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Chania, a beautiful port town in Crete

Chania is a city on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. It’s known for its 14th-century Venetian harbor, narrow streets and waterfront restaurants. I have visited Chania 3 times. From where I live the distance is very short and the price is quite cheap! We got a direct Ryanair flight to Chania from Paphos which cost us around 65 Euros return. When you arrive at Chania airport, if you’re a group it’s worth taking a taxi to the center which is around 15 EUR or take the bus which is around 2 EUR. Stay We stayed at the Kasteli Studios & Apartments in the 3 bedroom house. It was wonderful. The house was clean and cozy. It's a nice traditional place with a garden, an amazing place to sit and relax since it’s quite. Better to stay here than any other luxury hotel. The owner, Mr. Alexis welcomed us and provided us with drinks and fruit. He also answered any questions we had regarding the place and provided us information about places we can visit. Our rooms were cleaned and tidied every day. The location of Kasteli Studios is near the port and the Chania center; you only need to walk 2-3 minutes to get to the old port. I would totally recommend the place and will come back for sure when we are in Chania again. I also stayed at Elia Daliani Suites right in the center however during the night the street is very noisy due to the fact that there's a lot of bars in the same street. Booking.com Eat & Drink Every morning we had breakfast in Aroma at the old port. You can get a coffee and a ham & cheese sandwich for 3-4 EUR. The best food we had in Chania was at Tamam and Ta Chalkina. We visited Tamam, near the old port, during lunchtime. I would totally recommend you to go there if you are in Chania and have the Tamam salad and the Iranian rice, awesome tastes. Both restaurants provide you with a nice atmosphere and great food. Some [...]

Balos Lagoon, Crete – A MUST visit

The famous Balos Lagoon is the most photographed beach and a touristic spot in Crete. Balos Lagoon is located approximately 56km northwest of Chania and 17km northwest of Kissamos, between the Cape Gramvousa and the small Cape Tigani and below the range of Platiskinos. Balos is famous for its crystal clear waters, its natural beauty, and its beautiful scenery. During summer time, Balos is visited by thousands of locals and tourists, who arrive mostly by the ferries from Kissamos port. If you do not like crowds, you’d better avoid visiting the beach in July and August (especially after midday). The perfect time is to arrive at Balos is early in the morning, before the boats arrive from Kissamos. Accessing the Lagoon The best and most convenient way to visit Balos blue lagoon is to drive there. No matter where you are located in Crete, just take a car and start your journey early in the morning. Bear in mind that the road from Kaliviani until you reach Cape Gramvousa is not premixed. Once you reach Kaliviani you'll be required to pay a fee, per person, which is used for the preservation of Balos. After a few miles, you will reach a wide parking area. Make sure to drive slowly and enjoy the scene. On the way, you'll get to see many goats. Bear in mind, if you visit the beach with a ferry you won't get to admire this wonderful view, so I strongly recommend you to go there by car or bus in order to view the lagoon from the top of the hill. From there you'll have to walk down to reach the lagoon. My first advice is to wear trainers and NOT FLIP FLOPS! My second tip is to have water with you. Balos Lagoon has white sand and exotic white, vivid blue and turquoise waters. The sea is very shallow and warm making it ideal for children. In some areas, the sand has a slightly pink color, because of hundreds of crushed shells. Beyond the rocks at [...]