I commonly see Dishoom on London restaurant lists.
The black dal at Dishoom is worth the trip in itself, however I am not one to queue. So I thought I’d give my alternatives to Dishoom (in price and imo better food)
Alternative 1 - Gunpowder
Alternative 2 - Kriket
Alternative 3 - Hoppers (Sri Lankan/ South Indian)
Have you any others?
Hello World!
We did a James Bond Island tour from Phuket, and it turned out to be much more of an adventure day than we expected.
We were picked up from our hotel and taken to AA Marina for a safety briefing before boarding a comfortable speedboat. James Bond Island was our first stop. We could have gone in the water, but decided to walk around and embrace the famous photo stop instead.
Ice Cream Cave was the surprise highlight. We were given helmets and climbed through the cave with our group, reaching a great viewpoint at the end. It felt like proper exploring and deserves more attention than it gets.
Next was Koh Panyee, where the buffet lunch was genuinely tasty. We ate fairly quickly so we had time to walk around the village, which is built on stilts over the water. Seeing its football pitch was very cool.
We finished with sea canoeing through Phang Nga Bay, passing beneath the limestone cliffs and through caves. That was another standout moment. The guides were awesome throughout.
Our verdict: worth doing if you want caves, canoeing, scenery and a bit of culture packed into one day. A real adventure day out from Phuket.
I wrote up our full experience with photos here:
https://travel-properly.com/2026/09/27/james-bond-island-tour-from-phuket/
If you want to book the same experience as us: Check Availability for the James Bond Island Tour from Phuket
All experiences are real, the above link is an affiliate link. If you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I'll be happy to answer any questions relating to the tour in the comments.
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I’ve been looking into the best credit cards for earning air miles in the UK, particularly with some of the welcome bonuses currently available.
There are obviously loads of ways to play the points game, but these are some of the UK options that stood out to me at the moment.
British Airways Amex Premium Plus
Currently offering 60,000 Avios when you spend £6,000 in the first three months.
Annual fee: £300
Earning rate: 1.5 Avios per £1
Welcome bonus: 60,000 Avios
Spend requirement: £6,000 in 3 months
You can also earn the BA Companion Voucher after hitting the required annual spend, which can potentially be more valuable than the points themselves if you use it for a long-haul premium cabin redemption.
The current 60,000 Avios welcome offer ends on 6 October.
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
Currently offering 70,000 HSBC points after spending £2,000 in the first 90 days.
It's important to point out that HSBC points don't convert 1:1 into Avios.
70,000 HSBC points = 35,000 Avios/airline miles.
Annual fee: £290
Earning rate: 3 HSBC points per £1 = 1.5 airline miles per £1
Welcome bonus: 70,000 HSBC points = 35,000 airline miles
Spend requirement: £2,000 in 90 days
The advantage here is flexibility. Rather than earning directly into one airline programme, HSBC points can be transferred to participating airline partners.
You do need to qualify for HSBC Premier to get the card.
American Express Platinum
Currently offering 50,000 Membership Rewards points after spending £6,000 in the first three months.
Annual fee: £650
Welcome bonus: 50,000 Membership Rewards points
Spend requirement: £6,000 in 3 months
The annual fee is obviously substantial, so I wouldn't look at this purely as an air-miles card. The attraction is the wider package of travel benefits alongside flexible Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to various airline programmes.
Barclaycard Avios Plus
Currently offering 25,000 Avios after spending £3,000 in the first three months.
Monthly fee: £20
Earning rate: 1.5 Avios per £1
Welcome bonus: 25,000 Avios
Spend requirement: £3,000 in 3 months
The big advantage over the BA Amex is that it's a Mastercard, so you're less likely to run into places that don't accept it.
There's also an annual spending reward if you hit the required threshold.
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard
Currently offering 18,000 Virgin Points after making your first card purchase within 90 days.
Annual fee: £160
Earning rate: 1.5 Virgin Points per £1
Welcome bonus: 18,000 Virgin Points
You earn more when spending directly with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays, so this could make considerably more sense for someone already committed to Virgin.
There are also some interesting fee-free options.
British Airways Amex: 10,000 Avios after spending £2,000 in three months.
HSBC Premier Credit Card: 30,000 HSBC points after spending £2,000 in 90 days — equivalent to 15,000 airline miles/Avios — with no annual fee.
Barclaycard Avios: 5,000 Avios after spending £1,000 in three months.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard: 3,000 Virgin Points after your first card purchase.
For me, this raises a more interesting question than simply "which card has the biggest welcome bonus?"
Do you prefer collecting directly into one ecosystem such as Avios or Virgin Points, or are you better off collecting flexible currencies such as Amex Membership Rewards or HSBC points and transferring them when you know where you want to fly?
That's the UK market.
Now I'm interested in what the rest of the world gets.
If you're from the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Asia or anywhere else, drop your country's best air-miles/rewards card in the comments.
Ideally include:
I'd be particularly interested to hear from people in the US, because some of the American welcome bonuses I've seen make the UK credit-card market look pretty stingy.
