Let's take a closer look at the cost of a beach holiday in Crete, prices for air tickets from Moscow, which accommodation can be rented for a long time, documents for applying for a visa to Russians, the best all-inclusive hotels by the sea and other issues related to planning a vacation.
Crete is open to tourists all year round. In winter and spring, accommodation prices drop sharply. During this period, outdoor enthusiasts come to the island. The main tourist season lasts from April to the end of October.
When is the best time to go to rest in Crete?
Crete is the largest Greek island with an area of 8261 km². Most of the island is mountainous. The island is washed by three seas: Cretan, Libyan and Ionian. Therefore, the climate is very different in different parts of the island and at different heights. It is more important for tourists to know the temperature on the coast.
The peculiarity of the island is that the water temperature off the coast of Crete remains warm for a long time. The swimming season is here until the end of November. You can determine when is the best time to relax in Crete by learning more about the island's weather.
Crete Monthly Weather
- Autumn in Crete. The daytime air temperature gradually decreases from 28 ° C in September to 20 ° C in November. Water temperature + 23 ° C. Rare storms, warm gusty winds.
- Winter from December to February. Average daytime temperature + 15 ° C, water temperature + 17 ° C. Frequent storms, heavy rains, landslides in the mountains. On New Year's Eve, there is a phenomenon reminiscent of our "Indian Summer", in Crete it is called the "Kingfisher Days". The sea stops storming and the air temperature rises to + 20 ° C for several days.
- Spring... The temperature rises from 16 ° C in March to 22 ° C in May, the sea water warms up to + 5 ° C. Daylight hours increase to 10 hours, rare rains, abundant flowering. Snow melts in the mountains only towards the end of spring.
- Summer from June to August. Average daytime temperature + 29 ° C, water temperature + 25 ° C. In July, a hot wind may intensify, sometimes with sand from the African desert. The sea breeze eases the heat. The temperature does not drop below 20 ° C at night.
Visa for Russians and a list of documents
Visa to Crete for Russians is needed. Residents of Russia to travel to Greece will need a tourist visa of category "C", with the right to stay on the island for up to 3 months within six months. The cost of a visa is 35 euros. Such a visa is valid for up to five years.
Required documents for obtaining a visa to Crete:
- A copy of the first page of your international passport.
- Copies of all pages of the internal passport.
- The applicant's questionnaire can be downloaded from the embassy's website.
- Two photographs, size 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
- Round-trip ticket, hotel reservation and invitation if traveling by invitation. Or documents for a paid tour.
- Documents confirming your solvency.
- Medical insurance with coverage of 30 thousand euros.
If you are getting a Schengen visa for the first time, then you will need to appear at the embassy in person.
Flights to Crete from Moscow
You can organize your vacation yourself, just book a hotel and buy tickets to Crete from Moscow. It is better to look for cheap flight options on Aviasales, he even searches among low-cost airlines and finds great deals from all available airlines.
- The cost of plane tickets to Crete with transfers:
The minimum cost of the flight is from 7260 rubles round trip with a transfer in Athens. Travel time is about 17 hours one way. These flights are operated by Olumpic Air in conjunction with Aegean Airlines.
It is optimal to get to Crete in 6 hours by the same airlines. The cost of the flight will increase to 8700 rubles. You can fly to the island in 2 hours and 15 minutes if you take a charter flight from the Rossiya airline. The cost of such a flight is approximately 15,900 rubles.
- Prices for direct flights to Crete from Moscow:
The best Crete hotels with sandy beach
We recommend booking a hotel on your own in advance, the best option is 2-3 months before the vacation. All hotels can be viewed on the popular search engine among tourists - Booking.com.
Basically, Crete has sandy, well-equipped beaches. The beaches of Rethymno, Chania, Heraklion and Lassithi are especially popular. Here is a unique combination of mountains, caves and beaches, reaching several kilometers.
- According to vacationers, the Grecotel Creta Palace 5 * hotel in the vicinity of Rethymno is considered the best on the west coast of the island. The hotel is surrounded by tropical gardens. There are many cafes and clubs, shops, restaurants, swimming pools with fresh and sea water, hairdresser, SPA services.
- In the central part of the island near the resort town of Gouves, one of the best hotels is Grecotel Amirandes 5 *. This is a new hotel with an interesting design in the style of the majestic Minoan palaces, a spa center, many restaurants and cafes, swimming pools, tennis courts and a football field.
- All 5 stars hotels of Crete →
- Best 4 star hotels →
Cost of tours to Crete from Moscow
Prices for trips departing from Moscow start at 36,200 rubles. When staying in a 2 * hotel near the sea. Based on 7 days for two with breakfast. There are many such hotels in the vicinity of Heraklion. We recommend looking for the best cost tours to Greece through a proven search engine for all tour operators - Level.travel.
All inclusive hotels
Upcoming tours with all-inclusive food for two for 7 nights:
- The minimum price of the tour with accommodation at the Fereniki Hotel 3 * in the village of Georgioupolis, near the main tourist centers of Crete - Rethymno, Chania and the round lake Kournas. The hotel has several buildings of different designs. Free umbrellas and sun loungers by the pool.
- Beach tour with accommodation in Agelia Beach Hotel 4 * in the village of Sfakaki. Tour cost from 54156 rubles. A modern hotel with its own sandy beach. The historic center of Rethymno is about 10 kilometers away. Tourists note the peaceful atmosphere and excellent service.
- Tour with accommodation in Begeti Bay Hotel 3 * in spacious rooms overlooking the garden or the sea, first line. Tour cost - from 54443 rubles. The sandy Skalet beach is 11 kilometers long. The hotel is located in the small town of Rethymno. Free Wi-Fi.
