#3 Best Value of 119 Crete Resorts "The mini water park within the hotel is excellent, with plenty of slides for younger and older kids. Giannoulis - Grand Bay Beach Resort (Exclusive Adults Only) Kolymvari. Its set back from the town but is 4* and modern, with 3 pools and spacious rooms. What really amazed when I was in Crete was how quiet it is. Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel 4. The only parking is on the street which is very limited. However, dont let that put you off. The outskirts of Hersonissos are home to some of Cretes swankiest 5* resort hotels. Courgette balls, broad beans, moussaka and mezedakia. Agia Galini has a great selection of accommodation. Excellent Mediterranean dishes are served up in the restaurants. on: function(evt, cb) { The Greek islands with the best beaches are Crete, Naxos, Paros, Ios, Milos, Mykonos, and Rhodes. To the west of Sitia is the small coastal village of Mochlos which sports two islets with Minoan excavations. Heres a complete rundown on where to stay in Crete to help you choose which part of the island to choose, which town, resort or beach is for you, and the best beach hotels, whether youre booking accommodation DIY or looking for a package vacation. Heraklion is Cretes capital and the largest city on the island. Other options include Hotel Loutro Bay,SifisandDaskalogiannis Hotel. Its raw beauty is undeniable, with glassy aquamarine waters and swirls of pastel-pink sands kissing the shore - a natural phenomenon caused by thousands of . Private sandy beach, and fantastic facilties for all the family including a luxury spa and kids club. This ultra-luxurious haven combines the best of villa and hotel facilities, with over half the villas having private infinity pools. Rapid growth resulted in some dense development around the small harbour, and the small beach is a 10-minute walk out of the village. The small city of Sitia is a working port town with a pleasant seafront promenade, a sandy town beach, and a slow lifestyle. Stavros Bay aerial: Mike Drosos / Shutterstock, Matala rocks: Georgios Tsichlis / Shutterstock, Map of Crete: The Mediterranean Traveller, Map of Chania region The Mediterranean Traveller, Elafonissi: Zakhar Marunov / Adobe Stock, Paleochora: Vladimir1984 / Shutterstock, Map of Rethymnon region The Mediterranean Traveller, Panormo: Jaroslav Moravcik / Shutterstock, Agia Galini: Georgios Kritsotakis / Shutterstock, Map of Heraklion region The Mediterranean Traveller, Agia Pelagia: Kiev.Victor / Shutterstock, Map of Lasithi region The Mediterranean Traveller, Agios Nikolaos: olgaarkhipenko / Adobe Stock, Elounda: Georgios Tsichlis / Shutterstock. Euphoria Resort 7. Falassarna Beach has won prizes for being the most beautiful beach in Crete and is always one of the top ten beaches in Europe, with its wonderful, fine white sand and warm, crystal-clear water. Boasting four stars, rooms are dressed in a traditional style; premium linens complement exposed stone walls and the best suites have terraces with sea views. You cant miss it, its called Youth Hostel Plakias. Cretes famous hippie beach is located on the south coast the name will be familiar to any fan of Joni Mitchell, who lived in the caves here for a short time as described in the song Carey. For a private beach, an award-winning spa and fine dining, try the Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa. They get progressively smaller, more village-like and quieter the further out you get. 8. On a budget? Description: Malia is the most popular beach resort of Heraklion and the most famous nightlife spot in Crete. This area is perfect for beach lovers (although its worth noting that the main beach does get very windy). The beaches in this area are all sandy, clean and stretch as far as the eye can see! Total bliss. })(); For all the legal bits go to myDisclaimer and Privacy Policy, Cretan cooking experience in the mountains, check rooms and availability on Booking.com, 10 Perfect Gifts for Foodies Who Love Greece (Ideal for a Hamper), 10 Best Places for a Sunny Winter City Break in Europe. Be aware that roads and bus routes in the south are sparse, its easier to plan an itinerary that takes in one region or travels along the north coast. Its a relaxed south coast village, about 30km from Agia Galini, and has a wide, sandy Blue Flag beach and a spacious feel. Its deliciously quiet in shoulder season. An award winning restaurant, a superb wine list and a well-known spa on site. Lasithi, the easternmost province of Crete, is home to some of its most luxurious hotels as well as its wildest and most traditional areas. Theres plenty to keep older children entertained, including watersports and boat trips. Plenty of suites and private villas have pools. Palazzo Duca is one block behind the harbour and is clean and modern with comfortable Cocomat mattresses. This is Crete off-the-beaten-track. Avli