Affordable and best package holiday deals to Crete and the top criteria for booking the right hotel.
If you’ve acquired a taste for it and would like to spend a holiday in Crete but don’t yet know exactly which area is best suited to you personally, you can always start with a cheap package holiday, which is relatively risk-free. Package holidays include both return flights and hotel accommodation. This makes this type of travel booking the easiest and most convenient.
I also started with an affordable package holiday to Crete to get to know the country and its people and to explore the surrounding area of my package holiday destination. This gave me a taste for it and soon afterwards I became a permanent “Cretan”!
Package holidays require the least effort, are available at a good package price and you only need to deal with one contact person.
Package holiday offers to Crete
What should you look out for when booking a package holiday to Crete?
The most important tip is always: price isn’t everything!
Although you can find great deals and compare prices online, which of course saves you a lot of money, there are other things to consider as well.
The rating and number of stars a hotel has is, of course, an important indicator.
How are the rooms or apartments equipped?
Are there sports facilities (tennis, jogging, swimming, etc.) in or near the hotel?
Do you need a pool or would you rather spend a sunny day on the beach by the sea?
Is the hotel suitable for children, families or solo travellers?
Do you want to go on sightseeing tours and what attractions are there in the surrounding area? Can you rent affordable cars, scooters, quad bikes or bicycles in the surrounding area?
Another decision concerns food. All-inclusive is great for those who want to spend their entire holiday by the pool or hotel beach. However, for those who prefer to be out and about, hiking, exploring the island in a hire car or simply spending the whole day on the beach, half board is usually perfectly adequate. After all, you won’t be at the hotel for most of the day.
And for those who prefer to visit local taverns, restaurants and bars in the evening to meet people, breakfast at the hotel is enough.
All in all, there are a lot of things to consider when booking the right package holiday to ensure that your holiday in Crete is a truly wonderful experience.
Which hotel in Crete is the right one?
The hotels in Crete are listed according to their popularity with guests. This is a good guide for those who don’t yet know their favourite place on this beautiful island.
Of course, there are also complete package holiday deals including flights, transfers and hotels.
However, if you are only looking for a hotel, you should also consider a cheap flight and transfer (either by your own hire car, taxi or bus).
So much choice – now what?
Hotels of all categories, apartments, guesthouses and guest rooms can be found practically all over Crete.
When choosing a hotel, it is not only the rating and price that play a role, but also whether you are travelling as a couple, as a family with children or as a single person.
Your interests should also be taken into account. Would you rather spend the day at the hotel by the pool, on the beach or specifically on a sandy beach – or would you prefer to explore the many sights and archaeological sites on Crete, go swimming or do other water sports?
There are also numerous opportunities for hiking (but please not in the extremely hot summer months of July and August) or for travelling around by bicycle, convertible or off-road vehicle or quad bike.
Excursions to offshore islands (Chrissi off Ierapetra) or nearby island groups (e.g. Santorini by speedboat from Heraklion) can also be easily done in a day from some locations.
Good transport links, a central location, plenty of shopping opportunities and sights are offered by Heraklion, for example, even if the character of a large Greek city is not to everyone’s taste.
Good opportunities for daily swimming and other water sports from May to October are offered by sheltered bays, such as in Elounda.
For active nightlife and lots of entertainment options, including for children, the entire coastal area from Malia to Iraklion is ideal.
The hottest place in summer is on the south coast around Ierapetra.
Hiking is best done in higher mountain regions where it is not so hot, such as on the Lasithi Plateau.
Those who prefer a quieter atmosphere with less tourism should visit more remote places such as Sitia or Zakros in the east of Crete.
There is also plenty to see, along with many German-speaking tourists, in and around Chania and Rethymno.
The top 10 criteria for booking the right hotel
In our modern age, many travellers are also much more experienced flyers than in the past. Thanks to today’s low-cost airlines, many of us can finally afford comfortable and longer trips at affordable prices.
But choosing the right hotel for our trips is not always so easy. There are many things to consider, and our decisions are usually based on factors such as travel budget, style, needs, location and more.
And just when you thought you had booked the perfect hotel that met your criteria, you realise that it doesn’t even come close to meeting your expectations – and you wish you had done more research beforehand!
That’s why we’ve put together a list of the ten most important things to consider when booking a hotel:
The exact location of the hotel
Unfortunately, many travellers have stayed in poorly located hotels where it was almost impossible to walk anywhere. Many also find themselves in hotels that are far from the town or city centre.
This wastes a lot of valuable holiday time just commuting every day. That’s why you should always check the exact location of your chosen hotel.
