There is a plethora of baby and toddler friendly accommodation ranging from a luxury hotels to guest houses, single apartments which you can rent directly from an owner to more sophisticated aparthotels. The latter usually have cooking facilities in the rooms/suites, a small restaurant (breakfast often included) and bar, laundry facilities, a swimming pool and free WiFi.
Aparthotel Suites Pandora, Chania Town €€€€€
The Aparthotel Suites Pandora offer a rooftop terrace with magnificent views over the Medieval Port and the Lighthouse and are located in the centre of Old Town Chania. Suites Pandora offers spacious family rooms with kitchenettes with dining area and marble bathrooms. Some rooms have balconies, while most enjoy views of the garden or the sea from their windows. The centrally located Suites Pandora is within walking distance of shops and restaurants. A car rental service is provided by the hotel. There is no pool but if you are travelling around the island, this hotel is ideal for a few nights and the beach in Chania Town is sandy and perfect for babies and toddlers. Be aware that if you are staying in a two storey suite, there are some open stairs in the living area. If you have a busy toddler, request a suite without stairs.
Doge Traditional Hotel, Chania Town €€€
The15th-century, Venetian-style Doge Hotel is close to the Venetian Harbour. It features free Wi-Fi and self-catered, air-conditioned rooms with traditional wrought iron or dark wood furnishings. All rooms are equipped with LCD satellite TV and kitchenettes include fridge and coffee-making facilities. Some units of Traditional Doge Hotel offer a dining area. Breakfast is served in the guest rooms or in the hotel’s café with views of the scenic, cobbled street and old market. There is an on-site gift shop with handcrafted souvenirs and jewellery. The hotel offers information about famous Samaria Gorge. Traditional Cretan restaurants, museums and bars are within a 5-minute walk from Doge Traditional Hotel. Chania Airport is 17 km away, while Souda Port is at 7 km. The hotel is family friendly and provides cots. There is no pool however, this is a great spot to stop for a night or two if you are travelling around the island.
Palm Beach Hotel & Apartments, Rethymno €€€
Located right above the sandy beach of Rethymno, Palm Beach Hotel & Apartments feature a modern, sea-view restaurant and a bar. It offers accommodation with free Wi-Fi and a private balcony overlooking the Cretan Sea or the garden. Tastefully decorated with light-wooden furnishings and soft colours, the air-conditioned units of Palm Beach have a fridge and a coffee machine. Each is equipped with a safe and an LCD TV with satellite channels. The hotel offers a buffet breakfast with local specialties served at the dining area. There is no pool but the hotel is located beach front. Family rooms are available and cots are available on request.
Elounda Beach Hotel, Elounda €€€€€
Located on the northeast coast of Crete, the seafront Elounda Beach Hotel features 5 tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts and a spa centre with gym, hammam and steam bath. Hotel facilities also include a variety of restaurants serving international and Mediterranean cuisine, and 4 bars. Free WiFi access is provided throughout. The luxurious rooms, suites and bungalows of Elounda Beach offer views over the lush gardens or the Mirabello Bay. Each comes equipped with air conditioning, safe and a flat-screen TV with DVD player. Breakfast buffet is included. There is also a Spa, which includes a medical, a hydro biontology, an aesthetic and a wellness department. There are play areas and facilities for toddlers, babysitting services are available for an additional fee and cots and other baby essentials such as baby baths are available on request.
Domes of Elounda, Elounda €€€€€ TOP PICK
The Domes of Elounda is an all-suite boutique hotel offers everything on a parent’s wish list from stylish interiors, stunning views, cool bars, great food and a luxurious spa as well as an exceptionally family-friendly approach with a well-run creche and kids club, teen games room, handy baby gear supplies and a choice of baby-sitting or in-room dining with butler service. The hotel offers a range of accommodation options to suit various budgets from spacious suites to luxury villas with private pools. All rooms come with luxurious Coco-mat mattresses, pillow menus, sophisticated toiletries, two person jacuzzi baths and private hot tubs or pools as standard. The hotel’s staff are warm and friendly and frequently seen zipping along in golf buggies transporting guests from their suites and villas to the hotel’s stretch of sandy beach, bars and restaurants. The British run creche and kids club is well equipped, carefully maintained and well staffed by trained carers who fast become favourites with mini guests, allowing parents time to lounge on a cushioned sunbed and read a book, or enjoy a drink or two in one of the hotel’s two bars. Babysitting is also available and a romantic dinner on the pier restaurant makes for a very welcome injection of romance and glamour for parents of little ones.
Porto Elounda Golf & Spa Resort, Elounda €€€€€ TOP PICK
The Porto Elounda Hotel is a seaside paradise which offers breathtaking views of the bay with its turquoise waters. The interiors have received a stunning make-over, with interconnecting rooms for families. The Kids Ark and crèche (for babies aged 4 months and over) is arranged as an animal-themed park, with indoor and outdoor play areas, and 2 supervised shallow pools. There’s circus acting, mask making, cookie baking and treasure hunts, as well unique activities like mini Olympic games and growing tomatoes in the garden.The pool is conveniently sited next to the sandy beach, meaning that your children will always be safely in sight, and the calm, sheltered bay is ideal for children. There is a fantastic choice of restaurants and in the evening you can relax and enjoy cocktails and piano music. The Porto Elounda Golf & Spa Resort boasts rooms with comfortable furnishings and an excellent range of facilities. Suites accommodate any family and are available with a private or shared pool. The spa offers holistic treatments and therapies that provide healing, rejuvenation and inner peace, all in luxurious surroundings. Elounda town is in easy reach, more restaurants, bars and historical sites.
Minos Beach Art Hotel, Agios Nikolaos €€€€€
Boasting a stunning location beside the water’s edge, Minos Beach Art Hotel features an art gallery and an excellent health and beauty centre, along with complimentary breakfast and parking. The hotel offers both luxurious villas, suites and rooms. Toddler will enjoy the hotel’s pool, gardens and play area and games room. From the beach you can swim around the picturesque coastline surrounding the resort and join in with the water sport activities, including canoeing and diving. Enjoy some pampering treatments at Minos Beach Art’s health and wellness centre or admire the stunning works of art that adorn the hotel’s grounds. After working up an appetite, savour the delicious haute cuisine and seafood delicacies on offer at the waterfront restaurant. A regular bus service from Minos Beach Art’s entrance takes you directly to Elounda Village and Agios Nikolaos. Babysitting is available on request.
Meli Palace, 2 km from Sissi Village €€€€€ TOP PICK
Situated on a private, sandy beach the all-inclusive Grecotel Meli Palace features 2 restaurants, 2 tennis courts and a pool. The elegant rooms have furnished balconies overlooking the Cretan Sea or the gardens.The Meli Palace is a very baby friendly resort which offers airy family rooms, paddling pools, a playground and a fantastic sandy beach. The resort shop stocks international brands of baby food. Our staff is happy to lend a hand with warming baby bottles or baby food. The new GrecoBaby offers baby equipment rental including: cots; high chairs; buggies; trainer steps (free of charge). Potties; changing mats; training seats; bottle warmers; baby bathtubs; bouncy chairs; listening devices (for rent – nominal charge) (Requests for GrecoBaby equipment should be made directly to the hotel prior to arrival). For kids aged 3 and over, Greco Kids Club is open 6 days a week where little ones can enjoy arts & crafts, water activities, team games, theme events, environmental days, beach treasure hunts, cookery & gardening fun. There are also kids clubs for older children. Babysitting services are also available at an extra charge.