Luxury Apartments are sumptuously decorated and theres a rooftop pool. The resorts spread out in either direction along the coast. But it has everything you need its ideal if youre looking to enjoy one place for your holiday and dont feel the need to visit the larger towns. Swanky Aspalathos Falassarna Villas has an infinity pool, hot tub and sauna. Drive 10 minutes south from Agios Nikolaos for the stunning 5* resort Daios Cove, which has its own beach and private seawater plunge pools. There are several beaches that you can reach by foot, and as the crowds thin out you can still find a few nudist beaches. Dorm rooms are available for the budget traveller at Rethymno Youth Hostel. Transfer time: 50 minutes from Chania International airport. #1 Best Value of 80 Beach Resorts in Crete "Highlights were Excellent, clean sandy beach and lot of sun beds on beach, around pools etc. St Nicholas Bay Resort Hotels & Villas is a large 5* complex with direct beach access. Did somebody say wine? The KTEL bus station is in the new town, a 10-minute walk from the main harbour see PDF timetables. The beauty of Margarites does not need to be explained or even described, the minute it comes into view- it will take your breath away. All rooms boast sea views and Egyptian cotton sheets; the best have a private terrace hot tub and marble bathroom. The lazy river was a particular highlight. Top things to see and do in Rethymno include: And possible day trips in the area include: Rethymnon Beach is Cretes longest sandy beach at 12km long, and as it extends east from the city it swallows up villages that have long since morphed into suburban beach resorts. The one we are talking about is ideal if youve decided to stay in or near Agios, as its just around the bay. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { See More, This five-star eco hotel overlooks the famous Mirabello Bay in Elounda, Crete. Hostels: Chania has two gorgeous design hostel options Cocoon City Hostel and Kumba. Concur with these, we love Crete. This is part of a Greek holiday resort guide series and will cover: Roughly speaking, the north coast is developed and is home to the main cities and also most of the beach resort towns. 5km south of Plaka is the small beach town of Elounda, one of Cretes most characterful resorts and home to some of its premier luxury hotels. It is a port city that offers an urban vibe with a touch of nature. Outside this, its a large resort town with an excellent (though busy) beach, an unashamedly commercial centre, and a charming old quarter (Old Malia), where youll find traditional houses and tavernas. The modern rooms boast private balconies overlooking the bay, gardens or pool. It can be as quiet or as rowdy as you like. Apart from organized beaches in Chania Greece, there are also plenty of deserted coves and lovely bays to enjoy total privacy. Falassarna is home to one of the best beaches on Crete vast, sandy, and relatively undeveloped. Transfer time: 20 minutes from Heraklion International airport. Its unsurprisingly popular with returnees. But most options are traditional apartment complexes such as Petritos Rooms or small houses like Arodamos Sea House. Its a popular day-trip destination and the crowds somewhat marr the incredible natural landscape with its towering rock formations. There is a Venetian architrave, Byzantine churches, frescos from the 14th century, and oodles of lush green countryside as a backdrop. My must-do highlights of Falassarna Experience a paragliding ride overlooking the coast to admire the island from a different perspective. Here you will find the emptiest beaches on the island and you can swim well into the autumn/winter months. Brilliant choice of restaurants, easy to book each morning Popi the waitress in the main Cosmos restaurant was so att." From spending many breaks on this beautiful island, here is my choice for the quietest and most authentic and unspoiled places to visit in Crete which are perfect for travel snobs. Transfer time: 1hr 45 minutes from Chania International airport. Honeymoons - This is . Good value rooms and family-run studios abound check rooms and availability on Booking.com. 26. I loved Ligaria a small and charming seaside village located on the north side of Crete especially its lovely beach which has the same name. La Maison Ottomane brings a touch of Ottoman decadence meets modern style. The Akrotiri Peninsula is where youll find the airport, a swathe of villas, and a few spectacular beaches such as Stavros Bay and Seitan Limani. Chania Flair Deluxe Boutique Hotel Show prices Enter dates to see prices 202 reviews Transfer time: 1hr from Heraklion International airport. Return to simpler times at this beautiful hideaway on Crete. Explore the surrounding islands or simply lie back and relax. Malia can be a great option for cheap last minute packages keep an eye on