Holidaymakers jetting off to Crete next February should stop by the town of Rethymno for its annual carnival festivities.

Running over several days, the carnival kicks off on Shrove Tuesday with numerous live performances and feasts for all out in the open air, according to Whatsonwhen.

The festivities proceed with a host of children's activities, fancy dress parties, masquerade balls, treasure hunts, plays and dances, among other events.

Villages in the surrounding regions take to age-old celebrations and customs, while visitors to Crete will find themselves unable to resist the sumptuous local fare.

But the main attraction of the carnival, the Carnival Night Parade, outdoes everything else with crowds of revellers taking to the streets in a riotous explosion of sound, colour and costumes, and makes the trip to Crete worth it for just this night.

Chania is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania Prefecture. It lies along the north coast of the island, about 70 km west of Rethymno and 145 km west of Heraklion.

Chania has many beauties among these are its numerous beaches, from warm sand to colourful pebbles, the prefecture has beaches which are suitable for everyone. Small and secluded coves can be found everywhere as well as long, busy and fully equipped beaches. All beaches have crystalline waters.

Numerous modern bars can be found in Chania and in the touristy beach resorts of the prefecture, particularly in Platanias and Paleohora. Night clubs are also available and are playing a wide range of music and stay open until early morning. Beach bars are located on some beaches.

Malia has a long main street which is its focal point, it consists of bars and clubs. It runs towards the beach, the beachfront itself has beachside refreshments and entertainment which consists of disco-thump music.

If you stay in a resort hotel you can choose whether you want to participate in the club/party scene or not. An alternative is provided at the east end of Malia where the renowned Archaeological site and the Palace of Malia are situated.

In close quarters exists a much quieter sandy beach where many family attractions are close by. A commendable (non-party/booze) place to stay is Ikaros Village - one of a few hotels of size in Crete built with wonderful inspiration, imitating traditional Cretan styles.

The bus service from Iraklion is operated frequently. There are also boat connections all year round from the port of Agios Nikolaos to Piraeus. During the summer there are connections with the islands of Cyclades and with the islands of Kassos, Karpathos, Kos. Tours to Santorini are also organized during the summer. Agios Nikolaos does not have its own airport but the city is served by the airports of Iraklion and Sitia.

Agios Nikolaos in the Lasithi Province of Crete has become the fifth marina to begin co-operating with the K&G Med Marina Management team to promote its high quality harbour facilities to boat owners in the Aegean.

Services to be introduced by K&G include Med Marinas Club membership, long term berth leases, an on-line reservations system, e-newsletters and a new website.

K&G was established in 2001 with the objective of constructing and operating yacht harbours. The company has acted as the management consultant for Gouvia Marina in Corfu, Zea Marina in Piraeus and the marinas of Kalamata and Lefkas, which provide a combined total of 2,500 berths.The acquisition of Agios Nikolaos in Eastern Crete adds a further 255 berths supply.

March 2005

Exclusive New Three- and Four-Night Land Programs on Mediterranean Itineraries

Silver Wind's "Mediterranean Reflections" 10-day cruise from Monte Carlo to Athens, calling in Portoferraio, Sorrento, Amalfi and Siracusa (Sicily), Italy; Valletta, Malta; Aghios Nikolaos, Santorini and Paros, Greece; July 18 - 28, 2005

Aghios Nikolaos is probably Crete's best known and established tourist resort and changes from its beginnings as a fishing and shipping resort to a hive of activity in the summer months with lively cafes, bars and restaurants and its picturesque marina and lakeside.

Situated on the North East coast it is only 40 miles from Heraklion airport the resort measures just 2.5 miles from North to South and just 1 mile from East to West.

The resort itself is clustered around and between the harbour and the picturesque and apparently 'bottomless' lake, juts into the town and is linked to the sea by a narrow canal. The coast road skirts the town with impressive, rugged mountains rising behind and olive groves carving a passage through to the south coast.