Yes, yes. You read that right. You can have a cheap holiday in Crete, but full of rich experiences.

I am the type of person who just wants a room with a clean bed, shower and toilet. I am not a fan of super luxury AI hotels, with heated pool, spa and free massage. Also, I am not a fan of fancy and popular destinations in peak season. That’s because I am not feeling comfortable in crowded places and I have reached an age where I’d rather seek peaceful and remote locations rather than an area with clubs and bars at each step. Also, I would rather spend my money on experiences, go on day trips, taste the local flavours than eating in a fancy restaurant awarded with Michelin stars and pay 30E on a slice of bread 😊

So, here are some tips and tricks for a low cost vacation in Crete. Trust me, it will be worth it.

· If you can, go in shoulder season or at least before and after peak months, aka July and August. You can go either from early May to mid-June or from mid-September to late October. The weather is good, there might be cloudy or rainy days, but that can happen in August too, trust me (I’ve had 3 days like this in late August, last year). The only downside of going in early summer is that the water can be too cold for a swim, but that depends on each person. Also, you avoid the high temperatures from the summer months, which can be unbearable, especially if it’s a heatwave. The humidity makes the air feel like a sauna and if you go to places sheltered from the sea breeze, like the Venetian Harbour in Rethymno, it is suffocating. Or if the wind direction is from inland to the sea, even the beach feels like an oven.

· Fly there with a low cost, if possible. Before mid-June and after mid-September, Ryanair and WizzAir have cheap flights to both Heraklion and Chania. For example, Ryanair has direct flights from Brussels, Milan, Berlin and Vienna to Heraklion and from Chania to many other destinations in UK, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Cyprus, France, Malta, Ireland). The downside of low costs is that these are seasonal flights and most of them end in late September/early October. 

· If you don’t have a direct flight and you want to go off season, the best option would be Aegean Airlines, even though that sometimes includes connection in Athens. I have used this option when I didn’t have a direct flight in early June or when the flight time was not convenient for me (at 3 am at the airport? No, thanks). From time to time, they have up to 40% discount on all direct or connecting flights to Greece and I used this promotion, paying only 110E for my flight to Heraklion, 23kg checked-in luggage included. It was cheaper than a ticket at WizzAir, for example.

· Travel light, even if you go for more than a week. A cabin luggage should be enough, but that depends on each person.

· Look for accommodation outside the popular tourist destinations. For example, if you fly to Chania, don’t book a hotel in city center or in Agia Marina, which can be super crowded and expensive. Look for accommodation in villages like Kalyves or Almyrida in the east or Kolymvari and Kissamos in the west. If you fly to Heraklion, you can find good accommodation in Karteros/Prassas or Kokkini Chani to the east and in Ligaria and Gazi to the west. Use Airbnb and look for places with kitchenette and washing machine.

· Rent a car from a local company, as these usually don’t ask for deposit or credit card and if possible rent it for the entire stay. The longer the rent, the lower the price. 

· Use the public transportation. It is cheap, clean and well organized. For example, roundtrip ticket from Chania or Heraklion to Rethymno is around 15E and 1l of gasoline is 1.9E. You can’t drive 160km with not even 8l of gas, especially when it’s hot outside and you have to use aircon. 

· Refuel from local gas stations, such as Eko or Avin. The prices are cheaper than at BP or Shell.

· Eat where the locals eat. Even if it looks like it would need a cleanup, trust me, the food is very good. Sit at a table in a place where you hear mostly Greek, not a mix of languages 😊Also, avoid popular places and tourist traps. For example, when I was in Crete for the first time, we were literally ripped off at a restaurant in Rethymno, in the Venetian Harbour, as we were stupid tourists and we had little choices (2020, anno covidi). Look for cozy restaurants or tavernas on side streets, read the reviews on Trip Advisor and Google and look for reviews from the locals. Or ask your host for recommendations, they will surely point you to the best places to eat or drink.

· The northern coast of Crete is the most crowded, as the airports are located here. But if you look for cheaper accommodation and the best beaches, they can be found in the south. For example, a room for 2 adults in Ierapetra is less than 50E/night, in July. As a comparison, same conditions room in Agios Nikolaos or Hersonissos can be around 100E/night.

· Buy products from local markets and producers. They are better and cheaper.

Use the money for a day trip to a remote location, for hiking, for a wine tasting tour, for a jeep safari trip, for a handmade cream or embroidery, for a day cruise, you choose 😊