DESTINATIONS GREECE & CYPRUS | CRETE
TRIED & TESTED
Aldemar Royal Mare This 391-room resort is for luxury lovers, with low-rise blocks between bursts of vegetation, service that’s attentive and exceptional food. “The Royal Mare has some of the best kids’ facilities I have seen, plus separate pools for children and adults,” says Lisa Rhodes of Travel Directors.
aldemarroyalmare.gr
Aldemar Cretan Village Made up of white-washed buildings with trailing bougainvillea tumbling from their balconies, this recently renovated hotel has 322 bright rooms and a village vibe. Vanessa de Vere of Travel Counsellors says: “I love its retro-chic. I wouldn’t hesitate to send clients who seek tradition and comfort here.”
aldemarcretanvillage.gr
Aldemar Knossos Royal This Minoan-themed hotel has a cliff-top chapel, 413 rooms and an extensive animation programme. “Family rooms have a great layout with a dividing wall that means you’re not on top of each other,” says Suda Gray of Travel PA. “There’s even a kids’ restaurant with kid-sized counters, tables and chairs,” adds Blue Sea Holidays’ Paul Edwards.
aldemarknossosroyal.gr
CRETAN DELIGHTS
E Samaria Gorge: Take a spectacular six-hour hike through ravines and pine forest.
E Elafonisi: Sail from Paleohora to this lagoon-like, white-sand beach tickled by shallow turquoise water.
E Chania: Lap up this city’s Italianate atmosphere and Venetian-era buildings.
E Olive-oil factory: Take a tour of the Paraschakis family’s olive- oil factory near Rethymnon.
GETTING THERE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Knossos palace; the agent group; Heraklion PICTURES: Shutterstock;
pace changes between the properties, meaning you can send a range of clients here,” said Daniel Reed, independent travel consultant at Reed Travel. There’s certainly a sense of seclusion, despite being just a 10-minute shuttle ride from tourist hub Hersonissos.
TEXTBOOK GREECE From Hersonissos, you can catch a bus west into Heraklion or east to Agios Nikolaos. The latter is textbook Greece. A sizeable seaside town that feels more like a fishing village, Agios Nikolaos is touched by the ocean on all sides, with a beach and marina at one end, and picturesque ferry port at the other. The pedestrianised 28 Oktovriou Street links the two, lined with speciality shops selling ceramics, olive oils, herbs, wood-carved kitchenalia, natural bath products and sea sponges among irresistible upscale souvenirs. There’s one further feather in Agios Nikolaos’ cap. An inlet of water feeds a small lake where waterfowl hang out around a miniature church carved into the cliff face. After a morning’s sightseeing, the next stop can only be the Royal Mare’s thalasso spa – a temple of wellbeing spread over three floors. There’s a hammam, plunge pools, seaweed body wraps, aromatherapy
Aegean Airlines offers four daily flights from Heathrow to Athens year-round, plus seasonal flights from Manchester and Edinburgh. One-way fares from Heathrow start at £75.
aegeanair.com
massage, aqua bikes, hydro-jet baths and weight-loss programmes, all designed to send you home feeling on cloud nine. Emma Taylor, personal travel agent at Mid-Counties Co-operative, says: “I’m impressed by the staff and their outstanding knowledge. It’s perfect for girls’ breaks, but more for those who want some health-conscious pampering than a hen party.”
BOOK IT
Wellbeing Escapes’ Wellbeing Booster package at Aldemar Royal Mare starts at £811 per person, including four nights’ half-board, spa treatments and transfers.
wellbeingescapes.com
Jet2holidays offers a week’s all-inclusive at Aldemar Cretan Village from £599 per person, based on four sharing with flights from Manchester on May 16, 2020.
jet2holidays.com
Tui has seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Aldemar Knossos Royal from £777 per person, flying from Norwich on May 5, 2020.
tui.co.uk
56 10 OCTOBER 2019
travelweekly.co.uk
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