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Flying - Direct - Indirect
Charter flights from Europe are quite numerous from the end of April until the end of October. There are a lot more flights to Heraklion (East) than to Chania (West, making them often cheaper (and not as heavily booked) as flights to Chania.
The majority of
charter flights to Heraklion and Chania from the UK are on Tuesdays and Fridays, using Monarch, Air 2000, JMC Airlines, Britannia, Airtours or Virgin Sun. Flightline . EasyJet fly to Crete on most days.You can also book through the Airtours call centre on 0870-237-7788 (press #1 to get you through the menu) and ask for late availability flight price.
Alternately you can try contacting Thomas Cook on 0870-750-0316 (press #2 then #1 to get you through the menu), again and asking for flight availability.
www.charterflights.co.uk provide another good alternative with prices updated hourly (please note how prices change day to day and even those on the same flight). As a general rule of thumb the later you leave your flight booking the cheaper it may be.
You could also try www.opodo.co.uk the new web site created by Aer Lingus, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, KLM and Lufthansa
SOME FLIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE AT THE BEGINNING OR THE END OF THE SEASON
All the above airlines are based on provisional schedules and are subject to confirmation by the airport authorities and Air Traffic Control in the UK, Greece and all countries en route.
Check in time is normally 3 hours prior to the confirmed departure time shown on your tickets, which you will receive approximately 2 weeks in advance of travel. However, it is becoming the norm to print your ticket yourself or pick it up at the airport prior to your flight. This system works well, however just leave a little more time to find the right agency desk.
The flight time is approximately four hours and the local time in Greece is 2 hours ahead of the UK.
Other Options
Looking for an "all in one package" then why not checkout
Crete Holidays by Direct Travel?
Other web sites which may be able to find a cheap flight deals are:
www.Air2000.com
www.Avro.com
www.bmibaby.com
www.flightline.co.uk
www.cheapflights.co.uk
www.biggles.co.uk
By Car
Travelling to Crete via mainland Greece overland has virtually stopped since the disintegration of former Yugoslavia. The alternative, through Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria takes so long that it is not worth thinking about unless you want to visit these countries. The only other option is to take a ferry from Italy to Greece, then a ferry from Greece to Crete (see our ferry section).
By Ferry
Ferry from Piraeus (Southerly tip of Greece)
There are two companies which provide services on this route, the main company being Anek Lines. A company created in the 1960s by Cretans who wanted a better and safer service to and from the mainland of Greece. Departures are from Pireus to Iraklio and from Iraklio to Pireus at 20:00. Departures from Pireus to Chania and from Chania to Pireus at 20:30. Departures from Pireus to Rethymo and from Rethymno to Pireus at 19.30. On line ferry tickets
Minoan Lines sail at slightly different times, Departures from Pireus to Iraklio and from Iraklio to Pireus at 22:00, arriving at their respective destinations at approximately 05:15. There are sailings in the summer which leave Pireus at 12:30 (please check the Minoan web site for exact details).
Ferry from Italy (to Greece)
Not many ferry companies operate from Italy and none appear to have a direct sailing to Crete, so you will have to go via Greece. Several shipping companies connect Italy (Venice, Trieste, Ancona, Bari, Brindisi) with the mainland of Greece (Patras and Igoumenitsa). Anek Lines provide a service but by far the fastest to Patras is provided by SuperFast Ferries although it is slightly more expensive than other companies. It is advisable to book your passage in advance in the summer season.
For your complete ferry timetables and information on a host of other ferry companies not listed here visit www.ferries.gr or Greek Ferry Schedules
Car Hire
You can arrange car hire through us at no extra cost or direct from Anso Car Rentals based both in Rethymno and Plakias. Competitive rates are assured.
Travelling by Bus (internal)
Busses
The
alternative to hiring a car or taxi would be to use Crete public
transport. While not always the most reliable in keeping to a schedule
the local busses are a fun way travelling around the island and meeting
the local people. For information on the bus timetable visitbus-service-crete-ktel
Crete Connections - Area of business (Immobiliere Crete Property and Holiday Agent)