Creta Maris Resort, Crete: A Family-Friendly Review
As someone who places good food very high on my holiday priority list, and who likes to come home feeling like I’ve actually experienced a country rather than merely occupied a sun lounger within it, I should probably confess that before having children, I hadn’t stepped foot in an all-inclusive resort since childhood. But since launching Tiny Travelship four years ago (wow! Time flies), I’ve had the chance to properly put a number of Europe’s family resorts through their paces – and I can officially declare: the all-inclusive glow-up is real. Gone are the days (in many cases) of bland buffets, depressing interiors and kids entertainment that you can’t escape
And Creta Maris may be one of the best examples of it. Proving that you can offer an all-you-can-eat-and-drink package, while remaining authentically Greek. Did we mention there’s SEVEN restaurants to dine around? And it doesn’t stop there. With a fully fledged waterpark, splash pad, Kids Club (4+), Aperol Spritz bar, Blue Flag Beach and deeply restorative spa. I packed up my husband, our five-year-old son and two-year-old daughter and headed to Creta Maris over May half-term to see whether it really was as good as our DMs insisted it would be. Here’s our honest first-hand family review
Words by Frankie Collinson
Published: 28th May 2026 | Last updated: 18th August 2026
Your most asked questions, answered
Creta Maris: What makes it so good for families?
For those of you raising the kind of tiny travellers whose energy levels appear to be entirely self-recharging – the children who wake at 6am already demanding to know ‘what fun thing are we doing today?’ – Creta Maris should definitely be at the top of your travel list. Because when it comes to keeping kids entertained, this resort really does go above and beyond. There’s a sprawling waterpark with slides and splash zones, a kids club (4+), playground, an open-air cinema, sports courts, and more pools than you’ll manage to count before checkout
But what makes Creta Maris especially clever is that despite all the all-singing, all-dancing family entertainment, it hasn’t lost its sense of place. Some mega family resorts could realistically be dropped anywhere in the world and look much the same. Creta Maris couldn’t. It’s unapologetically Greek and proud
What's the dining set up?
If you’re the kind of family who usually approaches all-inclusive dining with cautious optimism, Creta Maris may well change your mind entirely. In fact, in its price bracket, we genuinely haven’t come across another resort that comes close to competing on sheer dining variety and quality. There is a famous luxury property in Andalusia with more restaurants on paper, but it also sits in an entirely different price universe. For what you pay here, Creta Maris is exceptionally impressive and honestly, even cost aside, the food setup is one of the strongest we’ve seen at any family resort in the Mediterranean
An all inclusive with SEVEN restaurants? Yep you heard us right
The main buffet restaurant, Enomy, is leagues beyond your standard all-inclusive setup, serving generous breakfasts, leisurely lunches, themed dinners and even late-night bites for post-flight arrivals (until midnight!)
Mademi is the resort’s dedicated meat grill restaurant, while Alatsi focuses on seafood in a beautiful waterfront setting. Arismari blends buffet breakfasts and lunches with elevated Greek dining by night, while Platia serves classic Greek meze. Families will love Estia, the relaxed family restaurant with easy crowd-pleasing dishes created by an expert on children’s nutrition, while Pithos showcases traditional organic Cretan cuisine. Guests are welcome to dine at each of the a la cartes for dinner once per week of their stay (lunch options are only buffet and for dinner you do need to reserve!)
Outside the restaurants, the resort keeps everyone happily fed and watered all day long with six snack points (plus nine bars and a wine cellar) scattered across the property for poolside pit stops, ice creams, easy lunches and cocktails-at-any-hour
I cannot stress enough, this doesn’t feel like “hotel food” but instead like eating at local tavernas. Creta Maris has worked hard to build an authentic farm-to-fork philosophy, partnering with local suppliers and producers across Crete to create menus that celebrate the island itself
Where is Creta Maris?