- Tour with hotel accommodation in Crete 4 stars all inclusive. Mistral Bay Hotel 4 * - from 60,137 rubles. Modern hotel on the waterfront of Agios Nikolaos, 69 km from Heraklion Airport. Pebble beach, the hotel is located near the city center.
Prices for food and meals in a cafe
Crete is distinguished by its traditional cuisine including olives, cheese, snail, lamb and goat meat dishes, generously seasoned with olive oil. You can try dishes not only from fish, but also from sea urchins, shrimp, squid and cuttlefish.
Local wine made from mulberries or grapes is served at the table. You can try all this in the numerous taverns and restaurants of the island. Remembering holidays in Crete, tourists first of all remember the traditional cuisine and reasonable prices for it.
For 8-10 euros you can order a breakfast consisting of an omelette with delicious toppings for 3-4 euros, buns for 2 euros and tea for 2-3 euros. The cost of fruit will cost 2-3 euros. Lunch at the cafe will cost approximately 15 euros.
For example, soup in a cafe will cost 4-5 euros, salad - 5 euros, snacks - from 1 to 2 euros. Meat with vegetables costs 10 euros, but fish dishes will be about 5 euros more expensive. Moreover, the portions are large enough. Some establishments offer set meals for 10 - 12 euros. You can have a hearty dinner from 40 - 50 euros, excluding alcohol.
Transport fare
The most convenient way to travel around Crete is by bus or a rented car, consider the fare for all types of transport.
Types of transport:
- Bus. City buses are blue, intercity buses are green. Buses in the northern part of the island leave on schedule every hour from 06:00 to 23:00. In other parts of the island - a little less often. May be 10-30 minutes late. Average fare is 4-5 euros per hour. Tickets are sold at the ticket offices of bus stations and directly on the bus.
- Taxi... The fare will be 3-5 euros in the city, and from 75 euros to neighboring towns. It is worth bargaining with taxi drivers and finding out the exact price before starting the trip. You can get to the center from the airport by a pre-booked online taxi, the option is ideal after a long flight with tired children or large luggage.
- Boat trips... If you have a watercraft license, you can rent a boat or small yacht. The rental price starts from 90-100 euros per hour. Children will be interested in the "pirate cruise" with live music and light meals. Cruise price - from 15 euros. The cruise can only be booked in the major cities of Crete.
- Bicycle and scooter... Bicycle rental - from 6-8 euros per day or 1-1.5 euros per hour, scooter - from 20 euros per day, motorcycle - from 35 euros per day. Crete has good bike paths and bike parking.
- Rent a car in Crete, the prices for this type of travel are reasonable compared to other cities in Greece. If you prefer independence or are traveling with your family, it is better to rent a car. In addition, you can visit remote places of the island, where there are no bus routes.
For example, the famous beaches: Balos Beach, Plaka and Plakias. The cost of car rental starts from 35 euros per day with insurance. Minibus rental will cost 65 - 75 euros per day. To rent a car, it is enough to have a passport, license and driving experience of 1 year or more. The Greeks love speed and often break the rules, you need to be very careful.
It is more profitable to rent a car in Crete through Economybokings.
Prices for a beach holiday in Crete in 2021 are quite democratic and differ little from previous years. At the same time, a very high level of service is maintained on the island.
What to see in Crete.
TOP all inclusive hotels for families with children.
Holidays with children in Crete
Children in Crete have a special attitude. A number of hotels are simply designed for families. In addition to the standard set for families with children, namely:
- cot ,
- tea and coffee set or boiler for boiling water,
- sterilizer for baby bottles,
- children's potty,
- extra towels,
- bath for bathing,
- stroller,
- children's menu in the hotel restaurant,
- diapers and baby food in the hotel mini-market,
children are served by a whole staff of employees. These are nannies, educators in clubs, coaches and lifeguards.
Holidays on the island are traditional, at a high level, prices for every wallet. For family hotels "all inclusive" - from 26 600 rubles for 7 nights (only accommodation with meals). For example, at the AKS Minoa Palace 4 * hotel in Heraklion.
The best all-inclusive hotels for families with children
Some of the best hotels for families:
- Pilot Beach Resort and Spa 5 * in Georgioupolis. This hotel has a special, and free kitchen for children from 12 to 17 hours. A varied children's menu. Morning and evening buffet. 4 children's pools, a water park with water slides and attractions. Riding a small train on the territory. Children's discos, lots of toys, animators. Gentle entrance to the sea. Only a 7-day stay in this hotel for two will cost 81200 rubles with breakfast.
- Aquila Rithymna Beach 5 * in Rethymno. The huge territory of the hotel, a lot of greenery and shade. The children's kitchen is even designed for babies. Family rooms have baby baths and toilets. The hotel has a lot of Russian speaking staff. Worked, nannies, trainers and a nurse. Large children's club with theater and puppet theater. You can leave your child at night in the club. Provided that you will be on the territory of the hotel. Competitions, cycling races, children's parties are held. A tour for two with a child for 7 nights to this hotel will cost from 134,000 rubles for seven days.
Private housing rental
You can rent an apartment in Crete inexpensively yourself, by contacting the appropriate sites. There you can choose your favorite villa or apartment, read guest reviews and discuss details directly with its owner. Examples of such sites are HomeAway and Booking.
Placement examples:
- The minimum cost for accommodation at the Alexandra Room Aparthotel in Malia. The cost of an apartment with a bathroom and a balcony is from 745 rubles per night. Guests note the convenience of the location and the cleanliness of the room.
- Sea Breeze Apartments in Kalamaki. A room with a terrace costs from 1755 rubles per night when accommodating three people. The hosts organize a transfer to the airport, the house itself is on the shore. Tourists celebrate the hospitality of the hosts.
