Overview
A siren call to families seeking facilities, without the hefty price tag, Candia Park Village packs a heavy parent pleasing punch. Designed to look like an authentic Cretan village, guests are treated to all-singing, all-dancing amenities, with plenty of traditional trimmings. This seafront sanctuary may be sprawling in size but it remains intimate in nature, thanks in a large part to the attentive staff and their heart-warming hospitality. Pastel hued home-from-homes hug the hillside, and with a range of sizes and prices there’s something to suit everyone. The complimentary Kids Club keeps tots on their toes with a changing weekly activity calendar of movie nights, cooking classes, mermaid lessons and more. With a small spa and sunbeds beckoning parents for a slumber at every turn, this is a horizontal holidayer’s paradise – but that’s not all the hotel has to offer. A stone’s throw (or short bus ride away) lies Elounda and Agios Nikolas – charming towns dishing up a cornucopia of Cretan delights
Mama
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Flight
4 hours from England to Heraklion airport
Transfer
Approximately 60 mins drive from Heraklion airport or 3 hours from Chania. The hotel can arrange transfers from 95 euros per way for up to 4 people or 170 euros per way for up to 8 people. Car seats can also be provided
Best time to visit
Boasting a stretched out summer, families are welcome to flock to Candia Park village from the middle of April through to early November. While there’s no denying the beauty of spring and summer, our favourite time to visit has to be autumn – when the school-bound guests have departed, the sea is still warm and tranquillity reigns supreme
April: highs of 20 degrees
May: highs of 24 degrees
June: highs of 27 degrees
July: highs of 29 degrees
August: highs of 29 degrees
September: highs of 27 degrees
October: highs of 24 degrees
November: highs of 20 degrees
Favourite room
We love the recently renovated Serenity Suites, for the unbeatable sea views, private balconies and fully-equipped kitchenette. These accommodate 4 guests, plus a cot. Separate sleep spaces come in the form of a queen-sized bed for parents and sofa beds in the lounge for kids
Larger families will want the Superior Family Apartment Village-View or Superior Family Apartment Side Sea-View rooms sleep up to 6 guests (plus there’s room for a cot)
Choose B&B apartments and children under 11 eat breakfast for free
Nearby
The pretty port of Elounda (with boats departing for UNESCO Spinalonga island) and lively Agios Nikolaos are both in easy reach
Price
from 104£ p/night in low season and 342£ p/night in high season for a family of three
From 104£ p/night in low season and 342£ p/night in high season for a family of four
From 151£ p/night in low season and 513£ p/night in high season for a family of five
FAQs
What family facilities are there, and how much do they cost?
The Mini Blues Kids Club runs from 10am – 6pm in low season and 10am – 8pm in high season. Children 4 and older are welcomed into the complimentary fold, whilst any underage sprogs can stay and play with parental supervision
Example activities include: Treasure hunts, magic shows, folklore costume crafting, Greek cookery & language lessons, Olympic Games, gardening and beach cleaning
Outside of the kids club, entertainment awaits in the form of free bikes to borrow, diving & watersports, basketball & tennis courts, table tennis, a playground and the much-loved Mermaid lessons
Babysitters can be booked for 20 euros per hours – to be paid in cash
Which equipment is available to borrow for babies & children?
Baby cots, toilet trainer seats, bottle warmers, baby baths, trainer steps, potties, bottle sterilisers, prams, changing mats, bed rails and high chairs are all available to borrow
What are the pools like?
There are 2 outdoor pools at Candia Park Village, both of which welcomes waterbabies of all ages – from splashing tots through to the dive bombing older lot. The toddler’s pool is 0.60cm in depth. Neither of these are heated but the Greek sunshine usually ensures they are pleasant to swim in throughout the season
Is there evening entertainment?
Come evening, the whole family can enjoy bubble shows, magicians, mini discos, open air cinema screenings and live music nights
What’s the protocol for allergies?
Guests are asked to inform the hotel of any allergies in advance of their stay. The wide range of food on offer caters to all kinds of intolerances and preferences. Previous guests have fed back a positive experience on allergy management, see more info here
What’s the dining set up?
