The time with my family in Crete was going to be our final stop on our trip together. Our trip to Santorini turned everything around. This would be my first time in Crete, so I was pretty excited. One because I get to explore a new place. Two because I had no expectations for my family. I just knew we were staying in a cool neighborhood and there would be a lot of beach time.
A Family In Crete Head To Chania
We had been traveling a lot the first week. So, for the second week of our trip, I wanted to sit down someplace and get comfortable. I rented us a car for the week so we could see different parts of the island. At first, I was extremely intimidated by driving the long winding roads, but by the end, I was getting annoyed with the people who drove like me on my first day.
I got us this great Airbnb in the center of old town Chania. It was just minutes to the pier, there were plenty of things to do nearby, and the house was perfect. There were three bedrooms, air conditioning, a big kitchen, a balcony, AND a rooftop. It was perfect. We were all very happy with this spot.
Although I will admit getting to the apartment wasn’t much fun. Old town Chania is great, but driving through it on a Sunday night around dinner time is a nightmare. People are all over the streets, can’t find parking anywhere, and the streets are VERY tiny. All four of us were a little nervous on that first family drive into Crete.
The Golden Shore Beach
My family spent their first day in Crete at the beach. It wasn’t the greatest beach, but it was close by and I didn’t have to drive far. So, I was all in. You could get a beach chair and umbrella for 8 euros a piece. Not too bad to mark your territory on the beach.
When I say it wasn’t the greatest beach, it was still beautiful. I mean you’re on a beach with clear blue waters. The surface under the water was weird here though. There wasn’t sand at the bottom, but one long stone surface. And there was a little drop, but then as you go deeper you could stand up and half your body was out of the water. This was perfect for Angie since she has a little fear of open water and the critters in it.
I decided to take a walk and I discovered a few things. The bathrooms were gross, I saw a lot of boobies, and we were sitting on the wrong side of the beach. We had an okay view of where we were, but the end of the beach was where it was at. But, after a couple of hours we headed home and enjoyed a home cook meal by myself and went to watch the sunset.
The Family In Crete Take A Boat Ride With Captain Nestor
While I was researching this trip I found these little charter boats that will take you on a three-hour tour. Yes. Just like Gilligan’s Island. It’s only 25 euros per person, and you get to see a part of the island you might not otherwise explore. In fact, he takes you to a tiny island across the sea where you hang for an hour.
This was a lot of fun. Captain Nestor is super kind and enthusiastic and shares some fun facts as you’re on your ride. He’ll even go snorkeling with you and help you spot some different sea creatures. My sister Jennie was out in the water all day, while the rest of us sat on the beach.
I can’t recommend Captain Nestor’s boat trip more. No matter what your age, this is a great time. I do suggest bringing along a snack or a small lunch. They have a smaller boat that will bring your things to the beach. You’re out there a bit, so it was nice to have something to snack on. If you’re ever in Crete, you don’t want to miss this experience.
Hippie Beach And The Caves
Before we left for this trip I read about these caves on the beach that a bunch of hippies lived in back in the 60s. Joni Mitchell was one of them and wrote the song “Carey” about her time there. The city of Matala is this cute little town, that had one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete. It’s a bit touristy, but we were tourists when we visited.
My sister Jennie and I explored the caves first. It cost 4 euros per person to get in. I thought it was worth it. So a brief history of the caves. They were first built to house the lepers at the end of the stone age, and then the Romans used them to store dead bodies. But, the hippies found them and lived in these stone dwellings for free.
Exploring these former rock houses is super cool. There are some with a one-carved bed and others that looked like they were made for a family. Definitely worth the 2-hour drive across the island. It’s not the smoothest drive, but worth it.
The beach is beautiful. It seems like you can see the bottom no matter how far you swim out. And with the small town of Matala on one side and the caves on the other, it’s a perfect backdrop no matter which way you turn your head. And be sure to go to the center of the town. There are a ton of cute restaurants and shops you don’t want to miss. Another wonderful day with my family in Crete.
Free Day With My Family In Chania
Chania is a great little town. There’s a lot to see and do and it’s a nice place to just relax and walk around. I had originally planned on taking a different boat ride to a place I wanted to see, but I really needed a free day. I had been playing tour guide, travel agent, chef, and chauffeur for almost two weeks straight. I needed a break.
Luckily my family was okay with this. They still had some souvenir shopping they had to do for their families. This is also our last full day in Chania, so why not enjoy it. Jennie went out on her own for a while and found this cool cafe called Plaka. It was filled with cool artwork and a Greek version of aLin Manuel Miranda working as the server. I went and met him the next day to talk a little about living in Chania. I’ll post that about that at a later date.
Having a free day was exactly what we all needed I think. I made one final dinner to eat on our rooftop together. We enjoyed a nice conversation remembering the good parts about our trip and barely even remembering the bad. It was a great way to end our last day in Chania.
Saying Goodbye To My Family In Crete
On our last full day together we headed to Heraklion. We stopped at one last beach on our way. I mainly slept on the lounge chair as my mom and sisters took to the water. We checked into one last Airbnb. I had some last-minute things I needed to take care of before they left. Mom and my sisters repacked their bags.
The next morning we got up at 4 A.M. and I drove them to the airport. I went in this time because the last time I left them alone at an airport they missed their flight. But, this was with Easy Jet and NOT Ryanair, so things actually went smoothly. We gave our hugs goodbye and they were on their way.
I had very mixed feelings about them leaving. I’m very much a solo traveler. I like doing things at my own pace and seeing what I want to see. But, I have to admit it was nice to have people to come back to and talk with. I love seeing people see something new for the first time. And as much as I was looking forward to a little me time, I wouldn’t mind them coming back in a couple of days and doing it all over again. As much as some things went wrong in the beginning, this trip felt so right in the end. And I’m extremely blessed to have had this time with my family.
Leslie
Adored this travelogue and read all the posts in one go! Travel in a group–especially when you’re the “group leader”–is so much work and stress, as I know from personal experience! Sounds like you handled it with aplomb, despite the headwinds. (Although I’m sure you needed at least a week to recover!)