What's the best air-miles/reward card currently available in your country?
We’re spending four nights in New York and want to plan our meals around some genuinely great food.
What are your favourite places to eat in the city? We’re open to everything - from pizza slices, bagels and food trucks to neighbourhood restaurants and one memorable dinner.
We’d especially love to know:
The one restaurant you always recommend
Your favourite cheap eat
Any underrated places tourists often miss
A dish we absolutely have to try
Where would you eat if you only had four nights in New York?
Hello World!
We recently spent some time in Dublin and decided to book the Jameson Distillery Tour at Bow Street. Neither of us are whiskey experts, but we enjoy trying these sorts of experiences when we travel, and this ended up being a really enjoyable one.
We booked in advance and arrived pretty much exactly on time. The building itself is impressive -there's a big Jameson bar downstairs, shops and plenty of space to hang around. We didn't have time for a drink beforehand, but at the start of the tour we were given a token for one. I went for a Jameson and ginger, which was delicious.
The tour itself was basically split into three parts.
This was probably when we realised the tour was going to be good.
We sat around a table and an interactive video/projection appeared across the table in front of us while our guide told the story of Jameson.
The production was genuinely impressive. It could easily have been a boring 15-minute history lesson, but the combination of the visuals and our guide made it really interesting.
Our guide deserves a mention here because he was brilliant – very Irish, loads of character, funny and extremely knowledgeable. He was probably the highlight of the whole experience.
We then moved into smaller groups of around 4–6 people per table and learnt about the whiskey-making process.
This was much more interactive than we expected.
We were able to smell whiskey at different stages, smell the influence of different casks and actually pick up and feel some of the materials being discussed.
It was a really nice touch. Rather than just being told how whiskey is made, you're actually smelling and interacting with things while the guide explains what's happening.
Obviously an important part!
We tried Jameson Original, Jameson Black Barrel and the Jameson Distillery Edition.
The Distillery Edition was the most interesting for us because it's something you can only get through Jameson's distillery locations rather than something you're likely to find in your local supermarket.
Our guide also taught us how to properly taste the whiskey and what to look for in each one.
The pours were generous. Between the tasting and the Jameson drink included earlier, you definitely aren't being stingy with the whiskey here.
The tasting also became a good opportunity to chat with our guide and ask questions rather than feeling rushed through the final part.
Afterwards, we browsed the Jameson shop and headed back to the bar for another drink.
For us, definitely.
It's polished and touristy, but not in a bad way. The interactive elements are really well done and having such a good guide made a huge difference.
The one thing worth knowing is that Bow Street isn't actually a working distillery anymore. If you're expecting to walk around watching Jameson physically being produced, you won't. The experience is focused on the history, whiskey-making process and tastings.
But as a fun 45-minute experience while you're in Dublin, we'd happily recommend it – particularly if you're interested in whiskey but don't necessarily know loads about it.
If you want to book the same Jameson Bow Street tour we did:
Book the Jameson Distillery Tour
Affiliate link – we may earn a commission if you book through it, at no extra cost to you.
We also wrote a much more detailed review with our own photos from each stage of the experience here:
https://travel-properly.com/2026/09/07/jameson-distillery-tour-dublin/
Hope this helps anyone considering it. Happy to answer any questions about what the tour was actually like.
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If you're heading to Chania and fancy getting away from the beaches and Old Town for a few hours, a wine tour is definitely worth considering. Head inland and you'll find vineyards, wineries, olive groves and some seriously beautiful Cretan countryside.
There are plenty of wine tours around Chania, but they can offer very different experiences. Some focus almost entirely on the wine and winemaking process, while others combine wine tasting with Cretan food, olive oil and trips further into the mountains.
We've narrowed it down to three Chania wine tours worth considering, depending on what kind of experience you're looking for.
We actually did this one ourselves and had an awesome time.
Our Greek-American guide took us around the grounds of Manousakis before talking us through the entire winemaking process – from the grapes and fermentation through to ageing and eventually bottling.
The cellar was probably the most interesting part. We got to see the barrels up close while our guide explained how the ageing process works, why different barrels are used and the effect this can have on the finished wine. We were then shown the bottling process before heading through for the tasting.
The experience finished with a meal and the chance to sample several different Manousakis wines. Our guide also showed everyone how to properly taste wine – probably not essential if you've done tastings before, but really useful if this is your first winery experience.
Overall, this is the one we'd look at if you want to actually visit a winery, understand how the wine is made and then enjoy the end product rather than simply turning up for a tasting.
👉Read our detailed blogpost on Manousakis Winery Tour
If you want to experience more than just Cretan wine, this is probably the one to look at.
The tour combines wine tasting with olive oil, cheese, honey and other local flavours, giving you a much broader introduction to the food and drink Crete is known for.
We particularly like the idea of this one for couples or groups where not everyone is massively into wine. You're still getting the wine-tasting experience, but it isn't the sole focus of the day.
If your idea of a good tour involves eating and drinking your way through a destination, this is the Chania wine tour we'd consider.
