About CreteLocals

The CreteLocals is a travel agency in Crete. The CreteLocals offers full-scale tourism services across Crete. Travel services include car rentals, airport transfers, private taxis, guided tours, group excursions, accommodation bookings, travel insurance, ferry and flight tickets. The CreteLocals connects travelers with local providers and simplifies trip planning through destination guides, practical tips, and curated itineraries covering major sites across Crete.

What does the CreteLocals offer?

The CreteLocals offers comprehensive travel services across Crete Island, including car rentals, private taxis, airport transfers, guided tours, excursions, accommodation bookings, tickets for flights and ferries, and travel insurance. The CreteLocals connects visitors with local businesses and delivers travel solutions through direct cooperation with Cretan providers.

The CreteLocals shares destination guides, travel tips, things to do, Crete itineraries and local insights to support trip planning across Crete Island. The CreteLocals covers top beaches, historic towns, mountain villages, gorges, monasteries, and archaeological sites across Crete Island.

What is the CreteLocals’ Vision?

The CreteLocals simplifies trip planning and delivers complete travel solutions for visitors to Crete Island. The CreteLocals connects travellers with local experts, authentic experiences, and trusted services through a user-focused website. The CreteLocals builds its services on firsthand knowledge, strong local partnerships, and digital tools to help travellers explore Crete with confidence and ease.

What is the Goal of the CreteLocals?

The CreteLocals helps travellers explore Crete by offering a complete range of travel services and local information. The CreteLocals operates as an all-in-one travel agency for tour bookings, accommodation, and transportation services. The CreteLocals offers guided experiences, food tours, boat trips, hiking excursions, archaeological site visits, wine tastings, village walks, jeep safaris, diving sessions, olive oil tastings, and traditional craft workshops. The CreteLocals books accommodation across Crete, including hotels, villas, apartments, and holiday homes. The CreteLocals arranges transportation services, such as car rentals, private transfers, flights, and ferry tickets for visitors to Crete.

Who founded and manages CreteLocals?

The CreteLocals was founded by Olga Stratan and Victor Balta on Monday, July 19, 2021. The CreteLocals was launched to help visitors explore Crete using local knowledge and firsthand experience. Olga Stratan and Victor Balta, both originally from Moldova, grew up spending every summer in Crete with their relatives and built a deep bond with the island as their second home. Olga manages SEO, social media and partner coordination. Victor handles product development and technical operations, bringing over six years of travel technology experience to CreteLocals.

Harry Anapliotis joined CreteLocals on February 25, 2025. Harry supports CreteLocals with car rental and local travel expertise. Harry is the CEO of Rental Center Crete, the leading car rental company in Crete.
Harry leads product design, web development, and digital marketing for CreteLocals.

The CreteLocals operates as a fully remote business, with team members working from different locations. The main office of CreteLocals is located at Pasadaki 1, Heraklion, Crete, 71601, Greece.

What destinations does CreteLocals cover?

The CreteLocals covers major destinations across Crete and provides accommodations, private and guided tours, car rentals, taxi transfers, and custom travel services. Find below the list of destinations covered by the CreteLocals:

Heraklion Town. The CreteLocals arranges accommodations, private and guided tours, car rentals, and airport transfers across Heraklion and its suburbs. Accommodation options range from boutique hotels to seaside resorts. Car hire is available from Heraklion Airport, city centre, port, or delivered to hotels. Guided tours cover Venetian landmarks, local food markets, and nearby archaeological sites such as Knossos Palace. Walking tours visit the Venetian Walls, Morosini Fountain, Koules Fortress, and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

Chania Town: The CreteLocals provides accommodations, guided and private tours, car rentals, and airport transfers throughout Chania and its surrounding areas. CreteLocals offers accommodations in Chania’s Old Town, Koum Kapi, Nea Chora, and nearby coastal areas. Car rentals are available from Chania Airport or the city centre. Transfers connect Chania to regional villages, beaches, and mountain areas. Walking tours cover the Old Venetian Harbour, the Jewish Quarter, the Archaeological Museum, and the Municipal Market. Food tours include Cretan olive oil, cheese, honey, and local street food tastings. Private boat trips explore Seitan Limania, Thodorou Island, and Marathi Bay with swimming and snorkelling options.

Rethymno Town. CreteLocals offers full travel services to Rethymno, including transportation, accommodation, and guided tours. The CreteLocals offers accommodation in Rethymno’s historic centre, beachfront hotels, and nearby countryside. Car rentals are available from Rethymno city centre and the port. The private transfers link Rethymno with Heraklion, Chania, and smaller towns. Guided tours include Rethymno Old Town walking routes, historical landmarks, monastery visits, and optional culinary experiences in local tavernas and farms.

Elafonisi Beach. CreteLocals arranges tours, accommodations and private transportation to Elafonisi Beach. Elafonisi Beach Tours start from Heraklion, Chania, and Rethymno. Tours include hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, lunch, licensed guides and scenic stops. CreteLocals arranges flexible itineraries that match traveller preferences, covering both group and private tours.

