Where is the best place to relax in Crete with children? Here's a look at family-friendly resorts and beaches and the best hotels in 2021. Advice and reviews of tourists.
When is the best time to go to Crete with children
The beach season on the island starts in May and lasts until the end of October. The optimal time for families with children in Crete is June or September... In June, the sea is already warm, the average water temperature is + 23 ° С, and there is no intense heat: + 28 ° С during the day, + 20 ° С at night. In September, the water warms up more strongly to +26 ... + 27 ° С, during the day it is very warm + 30 ° С, at night + 23 ° С. At the beginning of the season, the water is warmer in the northern part of the island, at the end of the season in the south.
In July - August, the sun in Crete is hot so that the greenery begins to fade. The air temperature is already higher than +30 ... + 32 ° С, and the sea water warms up more, but winds begin to blow, which relieve the heat and raise waves. The number of tourists on the beaches is increasing.
Where to find cheap tickets? This is most conveniently done using the search engines Aviasales and Skyscanner. To find the best price, check both and see tickets for different dates. Read also the instructions on how to search for cheap flights correctly.
Features of rest with children on the island
When choosing a place in Crete for families with children, it is very important to pay attention to its distance from the airport, the type of landscape (flat is preferable with kids), as well as the presence of a sandy beach, closed from the waves. There is little entertainment on the island, so most of the time children will play on the beach.
Crete is washed by three seas, and its largest resorts are concentrated in northern part islands. The southern coast is considered less crowded, calm and more suitable for families, but it takes longer to get here: from Heraklion airport, a 1.5-2 hour drive along the mountain roads.
The best resorts and beaches of Crete for families with children
The largest resort is located closest to the airport Rethymno... Rethymno has a beautiful promenade and a large park with a playground. All beaches are sandy, but not sheltered from the waves, so they are not suitable for families with kids. But between Heraklion and Rethymno there is a small resort village Bali with a sandy beach and a gentle coastline. This beach in Crete is considered one of the best for children, although there are a lot of people here during the season.
A long coastline with fine sand, a lot of greenery and a well-developed infrastructure - this is the whole resort Chania... There are villages not far from the city Kalyves and Agii Apostoli... Agia Apostoli has very good beaches with small closed coves, expensive family-oriented hotels and affordable apartments. From entertainment - a children's park with labyrinths, cafes and boat trips, besides, it is very convenient to get to Chania from here.
To the east of Heraklion are other Crete resorts with good beaches ideal for families with children - these are Hersonissos and Agios Nikolaos... Almost all the beaches in Hersonissos are pebbly, but there is also a sandy one Star Beach with a gentle entrance, there is also a water park, the Oceanarium and the Dinosaur Park. Agios Nikolaos is a beautiful small town with sandy and pebble beaches without large boulders.
South coast the islands, due to their remoteness from the airport, are less popular with families, but some tourists are happy to recommend Plakias... It has everything you need for a quiet relaxing holiday with children in Crete: equipped beaches with golden sand, inexpensive accommodation and cozy taverns.
The best hotels in Crete for families with children in 2021
When it comes to service, there are many hotels in Crete that provide quality services. Almost every second hotel of the 4 * or 5 * level offers babysitting services. Some hotels have mini zoos and playgrounds. The menu must include fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and chicken, as well as a variety of dairy products for children. Most of the all inclusive hotels in Crete for families with children are located in Hersonissos, Gouves and Agios Nikolaos... We have selected several all inclusive hotels that have a high rating and, according to tourists' reviews, are the best.
If you go on a trip on my own, we recommend looking for hotels on Roomguru.ru, and for apartments on Airbnb. These services will help you find the lowest price. Not sure how to use them? Read the article-instructions on how to book a hotel at a low cost.
If you prefer to go on a tour, we recommend looking for last minute tours on the services Travelata and Level.Travel - they compare the offers of 120 tour operators and therefore are able to find the ideal option. You can buy a ticket online, which is very convenient. Want to save money? Check out our 7 rules for buying tours online.
Aldemar Royal Mare Luxury Resort & Thalasso 5 *
This elegant all-inclusive spa hotel is ideal for families with children in Crete during the summer and fall of 2021. There are many entertainments - both for kids and adults. There is a jacuzzi, sauna and thalasso center, sports grounds, animation. For children: pool, club, restaurant, playground, buffet, animation. The hotel's rating is high - 9 out of 10. The hotel is located on the first line in the village of Anissaras near Hersonissos. The beach is sandy and pebble.
Cactus Royal Spa & Resort 5 *
If you are looking for a relaxing family holiday with children, we recommend this quiet, small all-inclusive hotel. For children - a standard set: playground, pool, club, animation. Adults will be interested in spa, massage, hammam, beauty salon, various sports grounds. According to tourists, the food is excellent. Among the disadvantages - there is no private beach, only a public sandy-pebble beach 300 meters away. The entrance to the sea is good.
Grecotel Club Marine Palace & Marine Palace Suites 4 *
Ideal for families with young children in Crete in 2021, a hotel from the Grecotel chain in Panormo (25 km from Rethymno). Everything is done here for the comfort of children: a children's menu, a playground, a mini-water park, clubs for teenagers and children under 12, excellent animation. Free cribs, strollers, kettles, bottle sterilizers and more are provided. Lots of free entertainment for adults: fitness, aerobics, water polo, tennis, spa, Kingdom of Poseidon water park, etc. The hotel is on the first line, has its own sandy beach.
Tips and reviews of tourists about holidays in Crete with children
Judging by the reviews of tourists, they liked the rest in Crete. The only thing they noted is that a lot of European youth rest in Malia in summer, so the beaches are crowded and noisy, and the waves in Rethymno are too high.
Where is the best place to relax with children in Crete? There is no universal advice, everyone chooses the option that suits him based on financial capabilities and expectations from the trip. With young children, it is better to prefer quiet villages, focusing on a good hotel and a beach. With older children, you can choose large resorts, diluting your beach vacation with excursions.
All the sights on the island are remote from each other, so such trips are unlikely to benefit young children, but schoolchildren will be interested in listening to the history of ancient cities or visiting the Maritime Museum. In addition, there are five water parks and a large Aquarium on the island, and special excursion trains run in Rethymno, where children are taught about ancient crafts.
