Holidays in Crete

Travel Guides > Greece > Crete > Holidays & Hotels in Crete

The island of Crete is equipped with more tourist facilities than any other Greek island, which is fair enough because it is the largest. The reason why thousands of foreigners visit Crete each year, however, is not so much for the traditional Greek island experience, as for investigating the remains of the archaic Minoan culture that flourished here thousands of years before Christ. Some parts of the island have been overpowered by tourist resorts and massive hotels, but fortunately Crete does still allow for exploring endless beaches, numerous villages, remote mountains and some natural curiosities like caves and gorges for those who take pains to avoid the 'madding crowds'.

Which Crete airport to select

Crete has two international airports with Heraklion (HER) being the largest and servicing most resorts and also offers more flights to & from the UK. Chania (CHQ) should be selected if you are thinking of staying in either Aghia Marina, Bali, Chania, Georgioupolis, Kolimbari or Rethymnon.

When to go

The main resorts throughout Crete are open from April till the end of October. Temperatures average in the mid 20's Celsius during the early and late months of the season but can rise to the low 30's during the summer peak season. Check out Crete's Weather here

Crete All Inclusive Holidays

There is a wide selection of all inclusive holiday options in Crete with prices starting from £318 pppw. Check out our best "value-for-money" Crete all inclusive below or see more on our all inclusive holidays in Crete by clicking here. If you still can't find what you're looking for then check out our groups main all inclusive website at www.all-inclusive-hotels.co.uk

4* all inclusive. The Royal Belvedere Hotel is situated overlooking the Port of Hersonissos, 26 km east of the City of Heraklion and 25 km from Heraklion Airport. Its excellent position between the Sea and the Mountain offers guests the chance to combine the calm atmosphere of a family holiday with the exciting life of Hersonissos. More >>>

Crete Self Catering Holidays

With plenty of nighttime entertainment, bars & restaurants on hand in the larger resorts, Crete makes an ideal Self Catering holiday destination for all. See our selected self catering holiday in Crete below or see more on our self catering holidays in Crete by clicking here.

4* Self Catering. The Alantha Apartments are situated in quiet street just five minutes walk from town center with sandy beach 250 m away and pebble beach 150 m away. Facilities and services which are offered by the apartment complex are maid service, reception, roof terrace swimming pool, pool snack bar, game ... More >>>

Crete Adult only holidays

With plenty of nighttime entertainment, bars & restaurants on hand in the larger resorts Crete makes an ideal holiday destination for grown ups. See our selected adult only holiday in Crete below or see more on our adult & couples holidays in Crete by clicking here.

5* B&B, H/B, F/B. The Elounda Village is a  14+ hotel which overlooks the picturesque Mirabello Bay and out to Spinalonga Island. Set in 40 acres of lush colourful gardens with its own private beach and featuring a village square complete with chapel and with all the advantages of modern living, this has to be the ideal ... More >>>

Half Board Holidays in Crete

Crete offers over a hundred half board holidays to suit all taste and budgets. Take a look at our selected half board holiday below or click here to see more selected half board holidays in Crete.

5* B&B, Half Board. The Aquis Bella Beach - ex Bella Maris lies on a beautiful sandy stretch of the Cretan sea in the centre of the northern coast of Crete. This extremely select hotel at which earthy hues are dominant has been built with local brick and marble and the overall tranquility leaves one with a lasting impression of ... More >>>

Family Holidays in Crete

Crete has always been a favourite for families seeking a holiday that offers plenty of attractions to keep the children happy. A wide range of holiday accommodation is on offer ranging from a few self catering apartments through to top all inclusive hotels. Check out our suggestion below or click here to see more selected family holidays in Crete with free child places.

3* H/B or AI. The Stella Village prides itself on offering guests a pleasant, personal and hospitable service during their stay. This friendly hotel is a popular choice for those looking for a central location close to local amenities. The hotel has its own small beach which provides free loungers and parasols to hotel guests, while the ... More >>>

Crete Hotels & Apartments

Apart from Atol bonded holidays to Crete we can also provide cheap Crete hotel & apartment deals in all areas of Crete where you can add your own flight. All Crete accommodation bookings are ABTA protected and come with a local contact just in case you face a problem once in resort.

5* B&B, H/B, F/B. The Elounda Village is a  14+ hotel which overlooks the picturesque Mirabello Bay and out to Spinalonga Island. Set in 40 acres of lush colourful gardens with its own private beach and featuring a village square complete with chapel and with all the advantages of modern living, this has to be the ideal ... More >>>

Any prices shown are for guidance only and were based on 2 people sharing for 7 nights on the board level mentioned at the start of May. Return flights from Gatwick but other airports are available.

Samaria Gorge National Park: This is only for the fit but well worth a visit. It is an arduous trip but well worth it to see one of the great natural wonders of Europe, the Samaria Gorge in the White Mountains in western Crete. From the top of the gorge it is a 10-mile (16km) hike through the dramatic geological formations and wildflower-strewn cliff sides of the National Park. From the village of Agia Roumeli at the end of the gorge hikers can take a boat to sail to Paleohora where there are buses back to Chania Rethymnon or Heraklion.

Visit one or more of the archaeological sites on Crete: The Palace of Knossos, around 4 miles outside of Heraklion is very popular 'place to see' on Crete and most hotels offer you coach trips to Knossos. You can go it alone but you will need the services of a local guide if you are to get the best out of your visit. The Palace of Knossos is one of the largest Minoan Palaces and well worth a day away from the beach. If you're going to visit by car then there is free parking but you'll need to find this and don't be fooled by the locals waiving you in to a parking place as this is usually not free. Ignore them and find the free option.

Cretaquarium: Crete’s aquarium, opened a few years ago and offers its visitors the unique chance to plunge into the great marine world of the Mediterranean.  As you would expect there is a wide range of sea life on show ranging from the big hunter sharks to the tiny seahorses and the sensational jellyfish.

Star Beach Water Park, Hersonissos: The park offers a wide range of facilities and activities for a full day of sun, fun and exciting water adventures for the entire family. Water Park facilities are: A Nautical base with water sports: parasailing, water skiing, jet bikes, banana riding, rings, fly fish, Scuba Diving Center, 5 swimming pools with childrens games, mini slides, water mushrooms, Jacuzzi, 2 lazy rivers, 4 giant slides: two multi tubes slides, a black hole and a kamikaze, Childrens playgrounds and Kindergarten, Mini Spa Center, Bungee Jumping (June to September), Trampolines. There's a variety of bars and restaurants. If you're in to waterparks then we can offer cheap holidays and stays at the Star Beach Villages and guests have special discounts on some of the water parks facilities. Click here to see more.