Aelius Hotel and Spa (Ex Lavris)

The Aelius Hotel and Spa makes the perfect place for a chilled out Greek getaway. It’s in Kato Gouves, and there’s a beautiful beach within a 15-minute stroll, or a quick ride on the hotel’s free shuttle bus. And if you want to head into Heraklion for dinner, drinks, or a bit of sightseeing, it’s less than 20 minutes away by taxi.

At the hotel itself, you’ll find two outdoor pools, one with a separate shallow section for little ones to splash about in. The water’s edged by a roomy sun terrace and plenty of loungers, so it’s the ideal place to spend the day chilling out. There’s a poolside bar, too, so you needn’t move far from your lounger for drinks and snacks. The main restaurant, meanwhile, takes care of breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves a buffet of Greek and international dishes.