What budget for activities and outings Crete?
Don't forget: museum and site ticket prices, valid for one year, are fixed towards the end of April, beginning of May, when the guidebook is already in your hands!
In most resorts, you can rent small catamarans, pedalos, sea kayaks, jet-skis and water-ski. The south is a little less developed in terms of such services, apart from Agia Galini, Plakias and a little towards Mirtos and Ierapetra. There are a few spots for windsurfers: Kouremenos Beach near Palekastro to the east of Sitia, Almirida near Hania and Paleohora to the south. Sailing costs around €700 per day for a catamaran with skipper, and around €75 per hour for a small motorboat, including fuel. As for water sports, scuba diving costs an average of €80, while an hour and a half of private surfing lessons costs around €90..
The further you go from the seaside, the cheaper the activities: the entrance to the Samaria Gorge costs just €5, and to Agia Irini €4! Prices for mountain bike and bicycle hire are the same in all agencies, and a little more expensive in high season.
Crete also boasts a number of golf courses and tennis clubs, which are never far from the hotels. Horse-riding is also available. Whatever you choose to do, our advice is the same: compare prices.
In the most touristy areas, where the offer abounds, compare prices in a few shops before you shop: this way you can try to negotiate.
An outing with a meal and two drinks in a bar costs around €40 per person.
What budget to eat Crete?
On average, a good meal in Crete costs around €20 per person. Prices rise very quickly when ordering fresh fish or shellfish. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it's always advisable to find out the price of fish per kilo.
Drinking coffee is an institution in Greece: you can stay for hours with a freddo or a frappé for a few euros, without having to renew your order. Be careful though: the coffees are not cheap. At 4 € for a frappé, it is sometimes understandable that some customers linger... A cocktail costs on average 7 €, a beer between 4 and 6 €. For a well-drunk evening, count around 25 € per person.
What is the budget for accommodation Crete?
Prices are officially controlled by the National Tourist Office (EOT) according to the category of the hotel. In reality, hoteliers are happy to ignore the official prices and often charge whatever they want. In Crete, a tourist destination par excellence, checks are frequent and the competition does not allow any excesses or serious deviations. The superior quality hotels located in the cities or on the beach (resorts with swimming pools, restaurants, activities, etc.) have prices comparable to those in Western Europe. Guesthouses and hotels in small towns offer very affordable prices (from €25 for a double room out of season, around €50-70 in season for a small hotel with all comforts). The most economical solution for travelers with a small budget is to stay in a domatia (room) in a private home, but these are less and less available, and have been transformed into small pensions or studios for rent. As everywhere, prices sometimes increase considerably in high season. It should be noted that in Crete, the season starts in April and continues until the end of October, but the very high season extends from the beginning of July to the end of September. May, June and October are a little quieter and prices are lower. In winter, for those establishments that remain open, prices drop. The price ranges we have used in this guide are based on high season rates.
Travel budget Crete and cost of living
Despite the recent economic crisis that has hit Greece hard, Crete has managed to come out of it a little better thanks to the influx of tourists and its agricultural development. The cost of living remains lower than in other European countries, especially if you choose to follow the local way of life: shop at the market and in the supermarkets rather than in the mini-markets of the seaside regions! Accommodation is generally more expensive during the high tourist season, so it's best to book in advance. Prices in restaurants, bars and taverns remain the same whatever the season. However, you need to be careful and check the prices on the menu. As a general rule, a stay in Crete in winter or early spring will be just as enjoyable and much cheaper than in midsummer. In season, the budget varies according to the type of accommodation and the lifestyle you want to lead! Let's just say that, without depriving yourself of the lively Cretan nightlife, you should count on 60 euros per person per day if you're staying with a local(domatia:rooms for rent), from 95 euros if you opt for a charming hotel and over 150 euros if you prefer to treat yourself to a luxury stay.
