Crete – Luxury hotels and Greek hospitality at its best

We offer Crete throughout the spring, summer and autumn months, it is a warm and friendly island full of history and beautiful natural landscapes. With a good selection of top quality hotels, beaches and fascinating culture there is something to please everyone on this lovely island. Crete is particularly known for its Minoan history and the Palace at Knossos is one of the major sites on the island.

The largest of the Greek islands it is 350kms at its widest and 55 from north to south, and is a mix of mountains, the ever present sea and fertile plains. The mountains range across the island from West to East almost splitting the island in two.  But it is these mountains that give it the interesting terrain it is known for, including the famous Gorge of Samaria.

We have to be honest and say some resorts are quite commercialised – and we have avoided them! We have selected the best quality hotels in areas that have the charm of the island but also with the amenities that the modern day traveller expects nearby.   If you want to enjoy a more rural part of Crete, consider staying at the Elia, a traditional 200 year old inn in a farm land area about 30 minutes from Chania.

Whichever resort you are in a short drive inland will take you to a very different world, parts of Crete seem timeless.  There are some must sees on this island and we mention some of these on our What to do page above.

Whether it is a family holiday or friends travelling together or perhaps a honeymoon, Crete appeals to all age groups and you will find the Cretans warm and friendly hosts.

Our hotels are located in the following areas:

Elounda

On the Northeast coast this former fishing village is now a good sized cosmopolitan resort area that has managed to retain much of its original charm, particularly around the fishing harbour.
Elounda sit on a beautiful bay with super sea views and at one end looks directly across to the island of Spinalonga. There is a selection of good beaches along this bay and all of our luxury hotels here are on the waters edge and have their own beachfronts. This area has some of the best hotels on the island which have attracted statesmen and royalty for many years and therefore will please the most discerning guest.
In the town you will find traditional tavernas and restaurants and some surprisingly good shopping, the jewellers in Elounda are probably even better than those in the islands capital. Friday is market day, it is always fun to roam around a local market and take in the local atmosphere.
In the surrounding area there are typical villages leading up to the hills and the more traditional side of Crete.
Naturally as an area catering to holiday makers there are plenty of activities, particularly water sports and Crete has approximately 20 blue flag classified beaches.  We give more information about activities and beaches on our What to do page.

Plaka

About two miles from Elounda, this is where the Blue Palace is located.  Plaka is a small, pretty village and is quieter than the traditional resort areas. There are few facilities here, which is part of its appeal and with Elounda only a short distance away this is an area to have the best of both worlds. The seafront has tavernas serving the “catch of the day” and there is a pebble beach in the village with crystal clear waters. This and other beaches in the area are small but also less crowded than some of the more popular beaches.  Some of the day trips to Spinalonga leave from here.

Aghios Nicolaos

Famous for its lagoon, Lake Voulismeni, which according to legend is bottomless and was the place Athena and Artemis bathed, Aghios Nicolaos is a bustling resort.  The lagoon is connected to the sea via a canal and many boat trips leave from the harbour here.

The town sits on the western shores of lovely Mirabello Bay and there are some small beaches within the town area, though the best ones are out of town.  Our hotel in this area is in a quiet location just outside the town and sits on it own small sandy beach.
As a larger town than Elounda, Aghios Nicolaos has plenty of facilities. Shops, bars and restaurants are along the harbour-side with more boutique style shops in the smaller streets away from the waters edge.  Some of the things you can buy here are, Cretan handicrafts including embroidery and copies of pieces that are housed in the museums -vases, paintings and jewellery for example. It is a pretty and very likeable town with a good mix of the traditional and modern and you should be aware that it does have some quite steep roads that lead down to the sea. There are good sports facilities in addition to those provided by the hotels.
Aghios Nicolaos also has some of the most important museums on this historical island, including the Archaeological Museum.  It has many collections from the Neolithic period to Roman times and 1500 vases from 3000 BC. We mention other museums of interest on our What to do page. The city was given the same name as the small Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos (St. Nickolas) which is located on the peninsula, it has some good frescos dating from the 8th, 10th & 11th centuries.

Sissi

Sissi is a tranquil typically Cretan village centred around a picturesque harbour with a choice of tavernas. The Kalimera Kriti, our hotel here is only 5-10 minutes away and particularly appeals to families.  The area is good for cyclists and walkers and the countryside calm and attractive.

Although a small town Sissi does have most things one would need, though for more substantial shopping Aghios Nikolaos is only 25kms away. Beaches in this area are of varying sizes and many have golden sand.  See our What to do page which mentions some specific beaches.

Kolymbari

This is the nearest village to the lovely 200 year old inn, Elia, and is 23kms from Chania.  At the foot of the Rodopou peninsular it is quite a large village and as it is not a major tourist destination it has retained much of its traditional Cretan charm. There is a small harbour and beach and there are other good beaches in the area including Falasarna and Balo.  The Monastery, Eso Gonias, has survived for nearly 400 years and is worth visiting.  The area is good for walkers and the Inn will give you advice on the best places to explore on foot.

There are a few restaurants and small shops, but this is an area you select for the semi rural location, rather than a hoard of commercial facilities.

What to do and What’s on in Crete

We cover activities, places to visit and beaches on our What to do page above and events are noted on the What’s on page.

Getting around Crete

There are regular bus services between the main towns and villages but for real independence and because this is not a small island we would recommend a hire car.   The mountains and plateaus are worth exploring and the comfort of being able to come and go as you please with your own car will make this more interesting.

Golf in Crete

The island now boasts an 18 hole par 71 golf course at Hersonissos designed by Bob Hunt. It naturally offers a covered driving range, putting and pitching greens and a golf academy and pro. It has some memorable holes that will test all abilities and lovely mountain views. Many of our hotels offer reduced rates at this course and we can arranged pre-book Tee times for you.

Local best buys – include beautifully made jewellery, some based on designs found at Knossos, wine, leather goods and onyx.

Prestige Plus
Private taxi transfers to your hotel.
Welcome gift of Fruit and water or wine in your room on arrival.
Travel guide book to Crete.
The services of our excellent team on the island, in particular Julie.