St Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas 

What's included

Half Board • Breakfast at the Club House • Dinner at Labyrinthos

Upgrade options

Half Board Dine Around • Breakfast at the Club House • 3-course dinner at a choice of à la carte restaurants (drinks not included)
Full Board • Breakfast at the Club House • 3-course lunch at the Blue Bay • Dinner at Labyrinthos (drinks not included)

The Poseidon Spa here is impressive – there’s a thalassotherapy pool tucked into a cave, a private stone suite with its own Jacuzzi, a beauty salon, Turkish steam baths, saunas and several treatment rooms among the facilities. Therapies are by Elemis and Cinque Monde therapists, with anti-ageing, skincare and other programmes on offer, alongside fresh seawater treatments for head-to-toe rejuvenation. You’ll also find a semi-open air gym and a peaceful area for yoga.

There’s a big focus on art and culture at the resort, with a ‘Cretan Museum’ displaying regional crafts, an annual exhibition in summer and an on-site gallery showcasing paintings by famous Greek artists. You’ll also find a number of private excursions available; sail to the mystical Spinalonga Island, visit a local winery or get cultural with a visit to the Minoan Palace of Knossos.

If you’re looking for adrenaline, head out on a banana boat ride, Jet Ski or waterskiing lesson from the watersports centre, or paddle out on a canoe for a calmer amble around the coast.

The hotel has a handful of eco-concious programmes and iniatives including the use of solar panals to provide 15% of their electrical needs and the use of only locally sourced building materials. They exclusively work with local farms and companies to source their produce with seasonal flavours very much a focus throughout the restaurants; some of the produce is even grown at St Nicolas Bay's own organic gardens. They've been awarded the Green Key Award, which rewards the commitment to looking after the environment, and a Blue Flag certification which highlights their focus on the aim to retain the high quality and cleanliness of the beach and seawater.

There's a supervised mini club for ages 4-11 (open 10.30am-1pm and 2.30-6.30pm except Sundays from May to October) where activities like arts and crafts, team games, treasure hunts, puppet show take place. There's an outdoor nature play area and a games room for teens. Kids' under four can use the kids' club facilities but need to be supervised by an adult. But it's more about enjoying time as a family here, with kids' menus and high chairs provided in all restaurants (except Minotaure), a protected sandy cove and shallow waters ideal for little ones, and plenty of interconnecting rooms as well as spacious family suites and villas.

30 minutes drive from Agios Nikolaos is the Crete Golf Club – an 18-hole course.

Minimum stay: 4 nights (7 nights for stays 11 Jul-21 Aug).