On a budget? See More, Set in an out-of-this-world location right on the Cretan seafront. Each of these areas offers exceptional hotels, fantastic dining, and a wide range of nearby . BEST LUXURY HOTELS: Lindos Blu, Casa Cook Rhodes, Boutique 5 Hotel and Spa BEST BUDGET HOTEL RIGHT ON THE BEACH: Delfini Beach Hotel BEST VILLAS: Kiotari Beach Villa, Axiotheaton Villas, SeaSide Suites BEST RESORT HOTELS FOR FAMILIES: Hotel Porto Angeli Beach Resort, Atlantica Aegean Family Resort, Rodos Princess Resort & Spa 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. See More, Blue Palace, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, A holistic approach to wellbeing underlies the luxury, Equally swish and perhaps just that little bit smarter the. See More, A vast contemporary beach resort with all the trimmings, lush grounds, four pools and private beach area. There is the standard selection of resort hotels in the surrounding coastal areas stylish Cretan Malia Park is one of the best, with beachfront access, boho chic decor, and family-friendly facilities. There are seven restaurants to choose from, a kids' club, and a wide range of activities - a real crowd pleaser. Transfer time: 15 minutes from Heraklion International airport. It gets very popular and usually attracts people who go there for clubbing. She counts supping on Bloody Marys on a rooftop in Manhattan, downing Singapore slings at the Raffles Hotel, daring a paraglide on the Grand Cayman, spending an exotic Christmas in Malaysia and exploring the Angkor Wat, Cambodia as her all time favourite travel moments. Did somebody say wine? Accommodation in Frangokastello is all self-catered and around the same price point. Suites and private villas have personal pools. Paleochora is located on a small peninsula with beaches on either side perfect for windsurfing as one of them will always be catching the wind. Definitely one of the most unspoiled places to visit in Crete, the pretty peaceful village of Loutro evokes some strong emotion when you land here it is truly like stepping back in time! Or the clean and modern Central City Hotel and Aeolios Design Hotel. 18. The scenery as you traverse the coast road with steep hills and lush greenery gives views that will take your breath away. Up until fairly recently, Elafonisi was one of Cretes best-kept secrets, sadly social media selfie-lovers got a firm grasp of it, so it can get seriously busy in the high seasons. Aside from the peacefulness of the region, it is hard not to be astounded by the artwork the elements left behind- a series of terraces in the rock face which, will undoubtedly leave you awestruck. Those in search of the original 60s free-spirited vibe will be disappointed (though try nearby Red Beach), but Matala is a fun seaside town and is a good choice for younger couples looking for somewhere lively and photogenic. This 5* property offers boutique accommodation decorated in a typically Mediterranean fashion and with either a private plunge pool or hot tub. The beach is sandy and the sea is calm, though the south coast does get fierce winds at times. Other options include Hotel Loutro Bay,SifisandDaskalogiannis Hotel. Both a beautiful and quiet place to visit in Crete. Mid-range boutique: Casa Cook is a beach resort reimagined for the Instagram generation, with boho-chic minimalism up on the hills behind the beach in Kato Daratsa. Head east from Sitia and you eventually reach is Paleokastro, a windswept resort with an edge-of-the-world feel and some of the best windsurfing in Europe. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Panormos is located on the North Coast of the island around a 50-minute drive from Heraklion Airport. Brilliant choice of restaurants, easy to book each morning Popi the waitress in the main Cosmos restaurant was so att." See More, Low-rise garden resort with immaculate seaside grounds. If you think of a sleepy Greek fishing village, you probably have images of small boats bobbing in quartz waters, piles of multicoloured nets, and fishermen unloading their catch before nipping off to the Taverna for a cheeky ouzo. There are several beaches that you can reach by foot, and as the crowds thin out you can still find a few nudist beaches. Transfer time: 25 minutes to the main harbour from Chania International airport. Lasithi, the easternmost province of Crete, is home to some of its most luxurious hotels as well as its wildest and most traditional areas. 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. Access to this haven can be achieved through E4 trail but the climb can be treacherous in places as it climbs to an altitude of 700m, so its not for the fainthearted but on arrival, you will no doubt agree that this is one of the finest beaches in all the Greek islands. The Royal Blue Resort. If you chose to arrive by boat, the route and views are particularly beautiful. The south is wild and remote with a spectacularly rocky coast and a few standout beach resorts. Enjoy the many dining options, good spa and lots of activities - tennis, water sports and nearby nightlife. Several celebrities (including Brad and Angelina in happier days) have been spotted walking on its sandy shores, this combined with it being a hotspot for European dignitaries just adds to the appeal. The main village is set 1km back from the beach and is a popular area for villas and expats. The architecture of the village looks like it just sprang from a WWII novel, winding streets, brightly painted buildings, plenty of brick and crumbling plaster. Head