From our guestbook
When you book with Makrigialos Touristiki you are not just booking an off-the-shelf packaged holiday.
At Makrigialos Touristiki we always take a special pride in our willingness to respond to the special requirements of our clients. In fact this is one of the main reasons why so many of our clients come back to us year after year.
Nikos Tsikalakis,
our resident manager
Nikos Tsikalakis, our manager, has his office right next door to the White House. He is therefore available to help guests at all reasonable times to give help and advice, or to deal with any problems that may crop up during your stay. For example, Nikos can tell you all about the local bus and taxi services, the best places to visit and eat, or contact a doctor or dentist for you if needed.
If, during your stay, you would like a baby-sitter, a cook, perhaps additional maid services, or you have special dietary requirements or would like to order a speedboat or a four wheel drive vehicle then just let us know and we will always do our very best to oblige. Just take a look at our visitors comments below to see how much Nikos has been able to contribute to our guests enjoyment of their holidays.
For reasons of privacy we have not reproduced our guests names in full on these pages, but the actual guest books are available for inspection at our properties.
Dear Nikos and Gunnar
Yet again we had a splendid time and, although this time we were less lucky with the weather, we most certainly enjoyed ourselves.
This time we only managed two proper walks but the opportunities to enjoy walking in Crete using your houses as a base are great.
Depending on how things work out we hope to see you later in the year. In the meantime thanks for your hospitality, advice and kindness [especially the ice-cream birthday cake!]
Best wishes for a successful season
J & A-M
Last day here. Sorry to be going home.
The apartment is wonderful, views great and Nikos very helpful.
Tried to support all the local tavernas, especially those that gave a
house drink at the end of the meal! Everyone very friendly, locals and
holiday makers. Met people from Sweden, Norway, France and Austria. Even
the mosquitoes were reasonably friendly. Saw an octopus while snorkeling
plus lots of colourful fish. [Probably ate some of them at night in the
fish tavernas!] Local wine drinkable and very reasonable. Can't wait to
come back.
Gary & Isa - UK [The Balcony Apartment]
P.S. Nothing broken, only our hearts as we leave this place!
A fabulous setting for a fabulous week - a wedding, a birthday and an engagement!
Our grateful thanks to Nikos and his wonderful team for great
organization and a superb apartment.
John and Lizzy - UK
We have had a wonderful relaxing time.
Reading, swimming and exploring the village. The balcony has been perfect for people watching.
Wonderful weather - we brought our walking boots but it has been too hot! Limani Taverna to be highly recommended. Very good value, but be warned starters are huge - we don't advise having a starter plus main! The lady in the little mini-market is very gracious and helpful. To the right after walking up to the main street opposite the bakery which sells the most amazing cakes!
We have really enjoyed our chill out holiday and hope to be back soon.
Nikos has been super. Very helpful!
Frank & June - UK [The Balcony Apartment]
Dear Nikos and Gunnar
I can't thank you enough for arranging such a wonderful wedding for Helen and Jason.
The White House has been a perfect home for all of us and our holiday has
been the best yet - every year since 1997. Looking forward to our next
visit - and good luck with you future enterprises which are so important
for Makrigialos.
John & Ann-Marie - UK [The White House]
Thanks for 14 wonderful days in The White House.
The weather was wonderful - a lot of sun, no wind, no rain, sea
temperature of 24 degrees. Nikos is the BEST - the perfect host! We will
be back - maybe next summer!
Karin & Per - Norway [The White House]
Only ONE word can describe the holiday we have had here over the
last few days:
- Perfect
- Superb
- Magnificent
- Out of this world
- Relaxing beyond our wildest dreams
- Beautiful
- Stunning
- Simply the best
…but that seems to be a few more than one!
I feel the luckiest girl in the world that my sister chose this setting
to get married and I was part of the ceremony here at the harbour and in
the chapel of The Double House.
I will never forget this holiday because it will be hard to have one ever
as good as this for the rest of my life.
Juliet - UK [The Double House]
An unforgettable stay - the house is stunning and comfortable, the place beautiful, sea warm.
Heavenly place for a wedding. So much fun and laughter. Far exceeded
expectations, hope to return.
Karen - UK
Such a great place
The Double House has been fantastic - a lot of original features, but restored so well. Its balcony on the harbour side is great for watching the moon come up each night.
