Autumn in Crete

The experience of a lifetime!

It’s a common secret among travellers to Crete that summertime on the island is at least 2 months longer than most European destinations. Renowned newspapers, in 2014, praised with various articles the island’s mild climate.

The Telegraph had an article about autumn tourist destinations where Crete features as a warm and welcoming place; the same year the Austrian newspaper Kurier published a long praising article on the island describing it as a place where you can enjoy a laid back summer vacation in autumn and get to know local tradition.

The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail included Crete in the six top European destinations for an autumn holiday, saying that people who prefer to extend their summer vacation all the way into October should visit Crete.
One of the island’s biggest assets - apart from beaches - is the famous Cretan cuisine which you can enjoy all over the place.

 The reason for all of the above is quite simple. Crete is located in the southeast part of the European continent and temperature never drops below 20º C from September until November.

The average sunshine totals seven hours. Water temperature in the south shores washed by the Libyan sea reaches 23º C and the average air temperature is 26º C.

The atmosphere is limpid most of the time and the tall mountains are clearly defined against the horizon in every detail.
The summer’s blue sea waters change into new fascinating hues, the autumn winds fill the heretofore clear blue skies with amazing cloud shapes and the fairly limited rainfall is very welcome after the dry season has passed.

However swimming remains one of the activities you will definitely enjoy even in late October. Make a note that at this time of the year you will find that there are less tourists so you’ll get better holiday deals as prices are down compared to the high season.

 While you are on your autumn trip to Crete don’t miss the opportunity to visit the renowned historical sites, monuments and museums.

The season’s mild weather will tempt you to discover inland secrets and the wide variety of flora and fauna, to visit picturesque mountainous villages as well as those of the lowlands, to follow the hiking trails, go mountaineering or cross breathtaking ravines such as the well-known Samaria Gorge, Kourtaliotiko Gorge etc.

 The end of the summer is the time for agricultural activities such as grape harvesting and sun-drying of the grape berries so as to produce raisins.  

Ploughing, sowing, grape pressing, wine and raki making are all activities that take place later in the fall.

This time of year you can follow the traditional agricultural activities: participate in grape harvesting and pressing, go olive picking, watch the procedure of raki making in cauldrons- cauldron feasts, as it evolves into a traditional celebration, taste local products and learn about the way they are made in the island’s agritourism farms.

Let’s bear in mind that traditional Cretan cuisine is based on fresh seasonal produce and that makes it all the more tasty not to mention healthier and more nutritious!
(source:VisitGreece)

Crete FVW Workshop Offers Insight into German Travel Trends

Extending the season and tapping into wellness tourism in spring and fall are key priorities for Crete’s regional authorities who joined German media and tourism professionals on the island that hosted the annual FVW workshop last month.

Germany’s leading trade magazine for tourism and business travel organized its annual meeting on Crete together with the Region of Crete and with the support of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) and the tourism ministry.

Titled “Sustainability. The Path to Longevity – Discovering the Authentic Crete and its Treasures”, the workshop brought together Germany’s top tour operators, travel agents and journalists who exchanged views and insight with local sector professionals.

Holding the largest share of the tourist market in terms of arrivals from Germany, and attracting significant investor interest, Crete remains a top choice for German travelers.

Workshop participants explored, among others, the further development of the Cretan tourist product, which is diverse and capable of attracting travelers to the island all year round. The workshop’s program aimed to offer delegates experiential experiences and included visits to Crete’s traditional sights and cultural spots.

Indicatively, in this direction, Crete’s Commissioner of Tourism, Michalis Vamiedakis referred to a three-pronged strategy – Crete: tourism + culture + products, which includes branding the island’s famed hospitality and lifestyle under the “Live Like a Cretan” motto.

Vamiedakis said the highest number of arrivals to Crete was from the German market and the tourist season had already been extended by one week.

Among the options for year-round tourism, workshop delegates suggested gastronomy and wine tasting tours, interactive activities, agrotourism, healing and wellness tourism, entertainment, sports and adventure, conferences, educational and scientific forums, and the development of city break tourism, mainly in Chania and Rethymno.