👉 Book Wine, Olive Oil, Cheese & Honey Tour
If you're celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary or just want to do something a little more special while you're in Crete, this is the one we'd look at.
Rather than being a straightforward winery visit, this is more of a premium full-day experience through the countryside of western Crete. The tour runs in a small group of up to six people, so it should feel considerably more personal than spending the day on a large coach tour.
You'll visit Anoskeli Winery and Olive Mill for wine and olive oil tasting before heading further into the Cretan countryside towards Milia Mountain Retreat.
Milia is the part that really makes this experience stand out. Hidden away in the mountains, the retreat is surrounded by forest and beautiful Cretan scenery, with restored stone buildings that make it feel completely removed from the busy resorts around Chania.
You'll also get to enjoy lunch at Milia Mountain Retreat, turning the day into much more than a wine tasting.
For us, the appeal here is the whole package – small group, wine, olive oil, mountain scenery and lunch in a beautiful setting. It's the sort of experience we'd consider if we wanted one memorable day of the holiday rather than simply booking another excursion.
If you're on your honeymoon in Chania, celebrating an anniversary or simply don't mind spending a little more for something that feels more personal and special, this would be our pick of the three.
👉 Book the Milia Mountain Retreat Wine & Olive Oil Tour
It really depends on what you want from the day.
Want the proper winery experience? Go for Manousakis Winery – tour the winery, learn how the wine is produced, visit the cellar and finish with food and wine tasting.
More interested in food as well as wine? The Wine, Olive Oil, Cheese & Honey Tour gives you a much broader taste of Crete and is probably the better choice if not everyone in your group is massively into wine.
Honeymoon, anniversary or special occasion? We'd look at the Milia Mountain Retreat Tour. The small-group format, wine and olive oil tasting, mountain scenery and lunch at Milia make it feel much more like a special day out.
Whichever you choose, we'd definitely recommend getting away from Chania's coastline for a while and seeing this side of Crete. The wine is obviously a big part of it, but the food, countryside and people are what make these experiences so enjoyable.
We've put together a much more detailed guide to wine tours in Chania, including what wine tasting is actually like, Cretan wines to look out for and more information on each experience:
👉 Full Chania Wine Tours Guide
Hopefully this helps anyone planning a trip. If you've done any other wineries or wine tours around Chania that are worth checking out, drop them below!
Disclosure: Some of the booking links above are affiliate links. Travel Properly may earn a commission if you book through them, at no additional cost to you.
Hello World!
We have just put together a new guide on something that comes up on a lot of trips – finding a decent rental car without paying over the odds.
There are loads of car rental websites out there and prices can vary massively between them. After looking at the different options, DiscoverCars is the comparison site we recommend starting with.
The main reason is choice.
DiscoverCars compares cars from both major international brands and smaller local rental companies, which saves having to search through loads of different websites individually.
Put in your destination and travel dates and you can compare the available cars, prices and suppliers in one place.
👉 Compare car rental prices with DiscoverCars
Affiliate link – if you book through this link, Travel Properly may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
This is probably our biggest piece of advice.
The cheapest car on the results page isn't necessarily the best deal.
We always check:
If one car is £120 and another is £145, we'd happily consider paying the extra £25 if the second company has much better reviews, a smaller deposit and better rental conditions.
Yes.
One thing worth understanding is that DiscoverCars is the comparison and booking platform. In most cases, another rental company will actually provide the vehicle.
That might be a major international rental company or a smaller local supplier.
This is why we always recommend checking the name and reviews of the company actually providing the car before booking.
We don't think you necessarily need to choose one or the other.
Our approach is:
Search → Compare → Check the supplier → Read the conditions → Book the best deal.
DiscoverCars is a really useful starting point because you can see a lot of the available options in one search.
If we've found a car we like, there's nothing stopping us checking the rental company's own website as well.
No website is going to be the cheapest every single time.
Before driving away, take photos or a video of the entire car.
Get the wheels, bumpers, windscreen, doors and any existing scratches or dents. We also photograph the mileage and fuel gauge.
It takes about two minutes and means you have your own record of the condition of the car when you collected it.
Do the same when you return it.
Simple, but definitely worth doing.
If you're hiring a car on your next trip, you can search your destination and dates here:
👉 Search rental cars with DiscoverCars
Affiliate link – we may receive a commission if you book, at no additional cost to you.
We've gone into much more detail on Travel Properly, including deposits, Full Coverage, fuel policies, insurance/excess and what we think you should check before booking.
You can read the full guide here:
https://travel-properly.com/2026/09/01/best-car-rental-comparison-site/
Hopefully this helps someone planning a road trip or sorting out a rental car for an upcoming holiday.
As always, if you've used DiscoverCars before – or you've found another car rental comparison site that consistently works well – let us know below.
Safe travels!
Travel Properly
Hello World!
We recently spent some time in Westport, County Mayo and thought I'd put together some recommendations while everything is still fresh.
