Sunday, December 20, 2009

CRETE REUNION 2010: ACCOMMODATIONS

Dear Friends,
Below is a list of hotels and apartments for those of you who are interested in attending the Crete Reunion to be held in the little village of Amoudara (six kilometers to the west of Irakion) beginning on August 22, 2010 and lasting through August 28, 2010. Some of the hotels and apartments have web sites, some have only E-Mail addresses, and others only have telephone numbers or street addresses.
HOTELS/APARTMENTS ON CRETE

(1) Capsis-Astoria Hotel: Four star hotel located in downtown Iraklion (Heraklion) Web site: www.capsishotel.gr/astoria/index/_en.html

(2) Moevenpick Hotel: This is a five star, Swiss-owned hotel located at the eastern end in the village of Amoudara. Web site: http://www.moevenpick-crete.com/

(3) Creta Beach Hotel & Bungalows: This is a four star hotel located at the eastern end of Amoudara. Web site: http://www.cretabeach.com/

(4) Agapi Beach: Four star hotel located at the eastern end of Amoudara. Web site: http://www.agapibeach.gr/

(5) Santa Marina Resort Hotel: This is either a four or five star hotel. Located near the eastern end of Amoudara. Web site: http://www.santamarinahotel.gr/

(6) Marilena Hotel: This is a three star hotel located slightly toward the eastern end of Amoudara. E-Mail address: Unknown. Web site address, unknown. Telephone numbers: 2810 254312 and 2810 250672.

(7) Sun Hotel: Stars, unknown. Located in Amoudara. http://www.sunhotelamoudara.gr/

(8) EMI Apartments: Stars, unknown. Located in Amoudara. http://www.emi-apartments.gr/

(9) Gorgona Hotel: Three stars. Located in Amoudara. http://www.gorgonahotel.com/

(11) La Stella Apartments: Stars, unknown. Located in the middle of Amoudara. Website: Unknown. E-Mail address: lastellaap@yahoo.gr

(12) Uncle George Hotel: Stars, unknown. Located in the middle of Amoudara. E-Mail address: unclegeorgetav@yahoo.gr Web site, unknown.

(13) Petousis Apartments: Stars, unknown. Located in middle of Amoudara. http://www.petousis.com/

(14) Roxani Hotel: One star. Located in the middle of Amoudara. E-Mail: roxanihotel@hotmail.com Web address: http://www.hotelroxani.com/ (was unable to go to this web site). Alternate web site: www.greek-tourism.gr/roxanihotel/

(15) Castro Hotel: Stars, unknown. Located toward the western end of Amoudara. http://www.castro-hotel.com/

(16) Hotel Eleni Palace: Stars, unknown. Located toward the western end of Amoudara. E-Mail address: elenipalace@yahoo.gr

(17) Saloustros Hotel: Stars, unknown. Located at the west end of Amoudara. E-Mail address: Unknown. Web site: Unknown. Telephone: 2810 822653. Fax: 0810 822262. (This is the apartment complex that my friends from Holland stayed at).

(18) Arhodiko Hotel: Stars, unknown. Located at the west end of Amoudara. Web site: http://www.arhodikohotel.gr/

(19) Dolphin Bay Holiday Resort: Four stars. Located at the west end of Amoudara. Web site: http://www.dolphinbay.gr/

(20) Lambi Hotel: Three stars. Located at the west end of Amoudara. E-Mail address: Unknown. Web site: Unknown. Telephone numbers: (081) 821124, 821915, 821916, 821917.

