Stalis

Me and my husband have just returned from a lovely holiday in Stalis. We stayed for 2 weeks in the Paradise apartments which is situated on the main road in Stalis. The apartments are basic and clean and are run by Katerina and her husband Nikos who are both very friendly. We have stayed there twice now and on this occasion we had an apartment at the back overlooking the mountains. Some road noise could be heard as the busy dual carriageway from Hersonnison to Agious Nicholios runs to the rear of the apartment. Temperatures end of August to mid September were in the 30s c.

There any many restaurants in Stalis and also 20 minutes walk away in Malia. Our favourite place to eat is in old Malia as it is very pretty at night especially when all the fairy lights are on around the old restaurants. We like San Georgio's and also Elizabeth Stabilos which are lovely pretty restaurants and the food is excellent and you feel you are eating somewhere really special and romantic.

We did not book any of the reps tours and chose to catch the bus into Hersonnison for 2.5 eauros each and there are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants there. On the headland there is a bizantine church and you are able to visit free and see the mozaics. We also went by bus to Agios Nicholias which is very pretty and there are plenty of shops and boats trips. We went by boat to Spinalonga island which was used as a leper colony until 1959. The trip lasted 4 hours stopping off for a 20 minute swim, tour around the island by boat and then a one hour stay on the island. The houses are all in ruins now but it was very eerie to think that people had been banished to the island having been unfortunate to have leprosy.

We had a lovely relaxing holiday and walked to the beaches near the Malia palace ruins which are very peaceful and non commercialised. We will definately go again!