Our iPhone app now available!

 
Faithful to our promise, last week we uploaded to iTunes store our iPhone application, Naxos-Apartments! Since yesterday, the app is available for free to download!

As a Naxos guide, it provides the useful info on how to come to Naxos, where to stay, where to eat and what to do and see - all info available with maps and routing, so a very handy tool when you are on the spot and need to find your way across the biggest island of the Cyclades.

A series of photos reveal the beauties of the places we recommend and you can have direct access to important service providers, such as ferries, rent-a-car, restaurants, activities and first aid.

And a whole section devoted to Athens, the new - old European hot spot for city travelers! What else would you want?

 Don't hesitate to contact us with ideas and suggestions, and last but not least, do rate our application at iTunes store!


The application is in German, but in the very near future it will also be available in English.We keep our promises.

Greetings from Naxos!

Testing our new Naxos Apartments / guide application

Well, we are vigorously going on developing our naxos-apartments smartphone application!

The application, like our website, provides access to booking with one of our partners on the island and offers a variety of tourist information on how to access Naxos, what to do and what to see on the island.

All accommodation, rent a car, attractions etc are accompanied with text and photos and most importantly are tagged on google maps so you can find your way when on the island.

In addition we have an RSS feed to this very blog so you will always get the latest news on offers, events, activities and whatever!

We shall keep you posted! We expect it to be available in itunes store in June 2014.

Good news!

At 21-22 degrees Celcius today, on a sunny spring day, one can only be positive and think of good news!! So, here we go:

1. Our guests can benefit of a 15% discount in car or motorbike rentals in May, June and September when they book with our partners on the island. Remember, Naxos is the biggest island of the Cyclades and in addition to the majestic beaches, it offers visitors a variety of landscapes and picturesque villages as well as a rich cultural heritage with ancient and medieval monuments. Therefore, to fully grasp the beauty of the island (especially when everything is blossoming in spring), no matter at which of our partner hotels you stay, we strongly recommend you to rent a car or a motorbike for at least some days of your holidays.
2. Plaka Watersports offers our guests a discount of 10% in May, June and September in any of the watersports or other activities  they provide (biking, horse riding etc). Remember,  the Cyclades are famous for the wind "meltemi", a strong, steady northern wind and Naxos is a hot spot for windsurfing or kitesurfing (check our post in 2011). Apparently, our partner hotels on Agia Anna and Plaka beach  provide an easier access to Plaka Watersports
3. There are still some vacant seats for Olympic Air flights Athens - Naxos during summer. As many of you know, the aircraft is very small, so if you consider the option of flying (30 minutes) instead of taking a ferry, (5 hours), book quickly. Besides, high speed ferries have not yet published their itinerary - Blue Star is as every year sailing to Naxos twice daily, at 07.25 and at 17.30  
4. If you fly to Santorini on the way to Naxos or if you simply want to visit this volcanic island, we can help with your hotel accommodation there and give you the opportunity to book a studio or apartment at the Ambelia Traditional Villas in Finikia, at 15 walking minutes from Oia. And in this case, you will experience 2013 Year of Gastronomy  in Santorini!
5. And some general good news for the Greek tourism: the Greek National Tourism Organisation's stand at ITB Berlin 2013 came in second place in the Europe category of the Best Exhibitor Awards for booth construction, information contents, service quality, friendliness and special effects. The Region of Southern Aegean (Naxos included of course) was co-exhibiting as well as the campaign "Green Tourism in Greece". 

And last but not least, we remind you that the Greek Orthodox Easter is on the 5th of May this year. It is a splendid opportunity to get to experience a very different, rather mystical, kind of Easter and to more intimately get to know Naxos and its people at very competitive prices. Contact us for more info on hotels, apartments and studios! 

July vacation

Yes, I know, it is now mid August and most of you are laying at a beach somewhere - and most of you are in overcrowded beaches, walking in overcrowded pebbled streets, eating in overcrowded restaurants with stressed waiters. That is why I love July or September on the Greek islands, especially the picturesque cycladic island of Naxos. I love it in July because the days are really long and in September because the seas are really calm and very warm. Prices are lower, service is always better, and everyone is more relaxed.

Even more so when you rent a studio somewhere quiet. Some of my clients stayed this July at Stafilas studios in Agia Anna, in an apartment on the ground floor by the pool, and although they feared it would be loud with children, it was serene.
This is a family business, run by Margarita, with some help from the rest of the family. It was build 3 years ago and has been furnished and decorated with an impeccable modern taste. Even small details, like the decor on the coffee tables by the pool, did make a difference. Such a pity they don't officially serve drinks by the pool - but you can either bring your own or expect some treat from Margarita! Her daughter's "spoon sweets" are top notch.

As for the area of Agia Anna, there is not much to be said. The beach is actually the continuation of the Agios Prokopios beach, a sandy beach with crystal clear waters even at its busiest part. A couple of nice cafes also serve the rented umbrellas.

And like all the west coast of the island, the sunset is an unforgettable experience, every day.

What is also convenient is the proximity of Agia Anna to the main Naxos town, Chora. You can spend the day at the beach - or at any other beach, Plaka is at walking distance - and the night by the port or the old town in Chora. Bus connection is really frequent and if you are a more athletic type, you can always ride the 4 km to the town (and spare the quest for a parking place at the free municipality parking).

For photos of Naxos in July 2011, you can visit our facebook page

And for tips on where to eat on Naxos, stay tuned!

Combine a visit to a village with some local liqueur tasting

One of Naxos' finest experiences is a visit to the historic village of Halki, about 20 minutes' drive from Naxos town (Chora).

Halki is a vivid reflection of historic Naxos and is full of the handsome façades of old villas and tower houses, legacy of a rich past as the one-time centre of Naxian commerce. Since the late 19th century, Halki has had strong connections with the production of kitron, a delicious liqueur.

The Vallindras Distillery in Halki's main square, still distils kitron the old-fashioned way. There are free tours of the old distillery's atmospheric rooms, which still contain ancient jars and copper stills. Kitron tastings round off the trip and a selection of the distillery's products are on sale.

To arrange a tour you need to phone 22850 22534 or 694255116.

And don't forget to refuel in the shady square of the village or take a look at the small shops around, such as the ceramics gallery-shop, L'Olivier.

Source: Lonely planet