Although most hotel booking sites have very brief descriptions of the hotel’s location, many of them offer an online map for easy verification of the exact location.
Therefore, the exact location of the hotel should be checked before making a booking. This way, less money will be spent on daily travel, whether by taxi, hire car or bus – and less time spent on the road.
Internet connection
Many people today need the internet like they need air to breathe. If they don’t have constant online access, they feel restless and nervous! It’s pretty much the only thing they can’t go a single day without.
If the connection keeps dropping, it can be very frustrating when the internet is extremely important to you.
Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi, but some charge a small fee. There are also some that allow access for a limited number of devices. There are also hotels where you can only use one Wi-Fi code per device. This can be a problem if there is more than one person in the hotel room, or if you have a laptop or notepad with you in addition to your mobile phone.
So if the internet is very important to you, be sure to ask the hotel about their policy before making a reservation.
Hotel breakfast included
It is advisable to book hotels that offer free breakfast. This convenience is usually worth the money and also helps you avoid paying extra for breakfast elsewhere.
In some hotels, breakfast can be excluded for a cheaper room rate. But if the room with free breakfast is slightly cheaper than the one without, why not choose the room that conveniently fills your empty stomach in the morning for a few quid?
After all, it can be much more expensive and time-consuming to have breakfast in a café outside the hotel.
Hotel reviews only on trustworthy review sites
Although you shouldn’t always trust everything you find on the internet, most people find themselves browsing hotel reviews on sites such as travel blogs – simply to read what others have to say about the hotel they stayed in.
The reviews are always helpful, even if they are not always accurate. There will always be a few dissatisfied travellers who leave angry reviews just because they are difficult and fussy. They can portray a hotel as the worst place in the world, even though its quality is not that bad.
Unfortunately, there are always people who expect a 2-star hotel to offer what they would only find in a 4-star hotel!
But it is precisely on such websites that travellers will find useful resources such as information about bike rentals, tours and so on. Sometimes it is also possible to start a chat thread and ask others about a particular hotel you want to know more about. It is much easier to get answers to your questions today than it used to be.
Hotel toiletries and facilities
It can be a problem if you don’t know in advance that a hotel does not provide toothpaste. For some activities, it is also more convenient to have at least one table in the room, and such details are not usually mentioned on the booking pages.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to contact the hotel in advance to find out what to expect. Don’t be afraid to ask about breakfast, toiletries, facilities and services. That way, you’ll have fewer surprises.
At Booking.com, you can filter hotels by star rating, price, popularity and amenities, which makes it easier to compare hotels.
Hotel type
This is very important for most people. For solo travellers, it’s not usually such a big issue, but if you’re travelling with friends and family, it’s definitely something to think about.
If you are travelling with children, you should always find out about the hotel’s family-friendly policies. Nowadays, there are also many special offers for families. If you find one, don’t miss out!
Families travelling together usually avoid cheap hotels. They always want the best for their family holiday. Who wouldn’t?
Fortunately, Booking.com also has great deals for families.
Size of the hotel room
It is striking that many guests complain about room size on review sites. However, the size of the hotel room should not be the most important factor when choosing a hotel; rather, it is an extra that makes a difference to the travel experience.
Whether it’s a budget or a 4-star hotel, the size of a hotel room must be taken into account.
A hotel should also be comfortable. If it’s not even comfortable, it shouldn’t be called a hotel!
Always set priorities for what is important to you and don’t compromise on that.
Room type
Different people have different preferences and needs. When checking in, you may be asked at reception whether you would like a smoking room. In other hotels, however, you will be informed that smoking is not permitted in the room, as all available rooms are non-smoking.
If you are a non-smoker, you do not need a smoking-friendly room. In this case, it is better to get a non-smoking room so that you do not have to put up with the smell of someone else’s smoke.
Special needs
Some travellers have special needs when it comes to hotels. For example, if you are travelling with a pet, you will need to find a pet-friendly hotel. Or if you have a physical disability, you will need a hotel that has a lift and a raised toilet seat.
Safety is always important when travelling, so when choosing a hotel, you should pay attention to all the facilities you need.
The good news is that you can find many hotels that offer the necessary facilities – even for corporate events and conferences.
Discounts or loyalty rewards
Most people love discounts – and you probably do too! When booking a hotel, you should always look for the best possible savings. Sometimes holidaymakers only stay at a certain hotel to take advantage of the discounts offered there.
Loyalty cards are also great when travelling. Using hotel vouchers is also a good idea. However, restrictions on their use should be noted.
Do you agree with these 10 criteria?
At the end of the day, it’s important to be clear about what you expect from your holiday. If you first align your needs and expectations, you can look forward to the best hotel stay!
