Self catering in Crete? 2024

[StillWantingADog]

Wondering if mumsnetters can help me out here, googling has drawn a blank as have the main tour operator websites (Jet 2, Tui)

Interested in Crete for next year, never been, husband went years ago and always talks about going back. I'm quite fussy though and I think been spoiled by pretty fancy self catering resorts in Portugal.
Requirements

• resort type accommodation with pool and at least a poolside bar/cafe.
• Ideally a restaurant and other stuff on site including potential playmates for boys aged 9 and 11.
• 2 bedrooms separate to living area. May consider 1 bedroom and us sleeping in lounge if everything else looks good.
• Air con.
• Peaceful. Def not somewhere with loud evening entertainment unless it can be easily avoided.
• prefer international environment rather than too many Brits
• Within easy reach of beach and and town with other stuff to do. Will likely hire a car to get out and about so exact location not critical.

Can sort independently rather than do a package holiday but slight preference for the latter having been screwed over by easyjet for cancelling our return flights mid holiday in the past.

will also consider other Greek islands if they have what we want.

TIA!

Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas

@Fivemoreminutes1 Thanks a lot. Looks lovely but not seeing any self catering options? Might do a hotel but can’t afford £6k for b&b only.

Domes of Elounda has villas where you can do self catering (with options to eat in the restaurants (or used to, it's several years since I've been). I loved it there.

domesresorts.com/domesofelounda/

Looks gorgeous but I think
“Rates starting from €1008/night”
counts us out!

not looking for super posh! Paid £2k for a nice self catering apartment in Portugal last year. Will pay a bit more than that but ideally not much more than £3k or a bit more if meals included. Might be deluded.

Wow - they've put their prices up!!!

Eleonas would fit the bill but is a bit far from beaches. https://www.eleonas.gr/

Ammos might also work well - although I think the biggest rooms are just two rooms not three.

Candia Park Village might fit the bill apart from the 2 bed apartment - their biggest apartments are 1 bed + folding beds in living area. It’s a lovely aparthotel though and is bookable through Jet2 as a package. You’re probably looking at about £3 - 3.5k self catering though in August.

Village Heights Resort Hersonissos is also lovely - they do have bigger apartments 2/3 bed ones and usually are bookable through Thomas Cook although they are not showing any availability for next year yet.

Thanks all they all look lovely, Candia beach probably closest to what we’re after, Eleonas and Ammos look nice but not proper kitchens. Eleonas looks lush for a couples break without the fussy eating kids.

quire excited by the Village Heights @cherryassam but can’t see any availability anywhere (this is for June not August). Odd. Also I think dh would moan about golfers- he has an irrational hatred or anything to do with golf!

Yes it’s odd that there’s not any availability at all for next year, I’ve just gone back right the way to when they open in April and there is nothing. This leads me to believe that they’ve not released any availability yet for next year.

Might be worth an email to find out what’s going on?

Sissi as a resort, you can eat around the harbour every night and go somewhere different, that's the nightlife though.

Also Georgiopolous, half way between Chania and Rethymnon.

I am not sure how golf-y it is either - reading the trip advisor reviews it doesn’t seem to be primarily golf people and the golf course is about 2km away which people say means there isn’t enough golf at the resort

It really does look beautiful online! Has gone onto my list of to try hotels

Ah 2k away isn’t too bad as long as we didn’t end up with “golf view” 😂.
I shall investigate further.

So you mention fussy eating kids - is that the main reason you want full s/c facilities?

I don’t know your kids’ requirements obviously but IME Greek food is brilliant for fussy eaters as there’s a lot of very plain food eg plain grilled meat, fish, fried cheese (!) and most dishes come with chips. Veg can be trickier admittedly, unless yours will eat Greek salad (mine won’t). What we’ve often done is have a snacky lunch at home with bread cheese eggs and veg & fruit they will eat - perfectly doable in a kitchenette. Then restaurant out for dinner and they have souvlaki & chips.

anyway not trying to twist your arm! But it can be hard to find full s/c but also with other kids around, unless you shell out ££££ for a villa in a smart hotel.

I can imagine that wouldn’t go down well! It has got mini golf if you needed to do exposure therapy 😂

Now mini golf is fine as as my kids love it!

@minipie thanks for this

yeah one is fussy and the other one isn’t so much but is vegetarian, as is DH. Keeping everyone happy is a general nightmare and when we’ve been away before (Portugal, cabins at campsites in France and Holland, Airbnb in UK) we’ve always had full kitchens (and two separate bedrooms) so kind of got used to it.

Tend to do the opposite of what you do so eat out for much and do a basic tea, but no reason it couldn’t work.

have considered all inclusive as would be easy for the kids but I think DH and I would hate the buffets. Also the holiday camp atmosphere.

Eat out for lunch!