Rachel in Crete

Rachel went on a fam trip hosted by Le Petit Monde to Nana Princess in Crete. 

“I flew from London Stansted to Heraklion Airport in Crete. A private airport transfer took me to the five-star hotel Nana Princess, approximately 25 mins from the airport to the hotel. An absolutely stunning property with 102 sea-facing suites and villas, all with private pools. On our first night, we had a delicious dinner at ‘Meat-In Point’, one of the à la carte restaurants at Nana Princess.

On day two, we had a tour of the hotel, including viewing some of the different room types. I stayed in the Deluxe Junior Suite Sea View, a lead-in suite with a pool front and breathtaking views. The hotel had thought or everything including a grey hand towel embroidered with “make-up” as well as lovely soft white towels and bathrobes. There’s even a chapel in the grounds!

Some suites even have a lift to a basement with a man cave, pool table, sauna and wellness and there are some high-end villas which have their own gym and a 'crystal' stone wall sauna in the wellness suite.

We viewed the top end luxury Grand Royal Villa and the Infinity Wellness Villa whihc feature amenities such as private beach, 'Love Island' fire pit, outdoor Jacuzzi and sauna, private gym, sweet sauna, a wellness area for massages and treatments, kitchen and even a butler service!

Next was a cooking class with the Chef at "Meat-In Point" steak restaurant, followed by lunch, including the Tzatziki we'd made. There are lots of other food options available other than steak! We visited the 1400 square metre Royal Wellness Club spa and enjoyed the hot and cold circuit followed by a half hour massage. It was really amazing, very relaxing and at the end I felt like I was walking on air. Dinner is at Eternal Blue, the à la carte beachfront seafood restaurant at Nana Princess with a vast menu including non-fish dishes. The view of the sea was incredible in a buzzy atmosphere with amazing food.

The breakfast at Carpe Diem consists of à la carte and a buffet with unlimited choices and is exceptional. A minivan took us on a trip to visit the historic site of Knossos Palace.  British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans began the first excavation in 1900 of Knossos Palace – Home of King Minos and the legendary Minotaur. The guided tour was interesting and informative and lasted about an hour and a half. If you like a bit of history, then it’s worth the half-day trip as it’s close by and I’d recommend a guide.

Next is a tour and shopping in Heraklion where we enjoyed free time to wander around. There is a mixture of excellent shops including Zara and M&S plus designer boutiques, a market and souvenir stores. We stopped for lunch at gorgeous Peskesi Restaurant, which is in a beautiful setting and highly recommended. The food is so fresh, it's lively and bubbly and full of locals and tourists, so it’s recommended to book as it gets busy. This hidden restaurant serves authentic Cretan cuisine with farm-to-table food. The restaurant owns a local farm about 40 minutes away, and guests can book to explore the farm or try olive tasting and cultural cooking lessons.

We visit the traditional village of Koutouloufari in the wider area of Hersonissos for a walk and a coffee. Koutouloufari is a picturesque village with beautiful bougainvillea and cobbled streets. Just 15 minutes’ drive from the hotel, it has lots of shops, restaurants, and bars.

Dinner is at Azzuro the à la carte Italian restaurant at Nana Golden Beach. Another delicious and very satisfying meal.

It was gorgeous weather with glorious blue skies, and sunny with a cool breeze. The beautiful beaches have four-poster lounger/gazebos in the white sandy cove. The protective bay makes the water calmer. We enjoyed time on the beach, swimming in the sea while some went jet skiing, then eating finger food underneath the comfy gazebo.

Nana Princess is more adult-focused, but next door through the gate to ‘Narnia’ is its all-inclusive sister hotel, Nana Golden Beach. Nana Princess guests can use the facilities of Nana Golden Beach, but not the other way round. Facilities and sports at Nana Golden Beach include a waterpark, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, 13 hybrid tennis courts, 5 hard courts, 2 paddle courts, numerous gyms, and lots of activities: water sports on the beach, yoga, fitness classes plus an 18-hole golf course nearby. A brilliant holiday place for people into their fitness or if you're training for a sporting event. It is family oriented with fun for all the family with a kids club and splash park - just wish I'd kept my elbows in on the water slide!

A highlight of the trip for me was the spa, which was absolutely phenomenal!

All the staff and management were very attentive and recognised us, remembered our names and it felt very sincere and personable. I was wowed by the beauty of this hotel and the outstanding hospitality provided. I cannot recommend it enough and am grateful for the opportunity to experience it first-hand.”

Rachel Marney, Travel Consultant

To book or for more info contact Rachel at Abbotts Travel on 020 8989 9445 or email info@abbottstravel.com