Summer beach holidays happen only once a year, and therefore it is worth approaching its organization thoroughly. When asked which is better - Crete or Sicily, the inhabitant of each of these islands will answer in their favor, but they have to fight tirelessly every year for the reviews of travelers. The efforts of the Greeks and Italians are more than rewarded when thousands of enthusiastic comments about a great time are posted on travel forums.
Criterias of choice
The Mediterranean climate and the close geographical latitudes at which both the Greek and Italian islands are located guarantee equally hot and dry weather throughout the summer. The swimming season in Crete or Sicily begins at the end of April, but the sea warms up to a comfortable + 25 ° C in the second half of May. In summer, on the beaches of resorts, thermometers show more than + 30 ° C in the air and up to + 27 ° C in the water.
The possibility of flying to Greek and Italian resorts from Moscow looks like this:
- Regular flights and charters fly to Crete, and the latter - not only from the capital of Russia, but also from some other cities. An air ticket to Heraklion from the European part of Russia will cost from 20,000 rubles. You will have to spend about 3 hours 40 minutes in the sky.
- No one flies directly to Sicily from Moscow, and therefore the only way to get there is to make a transfer in one of the European cities. A flight to Palermo via Zurich or Rome during the beach season will cost at least 23,000 rubles, and the journey with connections will take about 7 hours.
Hotels in Italy and Greece are quite consistent with the "star rating" system adopted in Europe:
- A night in a "three-ruble note" in Crete will cost about $ 55-$ 60. The price includes breakfast, wireless internet, parking, and you won't have to spend more than 10 minutes on the road to the sea.
- Prices for 3 * in Sicily can be found even more pleasant, and a good room in Taormina or Palermo is quite affordable for $ 30- $ 40. Even picky guests will be satisfied with the service, and some distance from the sea does not become a problem, because hotels organize a free shuttle to the beach for guests.
Crete or Sicily beaches
Sicily boasts a variety of beaches, and every traveler will find a piece of paradise on the island. The black volcanic sand of Catania gives way to the rocky cliffs of Syracuse, and the soft white flour of San Vito Lo Capo rivals the best beaches in the Caribbean. For a family vacation, the shallow sea off the coast of the Mondello resort, whose infrastructure is varied and attractive for both adults and kids, is most suitable. Surfers and divers alike will appreciate the wild but beautiful pristine landscape of Mazzaro Beach near Taormina.
In Crete, neither family staid tourists, nor divers and surfers will be bored. The shores of the island are covered with ideal sand for sissies, and in some places are indented by rocky bays, as dreamers and lovers of contemplation of seascapes like. The beaches offer yachting and jet skiing, fishing on the high seas and picnics on small uninhabited islands.
