Crete is a great choice for family holidays: one of Europe's longest sunny seasons, pink-sand beaches and only a four-hour flight from London. The island also boasts three waterparks; reward for children if you've dragged them round some of the island's splendid Minoan and Roman sites, or Venetian forts and Byzantine churches. Our selection of the best family hotels on Crete offers you a wide choice from self catering villas to five star luxury resorts to quiet little guesthouses.......take your pick!

Many of the larger resort hotels are geared to entertaining children, with children's clubs, children's pools and family suites or villas. Admittedly, these hotels can prove to be relatively pricey, but they give parents the comfort that their children are not going to be bored, and that they will have plenty of other potential playmates. Parents, too, get their 'treats'; often there is a spa, choice of pools, and several eating options, so there is a chance to try different cuisines.

At the more budget end, Crete offers a range of family-friendly, traditional guest houses. And if you really want flexibility, a villa or self-catering apartment is another good choice. As the best family beaches are on the north coast, this is the area to concentrate your search for the best hotels for families on Crete.

15 of the Best family hotels on Crete

The Best Value Family Hotels on Crete

• Quiet yet close to the beach, Villa Kynthia, in the low-key village of Panormos, offers both a family suite and a self-catering apartment. Rooms are cool and light with parquet floors and brass bedsteads.
• Eleonas Traditional Houses offer the perfect spot for families who really want to get away from it all. Accommodation is in charming stone cottages and there's loads of onsite activities plus children's playground and pool.
• Overlooking a central, car-free square in Chania's old town, Vilelmine Hotel is hard to beat both for price and location. Traditional-style rooms, including three- and four-bedroom suites, have private balconies, and breakfast can be taken outside in the square.

Crete's Best self-catering options for families

• Vamos Traditional Village offers both good value and self-catering flexibility. This collection of rustically furnished, traditional cottages, in the heart of a sleepy village, is owned by the locals. Guests find lots of personal touches - fresh flowers, little snacks - while some cottages have private pools.
• Pandora Suites in Chania offer a livelier location, as well as a more boutique-hotel feel, roof terrace and harbour views.
• Paradise Island Villas is a collection of twelve super stylish properties each with its own private pool. Plus there's a tennis court on site and you're close to the beach.

The Best family hotels on Crete with Children's Clubs

• With a children's club, playground and entertainment staff, parents can also relax on holiday at Minoa Palace Resort and Spa, Chania, one of the island's best-priced modern, resort hotels.
• There are heaps of activities for both parents and children - including kids' club, mini-golf, tennis, scuba diving and sailing - at the Elounda Bay Palace, a luxury resort with a choice of rooms, bungalows and villas dotted around 20 acre of gardens. There are several pools as well as two beaches.
• Children are entertained with everything from tennis lessons to drawing classes at the smart Domes of Elounda. There's a crèche - which means toddlers are safe and well looked-after - as well as a private beach, plus a spa, wine-tasting and snorkelling for the grown-ups.

• And if you'd like your own private pool for the family, check out Daios Cove Luxury Resort. Rooms and suites are chic, plus there's a kids' club, watersports, luxury spa, yoga sessions, private beach and three restaurants.
• Another great choice for those in search of a private pool, is the Nana Princess. Accommodation options include family suites and there are villas which can sleep up to six. There are excellent on site facilities plus you can make use of the kids club at the sister property next door.

• Caramel Boutique Hotel is a smaller option with a beachfront location just outside Rethymno. They've a wide range of family friendly accommodation and there's activities on offer for all ages from tots to teens. Plus a luxury spa for the grown-ups!
• White Palace is Crete's original grand dame, and she's been given a makeover. Gorgeous chic interiors, endless dining options and more activities and facilities than you can imagine....plus that all iimportant kids' club!
• Elounda Peninsula offers luxurious family suites and villas with pools, plus there's baby sitting services and a kids' club. For adults you'll find gourmet dining and luxury spa.....Heaven!

Crete can be a children’s paradise island, and to make sure it is for the parents, too, use our guide to the best family hotels on Crete.

But, if you haven't found your idea of the best family hotel on Crete on our Guru's list of 15 you could:

• Expand your search to include all the best places to stay on Crete?
• Or refine your search to just the best places to stay in Chania? or the best places to stay in Heraklion? or the best places to stay in Heraklion?
• Or you could refine your search to our Guru's recommendations for 7 of the Best Self-Catering Apartments and Villas on Crete? or 5 of the Best Guesthouses on Crete?
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

15 of the Best Family Hotels on Crete

 

Written by Helen Pickles

posted Tuesday, 2nd July 2019