Family Resorts on the Island of Crete, Greece

The scenic island of Crete is a perfect place for a family vacation. From 2200 to 1450 B.C., Crete was settled by the Minoans and flourished as the earliest civilization in the Aegean Sea. Families can explore the great Minoan palace of Knossos, where Theseus killed the Minotaur in the Labyrinth, and wander through the Diktean Cave, full of pools, stalactites and stalagmites, where the baby Zeus was hidden from the wrath of his father, Cronus. After a day of exploring, relax at a family resort and lounge on the white sand beaches, snorkel or swim in the sparkling Aegean, or sail around the rocky inlets.

Club Marine Palace

Designed with families in mind, the all-inclusive Club Marine Palace is built like a Cretan village, with lemon, orange and vanilla bungalows on winding paths between the Aegean and the four large outdoor swimming pools. In addition to the beach and pools, the resort contains an aqua park with water slides and fountains; an underwater diving school; a water sports center with canoes, paddle boats, windsurfing and Jet Skis; three tennis courts; water and step aerobics; and mountain bike delivery to the hotel. A kids' club is available daily, and baby-sitting can be arranged by request. The hotel has won awards for environmental excellence and for Best Organic Restaurant in the World 2009 by UK Vanity Fair magazine.

Club Marine Palace
GR 74 057 Panormo
Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
011 (+30) 28340 51 610
grecotel.com/crete/club-marine-palace/welcome_39.htm

Porto Elounda Deluxe Resort

Porto Elounda is a kid-friendly resort located on southern Crete's azure coast. For children, a separate building surrounded by olive groves and two shallow pools, called the Children's Ark, offers cooking and drawing classes as well as structured games and a playground. In addition to relaxing on the sandy beach, you can unwind in the Six Senses Spa and experience an authentic Turkish haman, with treatments inspired by centuries of tradition. Besides swimming, the resort offers water skis, Jet Skis, diving, windsurfing, laser sailing and para-sailing, paddle boats and canoes.

Porto Elounda Deluxe Resort
72053 Elounda 
Crete, Greece
011 (+30) 28410 68 000
portoelounda.com/v4/html/Accommodation.htm

Creta Maris Convention and Golf Resort

Located along a long sandy beach with crystal-clear water near the fishing village of Hersonnisos, the Creta Maris resort caters to families. The Asterias Children's Club, a new facility designed especially for children, contains a large playground, art room, movie theater and, for older children, a computer zone with games and Internet access. For adults, the Thalasso Spa specializes in seawater therapies for relaxation, detoxication and fat loss. For golfers, try the scenic 18-hole golf course, the oldest in Crete.

Creta Maris Convention and Golf Resort
Hersonissos, 70014
Crete, Greece
011 (+30) 28970 27 110
maris.gr/homepage.aspx

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Article Written By Veronica Summers

Veronica Summers is an Internet pioneer, creating websites for Fortune 500 companies since 1994. In over 15 years of writing for the Web, she has received awards for explaining complex topics in an easy-to-read manner. Summers holds a Bachelor of Science in technical writing from Carnegie Mellon University. She writes computer- and travel-related articles online.

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