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Crete roadtrip questions

Posted by on

Hello,

We are planning about 2 weeks driving around Crete in May. We'll likely have more questions as we get closer, but a couple early ones.

  1. Fuel for car - it looks like most fuel stations are full service and typically take credit cards (although it's good to have cash in case). Any tips regarding filling up? We'll make sure to know what fuel type the car needs (ie Unleaded 95). Hopefully it will be relatively easy to communicate with the attendant on the type of fuel and amount. Any hints on how to say "fill it up" in Greek?

  2. Self service laundry - most places we are staying don't have a clothes washer, and although we can probably clean many of our clothes items in the sink and hang on the laundry rack to dry, we will probably need to find a laundromat at some point. Are there self-service places around, or will it be necessary to go through our accommodation to send the laundry out (likely pretty $$).

Thanks for the advice!

Posted by
1792 posts

The two main fuel types are Unleaded (95) and Diesel. These two types of fuel are indicated very clearly.

You will probably have a car that requires Unleaded 95, anyway it goes without saying that you should never use diesel instead of unleaded and vice versa.

In most cases, a gas station employee will come. Don't worry, I've never seen anyone who didn't know the basic English terms for filling the tank.

All gas stations accept credit cards.

The sentence to say "fill it up" being a bit difficult to pronounce for the uninitiated, I suggest that you practice preferably with these five words which will be very useful to you and not only in gas stations:

Hello (and goodbye): Yassas

Good morning: Kalimera

Good afternoon /evening: Kalispera

Please: Parakalo

Thank you: Efkaristo

Posted by
1366 posts

In our experience we have not used a self serve gas station in Greece. As Joe said an attendant will come out to the pump and ask what you want (gas) and the amount. Fill, or x number of euros. The attendant does not take your cash/credit card you have to go into the station to pay. No fuss no bother.

Posted by
24 posts

Thanks.

Seems like the fuel situation will be pretty straightforward. And definitely we'll be brushing up on our elementary Greek before arrival.

Any insights on self-service laundry options on the island?

Thanks again!

Posted by
1792 posts

I have never used a self-service laundry in Greece, apparently from the outside it looks like every self-service laundry in the world.

What you can also do is ask your host if they can take care of it. I don't know what type of accommodation you will be in. We always do like this in all the places where we stay in Greece (studio, apartment or Airbnb run by locals) when we don't have a washing machine in the accommodation.

Posted by
24 posts

Thanks.

Definitely sounds like it will be easiest to talk with our accommodations. We are staying at a mix of hotels, b&bs, etc. I'm sure they will offer options.

Thanks again!

Posted by
1792 posts

And this is where knowing a few basic words in Greek will be very useful.
Washing machine is "printirio" in Greek, easy! :)))

Posted by
11130 posts

We never found laundromats in Crete. The rental had a housekeeper who came every few days and she took our laundry home and did it for us.One day it rained and later she told us that she had hung it in her living room!

Posted by
3120 posts

Fill the tank spelled phonetically: gemíste ti dexamení = yemista tee dexameny

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