I must admit that I have been so excited to share these photos with you all! Coming back from Greece, I feel so happy looking back at all these amazing snapshots and reliving the memories.
Crete was one of my favorite stops during my European vacation. It is the biggest Island in Greece (one of the biggest in the Mediterranean too). I can only wish that I can be back there again and explore this island further. There is so much to see!
Since my getaway, I recognize the top sights that one must see upon encountering this enthralling island.
I stayed in the most amazing hotel. According to the locals, it is the best resort in all of Greece, and one of the best in the world. I arrived in the resort at night, after driving an hour away from the city of Heraklion. I had mixed feelings when driving during the night time. It was fun because the road was clear of traffic and there didn’t seem to be a speed limit but scary due to how pitch black the highways were. The moonlight was the only thing that really made me safe since its light was so bright and beautiful when reflecting off the ocean surface. Immediately beside the winding road towards the hotel is the ocean. From experience, it is much safer to drive by the sea in the daylight. Approaching the resort, I was greeted by an array of lights from the road. At first I thought it was a small town by the sea. Little did I know all the lights were coming from a prominent resort town by the cove of the Mediterranean called Daios Cove.
It is a new luxury resort in Crete that features an all-suite amenity with views of the Mediterranean Sea in every single room. The entire property was ultra-chic and modern. Upon driving inside their secure, gated property, I was greeted by their friendly guest relations stationed by the driveway. Her demeanor assured me they receive guests at all hours day and night from all over the world. I arrived at half past midnight as I chose to have dinner in the city of Heraklion before driving over to Daios Cove.
Crete is a bustling island offering the best of city life and stunning seaside beauty. You shouldn’t expect anything less when it comes to the views that is guaranteed to wow any traveler. There is truly something about the Mediterranean that left me wanting for more.
One of the locals I met told me that the citizens in Crete are in love with life! They are happy, simple & passionate people who love to eat, drink & get together whenever they can, whatever season it may be in their lives. They are proud of their rich history and enamoring culture and it shows in their confident way of relating with others who are travelers like me.
Top Places to See in Crete, Greece:
1. You must stay in Daios Cove. I think the photos speak for themselves. It is simply the best resort in the island. Treat yourself to an experience you will never forget. The resort is safe, have world class amenities, great for families, and have a breathtaking view from many angles. The entirety is a work of art. I heard royalties from other countries stay here whenever they visit Crete. I am so impressed with the visionaries and architects that made this place possible. It is amazing how much talent we are blessed in this world.
2. Elounda is a picturesque and charming seaside town popular with honeymooners and Hollywood A-listers. The drive to Elounda is magnificent. You are greeted by views of the Mediterranean all around. There are a lot of small boutique hotels by the coast. Plenty of water activities to do around the area and watersports available include windsurfing, catamaran, waterskiing, paddle boarding, parasailing, jet skiing, snorkeling & cruise sailing. You name it, they’ve got it.
3. Agnos Nikolaos is another popular town by the sea frequented by travelers. It is filled with local restaurants and boutiques that cater to locals and tourists alike. Crete is where a lot of Greek sandals are manufactured and the smell of leather is common when you visit the town. The quality if their leather is phenomenal. I made sure to get some Greek sandals in every color to bring back with me to Los Angeles as I noticed the excellent quality and its comfort is exceptional. Great place to eat some gyros too in their local taverns.
4. Heraklion is the center of industry and the main city in Crete. This is the most bustling city in the area. The main port of the island, as well as their airport is here. From here, travelers can rent a car and move forward to their other destinations in the island. The island is huge. Unless you plan on staying in your hotel, you would need a car rental. A word of advice, plan your transfers well. Although the port seemed pretty functional, make sure to inspect your car rental before officially accepting it. I found a couple of travelers having trouble starting their car rental and they had to push it out of their parking spot so they can get it jump started. That’s not a great way to start your visit in Crete. Depending on the season, the airport could also prove to be crowded and disorganized. Keep your belongings close and within reach always.
5. Crete is also known to be a playground of the stories of Greek Mythology. Do your research about the places you would like to visit as Crete is a big place and although there are many tourist sites, it could be really far from each other. I originally thought I can drive all around the island. I quickly removed that idea once I realized just how large Crete is. Locals recommended me to stay for at least a week if I wanted to do a road trip around the island.
Make sure to spend some relaxing moments as breathtaking views of the Mediterranean are very therapeutic. I discovered that some locals prefer Crete to be more popularly called a Mediterranean Island than a Greek Island as the people here feel that they are far bigger & more advanced in so many ways compared to their neighboring Greek Islands. While the other islands often need Athens or Crete, to survive, Crete, they say, has everything! There really is no other way to know a foreign place than by talking to their locals. Don’t be shy and mingle with people!
I was happy to experience Crete the way I did. In a few words, Crete is a modern, chic, industrial island with rustic charms of their deep ancient history where proud people have so greatly preserved as one can see in their surroundings and cultural heritage.
Crete will make you want to travel the Mediterranean. It is magnificently and overwhelmingly fascinating.
Special thanks to Julia Alexopoulou from Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas for the wonderful stay at Daios Cove.