Travel

Shuttle

Shuttles To and From the Wedding Venue

September 4, 2021 4:00 pm - 12:00 am

TO WEDDING 4:00pm Shuttle from Samaria Hotel to Manousakis Winery 4:00pm Shuttle from Porto Veneziano Hotel to Winery (pick-up in Kriti Hotel parking lot) 4:00pm Shuttle from Kalathas Beach to Winery (pick-up in Lena Beach Hotel parking lot) 4:15pm Shuttle from Villa Golden Key (Bridal Party) to Winery FROM WEDDING 11:00pm Early Shuttle from Winery to Samaria Hotel (you can take a taxi from there to any other destination if needed) 12:00am Shuttle from Winery to Samaria Hotel 12:00am Shuttle from Winery to Porto Veneziano Hotel (drop-off in Kriti Hotel parking lot) 12:00am Shuttle from Winery to Kalathas Beach (drop-off in Lena Beach Hotel parking lot) 12:00am Shuttle from Winery to Villa Golden Key (with stop in Chania for those who want a final drink) If you wish to drive yourself to the Winery, parking is available onsite.

Flight

Chania International Airport

Chania International Airport is the closest airport to our wedding activities. It is only a few miles from the city of Chania and the beach town where Chris' family lives. From the United States, here are a few options to find more reasonably priced flights: 1) fly to a major European hub, such as London or Copenhagen, and stay overnight; then take a European budget airline flight to Chania the next day (check Ryanair and Easyjet) 2) fly to Athens, then book a separate ticket for one of the cheap hourly flights from Athens to Chania on the same day (or take an extra day to see Athens!) WHEN TO ARRIVE We suggest our guests arrive by Sept. 3 (latest) and depart Sept. 6 to account for travel time, jet lag, and weekend activities. The wedding party should arrive by Sept. 2. We encourage everyone to extend their stays before or after to explore the island!

Travel Note

Airport Transfers

To get to and from the airport, we would encourage our guests to take a taxi or car pool with other guests. From Chania Airport, it is about a 15-minute drive to downtown Chania. For more details on renting a car near the airport, see the Rental Cars information block on this page. ChaniaTaxi Call Center: Call Desk: +30 2821098770 (For reference, it is about a 10-minute drive from the airport to Kalathas. Between Kalathas and Chania, it is about a 15-minute drive.)

Rental Car

Avis, Budget, Sixt

If you are staying in Chania for a few extra days, we would highly recommend getting a rental car as public transport is limited. There are many familiar rental companies at Chania Airport (Avis, Budget, Sixt) where you can pick up and drop off your rental. For those renting a car, you will need to obtain an International Driving Permit from AAA ($20) by filling out the following application and providing a 2x2" professional headshot: https://www.aaa.com/vacation/application2a.pdf. You can take care of this in the mail or by going in-person to a AAA office. We recommend going in person to AAA, as they can take your picture on site (for free if you’re a member) and they give you the permit instantly. We would also recommend taking out cash at an ATM in the airport to have some on hand to pay the rental companies if needed.

Hotel

Porto Veneziano Hotel (Recommended)

This charming three star hotel is on the waterfront of the ancient harbor of Chania. We have a block of rooms here, which you can access by contacting the hotel (hotel@portoveneziano.gr) and mentioning the discount code below. It is within close walking distance to many restaurants, and about 10 minutes walking from our other hotel (Samaria Hotel). Shuttles to and from the wedding on Sept. 4 will be provided from Porto Veneziano Hotel.

Discount Code - LAUREN & CHRISΤΟPHER WEDDING/4 September 2021/Crete for Love

Hotel

Samaria Hotel (Recommended)

We recommend this chic four star hotel in the center of Chania Old Town. We have a block of rooms here, which you can access by contacting the hotel (reservations@samariahotel.gr) and mentioning the discount code below. It has many modern amenities (pool, gym, bar, etc.) and is within close walking distance to many shops and restaurants. It is about 10 minutes walking from our other hotel (Porto Veneziano). Shuttles to and from the wedding on Sept. 4 will be provided from Samaria Hotel. Book online at: www.samariahotel.gr and follow the steps below: 1) Insert the arrival and departure date and number of occupants and click SEARCH AVAILABILITY: 2) On the next page, select BOOKING CODE (which is on the right hand side on the top of the page), insert the code: LAURENCHRIS (using uppercase letters) and press on APPLY CODE. 3) On the next page, select the room type of your preference with the quoted special rates and proceed to the booking accordingly.