Westport isn't a huge town, but that's probably part of why we enjoyed it so much. You can walk almost everywhere, there are loads of independent pubs and shops, and once the weekend gets going there seems to be live music everywhere.
If you would like to read a much more detailed review: check out our website
For anyone planning a trip, these were our highlights.
The Porterhouse was our favourite.
There was live music throughout the day at the weekend and people from the crowd would routinely get up and join in with Irish dancing. If you're coming to Westport hoping for that traditional Irish pub atmosphere, this was probably the closest we found to exactly what we had imagined.
Matt Molloy's is obviously the famous one and definitely worth visiting at least once.
The Old Grainstore is much bigger than it initially looks and has a really nice courtyard. Another good place if you're settling in for a few drinks.
Henehan's is also worth visiting, particularly because they now have An Ór, which is a stunning cocktail bar and completely different from the traditional pubs around town.
J.J. O'Malley's is another well-known option right in the centre and easy to include if you're moving between a few pubs.
If we could only revisit one? The Porterhouse.
Our standout meal was Arno's Bistrot.
It's a small French-influenced restaurant using a lot of Irish produce, and we'd definitely recommend booking ahead.
We shared the McCormack's bacon and cabbage croquettes, Bluebell Falls goat's cheese and mushroom faux gras to start.
Surprisingly, the goat's cheese was our favourite.
They also brought out phenomenal bread at the beginning of the meal and rhubarb ice cream as a palate cleanser between courses, which were nice little touches.
For mains we had the boeuf bourguignon and a monkfish special.
The boeuf bourguignon was excellent, although I could have done with a slightly bigger portion. The monkfish was the real winner though – incredibly fresh.
If we went back, we'd probably both look at whatever fish special they had that day.
Finished with a cheese board and a magnificent red wine.
We didn't manage to eat at An Port Mór, but it's another restaurant that was on our list and somewhere we'd look at next time.
This Must Be The Place does excellent coffee. Particularly good if you actually like your coffee strong.
KREM is worth visiting for the brown bread ice cream. Sounds slightly strange if you've never had it, but definitely give it a go.
And for something at the completely opposite end of the culinary spectrum: SuperValu.
After a big night in Westport, get yourself a massive breakfast roll or chicken fillet roll. Cheap, filling and very Irish.
Spend some time just walking around Westport.
There are loads of independent craft and gift shops and quite a few places selling artwork. It doesn't feel like a town where you need to rush around ticking off attractions.
McGreevy's toy shop is also worth popping into to see the huge LEGO collection.
If you're brave enough the following morning, go for a swim at The Point. Cold, but a brilliant way to start the day.
Westport House is nearby, and the Great Western Greenway starts in Westport if you fancy cycling.
You're also right beside Clew Bay and not far from Croagh Patrick.
We'd definitely recommend driving out to Old Head.
It's a beautiful little coastal spot with a beach and harbour and doesn't require dedicating an entire day to it.
Our suggestion would be:
Westport → Old Head → The Tavern in Murrisk → Westport.
Stop at The Tavern for a late lunch/early dinner on the way back. Really nice way to spend part of the day.
If you've got longer, you've also got Croagh Patrick and Achill Island within reach.
I think 2–3 nights is about right for Westport.
Two nights gives you enough time to enjoy the town, have a proper night exploring the pubs and see some of the surrounding area.
Three nights would be better if you want to add a longer day out to Achill or Croagh Patrick.
Westport really impressed us.
It's not somewhere you need a massive itinerary for. Have a good meal, wander around the independent shops, drink some Guinness, listen to live music and spend a day seeing a bit of the Mayo coastline.
If you're looking for a weekend away in the west of Ireland, we'd definitely recommend it.
We originally put together a much more detailed version of this trip report on Travel Properly, including more photos, hotel recommendations, bookable tours and a full 2-day itinerary.
If anyone is planning a trip and wants the full breakdown, it's here:
https://travel-properly.com/westport-ireland-travel-guide/
Happy to answer any questions about Westport or any of the places above.
Hello World!
We recently spent some time in Chania and one of the best days we had was a catamaran trip to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa, so thought I'd write up our experience for anyone considering doing the same.
There are obviously cheaper ways to get to Balos, including the larger ferries, but we love boats and being out on the sea so decided to spend a bit more and do the catamaran instead. We'd also heard plenty about the road down to Balos and didn't particularly fancy driving it.
In hindsight, really glad we chose this option.
Pickup / getting to Kissamos
We were staying at Domes Noruz Chania in Agii Apostoli and got picked up from a nearby bus stop at around 7am.
We arrived in Kissamos at roughly 8am where we met the sailing crew. Everyone was really friendly from the start. You take your shoes/sandals off before getting on and they give them back to you in a bag.
The catamaran itself was genuinely lovely. Plenty of room for everyone and it never felt like we'd been crammed onto a tourist boat.
Sailing to Balos
The sea was incredibly calm for us.
Breakfast was available while we sailed and was actually much better than we expected. Spinach pies, cheese, charcuterie, crackers, chocolate cake etc. Basically a mixture of Cretan and continental breakfast, plus coffee and orange juice.