We've really enjoyed the Diaskari beach - the kiosks with hammocks are great for spending a relaxing day and the mezze lunches very good. In between having a great beach holiday, we managed to squeeze in the small matter of a wedding. I'm pleased to say I outsourced almost all my best man duties to Nikos, who is some kind of a super hero. He must have a lycra suit somewhere!
Thank you,
Sebastian & Fiona - UK
A lovely home for two weeks
Nikos and his staff are a marvellous asset and added immensely to our comfort and enjoyment. Even after the moment when my wife broke her ankle in the Pefki Gorge.
Nikos was superb - many thanks! Best wishes to you all for the future
Peter & Sarah - UK
We came for a wedding, not knowing what to expect. Everything was terrific!
We all had fun: a wedding to stand out from all others. Nikos and Gunnar
did a great job making sure the day ran wonderfully.
I also managed to complete my Symphony, write a couple of short stories,
and rush off a couple of paintings. Left my second day a little empty,
but there you go.
Ian - UK [The Harbour Apartment]
Tusen takk for oss. Dette har vaert helt fantastisk. Flott hus, veldig hyggelig sted, bra service.
Nikos - tusen takk for all vennlighet.
Vi har hatt det varmt og deilig hele uken. Dessverre saa gaar uken saa
altfor fort Kl. 20.00 soendag 3 -10 vender vi tilbale til Norge. - Vi
kommer gjerne igjen. Anne Siri, Per, Pernille og Fredrik
Arne og Astrid - Norway [The Winter House]
We have really enjoyed our stay in this lovely house.
It's charm and all the lovely extra touches have been much appreciated.
We thoroughly recommend Yannis' boat trip to the island. If you like
snorkeling the water is amazingly clear and fish untouched by humans!
Hope to be back soon!
Vincent and Ann - UK
Thanks for a wonderful week.
Both the apartment and the hospitality were
excellent. Hope to be back in the future.
Derek & Sally - UK [Harbour Apartment]
We've had a wonderful stay here - so relaxed, and everything we've needed has been provided.
Nikos has been great from his friendly welcome at the
start and his care at all times. We love the apartment,especially the
balcony where we've had our meals, listened to music and enjoyed reading
books from Gunnar's well-stocked library. We've also been able to keep an
eye on the comings and goings of Makrigialos! Of the places we visited we
found Pefki, Gournia and Kritsa the most interesting. Pefki is a
traditional, Cretan village, quite unspoilt and with a very hospitable
taverna. We enjoyed talking to 'the mother-in-law' who filled us in on
all aspects of the village life, with her daughter-in-law translating! We
were amazed by the preservation of the ruins of the Minoan town of Gurnia
- over 3,500 years old. It was well worth a visit. At Kritsa we found
lots of local craft work - good for half a day's browsing/shopping. We
would love to come again.
Beryl and David - UK [Balcony Apartment]
P.S. We found channel 141 gave a good reception for Euro News.
What a fantastic place to rest and relax!
Thank you for providing everything we could possibly need, and such a
friendly welcome. We're not telling anyone about Makrigialos - we want to
keep it our secret!
Kelly & Lorenzo [UK-US]
Thanks to Nikos and Gunnar for an extraordinary week. Thanks for your
hospitality and generosity, and thanks for making this week and this
place a reality. We will definitely tell all our friends about this new
dimension.
Hanne & Tom [Norway]
Dear Nikos and Gunnar, thank you so much for your terrific hospitality.
We have had a great time and will definitely be back next year. See you
next July!
Lesley, Simon & Molly [UK]
My second trip to Makrigialos this summer!
First two weeks in the Winter House in July with my family and now one week by myself here in this apartment. My first holiday alone. A new experience - and I really have enjoyed it. A lot of time for relaxation - and a very adequate place for studying philosophy from classical Greece. I look forward top come back next summer. Then it will be twenty years since our first summer in Makrigialos!
Thanks to Nikos - you are so helpful and friendly!
Bjorg [Norway]
A great two week honeymoon for Sally and I.
We are both so glad I bumped into Gunnar in London earlier this year. Nikos was a perfect host and sent us in the right direction with windsurfing in Palekastro, the Pefki Gorge walk and plenty of great restaurants with our absolute favorite being Robinson, heading back tonight for our final meal. Lasithi plateau is also worth a visit.
We both love the White House and will recommend to friends.
