Greeks are well aware of what a gem Crete is, and it seems the rest of the world is quickly catching on.
The island was ranked fifth on the list of Top 10 Destinations in the World for 2018 in the Traveler’s Choice Awards run by travel planning and booking site TripAdvisor.
Taking out first place was Paris, followed by London, Rome, and Bali. Also making the Top 10 following Crete were Barcelona in sixth place, Prague, Marrakech, Istanbul, and New York in 10th spot.
Senior director of communications for TripAdvisor, Brooke Ferencsik said that this year’s list revealed their millions of reviewers from across the world have a great appreciation for “exploring iconic cities that are full of rich history and culture”. And this is certainly true of Crete. The birthplace of both the king of the Olympian gods and of modern European civilisation, “Crete is a Mediterranean jewel,” states the TripAdvisor website.
According to the site, the average hotel rate on the Greek island is US$169 per month, with the cheapest month to travel being October, saving up to 36 per cent.
The Traveler’s Choice Awards results were determined by an algorithm that analyses the quantity and quality of reviews across hotels, restaurants and attractions among 402 destinations around the world over a 12 month period.
Meanwhile the island also leads the site’s Top 10 Destinations in Greece for 2018. Crete is in first place, with Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu, and Mykonos making up the top five, followed by Zakynthos, Athens, Kefallonia, Kos, and Naxos.