I agree totally with Bob. Crete is a stunning location, and it was a great holiday.
I loved the hotel, excellent, wide ranging, breakfast food, friendly and helpful staff, and really good rooms with the best shower I have had anywhere. The small garden at the back of the bar is a lovely place to chill out.
Chania itself is lovely. Lively with a wide range of places to eat, and many, many choices of shops. There is a town beach which I didn't get down to, but I did spend a few hours at Golden Beach which was a short taxi or local bus ride away. Beautiful soft sand, and the water was like being in a bath. So warm and clear with small fish very close to the shoreline.
I enjoyed the excursions I did manage to go on, although humidity on one day floored me for going to the White Mountains which I had pre booked. Fortunately we returned there at night for the Cretan evening which was so much fun. It was (because of the wind), like sitting in a fan oven at times though, with giant moths circling around!
The cookery lesson was great fun, with wonderful food. My favourite excursion was to the monastery (lots of cats 🙂 ) with an excellent wine tasting. I was personally very pleased as we stopped off en route to the Allied War Memorial at Souda Bay, which is in a beautiful location and so poignant. I hope that JY continue to include this as part of the trip on that day.
On the last full evening Lorenza our TM took a few of us into Chania for Cretan fast food. It was GREAT!! Thank you Lorenza. :)
We were lucky enough to have awesome weather all week, although the humidity on one day was a bit much. Great fun when it got very windy towards the end of the holiday though.
Would I go back? Like a shot! The bug bear was the late flight in, and certainly on the return. We had a slight delay both way, and Gatwick at midnight is no fun. BA continues to be NOT my favourite airline, and if JY can continue to offer a Heathrow departure as an alternative I would certainly consider it. I love the Cretan people, and the hotel is superb.