Caramel Grecotel Boutique Resort

Stepping straight onto a pebble shore, guests at Caramel reach the Cretan Sea without crossing a road. The resort sits at Adelianos Kampos, on Crete's north coast, a short drive from Rethymno's Venetian harbour and the Fortezza fortress. Rooms range widely: a Junior Suite runs to about 35 square metres with an elevated sea view, while the largest option, a four-bedroom beach villa, spans 165 square metres and sleeps up to nine. Several villas come with a private pool and direct beach access. Interiors mix hand-carved furniture with antique and contemporary pieces, and floors are laid in hand-made tiles. Meals are taken across several venues, from a main restaurant serving continental cuisine to a poolside brasserie by the Confetti pool and an à la carte room specialising in seafood. A wellness centre runs treatments from 10am to 6.30pm, with an open-air massage gazebo and a small gym. Watersports operate from the beach, covering everything from pedalos to jet skiing, and instructors give swimming lessons in the main or indoor pool. Further afield, day trips reach the Arkadi Monastery and the Old Town's Rimondi fountain. Heraklion airport lies 79 km away; Chania airport, 70 km. Both are roughly an hour by road.