Practicalities

Where are We?

Footscapes is located near the village of Kastellos, close to the town of Armeni on the road linking Rethymno in the north with Spili further south. We are approximately 20 minutes by car from Rethymno, 2 miles from Armeni and about one mile from Kastellos. There is a taverna in Kastellos and 3 more tavernas in Armeni. Armeni also has the convenience of a well stocked supermarket and a petrol station. For the archaeology fans, we are very close to an important Minoan necropolis. Our accommodation is situated right on the E4 long distance footpath (it runs past the front gate). If you are walking this route, please contact us for details of availability and special rates for a one night stay during your trek.

If you have Google Earth, find a satellite photo of Footscapes at 35 18 11.39 N, 24 25 54.22 E

Please note that we are located for peace and quiet! Our home is in a rural setting, just outside the nearest village. If you like dark, starry skies and only the sound of sheep bells, we are probably for you. If you are not planning to walk with us, we would recommend the use of a hire car to get around, as the nearest buses run from Armeni which is a 40 minute walk away (see "Transport/Car Hire", below).

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Flights/Arrival

Flights arrive at Chania airport to the west of Rethymno or at the island's main city, Heraklion, to the east. We are just over an hour's travel from either airport. We cannot organise flights for guests ourselves, but there is a wealth of choice available, all easily booked either by a travel agent or over the web. The charter flight season runs from early April to late October, with prices from as little as £120 per person return. Please look at our "Links" page and you will find websites through which you can book a flight to Crete. Greece's national airline, Olympic, operates from major UK airports via Athens year - round. Naturally, the scheduled flight option is a little more expensive, but, as well as providing access outside of the charter season, offers greater flexibility and, frequently, more convenient departure/arrival times. Another good alternative is Easyjet to Athens, and then either a short - hop flight with Olympic or Aegean, or perhaps a more leisurely ferry/hydrofoil crossing. Also, note that Easyjet has recently acquired GB Airways, which flew weekly in summer from both Manchester and Gatwick to Heraklion. Update Jan '08 - Easyjet's website is now accepting bookings for direct flights to Heraklion departing from either Gatwick (from 31/3/08) or Manchester (from 2/5/08).

Update May '08 - Aegean Airlines (www.aegeanair.com) have launched a new daily service between London Stansted and Athens. With convenient connections to either of Crete's 2 airports (Heraklion or Chania), this is a useful addition. Unlike Easyjet's service, it also runs all year round.

Transport/Car Hire

Many clients prefer the convenience of their own hire car, which can easily be organised over the web or through a travel agent. All the major companies (Avis, Hertz, Europcar etc) have offices at both Chania and Heraklion airports, or you can easily book through a consolidator such as Autos Abroad, Holiday Autos, Expedia, ebookers etc. We have had a recent recommendation from guests for www.athenscars-crete.gr - the best price they found along with good service. We can provide detailed driving directions of how to find Footscapes (from either airport) on request.

Public transport is efficient and cheap, and can be an economical way to travel from your airport to Rethymno. A taxi from Rethymno bus station to Footscapes will cost only Eur 10. If you only want a car to and from the airport, you could always consider a one day/one way hire on the days of your arrival/departure. Most of the major hire companies will allow you to rent at the airport and drop off at their Rethymno depot (and vice versa), although you will pay a premium for the one way hire. (The smallest car rentable from Heraklion airport through Avis on this basis is quoted at Eur 67 in May 2005, including one way surcharge). You can then take a taxi or bus from Rethymno to your accommodation with us. A taxi all the way from Heraklion airport to Kastellos will cost only about Eur 75.

What to Bring - Walkers

If you plan to walk with us, please make sure you bring the following:

Walking boots/shoes
Day pack - big enough to carry lunch, waterproof & up to 3 litres of water per person
Sun hat
Sun block - please use a high SPF
Light clothes to cover legs & arms - zip off leg trousers are ideal
Waterproof jacket - yes, it does rain on occasion

Please do not underestimate the power of the sun in Crete in summer. If walking at this time of year, plenty of water, a sun hat and sun block are essentials.

These are minimum requirements for those joining us on guided walks. If you are planning self guided walking, a map, compass, whistle, torch and first aid kit should be added to the list. In the event of becoming lost, a mobile 'phone with access to international roaming can be (literally) a life saver.