Hersonissos or Rethymnon in Crete?

[Sportacus17]

Hi all,

Ive booked Silva Beach hotel in Hersonnisoss for early Oct (Scottish school hols), but now having second thoughts and wondering if Rethymnon might be nicer? Booked with easyJet so can still amend booking.

Flying from Edinburgh and they only go to Heraklion so Chania area is too far a transfer. Hersonisoss appealed due the short transfer and Silva Beach looks lovely (and reasonably priced, for AI).. But now wondering if Rethymnon wider area and beaches might be nicer ? Would get a more basic hotel there though and probably b&b.

Kids 6&7 when we travel. We love a beach and a pool and do like touristy stuff … but me personally I love an old town , quaint streets …. Kids get bored easily though!

Has anyone lots of experience with Crete and and able to advise please ? Thanks :)

We've stayed near Hersonissos and walked into town a couple of times. It's got quite a long strip of hotels, etc along the sea front with the old town inland.

Don't fall for a trip to Knossos btw - what you see is largely some Englishman's reimagining of something no one really knows existed! More theme park than historic monument, without the rides.

I love Rethymnon, beautiful port and old town, really stunning area with a nice chilled vibe

Thanks both. I’m still torn ! I’ll keep researching x

You’ll be fine with Herssonisos. It’s on the main bus route so you could visit Heraklion one way or Agios Nicolaos the other. Up the hill from Hersonissos are Koutoulafari and another village that I can’t mind the name of. Between Hersonissos and Stalis you have Star Beach which is a little water park with some rides - free entry but there’s a charge for wristbands. You have Stalis which has a lovely beach, Malia old town, which is not affected by Malia party town!

I can’t answer for Rethymno as I’ve not been there but with smalls that age, you’ll be fine with where you’ve booked

@guestusername I think that’s the most helpful reply possibly ever. Thank you so much!!! I am going to look into all your suggestions and get myself excited now.

Definitely hersonissos, went last year and it was amazing. Star beach is so good for kids, there is so much to do x