Crete
Travel Advice for Seniors: Crete
Last stop on our small group tour of Greece was the wonderful island of Crete. The main reason to stop at Crete is to visit the ruins of Knossos.
After a very rough ferry ride between Santorini and Crete, we arrived at our hotel on Crete, the Hotel Galaxy Iraklio. which was a nice place to stay and had a great pool. A note on ferry rides in the Aegean: Be prepared for schedule delays and rough seas depending on the time of year. I always take along Dramamine even for smooth sails just in case. Mom doesn’t get seasick, but I do, as did almost every single person on our ferry ride. Believe me, you do NOT want to be seasick, so go prepared. My husband swears by the patch, but the pills work better for me. The ferry ride on my first trip to Greece was delayed overnight trying to wait out the rough seas, but several people still were sick.
The highlight of Crete is a tour of Knossos. Knossos is a fantastic Bronze Age archaeological site and center of Minoan civilization. It is quite possibly one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is also tied to the Greek myth of Theseus and the minotaur.
Since I had last visited Knossos in the early 1990’s, there had been a great deal of work done on the site. Several of the buildings had been carefully restored and several of the important paintings having also been restored, were much brighter. It is better to schedule a tour of Knossos than to guess your way through it if you can plan ahead. The first time I visited we went through on our own, the second time with a guide. There is so much more history and detail there that can be brought to your attention by a guide.
Following our tour of Knossos we visited the Iraklio Archeological Museum in Heraklion. This museum is well-known for its fantastic collection of Minoan artifacts including a Throne Room replica, jewelry and original works from Knossos. It is a must-see as well if you have the time.
Our trip to Greece was ending after visits to Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and Crete. There are many other islands well worth visiting, but for a first-timer these should definitely be on your list. Greece is a lovely destination filled with history, beautiful beaches and sunshine. It was the first international place I’ve ever visited for a reason.
Where we stayed: Hotel Galaxy Iraklio.Nice hotel, breakfast included.
How we got there: Ferry from Santorini. This was part of a 14-day small group tour through Greece including stops at Santorini, Mykonos and Crete.
General Accessibility Information: Major tourist sights, newer hotels, transportation in most major cities are accessible. Even some beaches are accessible. Apps like accessaloo can help you find accessible bathrooms. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
