforward and clear directions are given.

Prices: expect to pay approximately 190 - 250 Euros per week for a small to medium 4-5 seater car. (Prices will be higher for pickup at Heraklion to reflect the extra distance.) Minibuses are also available at reasonable rates, either 7 or 9 seat's.

Alternatively, you can make your own way from the airport (Taxi from Chania around 35 Euros, one way) and arrange with AutoClub or Flisvos to have your car ready in Almirida or even delivered to your villa door. They are very flexible and will try to help as much as possible.

Cheques & Money

Crete is a bit behind the times where money is concerned. Credit cards and switch cards are not used very often. The Greeks tend to only use cash.

Normally banks in Greece will not cash a private cheque drawn on a bank in Greece or abroad, unless the drawer can produce a Euro cheque card.