Violent protests have been limited to the two largest cities of Athens and Thessaloniki. Protests in other areas have been peaceful.

The austerity measures, whilst unpopular, are seen by most Greeks as neccessary.

You can still get a good meal, with wine, for under 10 euros per person outside the overpriced resorts.

You can still get a large beer for 2 euros outside the resorts.

No Cretan airports have been closed by the ash cloud.

Air traffic control strike tomorrow in Greece only affecting one arrival. Re-scheduled their holiday and flights to Friday - Sorted.

Beating the Ash Cloud and the irresponsible Greek Unions in one day - Priceless .....

And thankyou too for going to the trouble to find a hotel; although we ended up somewhere along the beach in amadara that wasn't quite such a shit hole as the one easy jet put us in, hotel vanisko with its stagnant pool full of rubbish and noisy parties and room full of camp beds! john walked along the beach the day I called you and got a knock down rate at the resort hotel appolonia, which had plenty of room for the kids to run around, so that john could work, plus we wanted to be on the bus route to heraklion and the airport. it was  a weirdly alienating experience though, surrounded by hundreds of stranded cruise ship passengers, and so cut off from the rest of crete which we were just getting to know.

But despite everything we were all very sorry to leave and the kids are demanding we come back. It's our 15th wedding anniversary next april, which should be enough of an excuse. we would go back to vasso, as she and her family were so welcoming, and we loved douliana and the whole area, only lay out wise it was a bit hairy with the 2 yr old. the house was gorgeous too, light and airy and interesting, but by the end we found we needed more doors just to keep the kids at bay! your local information sheets were fantastically useful, especially the restaurant guides. We went on a few exploratory walks, (found a great hidden chapel in a cave at the bottom of the valley) and wondered if there were footpath maps of the areas?

what we most loved was the attention the boys got,we get so much grief/pity in the UK for having three boys it was a joy to come somewhere they are appreciated!

so yes, we'll certainly be recommending you, and shall be in touch for next year I'm sure, once we've got over the financial shock of that extra week!

with verybest wishes

Kate and john

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Dear Steve,

We arrived back on wednesday having flown to Rome on sat followed by hire care to Lyons and TGV/Eurostar. All a bit expensive but enjoyable once the initial hassle of the bookings was sorted. The villa was excellent and we love western Crete.

Kind regards, Jon

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we had a lovely holiday and the villa was great.  I do not think that there was anything that could have been improved on really apart from maybe a decent map of the island in the villa.  we did not get one with the car hire company and it took us a while to get one - but that is not really essential and actually the car company should provide.  Your service was great and I cannot think of a way of improving it - there if we needed you (and if there was no volcano we would probably not have seen you after our introduction) but not intrusive if we don't - the right balance for us.

We would certainly recommend you to people and will use you should we come to Crete again (hopefully it was not us that was jinxed)

Kind regards

Bethan

Passengers on charter flights should contact the relevant company for information regarding refunds or re-booking.

Customers with flights code VIK shoudl contact http://www.kissflights.com//Agents/Default.aspx 

We will be pleased to advise on the current situation but are only getting the same information  from NATS which is generally available on the internet and news channels.

PLEASE REMEMBER... If you have booked car hire or transfers independently, you should contact the car hire or transfer company immediately if you are aware of a cancellation or re-scheduling of your flight. We will deal with this in the event that you have asked us to arrange car hire on your behalf.

http://simplycreteholidays.co.uk/Xania-Old-Town-Villas-Old-Town-Chania-Crete.html

To explore this area .....

http://simplycreteholidays.co.uk/Falassarna-Beach-Front-Studios-and-Apartments-falassarna-chania.html

http://simplycreteholidays.co.uk/spilia-village-hotel-kolymbari-chania-crete.html

http://simplycreteholidays.co.uk/zerokambi-villas-maleme-chania-crete.html

Going to a massive party on Sunday in Provarma with lots of lamb and wine and friends.

This is our first Easter in the villlage. I think its going to be fantastic !

Today is Independence Day in Greece, commemorating the freedom of most of the country from Turkish occupation in 1821.

The unification of Crete with Greece was not finally realised until the 1^st of December 1913, after several revolts and long diplomatic procedures, when the Greek flag was first raised on the "Firka" fortress at Chania harbour.

The taverna is not easy to find unless you know its there and is called  TZITZIKAS. We will certainly be telling our guests and our friends about this one!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/02/100217-crete-primitive-humans-mariners-seafarers-mediterranean-sea/

Of course, the Rethymnon carnival is the second biggest in Greece and we are still unsure what we will be doing and where we will be going. It sort of  ties in with Valentines Day this year so one way or another it could be an expensive weekend!

We went on to Vrisses and sat by the weirs on the river for coffee and sfakian pies with honey. The cofee place was called Capri and is welll worth a visit. T-shirt weather and a lovely afternoon out.

 They are flying 3 times a week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, starting on the 23rd of May and ending on the 29th of September.

An example of pricing below

• London Gatwick to Crete (Chania)
• Dep 25 May 2010
• Arr 25 May 2010
• Crete (Chania) to London Gatwick
• Dep 01 June 2010
• Arr 01 June 2010

 £ 153.41  return

The hotel owners association in Chania have been working on getting this route for ages. Well done to them for pulling it off. It is going to make access to the west of the island much easier from the U.K.

http://simplycreteholidays.co.uk/Dreams-Traditional-villa-Tsivaras-Chania-crete.html