This multi-award-winning hotel has met Travel Seen’s discerning criteria for a number of reasons. All-inclusive board which goes beyond expectations; a Blue Flag awarded beach; swim-up accommodation; and excellent facilities for kids are just the start.
Set on the Cretan Riviera near to Rethymno, this sprawling resort offers something for everyone, with 264 accommodations, multiple swimming pools, a wellness centre, kids club and seven different restaurants. Designed to showcase the blues of the Greek sea and sky, the hotel is contemporary with open spaces that are home to white furnishing, plenty of sparkling glass and dotted with palms and cacti.
New at the Grecotel White Palace are a large seawater swimming pool and lounge area, and swim-up accommodation. For families there is a kids club, activities for teens, equipment waiting in-room for babies and free kids dining in all of the hotel’s a la carte restaurants. Adults can chill in the hammam after a treatment at the spa or learn some new skills at an aerial yoga class. Oh and how could we forget to mention the Pâtisserie + Chocolaterie and the Creperie-Gelateria?
Grecotel White Palace is a dreamy resort for an all-inclusive Crete beach holiday where you can simply ‘fly and flop’.
Gallery
Stay
There are a total of 264 different accommodations at this Lux Me resort. All have a view of the garden or sea and as standard come with: at least a balcony or terrace; a bathrobe, slippers, luxury toiletries and a hairdryer; air conditioning; tea and coffee making facilities; and a daily stocked mini-bar at no extra charge.
All of the accommodation is set across various different wings of the resort. Entry level is the Double Guestroom with Garden View. New for 2021 was the Swim Up Double Guestroom Garden View which has a shared pool, of which there is also a family-friendly version. Family apartments and suites are a great option for guests travelling with children. Or there are selected “Yali” suites and villas with direct beach access, their own pool and ample space for groups.
Eat
Guests enjoy the ‘Lux All-In Living’ during their stay: all-inclusive breakfast, lunch and dinner options across six restaurants; a patisserie, chocolaterie and snacks at set times; and unlimited drinks with a range of premium brands, wines, cocktails and juices.
Highlights include the restaurants along the promenade on the beachfront where roller-skating servers scoot up and down with trays of cocktails and live DJs keep the party vibe going after dark. There’s an incredible line-up of buffet options at Ventanas il Mar with its cooking stations, Cretan corner and themed evenings. Or how about the a la carte Italian fare at Fico D’India, which boasts an all-day espresso bar.
Guests over the age of 12 can sample the fine dining on the menu at The White which arguably has the hotel’s best sunset view. Or for younger ones there are mini-buffets around the hotel which offer a range of snacks and treats for kids who love to graze all day long.
Explore
The Grecotel White Palace is located on the Cretan Riviera on the north of the island. It is 75km from both Heraklion and Chania airports, so takes around an hour to get to the hotel.
This Lux Me Resort is just over 8km from Rethymnon, the third largest town on Crete with its picturesque harbour and old town. Grecotel has a waterpark nearby, as well as its own farm and mini-zoo where there’s a menu of traditional Cretan cuisine using ingredients grown on site.
Seeking something more active? The concierge team can book transfers and slots for horse riding, golf and mountain biking which are all within a short distance of the hotel.
Why here?
Take a dip – there’s a whopping 21 pools at the resort, among which are: a new seawater pool that’s heated in cooler months; a family activity pool; four new sharing seawater pools which are for designated rooms; and 11 private pools across the Yali Suites collection. At the 1,000m of Blue Flag sand and pebble beach are sunbeds and umbrellas, as well as an adult-only area.
Chill out – the resort’s Hippie Wellness Centre is a spa facility with treatments available alongside a relaxation area, hammam, beauty salon and nail bar.
Work up a sweat – there is a fitness studio with equipment and a schedule of classes. Other sports include water polo and table tennis. There is an additional charge for watersports such as water skiing and scuba diving.
Greatest show – expect a busy schedule of live entertainment ranging from kids parties to live music performances.
Little VIPs – facilities for younger guests are exceptional. There is Grecobaby for under threes (equipment and baby food which can all be pre-ordered); Grecoland Kids Club for four to 12-year-olds; Grecoteens Activities; Kids Summer Camp Activities; and child-friendly menus and buffets in selected restaurants.
Our take
With its Blue Flag status the beach at this resort is of exceptional quality. And the main reason the water here is so clear is due to the posidonia fields just a few miles from its shores. This incredible sea grass, which is endemic to the Med, can soak up 15 times more CO2 every year than Amazonian rainforest of the same size!
A great activity for kids where they’ll be learning – without even knowing they are – is Junior Farmers at Grecotel’s Agreco Farm. Six to 12-year-olds can take part in farming activities including picking fruit and veg and making their own Cretan lunch from scratch.