Lastminute.com for deals. Start the day with farm-to-table breakfast before a bike ride. Another sleepy Crete village, Tsoutsouros is undeveloped and charming (just how we like it). Take a dip in the courtyard pool; a stylish seaside hotel. Cool or what? Malliotakis Beach Hotel and Aggelo Boutique Hotel are both close to the beach and offer stylish places to lay your head. Accommodation in Frangokastello is all self-catered and around the same price point. On the Venetian harbour: is the 5 star Ambassadors Residence which has rooftop hot tubs. Its located on the western end of the north coast, withpeaks of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) providing a dramatic backdrop. } Captains House is in a traditional building by the waterfront a friendly welcome, fantastic sea views, and comfy beds. Shark Creek Beach, Great Harbour Cay, Berry Islands, The Bahamas. Its a bit of a trek from Chania airport, so if youre going, fly to Heraklion. Self-catering and BBQ are available for all. For initial visits to Crete, especially if you have limited time to travel, plan on staying in one of the 5 main settlements. Most of the visitors are locals in the high summer months. And its one of the warmest places in the Mediterranean in winter. Interiors are chic, contemporary and comfortable. } There are more Minoan ruins worth discovering though head further afield to Malia and Phaistos. #1 Best Value of 80 Beach Resorts in Crete . Beach balls aside there is more to Plakias than sand and sunshine. Its an easy and cheap bus ride to Knoss from Heraklion. Its known for its calm waters, and for being a nesting site for endangered loggerhead sea turtles. There is an increasing number of upmarket resorts in Sissi. The LATO Boutique Hotel is more modern and has harbour views. Considering you are only down the road from one of Cretes busiest towns, its pretty quiet and relaxing. The 3* Villa Maxine Hotel is great value and has a chic poolside area. The beaches arent huge so they do get busy; Bali is larger than it looks and popular with the package tourism crowd and daytrippers from the wider area. Agios Nikolaos has four sandy beaches though theyre all a little way out of the city Kitroplateira is the most central, Almiros is the nicest. The thrum centres around the Venetian harbour, the cafe-packed backstreets, and the extensive beach which extends to the east. But the main attraction that brings tourists to Heraklion is the nearby ancient Minoan site of Knossos the biggest and most well-known on the island. In addition to 14 freshwater outdoor and indoor pools, it has a 350-meter beach with umbrellas, beach chairs, water sports (for a fee), beach volleyball, and beach parties hosted by the entertainment team. The swankiest resort in town is the long-established Out of the Blue Capsis Elite Resort. The beach of Myrtos is a hidden treasure which, rarely gets crowded and provides a real opportunity to take a load off and truly relax. Monastery Estate is a beautiful new conversion with Turkish hammam. A classy, modern hotel. Mar 20 - Mar 21. Offering plenty of five-star luxury, Elounda is stuffed with beautiful resorts and classy hotels. Beach bums are better off at Plakias (see below). Nana Princess Suites Villas & Spa 2. Plakias is located along the south coast of the island around an hour and 40 min drive from Heraklion Airport. That said, they are exposed to the northwesterly Meltemi wind which blasts Greece throughout the summer beware big waves and undercurrents when the wind is blowing, pay attention to local advice. There is a small airport serving flights to and from Athens. Crete is a large island the fifth largest in the Mediterranean and you can find whatever youre looking for in each region. It has a sand-and-pebble beach and a handful of good tavernas to choose from. But its also possible to use Plakias as a base for walking and hiking. Here, you can available of the offerings from the nearby tavernas and umbrellas are available. Ligaria is located on the north coast of Crete around a 30 minute drive from Heraklion Airport. Classy Veneziano Boutique Hotel is in a beautifully renovated historic building. A small town located on a small peninsula in southwest Crete, Paleochora is ideal if you want a bit of both. Lyttos Beach Resort is a 150-acre family-friendly hotel with dated interior spaces but beautiful grounds, including a sandy beach with free loungers and a lifeguard. Walking through the forest is sublime, and the river that cuts through it is clean enough to swim in (we should hope so as it leads directly out onto Plakias beach). Check Paleochora rooms and prices on Booking.com. Elounda Gulf Villas provide a free transfer to a private beach club. Milatos is a small and low-key beach resort just beyond Sissi. This amazing place is like the Caribbean side of Crete. It gets very popular and usually attracts people