Check out “Trip Advisor” for reviews on the above hotels at http://www.tripadvisor.com/ or http://www.holidaywatchdog.com/ or http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk/

Also, be advised that even though most of the above hotels offer air-conditioning, there is often a daily surcharge for its usage; usually about 4 to 6 Euros per day! Also, the listing of the above hotels/apartments should in NO way be interpreted as an endorsement by me. I have simply attempted to provide a varied choice of hotels/apartments in the vicinity of Amoudara for the Iraklion Air Station reunion in 2010. Caveat emptor!
Your Friend and Fellow "Silent Warrior",
Bob Armistead

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

CRETE REUNION 2010: AIRLINE RESERVATIONS

Dear Friends,

For those of you who are interested in attending the reunion on Crete, scheduled from August 22, 2010 through August 28, 2010, as mentioned in an earlier post, I would suggest that you immediately submit the necessary paperwork to obtain a current U.S. Passport. If you already have a valid U.S. Passport, or have already submitted the necessary paperwork to obtain a U.S. Passport, then I would suggest that you began your search for airline reservations. Usually, a good rule of thumb to follow is: The earlier you purchase your airline tickets, the less expensive they usually are. I purchased my airline tickets for next summer's Crete Reunion just last month.

I am going to provide a few sources that you might use to search for inexpensive airline tickets:

http://www.expedia.com/ http://www.orbitz.com/ http://www.priceline.com/ http://www.travelocity.com/ http://www.cheapoair.com/

I am sure there are other sources on the internet to search for discount airline tickets. Just be careful and make sure that you follow all directions Also, when looking at the various connecting flights between cities, make sure there is a sufficient time between flights to allow for delays, to pass through passport control, and go through customs. You might also want to consider purchasing flight insurance to protect yourself against losses due to cancellations, loss of baggage, illness, political strife, etc.

Take care, stay well, and let me hear from you.

Your Friend and Fellow "Silent Warrior",

Bob Armistead

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

CRETE REUNION 2010

Dear Friends,

Late last year when Gary McPherson and I were exchanging E-Mails on Cretestock Yahoo Group, we both expressed a desire to meet on Crete during the summer of 2010. Since then, several others have also expressed an interest in joining Gary and me on Crete next summer for a little mini-reunion. In order to really get the ball rolling, Gary and I have selected a date during which the reunion will be held. Any of you who would like to join us are invited to join Gary and me for a little impromptu, spontaneous reunion on Crete beginning on Sunday, August 22, 2010 and ending Saturday evening, August 28, 2010. As it stands now, we will probably all meet in the little village of Amoudara which is just six kilometers west of Iraklion. Naturally, we will gather for lunches and dinners, and at least one trip back to the old base for a tour and perhaps even a picnic and an opportunity for a swim at the base beach, a trip into downtown Iraklion, and probably a trip back to Knossos. We may also plan some little side trips to St. Nikolaos, Chania, or Matala.

This reunion is not about the flight to which you were assigned, whether you were a career airman or a one-termer, if you were a dependent or not, what rank you held, or what job you performed while stationed on Iraklion Air Station. But, it IS all about a common love for Crete, Iraklion Air Station, wonderful memories of times past, and those with whom we were all so privileged to have served. Even though the changes to Crete have been monumental since we have all left, we must also face the reality that all of us have changed as well...not that we have just grown older, but hopefully we have grown wiser and much more appreciative of our collective past!

I recently returned from Crete on October 31, 2009 after a three month vacation there. While there I collected quite a bit of information relating to hotels and small apartment buildings in anticipation of the 2010 reunion. As I receive responses to this post, I will share the web site addresses, E-mail addresses, and other information pertaining to hotels, apartments, and airline booking information with you on Cretestock Yahoo Group and here on my blog, BOB'S THREE MONTH CRETAN ADVENTURE. However, I must emphasize that it will be the responsibility of each attendee to make his/her airplane reservations, and hotel or apartment reservations. I should also point out that the information I provide regarding hotels or apartments, should in NO way be construed or interpreted as an endorsement of any hotel or apartment.

If you are interested in joining Gary and me on Crete during August of 2010, please respond accordingly by posting a comment at the bottom of this entry. As I receive responses to this post, I will release additional information on this blog and on Cretestock Yahoo Group, regarding the reunion in 2010.

Take care, stay well, and let me hear from you.

Your Friend and Fellow “Silent Warrior”,

Bob Armistead
Charlie Flight
6931st. Security Group
Dec. 1968 – Aug. 1971