Crete is a fantastic destination for a family holiday.
In May we visited Elounda Residence Hotel and Water Park and we had an amazing time. The hotel had lots to offer from a water park, kids club, football and basketball area, mini golf, table tennis, air hockey and pool tables to name a few. The food was wonderful and they really catered for everyone. The kids loved the buffet and there was always a great hot and cold selection of food.
The water park had a variety of slides and attractions suitable for all ages, including thrill-seekers and families looking for a more relaxed experience. The main pool area had a large swimming pool with plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas for guests to relax and enjoy the sun.
The hotel itself was well-maintained, with spacious rooms and beautiful views of the surrounding area. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the hotel had a range of facilities including a restaurant, bar, and spa.
You can hire a car and book trips from the hotel through Elounda Happy Travel they offered great prices and really great customer service, we did hire car seats from them for our younger children and they were in great condition. If you hire one of their cars the child car seats are free.
Overall, our stay at the water park hotel in Elounda was fantastic and we would highly recommend it to families looking for a fun and relaxing holiday on the beautiful island of Crete.
We enjoyed exploring the local area, visiting nearby beaches. You can take a boat trip to the island of Spinalonga, which has a fascinating history.
Elounda has a wonderful ice cream shop called @Veranocafe which is next door to a lovely bar called Eden, this is really kid friendly the garden area is lovely and they have free pool, Elounda beach has a good playground next to it so they boys loved enjoying some time splashing in the ocean playing in the sand and venturing over to the playground. this is all walking distance from the hotel (roughly 15 mins) just be mindfull its an uphill walk on the way back but you can also get the bus from the hotel.
We hired a car so we had the flexibility to go and explore more of Elounda surrounding area. We took BubbleBum car seats with us (I would recommend these for older children that are above 130cm) they were great to have as a back up as we haven’t always had great experiences with car seats on our travels
Plaka was one of my favourite places, its around a 10 minute drive from Elounda and has a pebble beach. It makes a perfect spot for swimming and snorkeling. (Take water shoes as sea urchins are extremely common in clear waters as my husband found out the hard way) The picturesque village itself is filled with charming shops, traditional tavernas, and stunning views of the surrounding mountains and sea. I loved exploring the narrow streets and discovering hidden gems tucked away in this peaceful little village.
Another day out in Crete that is well worth a visit is the Dinosauria Park in Gournes Gouvon, which is about 10 minutes from Heraklion airport and 45 minutes from @elounda.residence
This is a really fun, interactive day out with over 50 different species of Dinosaur to see. The park includes a science exhibition which was a huge hit and the boys spent ages in there! Other activities include VR, a planetarium, a dinosaur hospital AND excavation sites.
There is also a play area and a 5D cinema. I would recommend getting the gold pass for the full experience as you can spend the whole day here. However if you have kids under 4, opt for the cheaper ticket that doesn’t include the VR and 5D cinema (you can still buy separately inside if you wish)
It has an on-site restaurant which serves very reasonably priced food that was really nice and all the boys tucked in, attached to this was the shop which had lots of great educational toys as well as fun ones!
Near the restaurant and the play area there are some other great games the kids can play why you sit and enjoy your iced coffee. All of the staff are super helpful and spoke very good English as well.
I’d recommend a minimum of 4 hours to try and see it all, and it’s well worth the trip.
Overall, our family holiday in Crete was a great success and we would highly recommend Elounda Residence Hotel and Water Park to anyone looking for a fun and relaxing holiday in a beautiful setting. We can’t wait to go back again!
