Travel Note
The inspiration for a Cretan wedding was a trip that Emily took to Chania, Crete with friends in the summer of 2021. That trip included a day trip (and then a repeat day trip) to the most beautiful beach that Emily has ever been to - which will be making a reappearance on the marriage celebration itinerary! We understand that getting to the Greek islands is a trek, and perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime trip for some. We've planned our festivities not with a traditional wedding lens, but with a focus on exploring Crete and spending time together. We chose September because it will still be warm, and while technically high-season for Greece, but it should be a bit less hot, crowded and expensive as compared to the summer months.
Travel Note
We've suggested a few hotels here that are close by to the hotel where we are holding the marriage celebration, Creta Palace. We are going to organize transportation to/from the hotel to our events each day, so even if you don't stay at Creta Palace, it will be most convenient to stay nearby. Note that most hotels will increase their rates for the 2025 season in April, so best to book your hotel by March 31 if you can finalize your plans by then. If you're interested in staying at Creta Palace, you can book directly through the hotel or through a third party. We have seen that third party websites (e.g. Hotels.com) have better prices than booking directly with the hotel, so do search around. https://www.cretapalace.com/ If you book directly with the hotel, you can mention the code E&W4eva so that they know you are with us. (This code doesn't provide a discount for the rooms, unfortunately.) Other options nearby: Nautilux: https://www.nautiluxhotel.com/ (They have an early booking discount available on their website if booking by March 15.) Dimitrios Village Beach Resort: https://dimitriosvillage.gr/ May Beach Hotel: https://may-hotel.gr/ Minos Mare Hotel: https://www.minosmare.gr/ There are plenty of other hotels to choose from, and Airbnb's available as well.
Flight
There aren't direct flights to Crete from the US. US-based guests will need to fly to Europe and then get a connection to Crete. Seven US cities have direct flights to Athens: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington. You should plan to fly into either Chania Airport or Heraklion Airport in Crete. Both are about an hour from the hotel where we will host the wedding. We suggest arriving at least a day or two before the wedding to beat the jet lag before the celebrations begin. If you want some pointers for booking flights, keep reading: Round trips flights should cost between $1k to $2k depending on where in the US you're coming from. If your home airport has any direct flights to Europe, then you can make it to Crete with only one stop. If you're doing a lot of searching to compare various routes and options, search in Google Incognito mode, so that you don't drive the prices up on yourself. (In a Chrome browser, click the three dots on the top right, and select "New Incognito Window".) For a budget-conscious approach, you could get a ticket somewhere direct in Europe and then switching to a European airline for the second flight. This means booking with two separate airlines, but this approach can save you around $500 total per ticket. You'll need to get through immigration at your connecting airport and then check in for your second flight, rather than simply connect through. Delays on the first flight could be problematic for making your connection, and the airline might not help you rebook since the two flights aren't ticketed together. Make note of the bag fees that you'll be charged with each ticket. If you can fly direct into Athens, we'd recommend that. Then you can get a cheap (~less than $100) round trip ticket from Athens to either airport in Crete, it's a short flight, and plenty of options available daily.
Travel Note
If you're coming from Massachusetts, we think your best bet will be to fly out of Boston, not Bradley. https://www.massport.com/logan-airport/flights/airlines/nonstop-international-destinations. You may be able to find options with just one connection if you go out of Boston. From Bradley, you are most likely looking at two connections. BUT - you may be able to make the Bradley to Dublin direct flight work for you. Seems that it runs daily each evening from Bradley via Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus flys direct to Heraklion (not every day). Not clear why they won't sell a single ticket through from Bradley to Heraklion, you need to purchase two separate tickets. There may be other airlines flying direct from Dublin to Heraklion as well. Does not appear to be any direct flights from Dublin to Chania. If you're coming from Denver, here are the direct European routes from DIA: https://www.flydenver.com/nonstop-routes/ (click on International, expand the Europe section)
Travel Note
From the US, you'll need a passport that is valid for 6 months after the date of the trip. No visa is required. Tips for renewing your passport, if needed: renew sooner rather than later. You don't necessarily need a professional photo for passport renewal. You can take one at home with a plain background, and when you upload on the passport renewal website, it will let you know if the photo is acceptable before you submit your application.
Travel Note
Beautful and sunny! Average temp of 75 F, low mid-60s F, high low 80s F. Average temp of 24 C, low 19 C, high 27 C. Not likely to rain - fingers crossed.
Travel Note
Note that Ubers and Lyfts aren't available in Crete. We'll coordinate travel to/from our events, from Creta Palace and the nearby hotels. For your personal adventures, you may need to take a taxi. If you're staying at a hotel, you can ask the hotel to order a taxi for you when needed. Some hotels may also have shuttles.
Travel Note
The tap water is safe to drink in Crete.
Travel Note
Greek is the natural language. Many locals in Crete speak English and you should be able to get around comfortably without knowing Greek.
Travel Note
The currency used in Crete is the Euro.
Travel Note
You can tip at restaurants, maybe 5 or 10 euro, but not as much as in the US. Also consider small tips for service people working on foot / in the sun.
Travel Note
You'll need a power adapter to be able to plug your US charges into the outlets. Your hotel may have USB charge ports, you may want to check ahead. Hair dryers and other hair tools need a converter and an adapter - unless you're dedicated to your specific tools, you may just want to use the hair dryer that the hotel offers.