In her search for that perfect all-inclusive family holiday Katie Amps recently spent a week at Grecotel LUXME White Palace in Crete LAID BACK AND LUXE
A re you looking for the ultimate all-inclusive Crete holiday that blends family fun, luxury, and – dare I say it – peace? Look no further than enchanting Grecotel LUXME White Palace, where our recent stay was nothing short of extraordinary. Situated halfway between Heraklion and Chania, and an easy one-hour drive from either airport, White Palace nestles on Crete’s northwest coast, and is designed across five buildings, bound by fragrant garden paths, and a few brightly coloured hippos. All rooms come with Nespresso machines, cool tiled
Ventanas del Mar, probably because the Mediterranean buffet-style suited our kids perfectly. Although I suspect my husband had another reason. Newly converted to wine, he spent quite a bit of time in the wine tasting room with the sommelier, learning about over 150 vintages from Greece and beyond: not what you expect from a hotel buffet at all. Families can also enjoy traditional Greek cuisine at Tavernaki or Asian fusion dishes at Asia White. Fico d’India, the resort’s Italian restaurant, offers a more casual family atmosphere, and the Sunset Lounge Bar lives up to its name, so it’s a good choice for a chilled hour after dinner. With six main restaurants and several bars, the resort caters to every taste and our all-
floors, and white-on-white interiors, and you can choose between sea or garden views: Prestige Sea View bungalows also have shared pools. Our spacious family room was just off the main reception and as well as two
inclusive package included buffet dining, and the opportunity to try each one of the à la carte restaurant once a week, at no extra charge. By now you’ve guessed, I thought White Palace was all-round amazing, but three things really stood out for me during our stay. Firstly, it was our son’s birthday while we were there and the hotel arranged for a balloon display in our room as well as a birthday cake at dinner, all a complete surprise to us and a total thrill for Ronnie. Secondly, the town of Rethymno, just 15-minutes away, captured my heart completely with its historic quarter, bustling restaurants, quaint markets, museums, and stunning harbour. Expect plenty of photo-ops round the cobbled streets, and hang on until evening when the waterfront really comes to life. And lastly, on our final night, the resort
balconies, a dividing door separated the living area from the master bedroom; another thoughtful touch. We also appreciated the fact that there was a separate shower room, in addition to the main bathroom, as we have a teenager who likes to take long showers. The LUXME (Luxury Made Easy) concept is all about personalised service and making a family holiday as relaxed and carefree as possible. Buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included, along with snacks throughout the day, and extras from the ice cream parlour, crêperie, and sweet shop, all kid heaven. Though adults definitely aren’t forgotten as the resort’s Wine Library proves. The main pool is seawater and perfect if you want a real swim, or some lounging
“Rethymno captured my heart with its old town, quaint markets and stunning harbour”
around. Although as a family, we preferred the activity pool which was surprisingly uncrowded and had the added bonus of in-pool sunbeds; there’s also a smaller children’s pool covered with sunshades. Part of the reason we picked White Palace was the private beach, and we were not disappointed. A typically Cretan mix of sand and pebbles it’s over a kilometre long and features a beach bar with waiter service, so inevitably we finished most of our days here, soaking up the last of the sun. Out of all seven resort restaurants, we particularly loved
organised a visit to the Grecotel-owned Agreco Farm and Taverna nearby, which promised us a very traditional Cretan experience. And wow, what an experience it was. We headed out in the late afternoon on a chartered bus for the 20-minute drive to Agreco, which turned out to be a fairy-tale farm that has revived centuries-old organic practices in a unique way. Our group took a tour, sampling olive oil, cheese, and wine, and learning about the farm’s history from our excellent and informative guide. There was also a small farmyard where children could meet goats,
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