west for quieter beaches at Amnisos or Tobrouk. The resort itself is sleepy but like most in the area the beach gets very busy in the summer. Small ferry boats make the run over to Spinalonga from both Plaka and Elounda. The local fare in many of the harbour tavernas is about as close as you can come to freshness, maybe even caught meters from where you sit. On the beautiful beach of Kolymbari, 20 km from the city of Chania, lies Grand Bay Beach Resort. But there are plenty of returners from those days its warm seas, great views, and some of the best fishing in Greece make it particularly popular with expats. An award winning restaurant, a superb wine list and a well-known spa on site. Rapid growth resulted in some dense development around the small harbour, and the small beach is a 10-minute walk out of the village. #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. Despite its size, Pacific Grove has more B&Bs than any other coastal . See More, A stunning resort on Mirabello Bay with its own private beach and dreamy views. The best of the rest are: Creta Blue Boutique Hotel & Suites, Villa Ippocampi,Casa Bianca Boutique Hotel,Abaton Island Resort & Spa, Cooks Club. all were excellent and we recommend this hotel with a true "vacation vibe" to all couples wanting a quiet and relaxing vacation on the wonderful beach of Crete". Therefore it can be easier to decide on arrival airport/port first, or any attractions that you particularly want to visit, in order to narrow down where to stay. 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. This is tucked away in a remote pocket of Crete's south-western corner, so you could be forgiven for thinking you might have it all to yourself. See More, This exclusive beachfront hotel in Rethymno recently underwent a full renovation. 9. The city of Rethymnon (you might also see it spelt Rethymno or Rethimno) is like a smaller, more chilled version of Chania. One of the main attractions of this part of Crete is Vai Beach, the famously exotic palm beach and former hippie colony. For initial visits to Crete, especially if you have limited time to travel, plan on staying in one of the 5 main settlements. Our hotel experts have scoured the length and breadth of the island to bring you a collection of Crete's best beach hotels selected on their location, designs, service, and amenities. Its set back from the town but is 4* and modern, with 3 pools and spacious rooms. It also provides stunning views from all angles. 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. 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). There are a number of hotels right on the beach such as the modern and comfortable Sofia Hotel. Transfer time: 2hrs from Heraklion International airport, 10 minutes from Sitia Public Airport. Transfer time: 1hr from Heraklion International airport. See More, Impressive luxury resort, totally insulated from the outside world in semi-tropical gardens. For a private beach, an award-winning spa and fine dining, try the Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa. Transfer time: 1hr 10 minutes from Chania International airport. Transfer time: 1hr 30 minutes from Chania airport. There are so many luxury hotels in Elounda that its impossible to list them all. 1,438 reviews. Located to the eastern side of the island of Crete, Kato Zakros is a bit out of the way, but well worth the visit. #26 Best Value of 502 Quiet Hotels in Crete. Take your pick from three gourmet restaurants and bars, including a poolside bar. Agios Nikolaos, Or just Agios if you prefer, is a bustling town and working port. If you are looking for a bit of space then Plakias offers one of the largest beaches in Crete. Yes: Sougia is the best quiet beach in Crete, without a doubt. 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. Service 4.3. Panormos is the first beach resort that you hit east of Rethymnon that has a proper village feel and isnt just an outpost of the city. Loutro:Porto Loutro On the Hill has the best position with balcony rooms looking out over the bay. Heraklion itself is not quite an attractive destination in the same way that Chania and Rethymnon are much of its historic architecture was damaged during heavy bombing in WWII. Oceanfront Home With Views (7 guests): $325/night. BEST HOTELS RIGHT ON THE BEACH: Domes Noruz, Caramel Grecotel Boutique Resort, Domes of Elounda. Enjoyed this post? Explore the surrounding islands or simply lie back and relax. With that and the relative peace and quiet, its an ideal spot to just be on this wonderful island. The modern rooms boast private balconies overlooking the bay, gardens or pool. Heraklion Archaeological Museum is fantastic its worth visiting before you head out to the ancient sites if you can. Accommodation in Kissamos tends to look a bit dated but you can find good value in the surrounding beaches such as resort-style Balos Beach Hotel, Galini Beach Hotel, and the simpler Maria Beach Hotel. } But there are plenty of alternatives if your budget doesnt stretch quite that far, have a look at Blue Bay Resort Hotel, Peninsula Resort Hotel, Pela Mare, Seascape Luxury Residences, and Acro Wellness Suites. Honeymoons - A haven of tranquility with private villas with mountian and sea views, spoiling massages and haute cuisine overlooking the bay. 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. Some suites have access to a private hot tub on the roof terrave. Captains House is in a traditional building by the waterfront a friendly welcome, fantastic sea views, and comfy beds.