OUR FIVE BEST BEACHES IN WESTERN CRETE
(Or: LIFE’S A BEACH AND THEN YOU FLY)
August is the month when local Cretans take some time out, head to the beach and take to the water. No surprises really – the sea is only a little bit cooler than skin temperature and who wouldn’t want to be on the sands on a day like that? Particularly as we have 5 of the very best beaches in Western Crete close at hand. Herewith a quick guide to our go-to beaches near the hotel.
We freely admit that the beach at Maleme, some 50m from the Mistral, is not much to write home about. Although the sea there is fine for a swim and you always have the choice of the Mistral’s two pools, one sweet water and the other sea water. If you’re a water-baby you’re well catered for.
But, nearby, we have some extravagantly wondrous expanses of sand, reckoned by some to be among the best in the world. Actually we’re not about to be the arbiter of which beach is best in the world – personally we like to watch the sea mostly from the shade of a taverna with a cold drink in our hand, interspersed with a regular interlude in the clear blue waters to work up an appetite for lunch. However, for those who want to spend more time on the sands here is a list of our ‘Beach Bunnies Top 5 Pleasing Paralias to Play on’.
FALASSARNA – BIG IS BEAUTIFUL
If you’re that person who loves to combine a day at the beach with a bit of a stroll there is nowhere better than Falassarna – actually a series of several beaches that combine to give an expanse of around 3 kms of sand. We love it and come here once every week, parking ourselves near the centre where there are beach umbrellas and, even more importantly, a fabulous taverna where we have a fish lunch. It’s a relatively short drive away. It’s also wonderful at sunset.
PRETTY IN PINK – ELAFONISSI, A FREAK OF NATURE
Let’s talk about ‘the G Spot’ – and no, we’re not thinking about Masters and Johnson, rather a unique ‘G-omorpholoy’ spot that is Elafonissi beach. Essentially it’s a peninsular that is often split in two by translucent turquoise waters. The beaches are white sand, tinged with pink where millions of tiny shells have been crushed. When the waters are in the lagoon it is no more than 1m deep and you can easily wade across it. In part it’s totally ‘au nature’ in part it’s an organised tourist delight with sunbeds and a bar or two. If that’s not enough to impress you the area is also a nature reserve, home to loggerhead turtle babies and more than 100 rare plants. Trips from the Mistral available throughout the season.
PALEOCHORA – THE BIG EASY
Sometimes an easy day on a well organised tourist beach is just the ticket. Here, overlooking the Libyan sea, you have sand, you have sea, you have umbrellas, drinks, food, water sports – what’s not to like? And if you’re the sort of sunbather that likes to double-down on going all in for the 360 degree tan, the western end of Paleochora is popular with nudists. We have a weekly pilgrimage here to soak up the rays and get some quality retail therapy amongst the craft shops.
PLATANIAS – OUR GO-TO LOCAL DAY BY THE SEASIDE
Platanias may not be one of the great beaches of the world, but in many ways it’s simply a perfect day at the seaside, Cretan style. It’s incredibly popular with locals and has a host of amenities to recommend it – bars, cafes, umbrellas, etc. Having said that it’s a long beach, a couple of kilometres long., so you can always find a secluded spot for a quiet picnic if that’s the way you roll. In terms of water quality it is Blue Flag rated. You can also hire water sports equipment And it’s all a 10-minute bus ride away from the Mistral.
