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When we decided to fly to Crete with Dandan, I had a “wish list” (or perhaps “aspirations,” depending on how you look at it) for how I imagined this vacation would be. This was our first true “beach vacation” with a baby, and while I didn’t expect a full rest, it was important to me to maximize the “fun” aspect.
Since our plan was to spend most of our time at the hotel, finding the perfect place took serious research. Here were my specific criteria:
Private Pool in the Room
This would let us enjoy the pool with the monitor nearby while Dandan took daytime naps. Maintaining his routine was important, so having a place for him to sleep nearby was key.
Private Beach at the Hotel
Not all hotels in Crete have private beaches—some don’t even have one nearby. For a beach vacation, I saw a beach as essential, if only to add variety between the pool and the sea.
High-Quality, Delicious Food
Not a hotel with six mediocre restaurants—I only needed 2-3 that were excellent and appealing enough for a few days in a row.
Babysitting Services
While not for everyone, I’m all for a qualified sitter at the hotel so we could enjoy an evening or two out while Dandan slept comfortably in our room.
After a lot of searching, here’s my list of hotels that fit all these criteria.
Booking Rating: 9.3 Location: Elounda Room Size: 66 m² Restaurants: 4
Pros An exclusive, adults-only vibe, with most rooms having private pools, creating a feeling of privacy even when the hotel is fairly full.
Cons No kids’ activities or playrooms on-site—great for babies but might lack entertainment options for toddlers or older children.
Booking Rating: 9.2 Location: Agios Nikolaos Room Size: 42 m² Restaurants: 3
Pros Beautifully designed, with incredible turquoise water views. There’s also a luxurious kids’ club on-site.
Cons The partition between private pools in adjacent rooms is low, affecting the feeling of privacy. The private pool area is also small, with no sunbeds.
Booking Rating: 9.1 Location: Hersonissos Room Size: 48 m² Restaurants: 6
Pros A large resort with five restaurants, a beautiful beach, and an impressive lagoon.
Cons The room is set up like a loft, with a gallery area for the baby’s crib, which requires climbing stairs. Additionally, there’s a minimum spend requirement at the main pool’s bar to use the hotel’s sunbeds.
Booking Rating: 9.1 Location: Elounda Room Size: 40 m² Restaurants: 5
Pros Relatively affordable for the type of room offered, with a kids’ club and pools for little ones.
Cons Low partitions between private pools in rooms, so it feels less “private.”
Booking Rating: 9.0 Location: Agios Nikolaos Room Size: 40 m² Restaurants: 4
Pros Recently renovated, with high-quality chef’s restaurants and excellent food.
Cons Some rooms are yet to be renovated, so it’s wise to confirm before booking. Additionally, there’s no kids’ club or playroom.
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