Family holiday in Crete
We flew into Heraklion airport and then transferred to our self-catering villa at Galaxy Villas, Koutouloufari near Hersonissos for seven nights. Since having a family, we normally go to a resort with plenty to do; but this time we decided on a quiet complex offering self-catering villas to have a relaxing week away. We had a family villa which had four sea view balconies. My two boys loved it, eating their freshly baked croissants from the bakery opposite every morning looking out to sea. The boys also decided that this was not going to be a relaxing holiday, we are going to do as much as possible, and we did.
No trip to Crete is complete without a visit to Knossos. This ancient palace was the seat of King Minos and legend has it that the Minotaur roamed in the labyrinth beneath. Knossos is spectacular, especially if you like your history. A couple of tips – take water with you as it is very hot and dry, also if you are planning to visit the Irakleio Archaeological museum pay the extra one euro to visit both on the same ticket.
Our excursion to Knossos also included a visit to Diktaean Cave, said to be the birthplace of Zeus. What an amazing place! Flat, comfortable shoes and water are a must, as the entrance is up a long path. Do look for the vultures flying overhead; we spotted two, circling above.
We also visited Heraklion, a very beautiful city and worth a visit. We only had a short time here but could have stayed all day. We visited the Venetian fortress, the Morosini fountain and sat in one of the many outdoor cafes for a well-deserved drink. There are lots of beautiful gift shops here. We took the boys to the Hansel and Gretel sweet shop; it is worth just seeing it, but we had to try a little something and had Chimney cake – yes it was in the shape of a chimney.
Crete Aquarium is situated just on the outskirts of Heraklion and if you love sharks and sea creatures it is worth a visit. This was on our list before we arrived in Crete as my youngest adores sharks. It is also ideal if you would like to get out of the sun for a while and it is lovely and cool inside. The aquarium is very good and probably takes about an hour to get around. It took us about 2 hours as we didn’t move from one spot for about an hour just watching the sharks. There is a bus stop nearby, maybe about 10 – 15-minute walk away, but we opted for a taxi.
One day we took a stroll down to Hersonissos where there is a beautiful harbour offering lots of different boat trips. The harbour is surrounded by lovely bars and restaurants overlooking the sea. Also situated nearby are lots of beaches. We found a quiet cove with a sandy beach and warm shallow waters. The sea is so clear you can see the fish in the sea. This is an ideal place for snorkelling and diving.
Koutouloufari, where we stayed, is a beautiful village uphill from the sea. There are plenty of shops and restaurants with a wide choice of food and the people are so friendly, going out of their way to ensure we were having a lovely time.
We did have a few days by the pool, swimming and playing with a giant inflatable shark, which the children named Steve. The staff at the complex couldn’t do enough for us. They served lunch by the pool side and the hospitality that we received ensured that we were looked after at all times.
Would I recommend Crete? Yes, absolutely, it is a destination that is great for families, couples and groups of friends as it has something for everyone.