Well it's official - we are going to Crete!

We've just booked a week's holiday in the La Luna apartments and studio (a three person studio for the two of us) in the Stalis resort on the north coast of Crete.

You can see the place here (called Stalis in English, and Stalida in Greek, top left of the map, beside Malia) >> read about the place here >> the history of Crete itself here >> and the tour company are going with here >>.

We booked thorough Thomas Cook - who we just checked prices with - as it turned out they were really cheap £259.00 each plus Security fee of £7.00 each post September 11., Cheaper than our usual place which itself we thought was cheap £275.00.

We leave on Tuesday 1 October from Belfast and get back late on Tuesday the following week - which means more time off work for me...

Boy, are we looking for to this!

Reviews of similar apartments in the same resort (next door to ours...)

 

Nefeli Apartments - Stalis

Operator and Date: Libra

Submitted in April 2002 by : Mark and Russ aged forty

Resort Rating: Excellent

Accommodation Rating: Excellent

Holiday Review:

The Nefeli apartments are a family concern and what a friendly family they were nothing was too much trouble the rooms were functional clean and tidy the pool was just the right size and the home cooked moussaka and greek salads were fantastic and cheap pez the english barman single handedly invented the raki attack which left many of us comatose for many an hour Stalis its self was just lively enough for my taste and the royal oak and metropole bars will remain great holiday favourites for many a year we are going back in June so Pez beware this time we are bringing the girls with us altogether a good holiday which I would recommend to anybody.

Vasilakis Apartments - Stalis

Operator and Date: Priceright (Libra Holidays)

Resort Rating: Average

Accommodation Rating: Average

Holiday Review:

Not having any experience of package holidays i booked a one week holiday to Crete. The "apartment" was very basic.The one bedroom appt I booked turned out to be a "sleeps 4 studio" with no comforts such as a sofa. Although there were a set of table and chairs, it just wasnt the same relaxing on 2 single beds instead of a sofa! The accommodation however was exceptionally clean, our rooms quiet (even though they building is situated beside the major road from Heraklion to the resorts) and the people there very friendly. In fact most of the people from the other appartments would come to drink at Valakis - much nicer than the theme pubs on the strip.

The downside was, that we were charged £8 a week extra for fan rental - it was explained to us it was for the electricity! Apparently you dont get a fan or airconditioning with the room. The rooms would heat up and were very stuffy and so were a necessity, and we had to stump up the extra money for a fan that doesnt seem quite up to the job. The rep told us that all the Greeks hired out the fans? I wonder who is squeezing who?

In the end we left Stalis and booked into a hotel with air conditioning, breakfast and use of a swimming pool this cost 12,000 drs (£24). We also got a car rental in Crete and it worked out cheaper than booking it on the internet before. Though this may have been due to coming into low season.

We had a great time in Stalis the locals were very friendly, the weather great and the food good.

Though I will visit Crete again,I will never book a package deal away again with a tour operator, although convienent in the short term (ie transfers), you can never be sure of what you are getting.

Irida Apartments - Stalis

Operator and Date: Libra - July 2002

Opinion submitted in July 2002 by : Sharon & Neil (26,29)

Resort Rating: Excellent

Accommodation Rating: Good

My/Our Holiday Opinion:

On reading the two previous reviews just before we went, we were totally dreading going to these apartments, but thought if there really that bad - we would definately be moving.

The apartments are pretty basic but in Greece that is the norm, and you do only get what you pay for. We found them very clean with maid service two or three times a week. They are situated just of the main road so there is quite a bit of traffic noise but the pool and bar area is excellent with very friendly staff.

Stalis centre is about a 10 min walk away with Hersonissos and Malia only a taxi ride away (6Euro). Stalis is ideal for relaxing and although there are a few clubs it mainly caters for families and couples. There are plenty of good restaurants, favourites being Amici (Italian), Roma's, Golden Beach, Maria's (Greek), Jasmine (Chinese) and an excellent Mexican further into the town to name but a few. Edem and Atki Beach Bars were located on the beach front, ideal for a cool beer in the afternoon and the Beachcomber provided Karoke entertainment every night.

I would definately recommend Stalis to anyone and will definately be going back there in the future. The apartments at the Irida although basic were fine as a base to explore the island and not half as bad as I thought they would be.