We just grabbed some food and enjoyed the views as we sailed towards Balos.
This was probably when we realised we'd made the right decision paying extra for the catamaran. The journey wasn't just dead time waiting to arrive somewhere – we were already enjoying the day.
Balos Lagoon
We arrived at Balos before the big crowds, which was a huge bonus.
The catamaran anchors offshore and a smaller boat takes you across to the pier so you can explore Balos.
Definitely get off the boat and go see it.
The water is ridiculously clear and shallow with that turquoise colour you see in the photos, plus sections of pink-tinted sand. Balos is touristy for obvious reasons, but it really is beautiful.
After exploring the lagoon we headed back to the catamaran and went snorkelling.
Visibility was very good and there were plenty of fish around us. There's loads of snorkelling equipment on board so you don't need to bring your own.
Lunch
We ate lunch while sailing towards Gramvousa and again the food was much better than we expected from a boat tour.
Chicken was the main option when we went, plus sausage and a vegetarian option, with orzo, salad and bread.
It felt more like a proper traditional meal than generic excursion food.
Food is actually available throughout the day, as are non-alcoholic drinks, so you really don't need to bring much with you.
Gramvousa
Gramvousa was probably the biggest surprise for us.
There's a pretty cool shipwreck just off the island. We were told we couldn't swim around it for safety reasons when we visited, unfortunately.
You can also hike up to the Venetian fortress.
It's definitely worth doing if you're able. It's a bit of a climb, especially in the Cretan heat, but the views from the top are excellent.
Once we'd done that we went back to the catamaran and this was probably the most fun part of the day.
Everyone was paddleboarding, swimming, jumping into the sea, using the slides etc. The atmosphere on the boat was brilliant by this point.
All the equipment is free to use – snorkels, paddleboards, inflatables, slides etc. You don't pay extra for any of it.
Sailing back
On the way back to Kissamos we basically found somewhere comfortable, had a drink and reflected on what had been a pretty brilliant day.
Alcohol isn't included, but you can buy it from the bar. We had a couple of cocktails and they weren't particularly expensive.
They were also VERY generous with the alcohol 😂
Was it worth paying extra for the catamaran?
For us, 100% yes.
We haven't taken the regular Balos ferry so can't give a fair first-hand comparison, and if you're travelling on a tight budget the ferry will obviously make more sense.
But the big difference for us was that the boat wasn't simply transportation.
Breakfast and lunch were included, food and soft drinks were available throughout the day, all the water equipment was free to use, there was loads of space and we arrived at Balos before the larger crowds.
Some of our favourite parts of the day were actually spent on the catamaran rather than at Balos or Gramvousa.
If you love boats and the sea, I'd highly recommend it.
Even if you're not much of a swimmer there's still plenty to do. You can explore Balos, visit Gramvousa, hike to the fortress and spend the rest of the time relaxing on the boat.
The only people I'd be cautious recommending it to would be those with significant mobility issues, particularly because of getting on/off boats and the terrain on the islands.
For us, this was easily one of the must-do experiences in Western Crete.
Happy to answer any questions about the tour, Balos, Gramvousa or Chania in general.
For anyone asking which tour we took: it was the Balos & Gramvousa catamaran trip from Kissamos with meals, drinks and the Chania transfer option.
👉 Book The Exact Balos & Gramvousa Luxury Catamaran Tour
We've also written up the whole experience with more photos and detail here:
Balos & Gramvousa Luxury Catamaran Tour Review
All experiences are real, this post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you
Hello World!
We recently spent 9 nights in Chania and thought I'd put together a travel guide/trip report with some of our recommendations. We absolutely loved this part of Crete.
I'll mainly cover the activities we absolutely recommend, restaurants we ate at, where we stayed and a few general tips. Hopefully it's useful for anyone planning a trip.
We stayed for 9 nights, although I think 5 days+ is a good amount of time for Chania. A car isn't essential, but we hired one and were very glad we did, particularly for finding restaurants and exploring outside the city.
If you're interested in reading our more detailed guide. Give it a read here: Chania Travel Guide.
I'll start with the highlights.
All experiences are real, this post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you
Probably our favourite experience of the trip.
We did the full Samaria Gorge hike from Xyloskalo down towards Agia Roumeli. It's roughly 14–16km depending on where you count the finish and the initial descent is probably the toughest section.
We went in July and expected the heat to be horrendous, but it was surprisingly manageable. There's plenty of shade during sections of the hike and lots of places to refill water.
The scenery is incredible, particularly when you eventually reach the Iron Gates.
We booked an organised tour from Chania and I'd recommend doing the same. The hike starts and finishes in completely different places, so the transport is a pain to organise yourself. At the end we had some food, went for a swim in the Libyan Sea and then took the ferry back along the coast.
Long day but 100% worth it.
Read our Samaria Gorge Hike Review
Alternatively if you're sold on the hike already book the exact same tour we took below:
The other big highlight.
We paid extra for a more premium catamaran trip and I'm very glad we did.