With the full foodie flex of self-catering through to hassle-free dining, Candia Park village takes guests on a culinary journey from the roots of Cretan cuisine to the heights of international gastronomy. Guests can stay on B&B through to half board packages, across a trio of restaurants
Agapi Restaurant – begin your day with a hearty buffet and dine on a choice of Greek and international options to end your day. At lunch time this operates as an Italian restaurant with an a la carte menu. Explore themed nights from around the world all week (open 7am – 10.30am for breakfast / 12pm – 4pm for lunch and 6.45pm – 9.45pm for dinner)
Kafenion – the resort’s traditional trattoria, where guests can enjoy an authentic meze with chilled local raki or savor a Greek coffee while taking in panoramic views (open 4pm – midnight)
To Fili Restaurant – located next to the mini club at a terrace overlooking the Mirabello bay it serves Greek cuisine from locally-caught fish and seafood specialties to exquisite authentic delicacies (open 12pm – 10pm)
Plori Pool Bar – open throughout the day, offers drinks and light bites inspired by spring and summer and Mediterranean flavors (open 10am – 7pm)
Rifi Gelateria – indulge your sweet tooth with artisanal flavors of homemade ice creams and sorbets, with a wide selection for the whole family at Rifi. Don’t miss their single-origin coffees, premium refreshments, and milkshakes
Guests planning on wining & dining in room themselves will love the Sohoro Village Market – a curated store that features products from small local businesses, fresh fruits, everyday essentials
Meet the family...
Danielle
Parent to Tiny Travellers aged 2 & 1
The hotel offers the perfect amount of luxury for parents and entertainment for children. There's a well organised Kids Club, amazing bubble show, sandy beach and every part of the resort is reachable with a buggy. We loved the 3 restaurants on the resort, and mini market. There was enough variety that we never needed to leave, and lots of lovely options for our boys
Worth waking the baby for
01
Semi Submarine Trip
Putting glass bottom boats to shame, board your own yellow submarine for an unparalleled window to the underwater world of the Aegean. Get up close and personal with a menagerie of marine life, without needing to swim!
02
Chrysi Island
Accessible only by ferry or speed boat, this uninhabited island delivers private island vibes via golden beaches, endless hues of blue, shaded cedar forest and famous mountain of shells
03
Labyrinth Park
Reviving Greek legends for little legs, this mythology-themed park brings the ancient tale of the Minotaur to life. Tots are treated to a mesmerising maze, mini golf, horseback riding and archery
Reviews from other parents
It was a very authentic, Cretan relaxed village'y vibe. The decor was beautiful, the muted colourful buildings were all low rise which we loved, it felt so in keeping with the rugged mountains & the crisp aqua sea. It felt so relaxing, everyone was friendly & kind. The staff always had a smile, a warm greeting & were great with the kids. Our room was a village view family room - the village is stunning so while i prefer a sea view usually this felt so holiday like & pretty that it didn't matter. The room was basic, no frills and totally fine, then the bathroom had been upgraded & was modern grey & fresh which was a lovely surprise. We spent 10 happy days here!!
Kids club was run really well, I liked that you could sign the paperwork so that older kids can come & go as they please. All very clean. The kids club itinerary was up everyday at breakfast which helped them decide their plans.
We had 1 dinner in the hotel which was ok, not great but not terrible. The view overlooking the beach was stunning. The breakfasts were good, lots of choice as well as omelette and crepe stations. Pool bar was perfect for a bit for lunch, really nice to sit in overlooking the sea but also great for delivery to sunlounger! Saying that, the sunloungers were terrible. Also the area surrounding the pool needs a glow up. I think in a few years this will have some investment & it'll sky rocket in price & popularity.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend. We felt so wonderfully comfortable in this hotel
Mama @nixbloom
The hotel had a really lovely ‘village’ feel. Beautiful views for the mandatory walks to get the baby asleep in the pram! Generally super chilled and friendly vibe. Staff for the most part were brilliant and keen to help with the children. We loved the beach, and the snorkelling was pretty good for a European beach! Our eldest loved the playground and was a big fan of the buffet, mainly due to the old train outside. Also great for adults to sit and eat whilst able to see them play
The food was decent. The taverna was Greek classics. The buffet was mixed but some delicious seafood and a good mix and change most nights. We were able to order snack/pizza type food to the beach which was great when the three year old refused to stop digging in the sand. The gelateria was also a massive hit for the whole family
We would definitely recommend! The ease and relaxed vibe is lovely. It’s not Ikos etc standard but for parents who have previously stayed at boutique, authentic as possible hotels, this hit a sweet spot between ‘for the kids’ and adult hotel snob friendly
Mama @ camigibson1
