Overview
The Cretan embodiment of a ‘hassle free holiday’, Creta Maris is the name to know if you’re seeking an escape putting ‘ease’ front and centre – there’s no need to leave this all inclusive, 5* spot once you arrive (and that couldn’t be any simpler, either, as it’s just 25 minutes from Heraklion airport)
Creta Maris promises everything tiny travellers could desire (including a whopping 13 family friendly swimming pools, a generous stretch of Blue Flag beach, waterpark and Kids Club from 4). But here’s the important bit – none of it is at the expense of gorgeous, grown up appeal. Having undergone an extensive aesthetic overhaul, the hotel really leans into local influences, across everything from its architecture to cuisine and cultural experiences. Which is pretty in keeping with its heart-warming roots – the hotel has been family owned and operated for the past 50 years, so is the complete antithesis of characterless, chain alternatives. This means that while you get the best bits of an authentic (very pretty) Greek break, there’s no need to compromise on family friendly conveniences
Now there’s no denying – Creta Maris is a whopper of a resort, with 679 rooms & suites (as well as one villa). But again, this is all to your advantage, with none of the negatives. Thanks to the layout (modelled on a traditional Cretan village) the effect is ‘romantically rambling’ as opposed to overbearing. And with such scale, comes a whole world of entertainment
Beyond the kids bits we’ve mentioned, there’s a hammam spa for horizontal holidaying, and an atmospheric open air cinema for films beneath the stars. If you’re travelling with teens, rest assured the 5-aside pitch, basketball, mini golf, watersports and arcade games will keep them busy
And I don’t know about you, but key to any holiday in our eyes is the food! There are seven outstanding restaurants to sample on your doorstep, as well as ten bars plus a brand new wine cellar (the way to our heart!). Really, it’s easy to see why Creta Maris has a wealth of awards under its belt – including ‘Greece’s Leading All Inclusive Resort’ for several years running. Having honed their hospitality to a fine art over the last five decades, this is a hotel built with heritage and heart – and super sustainability credentials, as well
Wondering what it’s actually like with children in tow? Read our honest first-hand family review of Creta Maris Resort here
Mama
Get in touch
Flight
4 hr flight from London to Heraklion Airport
Transfer
Around a 25 minute drive from Heraklion Airport. If you’d like help arranging private transfers, just drop the hotel Reservations team an email after you’ve completed your booking
Best time to visit
Open from April through to October, the short answer is, you can’t really go wrong. Those with really tiny tots might enjoy the comparatively cooler temperatures (and lower prices) that the beginning of the season brings – though if you’re planning on spending all day in the pool, its worth noting that none of the family friendly outdoor swim spots are heated (and of all times of the year, this is when they are coolest)
Peak summer season sees the masses descend (for obvious reasons) but thanks to the resort’s sprawling setup, it never feels too busy. Creta Maris is also a great option for shoulder season sun (we’re talking September & October) when bigger kids are back at school, but the water has had the whole summer to warm up
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
Favourite room
For a family of three – With garden or mountain views, families of three will be more than comfortable in the spacious Open Plan Family Rooms, featuring a king size bed as well as a sofa bed for your tiny traveller. Particularly pleasing are the private outdoor areas with every room (either a balcony or terrace) and the bathrooms which all come equipped with a tub
For a family of four – Families of four will appreciate the upgrade to a One Bedroom Family Room, which comes with a separate living area & two (!) sofa beds (though it’s worth noting, some of these have a more open plan layout than others, partitioned by an arch as opposed to a door. For guaranteed separate spaces, you’ll need Interconnecting Family Rooms). These also all boast their own private outdoor areas, and bathtubs to dunk the kids after sunny, sandy days
For a family of five – What makes us happy? Hotels that not only have great options for families of five, but families of six as well. At Creta Maris, Family Connecting Rooms can be guaranteed upon booking (which is also a rarity). You can look forward to two joining bedrooms, both with either king size or twin beds (its up to you), as well as an extra sofa bed in each as well. Again, all of the bathrooms have tubs, there are private outdoor areas, and the rooms enjoy views out across the lush gardens
As the hotel is all inclusive, kitchenettes aren’t a common feature in the accommodation, but the exception to the rule is the Premium Presidential Suite
Private pools aren’t generally available either, though there is one in the Premium Private Pool Villa – though it’s worth noting that this is not heated
Price & Special Offers
From £367 room/night in low season and £512 room/night in high season for a family of three
From £435 room/night in low season and £602 room/night in high season for a family of four
From £559 room/night in low season and £782 in high season for a family of five
FAQs
What family facilities are there, and how much do they cost?