Transport was taken care of and it was an early start. The catamaran itself was brilliant – loads of space, slides, paddle boards, snorkels/flippers, floats etc. Breakfast and lunch were included as well as non-alcoholic drinks.
The crew were excellent.
One of the biggest advantages was that they got us to Balos before the crowds. We had the lagoon with relatively few people there, which was probably worth paying the extra money for on its own.
Balos is stunning. Very shallow turquoise water with areas of pink-tinted sand.
We also stopped at Gramvousa. There's a shipwreck just offshore (you can't swim right up to it for safety reasons) and a Venetian fortress you can climb up to for some amazing views.
Interestingly, some people barely left the catamaran because there was so much to do onboard.
I'd recommend this one for couples, families and groups. The boat itself is as much a part of the experience as Balos.
Click the link below to book the exact same experience as us:
Balos & Gramvousa Luxury Catamaran Cruise
Another experience we'd recommend.
We did a wine tour to Manousakis Winery and went through the whole winemaking process – harvesting, crushing and pressing, differences between red and white wine production, fermentation, clarification, ageing and bottling.
Our guide was Greek-American, spoke perfect English and really knew her stuff.
The winery grounds are beautiful too.
At the end we had a traditional Cretan dinner while tasting five wines. Our favourite was the Nostos Roussanne.
A really nice change of pace from hiking/beach days.
Click here to book the Manousakis Wine Tour
Food was one of the best things about Chania for us.
A few places we'd recommend:
Frosini's Garden – You'll need a car. Very traditional cooking and they cook using fire rather than electricity. Beautiful countryside setting with horses. Really memorable place.
Kouzina EPE – Excellent for lunch. Everything we tried was good but definitely get the pastitsio.
Chrisostomos – Very traditional Cretan food close to the harbour. I'd consider this a must-visit if you want proper Cretan cooking.
To Maridaki – Cretan-style seafood restaurant. Ask the waiters what's fresh/in season and take their recommendation. We had a brilliant meal here.
Psitopolis, Agii Apostoli – Best gyro we had during the trip. They also serve beer with ice-cold glasses which was very welcome after being out in the Cretan heat.
We ate at plenty of other good places too, but those are a few that immediately stand out.
We spent 9 nights at Domes Noruz Chania in Agii Apostoli.
Adults-only, right on the beach and a short drive from Chania Old Town.
The beach was probably our favourite part. It's a calm sheltered bay and fantastic for swimming. We also had a room with a plunge pool, breakfast was excellent and the service throughout the hotel was very good.
It isn't cheap though. Some of the bar/spa pricing was expensive, so that's something I'd factor in.
Overall we thought it was worth it and we'd happily stay again.
I have written a detailed guide on: Domes Noruz Chania
Click here to book Domes Noruz Chania
We really liked Chania.
Samaria Gorge and the Balos/Gramvousa catamaran were probably the two standout experiences, but the food was also genuinely excellent and Chania Old Town has a great atmosphere in the evenings. I have not been too many places like Chania. It has a calm buzz to it which is quite unique. Most definitely worth a visit.
We've also put together a much more detailed Chania travel guide with more information, photos and recommendations here: Chania Travel Guide
Happy to answer any questions about Chania, Samaria, Balos, restaurants, the hotel etc.
All experiences are real, this post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you
Hello World!
We recently spent 9 nights at Domes Noruz Chania in Crete and wanted to share our experience, as this was one of those hotels we spent quite a bit of time researching before booking.
It’s an adults-only Marriott Autograph Collection hotel just outside Chania, with two pools and a really beautiful beachfront setting.
The biggest thing to know before booking is the atmosphere. We expected something slightly more upbeat, but in reality it’s a very peaceful, couples-focused hotel. Definitely somewhere we’d recommend for a romantic trip rather than anyone looking for a lively adults-only resort.
This is a shorter version of our much more detailed Domes Noruz Chania review, but hopefully useful for anyone considering staying.
Our room was actually more spacious than we expected.
We had a good-sized outdoor area with our own plunge pool and somewhere to sit outside with a tea and a book. The plunge pool was absolutely freezing, even in July, so we only used it a few times, but it was good fun when we did.
The bed and pillows were extremely comfortable and the shower had good pressure. One unusual feature is the sink being positioned in the main room, which apparently takes inspiration from traditional Cretan households. It seemed strange initially but we got used to it very quickly.
There's also a circular window between the bathroom and bedroom. Definitely a couples hotel!
Housekeeping deserves a mention too. Our room was sometimes attended to two or three times per day, including turndown service with chocolates and water. Really impressive throughout the 9 nights.
There are two main pools.
The quiet pool is VERY quiet. Usually just a few couples reading and relaxing without much noise at all. It was actually slightly too quiet for us.
We preferred the main pool.
It's busier but still extremely peaceful and never felt crowded. There were always plenty of comfortable loungers and umbrellas available, with pillows provided to use as headrests. The hotel also had some inflatables available for the pool.
One slight disappointment was the Raw Bar.