 In the meantime, according to market analyst Crysostomos Antoniadis representing Trevo Trend, based on booking demands, Greece is ranked third for package holidays behind Spain and Turkey, with the German market marking a 14 percent rise.

He went on to add that in terms of demand: Heraklion was first with 50.91 percent, followed by Rethymno at 20.19 percent, Chania with 16.19 percent, and Lassithi with 12.70 percent.

Based on 64.2 million searches so far, up by 15 percent, interest in winter holidays is low with June and July, and then May, gathering the greatest demand.

According to German tour operators attending the event, including TUI Germany, Alltours Flugreisen, FTI Touristik, Ferien Touristik, and LMX Touristik, it is vital due to the strong demand – 40 percent of their clients request to visit Crete – to ensure bed capacity and airline seats. They added that travelers prefer to explore the destination, opting against all inclusive holiday deals.

Interestingly, according to German travel agents 66 percent of their customers said they were unaware of alternative Crete options with 22 percent expressing interest in destination sustainability.
(source:gtp)

WTM London confirms Greece’s “golden year” in tourism and highlights challenges

By Thanasis Gavos / Published on: 06-11-2018, 17:14 (IBNA)

Greece’s participation with 70 co-exhibitors in this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London is one of the main poles of attraction for international tourism professionals attending for yet another year.

As the Minister for Tourism Elena Kountoura confirmed, the number of arrivals will have exceeded 32 million by the end of the year, making 2018 another record-breaking year.

Even though observers have noted that this level of arrivals should have probably been translated into even more money pouring in, Mrs Kountoura said that revenue would reach 16.2m euros, in a significant double-digit year on year increase.

“We have exceeded every expectation. We are rightfully talking about a golden year for Greek tourism, a year that will be for ever remembered,” commented the Minister.

The 32m plus of arrivals include cruise visitors. Cruise and yachting are some of the sectors where the emphasis of the national tourism strategy will turn in the coming years, said Mrs Kountoura.

She added in the increase in capacity in 4 and 5-star hotels and resorts, the expansion of internal flight connectivity, the opening up of new markets such as the Chinese and the Indian ones, the modernisation of state tourism education and the “digital transformation and innovation” of Greek tourism.

Greek tourism professionals have at the same time, however, pointed to several challenges facing the country over the coming years. First is the recovery of traditionally competitive destinations such as Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia, with a product which is much cheaper than what Greece offers.

The minister dismissed such concerns: “What Greece has to offer is so unique that the more stability, peace, security and balance there is in the region, the more we will be growing.”

Smaller tour operators at the WTM were lamenting the restricted space they have been left with as the big international players have all but conquered the Greek market. “They won’t hold their punches. They demand and they get the best hotels at the highest of seasons,” one told IBNA.

The President of SETE (Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises) Yiannis Retsos noted that team work has kept Greece in the top-10 destinations worldwide.

But, he noted, overtaxation has been hitting tourism professionals hard. “Of course this applies to all sectors of the Greek economy,” he added. “What I and SETE are really concerned about right now is the infrastructure. The 32 million of visitors are now testing our public infrastructure every day: waste disposal management, power and water supplies, sewage systems, airports, ports. If we want the country to continue being a protagonist we need to invest and improve.”

Greek karidopita

By: Ioanna Stamoulou | 30.08.2017 | Desserts, Greek Classics, Mediterranean Cooking

This traditional mouthwatering walnut cake is so fluffy and extra syrupy, scented with cinnamon and clove aromas! Try it out and be amazed by the unique texture and rich flavor. Serve with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of melted chocolate and go over the top!

Serves: 1 medium baking pan Preparation: 25′ Cooks in: 50′ Ready in: 1:15′

Ingredients
12 eggs, whites and yolks separated
12 tbsp sugar
12 tbsp powdered Melba toast or bredcrumbs
12 tbsp chopped walnuts
12 tbsp semolina flour
4 tbsp brandy
2 oranges, zested
20gr baking powder
1 tsp powdered cinnamon
1/2 tsp grounded clove
a pinch grounded allspice

For the syrup:
4 cups sugar
4 cups water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lemon juiced
1/4 cup cognac

Method

Step 1
Preheat oven at 180C. Mix sugar and egg yolks using an electric mixer and at medium-high speed for at least 5 minutes, until really fluffy, smooth and creamy. Pour in the cognac whilst continue mixing. Set aside.