who go there for clubbing. There are also plenty of boat trips are available from its harbour. Theres no real village to speak of, but there are a few places to stay tucked away in the flat plain behind the beach. } The Troulis Apart-hotel is excellent value. The south is wild and remote with a spectacularly rocky coast and a few standout beach resorts. Triopetra Beach is located on the south of the island around a 2 hour drive from Heraklion airport. The beaches here are small but this helps to keep the crowds away. One of the main things to do in Heraklion is to catch a ferry to visit Santorini, Mykonos and other places. Heraklion is located on the north coast of Crete and is home to the main airport of the island. You are properly in the land of Greek mythology, I expected Jason and his argonauts to pop over the horizon at any moment whilst we sat on the beach. Most of these are connected to town by regular bus. Dont expect anything in the way of amenities when you get there (its actually a nature reserve and is treated accordingly). The five restaurants serve a range of food from sushi to Greek and there's a fabulous spa too. Plaka has a lovely beach, especially lovely if you dont like sand getting everywhere, as its made from pebbles. Transfer time: 15 minutes from Heraklion International airport. Its located just to the east of Heraklion, meaning it is easy to get to if you dont want to spend too much time with pesky transfers. Sougia is located on the South West coast of the island around a 3 hour 20 minute drive from Heraklion airport. Greeces largest island has quickly developed a reputation as a party island with crowds of revellers in the busier resorts looking for their next shot of ouzo, but you shouldnt let that put you off visiting this sun-soaked island. Its super sedate. Stay in Ierapetra: The Cretan Villa Hotel is a handsome restored 18th century building, or try apartments like the Big Blue Suites. !" Breakfast included 2022 2. Rethymno Beach is also one of Cretes most important turtle nesting grounds. Plakias is one of the nicest small resorts on Crete. With the exception of Paleochora, that is. The main cities and towns on the north coast are linked by regular buses each regional capital has buses going to the south of its region. If you want to meet other travellers there are two hostels in town Intra Muros and So Young, but private rooms in traditional domatia or apartments can be foundfor a similar price. Small ferry boats make the run over to Spinalonga from both Plaka and Elounda. The scenery as you traverse the coast road with steep hills and lush greenery gives views that will take your breath away. Astoria Hotel is a small family-run hotel with sea views and coastal decor. Two Cretes minor islands Chryssi and Koufonisi are just off this part of the shore. There are a few large all-inclusive hotels in Panormo Iberostar Creta Marine and Iberostar Creta Panorama & Mare being two of the larger ones. Although be warned, the walk takes five to seven hours and can be strenuous, especially at the peak of summer. Lovely beaches, ideal for a romantic break or family holiday. The main tourist street is Odos Halidon, which divides the old and new city. Youre most likely to end up here if youre catching a ferry to Kythira or to Gythio on the mainland, or if youre using it as a base to explore the nearby beaches at Balos and Falassarna. So why not browse through our collection to start planning your next beach break? Balos Beach is one of the best beaches in Greece if you want that fine white sand aesthetic. There is also a domestic airport in Sitia with flights from Athens. Paleochora is the main resort town on the south-west coast. Its friendly and authentic if you want to get away from mass tourism then this easternmost part of Crete is a good bet. Agia Roumeli is the most visited village in the area as it forms the exit point for the popular Samaria Gorge hike every day in the summer hundreds pop out of the gorge and onto a ferry to X where they can reconnect with the road system. A spoiling stay. Whitewashed and chic Cyano Hotel is the best place to stay in Plakias rooms are spotless, the beds are comfy, and its a short walk to the shops and beach. No roads lead here and there are no nightclubs or nightlife. What was once a small Greek village has now become a cosmopolitan town, with bars, restaurants and hotels surrounding picturesque Lake Voulismeni. It is hardly surprising then that there are a world-class selection of beach hotels to choose from. Panormos a small and charming traditional Cretan fishing village located on the northern coast has a few little extra bits that make it attractive, and a winery, it also has guided tours and tasting as well making it an attractive proposition indeed. where to find account number on mountain america app,
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