Top Hotels in Greece

Top hotels in Greece — chosen in person

I grew up on Crete and worked these resorts as a Thomas Cook rep before joining GoToBeach, so I take an unromantic view of Greek hotels. One that photographs beautifully and one that runs beautifully are different things, and you learn which by standing in the breakfast room at nine.

So the rule here is simple: nothing appears that one of us has not stayed in. Every hotel is scored against our 22-point criteria, and every flight-inclusive package carries ATOL protection under licence 11211.

Eleni Trachalakis · Greece Operations Manager · Caria Holidays Ltd · ATOL 11211

How we choose

How we pick a top hotel in Greece

We sell three Greek islands properly — Crete, Kos and Rhodes — and would rather know three well than claim twenty. A hotel earns its place on four things: whether the food holds up on a Tuesday in low season as well as a Saturday in August; whether the beach in front is usable or merely nearby; whether the staff have lasted more than one summer; and whether it is honest about what it is.

The list

The hotels we recommend

Eight, by the week they suit.

Crete · All-inclusive · FamiliesCreta Maris Resort
The hotel that defines the resort of Hersonissos for our families: low, village-style, through gardens onto the beach, big enough never to feel crammed.
Crete · Ultra all-inclusiveLyttos Beach
The sports-and-space option on the coast near Heraklion coast, with one of the more generous inclusive boards on Crete.
Crete · All-inclusive · NewerLyttos Mare Hotel
Its smarter sister: the same reliability in a more contemporary building, and a frequent best seller.
Crete · Half board · Adults-onlyIkaros Beach Resort & Spa
Grown-up, quiet and beautifully kept, on a half board that assumes you will eat out. One for couples, and for our adults-only hotel selection.
Crete · Half board · ClassicKnossos Beach
Bungalows in gardens on the shore at Kokkini Hani, close enough to Heraklion for the museum. People return here for years.
Kos · All-inclusive · FamiliesCanvas by Mitsis Family Village
Exactly what the name promises, in the resort of Kardamena. Kos has short transfers and flat roads, which counts for more than a star rating.
Kos · All-inclusive · SuitesKipriotis Maris Suites
On the Psalidi shore outside Kos town, so you can walk or cycle in for dinner. Suites rather than rooms, good for longer stays.
Rhodes · Ultra all-inclusiveAkti Imperial Deluxe Resort & Spa
The largest inclusive resort we sell on the island of Rhodes, minutes from the medieval old town. Good when nobody in the group wants the same thing.

Further south on Rhodes, Lindos Royal Resort is the quieter all-inclusive; on Crete, Abaton Island Resort & Spa is the design-led pick from our selected luxury list.

The islands

Where exactly to stay

the island of Crete is the one for variety — mountains, gorges, a Venetian harbour at Chania, proper food. the island of Kos is flat, small and easy, the gentlest choice with young children or a hire bike. Rhodes gives you the best old town in the Aegean and a long season.

To start from the type of week rather than the island, our child-friendly hotel selection and our spa hotel selection both draw heavily on Greece. Everything sits in the Greece holiday programme.

Practical

What to know before booking

Board basis is not standard here. Greek hotels run all-inclusive, half board and bed and breakfast in roughly equal measure, and half board is often the better deal.
Flights and transfers. Heraklion, Kos and Rhodes all take direct UK flights in season, and your airport transfer is included.
The shoulder months are the secret. Late May, June, September and early October give warm sea, open tavernas and fewer people.
Beaches vary within a mile. Sand at one end of a bay and shingle at the other is normal — ask before you assume, especially with a toddler.
Entry and cover. Greek entry rules and passport validity requirements are revised periodically, so read the official guidance shortly before departure and hold suitable travel insurance as well as a UK GHIC.

Your money: a package including flights is protected under ATOL licence 11211, and the certificate lists every covered element. A hotel booked alone is not, and we say which applies before you pay — see how your booking is protected.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Why only Crete, Kos and Rhodes?

Because those are the islands we operate on and visit every season. I could add names from a supplier's list, but I would not have stood in the lobby.

Which island suits families best?

Kos, on balance: flat, compact, short transfers, which matters with small children. Crete is better once children can walk a gorge and eat a late dinner; Rhodes sits between.

Is all-inclusive the right choice in Greece?

Not always. Greek food is a reason to come, and half board frees you for dinners out. Choose all-inclusive when the resort is away from a village, or you want a fixed family budget.

When is the best time to go?

June and September are the sweet spots — warm sea, comfortable heat, everything open. July and August are hot and busy; May and October suit walking, with a bracing sea.

Do we need a hire car?

On Crete, for a couple of days at least — the interior is the best part and buses will not take you there. On Kos a bicycle does; on Rhodes it depends where you stay.