Kalives Crete Review
We found Kalives to be a big disappointment when we went there in summer 2006. Kalives is too close to the airport (which has military jets too, so it was busy day and night) and has nothing much to do. A trip to the war cemetery was offered by a rep as a highlight, which didn't enthrall us.
Most visitors to kalives were OAPs and the standard of food, accommodation and services probably reminded them of childhoods of rationing and lack of amenities. The local bus never gets closer than about 1 km away from the village, so if you want to go anywhere it is hire a car or nothing.
The Kalives beach hotel cuts the beach in two and has a stupid half size fake windmill sitting out front.
We booked the Kastello Apartments (based, ironically on a review we read on the web) but they were poorly furnished, the Air Con didn't work and there were a good half a dozen health hazards that made us decide to move to a different resort as soon as we could.
The actual sea water was lovely for swimming in when the water was good. However, Kalives is north facing so in strong winds the sea gets up quite a swell. In short, we didn't like Kalives, found nothing to provide an inducement for us to stay in kalives and I certainly do not recommend it to anyone. Crete has plenty of better resorts, no matter what you are looking for from a holiday. Don't accept second best. Sadly Kalives is distinctly second best.
