Malia

Overview
The town of Malia on the north coast of Crete is ancient, butits appeal as a holiday destination is unquestionably for theyoung: 18 to 30-year-old revellers out for fun, sunny days andsteamy party nights. The ruins of the 2000 BC Palace of Malia, amile or so from the neon strip of the modern resort, draws a fewtourists, but most are more intent on taking excursions to enjoythe thrills and spills at the waterpark about 15 minutes away, orsoaking up the sun, swimming and sea sports on the miles ofbeautiful white sandy beach. Modern Malia is a hodge-podge ofapartment and hotel complexes, tavernas, cafes, kiosks and shopscrammed along a busy strip, offering everything the package tourholidaymaker could wish for. At night the lights are bright and themusic pumps in the many cosmopolitan pubs and clubs until sunrise.The most attractive feature of Malia is its three miles (5km) ofsandy beach, washed by crystal clear sea, under blazing sun. Thereis no natural shade but the beach is well-supplied with parasolsand sunbeds, and dotted with bar kiosks and watersports operators.The road into the mountains south of the resort, leading to thepretty village of Krasi, offers a scenic alternative with itswooded slopes and rushing springs.

Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents.Banks and bureaux de change are widely available and travellerscheques and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs arewidespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenientmethod of obtaining euros.

Time
Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 between the last Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October).

Language
Greek is the national language, but English is widely spoken.

Climate
Crete enjoys hot, dry summers and mild winters. Temperatures inJuly and August range from 86ºF (30ºC) during the day to72ºF (22ºC) at night. Rainfall is almost non-existent insummer but showers can be expected between October and April.

Shopping
Malia offers the predictable range of Greek resort shopping,from flip-flops and sun cream to jewellery and leather goods. Allthe shops are clustered along the strip and open between 9am and10pm seven days a week. Good souvenirs to look out for areembroidery and other handcrafts, delicious local cheeses andwine.

Nightlife
Malia's nightlife has a reputation for being one of theMediterranean's hotspots for young clubbers and pubbers, on a parwith Ibiza and Majorca. The main strip along the beach is thickwith touts and barkers luring clients into their establishmentswith promises of free admission and a variety of special offers,such as 'two drinks for the price of one', or free shots. The clubstake their lead from their UK counterparts, boasting names likeLondon, Newcastle and Corkers, and are occupied mainly by youngBrits. In the early hours many of the revellers end up sleeping offtheir drinking sprees on the beach before seeking out breakfast andbed.

Activities
Energetic holiday-makers can fill their days with all manner ofwatersports, particularly on the busy Dolphin and Agapi beaches,from banana boat and jet-ski rides to waterskiing and para-sailing,or a gentle pedalo outing. Volley ball and football games areregular features on the beaches. There are two crazy golf courseson the sea front. Various excursions are on offer, from foresthikes to archaeological expeditions. Most visitors hire a quadbike, motor scooter or a car for all or part of their visit inorder to explore further afield.

Restaurants
There is no shortage of restaurants of all sorts in Malia,whether it be for slowly-savoured traditional Greek meal, a quickpasta or take-out burger. The 24-hour McDonald's is probably thelowest-budget option, while the most expensive establishments arethose with a sea view and classy ambience. Most of the restaurantsoffer menus featuring British favourites along with a few Greekspecialities, but there are numerous different internationalcuisine options, particularly Italian, Indian and Mexican.