The largest island in Greece, Crete is one of the top beach destinations on the travel lists of Europeans. Spanish Mallorca is equally popular due to its wide range of opportunities for a wide variety of summer vacations. Choosing Crete or Mallorca, the tourist does not risk anything in any case, because a vacation in any of these paradises will be remembered for a long time and will leave a pleasant tan and a sea of good impressions.
Criterias of choice
The weather on both islands is determined by the Mediterranean climate. Summer in both Crete and the Balearics is hot, the swimming season begins early, and the last vacationers meet on Mediterranean beaches until late autumn:
- The most comfortable holiday on the beaches of Mallorca lasts from the second half of May to the end of October. High summer temperatures often exceed + 31 ° C and + 25 ° C in air and water, respectively.
- In the resorts of Crete, swimming tourists are noticed already at the end of April, but the sea reaches comfortable temperatures only by mid-May. In summer, on the beaches of the Greek island, thermometers often show + 35 ° С, and the sea warms up to + 26 ° С.
It is better to book flights to Crete or Mallorca long before the expected vacation. This will significantly save money:
- Several charter companies fly from the capital of Russia to the Balearic Islands in the summer. Travel time will take about 4 hours, and the ticket will cost about 24,000 rubles. With connections to Palma, many European air carriers will deliver, but taking into account the transfer, you will have to lay 6 or more hours on the road.
- To the island of Crete to Heraklion airport from the capital of Russia, a ticket for a direct charter will cost from 20,000 rubles. The journey will also take 4 hours.
Hotels in Greece and Spain comply with the European "star" classification system:
- A 3 * hotel in Crete costs from $ 40 per day. Guests have at their disposal parking, wireless internet and breakfast, which is included in the price of the room.
- "Treshka" in the resorts of the Spanish island will cost $ 30. At the same time, you won't have to go to the sea for more than 15 minutes.
There are not too many all-inclusive hotels in Spanish and Greek resorts, but if you wish, this type of holiday in Crete or Mallorca is available.
Crete or Mallorca beaches?
The largest Spanish island has two hundred beaches, thirty of which have been awarded the Blue Flag. Entrance to Spanish beaches is free, as well as to Greek ones, but you will have to pay a few euros to rent an umbrella or sunbed.
The most popular beach on the island is located 10 km east of its capital. Playa de Palma is perfectly equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay, and rental offices allow its visitors to go diving, fly over the sea on a parachute or ride a jet ski.
On the Cretan beaches there is a place for lovers of cozy sand, and for lovers of secluded coves, carved by the wind and time in the coastal stones. In the north of the island, the beaches of Elafonisi and Balos are especially popular. The first is ideally equipped for a comfortable family vacation, and the second is preferred by adherents of solitude and admirers of picturesque landscapes.