It's a nice setting and has a good menu, but prices are high and the bar was much quieter than we'd expected. We actually think lowering prices slightly would encourage more people to spend the afternoon there and give the main pool area a little more atmosphere.
This was probably our favourite part of Domes Noruz.
The hotel sits directly beside a beautiful sandy bay with exceptionally calm, shallow water.
It was fantastic for swimming. We could spend ages just relaxing in the sea, and despite visiting in July we never had to rush down in the morning to secure a beach lounger.
The beach facilities were also excellent, including really good showers.
The only surprising disappointment was the snorkelling.
We're very keen snorkellers and the seabed around the rocky edges of the bay looks like it should be interesting, but we saw surprisingly little marine life. Barely any fish at all.
So we wouldn't recommend choosing Domes Noruz specifically for snorkelling.
For swimming and relaxing in the sea though? Excellent. It's genuinely one of our favourite hotel bay settings we've experienced in Europe.
We booked half board, which included breakfast plus either lunch or dinner.
Breakfast was excellent.
Huge selection of cereals, yoghurt, fruit, charcuterie, olives, honey, breads, cooked breakfasts, cakes, biscuits, local dishes, vegetarian and vegan options and even Prosecco.
Some dishes changed daily too, which made a big difference when staying for 9 nights.
We deliberately didn't use our half board every day because we wanted to eat around Chania and western Crete. But between breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel, we genuinely didn't have a bad meal.
Topos is the main restaurant and the food was consistently good. The lamb giouvetsi and cheesecake were particular favourites.
Prices outside half board can be steep though. €7.80 for a bottle of water at Topos felt excessive to us.
Service was another major positive.
Reception were excellent and genuinely willing to spend time helping us with restaurant recommendations, activities and even problems with our rental car.
Breakfast staff started remembering our coffee and juice orders, housekeeping was exceptional and the bell team were some of the most personable staff at the hotel.
There's also a surprisingly good gym with plenty of equipment for a proper workout. The spin bikes overlooking the sea were a highlight.
For us, yes.
The hotel isn't perfect.
The Raw Bar could have more atmosphere, drinks are expensive and spa treatments were priced high enough that we didn't use the spa as much as we otherwise would have.
But none of that really affected our holiday.
The beach is fantastic, our room was excellent, food was consistently good and the service was at the level we'd expect from a hotel like this.
We also really liked the location. You're outside Chania, so the hotel feels peaceful and resort-like, but it's a short and relatively inexpensive taxi ride into Chania when you want restaurants and more atmosphere.
The biggest thing we'd stress is that Domes Noruz is much more suited to couples looking for a peaceful, romantic trip than anyone expecting a lively adults-only resort.
We'd happily stay again.
We've put together a much more detailed review covering the rooms, beach, pools, breakfast, half board, restaurants, gym, spa, location, service and everything we thought could be improved:
If our review has helped you decide and you want to check prices or availability for your dates, you can find the hotel here:
Check Prices & Availability at Domes Noruz Chania
The Expedia link above is an affiliate link. If you book through it, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Happy to answer any questions here too if anyone is considering staying at Domes Noruz.
After hearing people rave about the Samaria Gorge for years, we finally decided to see what all the fuss was about during our recent trip to Crete.
Safe to say... it lived up to the hype.
Our Samaria Gorge Hike began with an early morning hotel pick-up from Chania before making our way into the White Mountains. As the sun began to rise over Crete, the excitement started to build. We’d heard so much about Samaria Gorge before our trip, but nothing quite prepares you for seeing the dramatic mountain scenery in person.
Our day started at the entrance to Samaria Gorge, surrounded by the towering White Mountains. After spending most of our trip exploring Crete's coastline, the scenery here felt completely different.
Before setting off, we stopped at the viewpoint overlooking the gorge. It's well worth the short walk and gives you an incredible first look at the trail stretching below.
The hike begins with a fairly steep, rocky descent, which we found to be the trickiest part of the entire route. Taking it slowly and wearing proper hiking shoes made all the difference, and after 20–30 minutes we found our rhythm.
Despite the concentration needed on the uneven ground, the atmosphere was incredibly peaceful. Apart from birdsong and the sound of hiking boots on the trail, there was very little noise as everyone made their way into one of Europe's most spectacular gorges.
Once we'd finished the steep opening descent, the hike became much more relaxed. The trail continued downhill, but the gradient eased off, making it easier to enjoy the scenery rather than watching every step.
The fresh mountain air, towering pine trees and constant sound of flowing water made this one of our favourite sections. Even in the middle of July, there were plenty of shaded stretches that kept the walk surprisingly comfortable.
We also came across several natural drinking water points along the route. We topped up our bottles whenever we could and even drank straight from one of the mountain streams—it was some of the freshest water we've ever tasted.
The trail regularly crossed the river via wooden bridges, with each turn revealing another beautiful viewpoint. Before long, we reached the abandoned village of Samaria, one of the highlights of the entire hike.