Step 2
Meanwhile, in a bowl blend semolina flour with powdered Melba toast, chopped walnut, baking powder, orange zest and all spices with a spoon.

Step 3
Combine the two mixtures and blend with a silicone spatula, until smooth.

Step 4
Whisk egg whites into the bowl of the electric mixer, along with a pinch of salt until mixture is very thick and glossy and a long trailing peak forms when the whisk is lifted (meringue). Add gradually meringue into the mixture using a clean spatula and blend with light circular movements from the bottom up.

Step 5
Butter the bottom and the sides of a baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for about 45-50 minutes, until fluffy, nicely colored on the outside and baked through.

Step 6
Meanwhile prepare the syrup. Add all ingredients for the syrup except lemon juice and cognac into a pot for about 8 minutes until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and boil for another minute. Remove pot from heat and stir in cognac. Let cool.

Step 7
Very slowly ladle the hot syrup all over the cold cake, allowing time for each ladle of syrup to be absorbed. Let cool completely and serve ideally with some vanilla ice-cream.

Photo Anastasia Adamaki Food styling Antonia Kati

New Review on Tripadvisor: Tutto perfetto!

'We have been new guests of Plakias Suites .. and the judgment remains the same: the maximum.

The complex is located in the quieter part of the long and beautiful beach of Plakias, which can be accessed simply by crossing the road.

At the beach there are umbrellas and sunbeds reserved for guests of the structure, with plenty of space available.

The suites are always like new: from year to year they are whitewashed and partially renovated, the feeling is to access a newly inaugurated facility.

So do not change the judgment: spacious, clean and well-appointed - with some details that makes your stay perfect: blinds to sleep in the dark, a veranda perfect for relaxing and having more space, a fully equipped kitchen but also the presence, next to a good restaurant to eat or take away.

Housekeeping is done every day, the feeling is really about being in a hotel suite.

Plakias' location allows you to visit a dozen of the most beautiful beaches within walking distance, and Eleni and Giorgos (the owners) are super willing to give directions and advice on places to go: this also makes Plakias Suites a perfect base for visit the south of the island. 

We will be back again'

Stayed: August 2018, travelled with family

 See here: TripAdvisor

 

 Plakiassuites: Ranked #1 of 51 Speciality Lodging in Plakias, Retyhymno - Crete!

  

  114 Reviews Certificate of Excellence

Greece among top choices for Russian tourists

Russian tourists are fourth in terms of arrivals in Greece

Despite the fact that the diplomatic row between Athens and Moscow went up a notch after the retaliatory expulsion of Greek diplomats by Moscow, the Russian Embassy in Greece “celebrated” the fact that Russian tourists chose Greece as one of their top destinations.

Russian tourists are fourth in terms of arrivals to Greece for 2017 after the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, and third in overnight stays after Germany and the United Kingdom.

It is worth noting that arrivals rose by 13.3% compared to last year, surpassing 5.7 million overnight stays.
(source:proto thema)

Tripadvisor: Acropolis Museum in top 6 Travelers Choice Awards for 2018

The Acropolis Museum was ahead of the Louvre in Paris

Move over, Mona Lisa, The Acropolis Museum in Athens was ranked sixth in TripAdvisor’s annual Travelers Choice Awards for 2018 for museums, just ahead of the famed Louvre in Paris.

Designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi and inaugurated in 2009 with the intention of getting the British Museum to return the stolen Parthenon Marbles – which didn’t happen – the building, says the review, “is as stunning as the treasures it houses,” despite some criticism for its already-aging and greying cement exterior.

The world’s best museum, according to the site, is another in Paris, the Musee d’Orsay, followed by New York’s National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and last year’s number one, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The British Museum in London was fourth and Madrid’s Prado was just ahead of the Acropolis Museum, a glass facade that faces the Acropolis and whose top floor holds space intended for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

After the Louvre, coming eighth was the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, followed by the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City and in tenth was the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

read more at thenationalherald.com