Crete Hotels and Accommodation

(Crete, Greece)

One of the leading Greek holiday destinations, Crete is home to a huge number of hotels, which fall into a number of different lodging categories, ranging from deluxe to very basic. Most offer a reasonable standard of accommodation, with air-conditioning to some extent, although ever the most upmarket hotels on Crete may turn the air conditioning off at night.

The cheapest hotels may have shared bathrooms, limited facilities and a restricted supply of hot water, while the most expensive features luxury accommodation with private bathrooms and spectacular sea views, along with hotel restaurants, pools, terrace areas and even beach access.

Where to Stay

For something very different to your typical hotels, Crete does provide some interesting alternative lodging options. These include a number of traditional settlements, where historical buildings of merit have been converted to provide accommodation for tourists.

Small stone cottages are especially popular on Crete and boast lodging complete with traditional kitchens, gardens and lots of character. There are even some mountain refuges on the island, with lodges spread around areas such as Kallergi, Lefka Ori and Mount Psiloritis.

Many hotels are clustered around the centre of Iraklio, the capital of Crete, although these do tend to be a little bland and cater more for the business traveller than tourists. The beach resort of Ammoudara is especially close to Iraklio, being just 2 km / 1.5 miles to the west, and features a good choice of hotels.

Hania's Venetian quarter is brimming with hotels and family-run pensions, with the western end of the harbour in Hania being an especially lively place to stay.

Budget accommodation is especially widespread around the resort of Matala, which is known on Crete for its cliffs with ancient man-made caves.

Matala is even home to a noteworthy camping site. Hotels around the island's resort of Bali are very much geared towards families and couples, being popular with holiday package groups, while Crete tourists who simply wish to lounge around resorts should consider lodging at one of the many hotels around Rethymno.

Crete's other notable holiday resorts and villages with hotels include Agia Galini, Agios Nikolaos, Almyrida, Elounda, Georgioupolis, Kissamos-Kastelli, Kolymbari, Loutro, Margarites, Myrthios, Omalos, Paleohora, Stavros, Vryses, and also Plakias, where an excellent youth hostel resides, with spotless dormitories, Internet access and even its very own volley ball court.