The Rough Guide to Crete 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) [Paperback]

John Fisher (Author), Geoff Garvey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rough Guide Travel Guides | Publication Date: July 5, 2001

The definitive handbook to one of the most spectacular Greek Islands. In-depth coverage of the great palace of Knossos and dozens of other Minoan, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian sights. Detailed accounts of the pick of the island's walks - including the Samarian and Imbros gorges - and the low-down on the finest unspoilt beaches. Insider's reviews of the best places to eat, drink and sleep, from seaside resorts to remote mountain villages. Perceptive background features including history, archeology, wildlife, food and drink. The Times - "Excellent and characterfully written"

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Fisher is a director at Rough Guides and has written several other Rough Guide titles, including, Greece, Portugal and Mexico. Geoff Garvey is also the co-author of the Rough Guide to Andalucia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 5th edition (July 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858286964
• ISBN-13: 978-1858286969
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,623,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Travel > Europe > Greece > Crete

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This guide is simply the best!!!, December 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Crete 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

The person who wrote the last review was stupid enough to choose a package holiday based in Hersonissos. I say this because Hersonissos is INSANELY OVERDEVELOPED (at least by Greek standards) and one would HAVE to be stupid to stay there when there are other, much more beautiful, much less crowded, much less expensive, much cleaner, and much less developed areas not too far away. Don't get me wrong - both Hersonissos and nearby Mallia are worth spending a night or two in just to experience the nightlife, but then one should move on to someplace prettier and quieter.

As someone who is of Cretian descent (my mother was born and raised there) and who has a ton of relatives there, I can honestly say that this guide is EXTREMELY accurate and on the mark about almost everything. It even contains facts and information which many natives don't know about. Although I usually stay with relatives in or near Hania, this book has helped me plan and successfully undertake some very awesome daytrips. It has also helped me with sightseeing, eating, and accomodation when visiting other parts of the island away from Hania (where I don't have any relatives so I have to stay in a hotel and eat in a restaurant).

This guide is NOT aimed at package tourists but it can be used even by someone on a package tour for the historic and cultural insights it offers. The reason it comes down so hard on Hersonissos is because the place IS overcrowded and spoiled (many other guides agree). Also, Hersonissos can be visited from Iraklion (the capital) or from Mallia by bus or taxi. (If you wanted to visit Monte Carlo, for example, without selling your house, you would stay in Nice or in Menton or some other nearby town and GO INTO Monte Carlo by the frequent trains - you can always take a taxi back to your hotel. This is MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH cheaper than staying in a hotel WITHIN Monte Carlo itself). This is analogous to the Hersonissos situation. You can VISIT Hersonissos without actually staying in any of its expensive, crowded hotels. Does one have to stay at the Plaza in New York in order to visit the shops on Fifth Avenue or go to a Broadway play? - NO!!!