Fodele Beach & Water Park Resort

Set into the cliff above Fodele Beach, the resort steps down toward the sea between hillside and shore, twenty-five kilometres west of Heraklion Airport. The 400 rooms and suites spread through gardens and island-style bungalows, most facing either the water or the slopes behind. It is a large property, and it runs on an all-inclusive basis, with several themed restaurants and bars serving food shaped by Cretan produce and technique. At its centre sits one of the region's larger hotel water parks, spread across 950 square metres of slides and pools. Beyond it lie a private sandy beach and three further swimming pools, along with tennis and basketball courts and a fitness room. You can watch the Cretan Sea from a balcony in a Sea Front Room or from the veranda of a VIP Suite, two of which come with their own plunge pool. Family Suites add a second bedroom and a private terrace beside the garden, useful for those travelling with children. A supervised kids' club, the Fodelian Grove, runs separately for younger guests. Weddings and small conferences are hosted on site, with events built around the same sea-facing terraces used for dining. The result is a resort pitched at families and groups who want a beach and a water park within the same gate.