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Crete’s beach hotels have something to suit every taste. There are the laidback ‘no shoes no news’ resorts where couples, 'bubbles' and families can kick back and enjoy a few days of sun, sea and escapism, and there are the fun, family-friendly hotels where the seashore offers a smorgasbord of countless activities. Some resorts have spectacular spa areas, whilst others have gourmet restaurants, or exclusive art collections. Overlooking sheltered rocky coves, endless swathes of golden sand or fine pebble stretches fringed by glittering sea, here’s our pick of the best beach hotels in Crete, in locations including Chania, Elounda, Georgioupolis and Agios Nikolaos. 

This stylish design hotel modelled on the domes of nearby Chania’s Venetian shipyard, has its own strip of sandy beach. It’s a 10-minute drive from the city’s cafés, nightlife and museums, as well as being close to some of Crete’s best beaches, including the pink sand beach of Elafonisi. Public areas are immaculate, with scatter cushions and bean bags strewn over carefully tended strips of grass near two large pools, one of which has a swim-up bar and stunning sea views. The resort's spa has a plunge pool, steam room and sauna facilities, and delivers a range of treatments. The 83 rooms are all grouped around the pools. Read expert review From £ 147

• The best hotels in Crete

Close to the region’s winding coast road, Daios Cove resort sits in a natural amphitheatre that descends in stages to a private sandy beach. The resort is close to the bustling town of Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga, the last 20th-century leper colony in Europe which features in Victoria Hislop’s best-selling novel, The Island. Every one of the resort’s 230 rooms, 30 suites and 40 villas have wall-to-ceiling windows with views over the dazzling, clear waters of Vathi Bay. Larger suites have private sea-view terraces and plunge pools. Facilities include two tennis courts, several outdoor pools and a spa. Read expert review From £ 394

• The best beach hotels in Greece

No expense has been spared in creating this sleek and classy Cycladic-style resort close to Hersonissos. The style is elegantly minimalist with low white buildings, reflected in lagoon-like water features and pools and huge glass walls in public areas giving endless sea vistas. There are two outdoor public pools (a vast infinity pool with daybeds and wet beds, and children's pool) plus heated indoor pool, five restaurants, and a spa. The sandy cove has plenty of sun beds, though there are rocks at the shoreline. If money is no object pick a Loft Luxury Seafront room with an outdoor whirlpool and private pool. Read expert review From £ 218

• The best Greek island hotels

It's all about elegant seaside living here, even the staff are seen wearing Greek toga-style flowing robes lending a mythical touch à la Peter Greenaway. A very pretty Olympic-sized seawater pool with overwater gazebos is a major attraction, as is the carefully tended (toddler-friendly) lawn near the beach. There are plenty of comfortable sunbeds on the sand-lined beach, and a small watersports centre, while a second sandy beach is only for the use of Villa guests. There are several stylish restaurants – including one with a collection of Picasso originals – and there's a spa. Read expert review From £ 253

• The best all-inclusive hotels in Crete

This elegant five-star resort is opposite an extensive sandy beach, close to Kournas, Crete’s only lake. There’s a sense of entering a private enclave as you pass through the vast reception (decked out with puff blue Baroque-style sofas and twinkling chandeliers), which opens onto large pools linked by shallow lagoons surrounded by plants and lawns where frogs croak at night. It’s carefully laid out with different zones to suit different ages: even when there are a lot of children you barely hear them. A subterranean tunnel beneath the busy road safely links the resort with fine sand beaches on the other side. Read expert review From £ 118

• The best family-friendly hotels in Greece

Nana Princess is situated on a sea-view slope just outside Hersonissos. The black-stone buildings (some with strikingly monumental glass façades) are low and chunky – they’re linked by sunken walkways like a traditional village. There are two (small-ish) pools near the seafront, a play pool in the kids’ club and a sheltered, coarse sand beach with a good sprinkling of sunbeds. A big focus on wellness means the 'space age' spa is one of the best in Crete, and some of the rooms have gyms. Sports lovers should pick the Executive Fitness Suite, with a private pool and gym equipment, or the Ambassador Wellness Suites with a gym, sauna and steam room. Read expert review From £ 324

• An insider guide to Crete

Set on a secluded stretch of indented coast, this five-star resort on the Greek island of Crete offers rustic, homely villas, bungalows and suites with stylish furnishings, fireplaces and private pools. Service is personable and willing, and amenities comprise a nine-hole golf course, spa and watersports including scuba. There’s a small sandy beach and guests can be found lounging under brollies on the stone-built lidos or using the large salt-water pool. An oasis of calm, there are many happy spots for an aperitif or to simply read a book in peace. Three restaurants range from formal evening to beachside. Read expert review From £ 217

• The best restaurants in Crete

The Ammos ticks all the boxes as a style-conscious seaside hotel that offers cool but unstuffy design, a sandy beach, heated pool, babysitters on tap and delightful home-cooked Cretan food. A few rooms look onto lovely landscaped gardens and the majority have soothing sea views. The restaurant overlooks the huge sandy bay, as do most of the rooms. The beach gets busy, but guests have their own strip with sun loungers strategically positioned for sunset. There are playful touches everywhere – a giant cactus behind the reception desk, sunshine yellow bathrooms, clashing cushions with naughty prints. It’s like a super-stylish playground for grown-ups, designed to appeal to kids too. Read expert review From £ 106

• The best boutique hotels in Crete

There’s a home-from-home feel to this friendly resort. Style is elegantly solid, with sizeable, stone-walled villas surrounded by carefully tended gardens, restaurants with stunning sea views and a smart, glass-walled spa. Classic rooms on two floors in the older part of the building come with large balconies. Spacious Classic and Deluxe bungalows have bathrooms that are almost as big as the bedrooms, plus a terrace and a strip of lawn with sun loungers to soak up sea or sunset views. Some suites and bungalows share medium-sized pools and larger suites for five people have small plunge pools, but the luxury seafront suites are worth splurging for. Breakfast in Ayeri restaurant, which has panoramic sea views, is impeccable. Read expert review From £ 105

• The best nightlife in Crete

Minos Beach Art Hotel overlooks an enchanting bay, close to the lively town of Agios Nikolaos. The vibe is rather self-consciously 'laidback boho': there are bean bags scattered on stone jetties along the seafront, sculptures and artworks dotted around. Walt Disney stayed here in 1963 whilst filming Moonspinners and since then the resort has been a haven for art-loving celebrities. Two small sandy beaches lapped by warm shallow water are ideal for tots. Ladders descend from the stone walkway into sparkling waters and on-site there is a large pool with plenty of sunbeds and a spa. Read expert review

Contributions by Sally Peck

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