Set on Crete’s sun-drenched north coast, Creta Maris Resort is tucked behind a Blue Flag beach, near the lively seaside town of Hersonissos. The resort sits just a 20-25 minute drive from Heraklion International Airport, making arrivals blissfully simple after touchdown
You’re right on the doorstep of the old harbour of Hersonissos, bars, boutiques and traditional Greek tavernas. It’s more touristy than postcard-pretty, but if you fancy some souvenirs it’s an easy stroll away. Nearby beach favourites include the sheltered cove of Sarantari and the long sandy stretch of Stalidas
Creta Maris also makes a brilliant base for exploring Crete’s greatest hits. The legendary Palace of Knossos is within easy reach near Heraklion, while day trips to the island fortress of Spinalonga, the mountain villages of the Lassithi Plateau, and the buzzing old town of Heraklion are all wonderfully doable
Best Time To Visit Creta Maris
We visited in May and as someone who usually dreams of 30-degree holidays, I’ll admit the low-20s forecast had me slightly panicking before we arrived. But in reality it turned out to be perfect. When you’re spending all day chasing after kids, warm-but-not-scorching temperatures are a blessing. Trust me, I *feel* the cold and was happily sunbathing in my bikini (although let’s be real, I only managed five minute stints on my lounger thanks to my demanding children)
There’s one heated outdoor pool (which was lovely) and although the rest aren’t, the warm weather made them comfortable enough for quick dips. The waterpark pools aren’t heated, so parents of toddlers may find it too cold for them to use in shoulder season
By June, Crete properly turns on the heat. Long, sunny days, reliably warm evenings and sea temperatures that are finally catching up make this a sweet spot month for many families. July and August are classic Mediterranean summer at full volume. September and the beginning of October are also meant to be amazing here. The bigger kids are back at school, the crowds thin out, but the sea has had the whole summer to warm up
Rooms & Suites
Simple but spacious suites
What really makes this place special begins the moment you step outside your room. Rather than towering hotel blocks, the resort is designed to feel like a traditional Greek village. Whitewashed low-rise bungalows are connected by winding pathways and shaded archways, with flashes of cobalt-blue doors, tumbling bougainvillea, olive trees and friendly resident cats. At times, it really felt less like staying in a resort and more like wandering through a little corner of Greece itself. And somehow, and hear me out here, it even smells unmistakably Greek. The landscaping & gardening here is definitely a feat; every corner felt beautifully considered, and I found myself constantly stopping to take photos
Kid's Entertainment
A best of both worlds Kids’ Club
Creta Maris has properly invested in making life easier for families at every stage – from babies all the way through to teenagers. For little ones, there’s a sweet Baby Room which quickly became one of our favourite secret weapons during the hottest part of the day. It’s parent-supervised and brimming with role play, toys, books and all important air conditioning. The main Asterias Kids Club is run in partnership with Worldwide Kids (the luxury hospitality childcare experts you’ll find at some very fancy hotels around the world). Sessions are complimentary for children aged four and over, and the activity schedule goes well beyond basic colouring sheets and cartoons. We spotted everything from yoga and mindfulness sessions to storytelling, arts and crafts inspired by ancient Greek myths and lovely ‘live like a local’ activities designed to connect children to Crete itself. The club runs right through until 6pm, and I’d definitely recommend pre-booking sessions if you’re travelling during school holidays, as popular slots can fill up quickly
Now, fellow parents of koala-children will also be delighted to hear there’s a very sensible compromise built in. Between 1pm and 3pm each day, the kids club switches to a relaxed ‘stay and play’ setup where parents can join their children and make use of all the facilities together. No supervised sessions run during this time, but for children who would choose to surgically attach themselves to your arm rather than be dropped off and left alone (I am, very specifically, describing my son here), it works perfectly. We enjoyed doing puzzles as a family, and while my little girl loved the doll house & role play kitchen, my son was gleeful at the big box of LEGO
Mine are still a long way off needing it, but there’s also a dedicated Teens Club for older children aged 13+, as well as a very cool arcade room with claw machines, ride simulators, pinball machines, hoop games, air hockey, pool and darts. Elsewhere around the resort you’ll also find basketball, five-a-side football and tennis courts
Come 8pm there’s a mini disco (which we couldn’t hear from our room on the night we missed it, so no need to worry about light sleepers), followed by a more theatrical evening show at 9pm. My little girl was completely obsessed with the nightly disco. It’s a sweet opportunity for kids to make holiday friends and the kids’ club staff deserve medals for the level of energy and enthusiasm they brought. Enjoying my children dance with me long past bedtime made me realise that, while mini discos were never high on my own holiday wishlist, they create the kind of magic kids remember for years
Wining & Dining
One of Europe’s largest all-inclusive offerings
Yes, technically this is an all-inclusive resort complete with wristbands, but even those feel rather lovely with their burnt-oranged patterned design, on satin rather than neon plastic. And the food? This is where Creta Maris shines. Rather than endless buffet stations serving the same international dishes night after night, dinner here feels like stepping into a different Greek taverna every evening. For me, that’s one of the biggest highlights. When I come to Crete, I want proper Greek food: fresh grilled fish, slow-cooked pork, warm pittas, salty feta and desserts dripping in honey. Every evening feels distinct, and with guests able to dine at each à la carte restaurant once per week (renewed if you stay longer), there’s more than enough variety to keep things exciting
We personally tried Pithos, Mademi and Alatsi. Pithos, the farm-to-fork restaurant with a menu grown from the hotel’s own grounds, felt the most like a traditional taverna, where we dined on Saganaki, delicately battered cod and honey-drenched doughnuts. The resort is split in two with a road in between (there’s 2 bridges so you never need to cross it), you could hear the traffic from here, but we didn’t personally think it detracted from the lovely atmosphere
Mademi, Creta Maris’ Cretan take on a steakhouse, and Alatsi, the seafood restaurant, have the best locations in the resort, both overlooking the sea. Dining there felt far more luxurious than you’d expect from an all-inclusive, the kind of meals, wine and settings you’d normally associate with a hotel at a much higher price point
For lunch, the options are more buffet-focused. We tried Estia – the family BBQ restaurant just above the heated pool – Arismari – which is closest to the beach with really nice views over the ocean, and Enomy (where breakfast and dinner is served). The atmosphere at Estia is a little more functional, closer to a classic resort dining hall, but the food selection is strong. Expect freshly carved gyros, grilled meats and fish from the barbecue station, stuffed vine leaves, salads, barbecue chicken, plus crowd-pleasers like pasta and chips for younger guests. Wine and beer at Arismari were from a dispenser, but the boujee pool and beach bars are only steps away. Enomy has the most impressive offering, with fresh mussels, meat, fish, piles of salad, every kind of dip under the sun and even its own vegan section. You can also order wine from a menu here. Dessert section was spectacular, beware if you’re a fan of kandaifi you’ll want to try them all!