Let’s start with the tiniest of tots first. While Creta Maris doesn’t have a supervised creche, they do have a toy-filled baby room especially designed to delight those 0-5 years. It is open from Monday through to Saturday between May and September, across two slots each day: 9:30-12:30 & 14:30-17:30. It is free of charge to drop into whenever you would like, with the presence and supervision of a parent or guardian required at all times
Moving on to those 4 -12 years (inclusive). The Kids Club at Creta Maris, run by leading tiny traveller entertainers ‘Worldwide Kids’, operates from Monday to Saturday too, running three sessions each day. In the morning, activities take place between 10:00-13:00, followed by a noon session between 13:00-15:00 (when a stay and play invitation is extended to parents) and a final afternoon slot 15:00-18:00. While the Kids Club is technically complimentary, a small booking fee of 5€ applies
However, babysitters are available to book outside of the Kids Club. These must be reserved in advance, and the following fees apply: 15€ per hour for one child / 20€ per hour for two children / 25€ per hour for three children
While we suspect most little ones will want to spend the majority of their time splashing either at the beach on in the pools, there is also an outdoor playground on site
And when it comes to whole family fun, Greek Folkloric dancing, Karaoke nights and circus or Disney themed shows promise to have you all giggling together
Which equipment is available to borrow for babies & children?
Baby cots can be provided upon request, as can strollers – both free of charge, if requested at the point of making your reservation. And you’ll find highchairs across all of the family friendly restaurants
What are the pools like?
In a word, plentiful! In the marketing material you’ll hear talk of 17 pools (plus a heated indoor one), in reality there’s 6 main pools, 5 of which have small toddler-height splash pools attached to them. Only one of the family pools (plus attached kids pool) is heated, but there are a further 3 heated pools for guests of the Exclusive Adult Rooms & Suites
And then, there’s the waterslides! For thrill seekers, the flumes have a minimum height of 1.2m. Though littler tiny travellers need not miss out on the action. The Aqua Tower Pool slides can be enjoyed by all over 3 years old (minimum height 1m) while the Spay Action Zone splashpad has no lower limitations
Is there evening entertainment?
From Greek dancing sessions and mini discos, to live music, exciting circus shows and al fresco cinema screenings, there is no shortage of evening entertainment – welcoming all ages
What’s the protocol for allergies?
Creta Maris ensures all food options, across both a la carte menus and buffets, have clear ingredient and allergen descriptions. The hotel also offers specific options for individuals with particularly common allergies e.g. lactose & gluten free options. Though please note, all of the aforementioned foods are prepared in the same area, so may contain trace amounts of milk, nuts, sesame, eggs, soya, mustard, seafood, fish, molluscs, peanuts, lupins, sulfites and celery
In the case of any specific dietary needs or allergies, guests should inform onsite food & beverage representatives, who will strive to deliver the most memorable gastronomic experience possible. Upon arrival at Creta Maris, it is requested guests fill in a special dietary/allergy form where applicable, providing thorough information about their food intolerance. The team can then introduce them to the maître of each restaurant, who will help guide them as to which foods fulfil their criteria
What’s the dining set up?
Creta Maris is a gorgeous all inclusive resort, offering a wide and varied range of restaurants spanning buffet and a la carte options. Cuisines extend from Cretan & fresh Aegean seafood to a meat-based grill spot, as well as a farm-to-table concept eatery to name just a few
There’s also a seriously impressive 9 bars (hot foot it to Adama Cocktail Bar and thank us later) as well as a wine cellar (really!) and 6 extra ‘snack spots’. We’ve heard glowing things about new Kritamo Salad Bar & Valsamo Fruit Bar!
For those wishing to get away from it all, candle-lit sunset beach dinners can be arranged, to a soundtrack of gently lapping waves. This service is offered at an extra charge (but we’d seriously consider getting the babysitter in, as it’s pretty magical stuff). Or if (like me) your idea of the ultimate treat is room service (ideally eaten in a fluffy robe), this is available too (again, with a cost attached)
With our tiny traveller hat on, the special kids’ menu at Estia Restaurant is really worth knowing about. Carefully curated by an expert on kids’ nutrition, it offers delicious and balanced options that little ones will love
Worth waking the baby for
01
Knossos Palace
Astound their teeny tiny minds with a trip to Knossos Palace, a Bronze Age archaeological site bringing colourful Greek mythology to life. With some bits dating back to 1900BC, you can explore the palace ruins and play eye spy studying the intricate wall paintings at the home of the legendary Minotaur
02
Explore by bike
Travelling with bigger kids, with energy to burn? Rent a bike and experience Crete with all your senses as you ride through ancient olive groves, cross fields of fragrant herbs, visit traditional villages and stop to gaze out over the sea
03
CretAquarium
Considered one of the best aquariums in Europe, and the largest in Greece, Cretaquarium is dedicated to marine conservation and education and is home to over 2,000 kinds of sea life – including sea turtles, stingray & tiger sharks to marvel over
Reviews from other parents
Creta Maris completely changed my perception of all-inclusive holidays. It genuinely felt less like staying in a resort and more like wandering through a little corner of Greece itself - with incredible food at the heart of the experience. This doesn’t feel like “hotel food” but more like eating in authentic local tavernas, and with a whopping seven restaurants included, there’s an amazing amount of variety for families. We visited during May half term and honestly, it felt like the perfect time to go: warm enough to sunbathe and swim, without the exhausting peak-summer heat. My children were completely obsessed with the waterpark and stay and play invitation at the Kids Club
@frankie1204, mama to 2-and-5-year-old Tiny Travellers
