Miramare Villas

This was my first visit to Crete in 30 years and I’d forgotten how beautiful the countryside is. The resort is on the south side of Aghios Nikolaos, about one hours drive from Heraklion airport. We were made to feel so welcome and the staff have bent over backwards all week to make it such an excellent stay.

The resort is built on a very steep hillside so there have been quite a few steps and slopes to navigate. However the hotel provides complimentary golf carts to drive guests up and down the hill if they don’t want to walk so this was a great service.

There are three beautiful pools which never seemed too busy and we were lucky enough to be in one of the villas with a small private pool.

Food was plentiful with a wide buffet selection although it didn’t vary much from day to day. However it was all very fresh and tasty. The main restaurant was rather hot during the day with large east facing windows - the view was amazing but the temperature a bit uncomfortable.

We took advantage of the spa for massages and Effie and Eleni made us feel very pampered. Guest relations also helped organise a day trip to Spinalonga which I highly recommend.

Other points - useful little shop on site. Good wifi throughout. Library of donated books to borrow or swap. Two minute walk to beach, 15 mins to a decent local supermarket. Aghios Nikoloaos is a bus or taxi ride away.

Pros: Staff brilliant. Food tasty. Views unbeatable.

Cons: Site quite spread out and hilly.

Have to start with Almyros Beach a few minutes walk from the hotel, the best beach/sea I have ever been on/in! Almost worth going just for that. The hotel is great as long as you are fit and can manage hills/steps. No real negatives the only slight downside was the food choice wasn’t as great as we’d had in previous hotels all inclusive buffets. Rooms/Pools/People all great as you’d expect as this isn’t just a run of the mill family holiday hotel, you get what you pay for.