Balos Beach. The CreteLocals arranges full-service trips to Balos Beach with transportation, accommodation, and guided experiences. Day tours include hotel pickups across Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion regions, private transfers to Kissamos port, and ferry tickets to Balos and Gramvousa. Optional hiking to the Balos viewpoint is available. Licensed guides share geological and ecological insights and assist in avoiding peak-hour congestion. Accommodation options near Chania and Kissamos are available on request for travellers seeking extended stays.

Knossos Palace. The CreteLocals provides stays in the Knossos area and Heraklion, along with car hire, excursions and transfers to the site. Guided and private tours are led by licensed guides and cover the Knossos palace complex, frescoes, and surrounding Minoan landmarks. Optional stops include the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and regional wineries. Accommodation near Knossos Palace is available for overnight stays.

Matala Beach and Village. CreteLocals arranges visits to Matala with transportation, accommodation, and customizable tour options. Departures to Matala Beach are available from Heraklion, Rethymno, and Chania. Tours include hotel pickup, private transfers, and guided stops at key sites such as the Matala Caves and the Red Beach trail. Accommodations near Matala are available for travellers planning overnight stays or multi-day trips along the southern coast. Car rentals are available from Heraklion airport, the city or the port.

Does CreteLocals offer Car Rentals in Crete?

Yes, the CreteLocals provides car rentals in Crete through a partnership with Rental Center Crete. Rental Center Crete, a local company established in 1975, brings 50 years of experience. Car rentals include full insurance, no deposit, unlimited mileage, and free cancellations up to 48 hours before pickup. Crete car rental locations include Heraklion, Chania, Agios Nikolaos, Rethymno and other major towns and airports.

The Crete car rental costs vary depending on the number of passengers, itinerary, car type, location, and duration. The average cost of renting a vehicle in Crete typically ranges from €30 ($34, £26) to €60 ($68, £51) per day. A one-week car rental averages €250 ($285, £216). A weekend rental usually costs €78 ($89, £67).

Does CreteLocals offer Transfers and Taxi Services in Crete?

Yes, the CreteLocals offers transfers and taxi services in Crete. The CreteLocals provides reliable, pre-booked private transfers from Chania Airport, Heraklion Airport, and Sitia Airport to any town, port or accommodation throughout Crete. Transfers are available 24/7 and are handled by professional, English-speaking drivers with licensed and insured vehicles. The CreteLocals’ transfer prices are fixed when booked in advance, with no hidden charges. Child seats, extra luggage space, and group transfers are available on request.

Does CreteLocals offer Guided Tours?

Yes, the CreteLocals offers both private and guided tours across Crete with licensed guides and experienced drivers. All tours include hotel pickup, transport, and a licensed English-speaking guide. The most popular Crete tours include the Samaria Gorge hike, Knossos Palace with Heraklion Archaeological Museum, boat trips to Balos and Gramvousa, Elafonisi beach day tours, traditional cooking classes, and regional wine-tasting experiences.

Does CreteLocals offer Accommodation Bookings in Crete?

Yes, the CreteLocals offers accommodation bookings across Crete. The CreteLocals provides access to a wide range of staying options like hotels, villas, apartments, holiday homes, and Airbnbs. Bookings cover all budgets and group sizes through the CreteLocals website. Popular accommodations are located in Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Malia, Plakias, Matala, and other cities/villages. The CreteLocals offers curation options of places to stay in Crete near beaches with sea or sunset views, pools, parking, Wi-Fi, kitchen, breakfast, air conditioning, private gardens, balconies, spa services, fitness centers, and family-friendly facilities.

Can you book flights and ferry tickets through CreteLocals?

Yes, you can book flights and ferry tickets through the CreteLocals platform. On the CreteLocals website, travellers can find flight tickets to Heraklion International Airport (HER), Chania International Airport (CHQ), and Sitia Public Airport (JSH), the main air entry points to Crete. The CreteLocals lists flights operated by British Airways, Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Sky Express, and Aegean Airlines.

Direct flights to Crete operate from major European cities during the tourist season. Routes from Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Poland, and other EU countries land at Heraklion and Chania Airports. Return flight tickets from Europe to Crete cost between €90 and €292 ($98–318, £78–253) during peak travel months.

On the CreteLocals website, travellers can find ferry tickets to Heraklion Port, Chania Port (Souda), Sitia Port, Rethymno Port, and Agios Nikolaos Port, which serve as main ferry gateways to Crete. CreteLocals lists ferry routes from operators such as Blue Star Ferries, Minoan Lines, SeaJets, and Anek Lines. Ferries connect Crete to Athens (Piraeus), the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Peloponnese, and southern Greece.

Daily ferries from Athens (Piraeus) reach Heraklion, Chania, and Sitia in 8 to 20 hours, depending on the vessel. Summer ferries from Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, and Paros reach Heraklion and Rethymno in 2 to 5 hours. Peak-season ferries from Rhodes, Karpathos, Kassos, and Halki arrive at Sitia and Heraklion. Seasonal ferries from Kissamos link to Kythira and Antikythira. Ferry ticket prices depend on departure port, vessel type, and travel class. Economy class ferry tickets from Piraeus to Heraklion or Chania start at €23 ($25, £20), and shared cabins cost €42 ($46, £36). Luxury single cabins cost €220 ($239, £188).