Richard & Sally [Belgium]
Just writing to say that staying in the White House for the past two
weeks has been great. It's our third visit to Crete and Makrigialos, but
the first with "Makrigialos Touristiki". It has been a really great way
to spend a fortnight. Having quick and easy access to the beach has been
brilliant, as has the food and service in all the restaurants and bars.
Best for service has been Cafe Olympio with Dimitri and Hara.
Kate, John & Gill [UK]
Two wonderful weeks in the Winter House.
We all love this house and we look forward to stay here again. Our first
summer in Makrigialos was in 1985, and this summer was our 15th. To stay
at the harbour and in this house was a new experience for us. We enjoy
the beach and the sea but also the walks in the pleasant surroundings of
Makrigialos. The gorges and caves are the most fascinating experiences
for all. As a geologist I find the rocks along this part of Crete
particularly interesting, and enjoy the opportunity to seek new knowledge
by following the ubiquitous paths through dry fields into the mountain
sides. We want to thank Nikos for willingly showing us around the houses
in this complex and especially for showing us the "Casa dei Mezzo". All
together the service has been the best and we really look forward to our
next stay.
Bjorg, Terje, Anja, Marie & Emilie [Norway]
Makrigialos has an attractive little harbour lined with restaurants and
tamarind trees, and a long sandy beach. The best accommodation option is
the White House, a terrace of renovated fishermen's cottages on the
harbour front.
'The Sunday Times', Sunday March 7, 2004. [Travel section, 'Secret
Crete']
We have been to your beautiful resort and feel that we have been to the
most wonderful place in Crete. You are indeed the most welcoming people
and you made our holiday a most enjoyable experience. We especially loved
the bus from Makrigialos to Sitia, which made us feel so at home -
Scotland's scenery with the added bonus of fantastic sunshine. Thank you
for a wonderful holiday.
J & M T
Wonderful to be here again. Much has changed, but still
relaxing, pretty and welcoming. Sitting on the balcony watching activity
along the harbour has been fantastic. Diaskari and Langada beaches
wonderfully empty and sheltered. Drive along the south east coast awe
inspiring with the waves crashing. Etia, abandoned settlement
fascinating. Food at Porfira restaurant excellent. Can recommend Kavos,
just along the harbour, too.
AW
A lovely [The Double House] house with a tasteful mix of old and new… all the artefacts are wonderful - I don't know where on earth Gunnar got them all from. The chapel at night with all the candles lit is also enchanting.
A relaxing, rewarding experience for all. Your manager, Nikos, is a godsend! The house and furnishings top drawer! The village and people are wonderful. This is the corner of heaven on earth. Will be back. Thank you Gunnar for everything!
We all had a marvelous time in Makrigialos. The Winter House, especially, is absolutely fantastic. I will be back!
Thank you again for having your manager, Nikos, available to us and for all the other special arrangements. We all had a really great time in your charming village and homes.
The Balcony Apartment is lovely, beautifully furnished and extremely well
equipped. Nice shower and always plenty of hot water. Everything works
and is of good quality. Well maintained and beautifully clean. Good views
too! It's amazing to see how many people take photos. Nikos is very
helpful and friendly - and very hard working.
G&DS
We just wanted to congratulate you for the beautiful apartments, the
excellent organisation and the hospitality we received through your
manager. All this made our holiday, and we hope to repeat the experience
as soon as we have the opportunity. In the "complex" [so to say] reality
of Crete and Makrigialos your resort is a unique oasis, which respects
the culture and the specialty of the place that is lost in most of
island.
PB & family [Switzerland]
There are lots of excellent beaches with crystal blue water, beautiful sand and good snorkeling.
We've had a marvelous time, the children have been so happy playing on
the beach and in the rocks, making secret camps, trying to fish and
catching crabs. They will remember this holiday for a long time. I've
managed to pick up my drawing skills again, after a long break. They will
help me to remember this place in sunny England. My husband has
completely chilled out. We are coming again.
K.N.
It was the perfect house for a perfect holiday and a pleasure to stay in.
I'm glad I spent my birthday here! Wish I could stay longer.
Our sixth consecutive year in the wonderful houses and each holiday just gets better and better. Thank you Nikos.
Makrigialos Touristiki AE
Makrigialos GR 72055, Crete, Greece
Tel: +30 28430 29183
Fax: +30 28430 29184