Discount Code - LAURENCHRIS

Travel Note

Packing Tips

Plug adapters (the most common outlets in Greece are Type C, E, and F which are the same as most of continental Europe). You may want to purchase a universal adapter like the one found here or here. For larger US devices like hairdryers, you will need a voltage converter, but we recommend using the European devices at hotels. Water shoes. If you plan to go swimming in some of Crete's rockier/cove-like beaches (which we highly recommend!) you will want to pack water shoes to navigate the terrain and to avoid stepping on sea urchins.

Travel Note

Cash & Phones

CASH There are ATMs around the island where you can pull out euros, which you may need for certain purchases. You can also bring dollars over and change them to euros at a bank. DO NOT do this at the airport, as the convenience fee is much higher there. Most American credit cards are accepted by merchants in Greece, with the exception of American Express. Be sure to alert your bank/credit card company of your travel to avoid a fraud alert causing a hold to be placed on your cards. PHONE You may wish to set up your phone for international use with your cell phone service provider. Otherwise, you will need to rely on wifi in hotels and restaurants to send texts and social media calls/messages.

Hotel

Irida Hotel

A beautiful three star boutique hotel located about 15 minutes walking from Chania Old Town. It is situated across from a small pebble beach, which you can walk along to reach the Old Town harbor. The nearest pick-up point for wedding-day transportation is Porto Veneziano Hotel, about 15 minutes walking from Irida Hotel. No guaranteed rooms, but they will honor our discount code below.

Discount Code - LAUREN & CHRISΤΟPHER WEDDING/4 September 2021/Crete for Love

Hotel

Scala de Faro

Another option to consider if you wish to stay outside of our two recommended hotels (7 mins walking from the nearest wedding day pick-up point at Samaria Hotel). This is a beautiful, modern five star hotel in Chania on the harbor. Great for those looking to make a more luxurious vacation out of this trip! It has a limited amount of rooms, so we recommend reserving early.

Hotel

Ambassadors Residence Boutique Hotel

Another great option if you wish to stay outside our two recommended hotels (about 7 mins walking from closest wedding day pick-up point at Porto Veneziano Hotel). This is a gorgeous rustic-chic five star hotel in downtown Chania on the harbor for those looking to splurge a little. It has limited space so we recommend booking as early as you can.

Hotel

Kriti Hotel

Another charming 3-star hotel, about 7 minutes walking from the nearest wedding day pick-up point at Porto Veneziano Hotel. We don't have a guaranteed block of rooms, but they will honor our discount code below.

Discount Code - LAUREN & CHRISΤΟPHER WEDDING/4 September 2021/Crete for Love

Hotel

Creta Vitalis

Creta Vitalis is located in Kalathas, where Chris' family lives. It may be a good option for out-of-town family looking to stay near relatives in Kalathas.

Hotel

Lena Beach Hotel

A simple budget option on the water near Kalathas Beach for those preferring to stay near the beach or relatives.

House Or Rental

Airbnb

NEIGHBORHOODS TO STAY During the wedding, we encourage our guests to stay in downtown Chania, near the historic old town, where transportation will be provided to and from the wedding. Chania is a well-developed area with plenty of restaurants, shops, an outdoor market, nightlife, and a charming harbor and promenade. If you prefer to stay on the beach, or if you are staying beyond the wedding date, you may also consider staying near Kalathas Beach, where Chris' family lives. You could also stay in one of the many beautiful beach towns on the island (Platanias, Balos, Elafonissi). You could also drive to another city on the island, such as Rethymno. For more, see our Things to Do page on the website.