When choosing a vacation destination, Crete is one of Europe’s best. A Crete Island vacation is a safe vacation, good value for money and there’s a lot to see and do you wouldn’t expect.

From spectacular scenery in deep mountain gorges, to a sun-drenched crazy, club crammed resorts. From the home of the beginning of Civilization itself, to a balmy, palm laden beach that inspired a famous chocolate advert. From a unique Roman settlement almost forgotten by the world, to an awe inspiring ghostly deserted village once home to Europe’s last leper colony.

Crete has something for everyone, and should be your top European destination.

Safety on Vacation

Going to a foreign country can be a little scary, especially if the culture is different to the one you are used to. Also, many top European vacation destinations attract Europe’s best pick-pockets, muggers and thieves. Security and safety can be a constant worry for travellers.

Crete, on the other hand is one of the safest places to visit for foreign tourists, with a very low crime rate. If you are looking for a safe vacation destination, then you can’t get much better than Crete.

Value for money

Compared with other top European vacation destinations, Crete prices for accommodation and dining-out are very favourable. If you like a beer whilst watching the world go by, then forget the prices you’ll pay in London, Rome or the Spanish Costas.

As for the hard stuff, here on Crete they give it away free after your meal!

Samaria Gorge

This is one of Europe’s biggest canyons and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It is a challenging hike but well worth with its spectacular scenery, rare wild animals and flowers. Well worth the aching legs after the 16K walk -but you will need to be reasonably fit!

Spinalonga

Walk through the haunted streets and passageways once the thoroughfares for the last leper colony in Europe. Spinalonga is a small island just off the north coast of eastern Crete. It is said that the Greek government turned the island into a leper colony to scare away any lingering Turks after Greece gained independence from them. Until as recently as 1957 the Island was home to a unique community of lepers and their families. Now you can visit and see the houses, shops, the hospital and the church that was once the centre of life on the Island.

Knossos

This is the world’s most important and most famous archaeological site of the ancient Minoan Civilization. Said to be one of the world’s first. Palaces, mansions and houses of worship are revealed, some uniquely (and some say controversially) restored to what they would have looked like 5000 years ago.

Aptera

One of the most important archaeological sites of its kind, an ancient Roman Settlement and huge Turkish fort overlooking spectacular views of the Bay of Souda in western Crete. An almost forgotten treasure, worth a visit if only for one of the best views in Europe.

Vai Beach

This is a spectacular palm beach with pink sand, and Europe’s largest palm tree forest, located at the far eastern end of the Island. There’s a blue lagoon too, to add to the feeling of being on a Caribbean island. A real taste of Paradise.

If you are looking for a safe destination with something for all the family, then Crete is a top choice for your vacation.

Graham Yates is a writer and traveller from the UK. He now lives with his wife Alison on the Greek Island of Crete. Both like to share their insider knowledge and experience about Greece and her islands with others, by publishing articles and websites.

To learn more visit http://www.completely-crete.com/ and http://www.simply-santorini.com/

An independent insider’s guide to Greek island life.

Log on to www.KLM.co.th, choose your seat, print out your boarding pass from home and drop off your baggage at the Internet check-in counters in Row P. Then, head to Burger King (Concourse F) and sip your complementary 22-oz refreshment.

Internet check-in is available 30 hours before departure.

Mini joins the fleet

Holiday Inn Bangkok goes hip with the introduction of the small but stylish Mini Cooper to the hotel’s limousine service. Michael Kordys, pictured left, president of BMW Group Thailand, recently handed over the Mini to Brian B Connelly, regional general manager of InterContinental Bangkok and Holiday Inn Bangkok.

The Mini is part of Holiday Inn Bangkok’s marketing strategy and aims to add style to the hotel’s limousine service. Think the driver looks funny? You’re right! The “Mr Bean” look-alike is indeed the chauffeur of this new, chic limo.

Cleaning up the city

JW Marriott Bangkok recently joined the Erawan Group-initiated environmental cleaning project “Rob Baan Na Mong”.

The project aims to establish a community spirit in protecting a healthy environment around the hotel in lower Sukhumvit and also complements the core values of Marriott’s own “Spirit To Serve the Community” programme that is focused on protecting and developing the environment.

Fragrant rice in the park

Less than a century ago, there was no such thing as an iced drink and Thais cooled down in the hot season with khao chae – a set of delicious snacks served with fragrant, watery rice.

Today, there’s no need to suffer the heat but you still can enjoy classic khao chae. Check it out for lunch (Bt699/adult, Bt349/child) throughout April at ISO Restaurant, Nai Lert Park Bangkok, a Raffles International Hotel. Surrounded by a lush, leafy garden, the hotel is a short walk from Ploenchit BTS station.

Sorce: nationmultimedia.com