Around halfway through the hike, we arrived at the abandoned village of Samaria, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Surrounded by trees and old stone buildings, it was the perfect place to escape the sun, enjoy our packed lunch and give our legs a well-earned rest.
One of the highlights here was spotting the famous kri-kri goats wandering freely around the village. Seeing them up close in their natural habitat made this one of our favourite stops of the day.
This is also a great place to refill your water bottles and use the toilets before tackling the second half of the hike. We'd definitely recommend taking your time here—the peaceful atmosphere and fascinating history make it much more than just a rest stop.
After leaving the abandoned village behind, we set off feeling refreshed and ready for the second half of the hike. By now, there was a real sense of achievement, and the finish finally felt within reach.
Along the way, we stopped at the small Church of Osia Maria before refilling our water bottles once again with the cold mountain spring water. We also spotted the park rangers' horses, which are used to transport supplies and assist with rescues throughout the gorge.
As the day warmed up, we found ourselves taking more regular water breaks, but thanks to the frequent refill points, staying hydrated was easy. Before long, the towering rock walls began closing in around us—we knew we were about to reach the most iconic part of the hike, the Iron Gates.
Eventually, we reached the most famous part of the hike—the Iron Gates—and it completely lived up to the hype.
Although we'd seen countless photos beforehand, nothing prepares you for standing between cliffs that rise around 300 metres above your head while the gorge narrows to just a few metres wide. It was easily one of those moments where pictures simply can't capture the scale.
What made it even better was how different it felt from the rest of the hike. We'd already walked through forests, crossed rivers, explored the abandoned village and descended deep into the gorge, yet somehow the scenery kept getting more impressive.
Everyone naturally slowed down here to look up, take photos and soak it all in. It was without doubt one of the highlights of our entire day in Crete.
As the towering cliffs began to disappear, we knew we were nearing the end of the gorge. Seeing the finish after hours of hiking brought a real sense of achievement, but the day wasn't quite over yet.
Rather than taking the shuttle, we walked the final stretch into Agia Roumeli. It's an easy, mostly flat walk towards the coast and a relaxing way to round off the hike.
Arriving at the Libyan Sea was the perfect reward. We grabbed lunch at Calypso Café Taverna, sat by the waterfront and finally gave our legs a well-earned rest. After 16km on rocky trails, everything somehow tasted better.
Before catching the ferry back, we couldn't resist one final treat—a swim in the crystal-clear Libyan Sea. The cool water was exactly what our tired legs needed, and looking back towards the mountains we'd just hiked through was one of those moments we'll remember for a long time.
It was the perfect ending to what has become one of our favourite hikes anywhere in Europe.
Looking back, what made Samaria Gorge so special wasn't just one landmark—it was how the scenery constantly changed throughout the day. From mountain trails and pine forests to rivers, the abandoned village, the famous Iron Gates and finally the Libyan Sea, every section felt completely different.
It ended up being one of the highlights of our trip to Crete and easily one of our favourite hikes anywhere in Europe. It's a long day, and you'll definitely feel it afterwards, but reaching Agia Roumeli makes every step worthwhile.
If you're planning to hike Samaria Gorge, we'd happily book the same tour again. It took all the stress out of organising the transport and let us simply enjoy one of the most unforgettable experiences Crete has to offer.
Quite a few people ask whether it's worth booking a tour or organising everything independently.
Having done it ourselves, we'd happily book the tour again. Because the hike starts in the mountains and finishes in a completely different village, the logistics can be a bit of a headache. Having the transport organised meant we could simply enjoy the day without worrying about buses, ferry timings or parking.
If you're thinking of booking the same experience we did, there are two options:
All-Inclusive Tour (Our Recommendation)
This includes your coach transfers, Samaria Gorge entrance fee, ferry ticket and a professional hiking guide. It's the easiest option as everything is paid for before the day begins.
Standard Tour
This includes the coach transfers and hiking guide, but you'll pay the entrance fee and ferry ticket through your guide on the day.
These are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book through them. It doesn't cost you anything extra and helps support Travel-Properly so we can keep creating first-hand travel guides like this one.
This post is a condensed version of our original first-hand Samaria Gorge guide, which we wrote after completing the hike ourselves.
If you're looking for a much more detailed breakdown of the day—including more photos, what to pack, timings, difficulty, costs, our honest review of the tour, and plenty of practical tips for planning your own hike—you can read the full article here:
We hope this Reddit post has been useful, and if you have any questions about hiking Samaria Gorge, feel free to ask in the comments. We're always happy to help fellow travellers plan their trip.
Hey, we’ve decided to choose accommodation outside of Chania in Agii Apostoli. I was wondering if anyone had any local recommendations? Perhaps a nice spot for dinner? Somewhere to drink? Nearby activities.
I have extensively googled the area - I guess I am looking for another layer of research.
Many thanks
Hey, we’ve decided to choose accommodation outside of Chania in Agii Apostoli. I was wondering if anyone had any local recommendations? Perhaps a nice spot for dinner? Somewhere to drink? Nearby activities.
I have extensively googled the area - I guess I am looking for another layer of research.
Many thanks