Does CreteLocals sell Travel Insurance?

Yes, CreteLocals sells travel insurance. CreteLocals cooperates with SafetyWing and Greek local insurance companies to offer coverage for Crete travellers. Travel insurance protects Crete travellers against medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and flight delays. Travel insurance price for Crete depends on coverage level, trip cost, and traveller age.

Travel insurance in Crete includes two types of coverage: Basic and Premium.

Basic: Basic travel insurance covers essential medical emergencies. The basic plan includes hospital stays, doctor visits, and emergency repatriation. Basic travel insurance excludes trip cancellations, lost baggage, and flight delays.

Premium: Premium travel insurance includes all basic medical coverage plus protection for trip cancellations, missed connections, lost or stolen luggage and personal liability. Premium plans offer broader financial protection during travel.

What Payment Methods does CreteLocals accept?

CreteLocals accepts bank deposits and credit card payments through its website. Travellers can book and pay online using a secure payment gateway. Accepted credit cards include Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. CreteLocals requires an advance deposit for all travel bookings. Payment confirmation is sent immediately, and receipts are issued automatically by email.

What is the Cancellation Policy when booking with CreteLocals?

Find below a list with the cancellation policy when completing a booking with CreteLocals.

Car Rental cancellation policy: CreteLocals permits car rental cancellation without charge up to 48 hours before arrival. Cancellations made within 48 hours trigger a fee matching either the deposit or one day’s rental, depending on vehicle category. CreteLocals processes refunds for accepted cancellations within five business days. Changes to booking dates or vehicle type rely on availability and adjust the final price. CreteLocals strictly follows the cancellation policy established by the car rental company.
Taxi cancellation policy: CreteLocals provides free cancellation for taxi bookings up to 48 hours before the scheduled pickup time. Cancellations of taxi bookings made less than 48 hours in advance trigger a charge equal to the full fare. Refunds for eligible cancellations are processed within five business days. Changes to pickup time or destination are allowed up to 48 hours before the service, subject to availability and potential fare adjustments. CreteLocals strictly follows the cancellation policy established by the taxi company.
Flight cancellation policy: Flight cancellation policy depends on the airline’s specific terms and may vary across carriers. Most airlines provide free cancellation within 24 hours if the departure is at least seven days away. Cancellation fees apply after 24 hours unless the ticket is refundable. Refundable tickets cost more and give full reimbursement. Airlines include cancellation terms during booking and in the confirmation email. CreteLocals strictly follows the airline company’s cancellation policy. Travel insurance is recommended to cover flight ticket costs in case of emergency cancellations.
Ferry cancellation policy: The Ferry cancellation policy follows the terms set by each ferry operator. Most ferry operators offer free cancellation within 24 to 48 hours before departure. Cancellations after this period result in a fee or partial refund based on the fare type. Standard tickets incur deductions. Flexible or premium tickets allow full refunds. Some operators issue travel credit instead of cash refunds. Weather disruptions or operational issues cause automatic refunds or rescheduling. Operators display cancellation terms during booking and confirm them in the ticket receipt. CreteLocals strictly follows the directives of the ferry company’s cancellation policy.
Hotel cancellation policy: Hotel cancellation policy depends on the hotel, booking channel, and rate type. Most hotels follow common cancellation rules. Flexible policy gives a full refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before check-in. Moderate policy requires cancellation at least 5 days before check-in for a full refund and applies partial charges after that window. Firm policy gives a full refund if cancelled at least 30 days before check-in, 50% refund if cancelled between 7 and 30 days, and no refund within 7 days. Strict policy gives a full refund only if cancelled within 48 hours of booking and at least 14 days before check-in, with reduced or no refund after that period. Visitors receive details about the cancellation terms during booking and in the confirmation email. CreteLocals strictly follows the cancellation policy set by the hotel provider.
Tour cancellation policy: Tour cancellation policy depends on the tour operator and booking terms. Most tours follow standard cancellation rules. Flexible policy allows a full refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before the tour. Moderate policy requires cancellation between 5 and 7 days before the tour for a full refund and offers partial or no refund after that window. Firm policy offers a full refund if cancelled at least 30 days before the tour, 50% refund between 7 and 30 days, and no refund within 7 days. Strict policy offers refunds only if cancelled shortly after booking and well before the tour date. The exact cancellation terms appear in the booking and confirmation details. CreteLocals strictly follows the cancellation policy set by the tour provider.

Do you offer group discounts?

Yes, we offer group discounts upon request. Discounts depend on group size, tour type, and availability. For larger groups, we can customise pricing and provide private tour options if needed. Contact us with your group details, preferred dates, and any special requirements, and we’ll provide a tailored quote and available offers.