One thing Creta Maris does particularly well is catering for dietary requirements. Allergens were clearly labelled, not only on the à la carte menus but throughout the buffets too, and we never encountered language barriers when speaking to staff about ingredients. Because many dishes are prepared in front of you, it’s a resort I’d feel personally comfortable travelling to if I had allergies or intolerances
Swimming pools
A paradise for water-lovers
If your children’s ideal holiday can largely be summarised as ‘water, but more of it,’ then Creta Maris is about to become their Roman Empire. This place is heaven for water babies and aquatic adults alike, with a double digit number of swimming spots scattered across the resort. In the marketing material you’ll hear talk of 17 pools (plus a heated indoor one for any iffy weather!), in reality there’s 6 main pools, 5 of which have small toddler-height splash pools attached to them. Only one of the pools (plus attached kids pool) is heated. My kids loooooved this one in May and I can vouch it’s genuinely lovely and warm. It’s set opposite the small playground, in front of the baby room and arcade and just underneath one of the lunch buffet restaurants, plus the water park is just under an archway – so it’s really a perfect place to set up shop for the day. What I really liked is the exclusive adults only area for guests of the Exclusive Adult Rooms & Suites – not because I got to spend anytime there myself – but because I like to know people who actively do not want to sunbathe next to my shrieking, dive bombing children, will be happily enjoying the silence in their own section (and there’s another 3 heated pools here)
And despite the fact the resort sleeps close to 2,000 guests, because the pools are spread throughout the resort they never feel overwhelmingly busy. The waterpark itself is brilliantly done too. Set in its own private section, it feels like a fully fledged day trip event that you happen to have returning complimentary tickets too. There are twisting slides, a multi-level aqua tower, splash pad and very impressive tipping bucket. There aren’t age restrictions, but there are height ones for the bigger rides (120cm), my quite small 4 year-old wasn’t tall enough, but I reckon the majority of 5 and 6 year-olds would be fine. The loungers aren’t quite as snazzy in this section, but there is a bar which serves cocktails, beer, and in a win for me personally, oat milk lattes!
And then there’s the beach setup, which deserves equal billing. Creta Maris sits beside 250 metres of sandy Blue Flag beach complete with complimentary loungers, towels, lifeguards and an Aperol Spritz beach bar. The sea here is beautifully clear and calm enough for little paddlers, while the quieter rocky beach near the sea bungalows feels more peaceful and hidden away – ideal to sneak off to if you manage a Kids’ Club dispatch
Our verdict
Despite running a family travel platform for a living, both me and my Tiny Travelship other-half Becky are actually pretty sensible when it comes to our own holidays. Like most families, we still want great value – especially during school holidays, when Mediterranean hotel prices seem to rise every time you so much as blink at a browser tab. Which is exactly why Creta Maris intrigued me so much. A week in Crete, all-inclusive, for a family of four is around £6,500 in peak August (including flights & private transfer), which felt almost suspiciously good on paper. Especially at a time when many comparable family resorts across Europe are happily charging north of £7k. And yet, reader, I can confidently report: Creta Maris absolutely delivers
There’s no lounger service but bars are dotted everywhere you turn, so a cold drink is never more than a few steps away. And the fleet of staff are kept busy ensuring the entire resort remains immaculate. Gardens are pristine, pathways are spotless, pools are sparkling
We actually split our stay between Creta Maris and The Royal Senses (you can read my full review of that here), and the contrast between the two resorts ended up working perfectly for our family. Creta Maris was pure magic for my children – the sort of place where every morning began with immediate excitement over which waterslide they’d tackle first, and every evening ended with two completely exhausted little people falling asleep practically mid-sentence (which, if you know my children personally, you’ll appreciate is bordering on medical miracle territory). Then after a few days of full-throttle fun, we shifted gears at The Royal Senses, where the pace slowed and the holiday became a little more about switching off
Whether you’re planning a full week at Creta Maris (and honestly, even seven days doesn’t feel long enough to properly tackle everything on offer) or are tempted by the idea of combining two different sides of Crete into one trip, our Tiny Travel Agency can help plan the whole thing for you, simply get in touch here
Creta Maris Resort: Our Tiny Travelship Take
Themes: Where to go when by month, with kids, The Family Friendly European Edit,
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