From wine tasting to kayaking and Greek dancing to Cretan cuisine, this Greek gem has all the right ingredients for an unforgettable summer escape
The largest of the Greek islands is home to a beautiful 5* resort with so much on offer, you’ll never want to leave.
Wyndham Grand Crete Mirabello Bay is around an hour's drive from Heraklion airport on the island of Crete. Overlooking the Aegean Sea from the coastal city of Agios Nikaloas, the complex oozes traditional charm with its harmonious layout and stone walls.
With highs of 30C each summer, it's the perfect destination to kick back and soak up the sunshine. I shacked up in one of the resort’s maisonettes, which has a cosy bedroom on each of its two floors.
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A triple threat, it boasts dazzling sea and marina views, with a spacious decking area and a private infinity pool on two different levels. Having a choice of where to watch the early-morning sunrise from was a real treat.
I could quite easily have spent all day in the large, private pool. But with two blue-flag beaches, the island's largest privately-owned marina, a brand new water park and an outdoor shisha terrace, there's so much to explore.
Wyndham Mirabello's beaches are pristine and dotted with sun loungers and daybeds. While it's the ideal place to relax and cool off, a range of water sports is also on offer.
I whiled away a serene afternoon attempting to stand up paddleboard while basking in the glorious sunshine. I then bobbed along in a kayak, before finishing the afternoon with a thrilling crazy sofa ride.
Wyndham Mirabello's swim-up bar and surrounding daybeds really add to the luxurious feel of the resort. The shaded daybeds, set in a shallow pool, are elevated and wrap around the coastline, making the most of the resort's incredible location. Here's what else made my stay unforgettable...
Brand new water park
One of the resort's stand-out features is its recently-opened water park - designed for adults and children alike. I braved only three of the four larger waterslides, leaving the true thrill-seekers to clear the fourth.
I couldn’t actually remember the last time I’d been on a waterslide. As I climbed the flume's stairs and threw myself down the slide, I felt a welcome rush of nostalgia ramp up alongside the adrenaline. I then cooled down with a soft drink from the water park's bar, which also serves up milkshakes.
The children's section has sprinklers and smaller slides, which looked like bags of fun. There’s plenty more on offer for families too - including a chic open-air cinema, showing a host of classic films in the evenings, and a children's disco which sounded so fun, we almost cut short our wine-tasting session to check it out for ourselves.
Dining
There are plenty of culinary delights on offer across Wyndham Mirabello's five restaurants. The breakfast buffet at Amalthea Restaurant is particularly impressive, featuring the largest selection of home-baked bread I’ve ever seen, all beautifully presented.
Kafenion Cretan Restaurant, meanwhile, encapsulates the rustic vibe of a traditional tavern, adorned with handmade furnishings and colourful kilim rugs. Its menu is every bit as authentic as its décor, with a unique snail dish, skioufichta with apaki (Cretan pasta with pork) and mushroom risotto among its highlights.
We were entertained by Greek dancers during our meal, and were fully immersed in the experience when we were encouraged to get up and dance with them.
Another night, we sampled local wine in an intimate area a short walk away from the main resort. The peaceful location featured a cave with a pair of dining tables, perfect for a romantic meal - or even a proposal.
Spinalonga island
If you can drag yourself out of the complex, though, there's one excursion on offer which is a history buff's dream. We took a boat trip to Spinalonga island, which became a leper colony after being used as a fortress under Venetian rule. It was one of the last active leper colonies in Europe, operating between 1903 to 1957 before falling into oblivion.
Ordinarily, you'd be able to hop out the boat and explore the rugged ruins, as well as its pebble beaches. Alas, it was a blazing 37C on the day we visited. Instead, we admired the island from the boat and took a dip in the clear blue sea.
Whether you're seeking adventure, historical exploration, culinary delights, or simply a place to unwind, Wyndham Mirabello offers a perfect escape under the Cretan sun.
FACT BOX
Ellie was a guest at the Wyndham Grand Mirabello, where a deluxe room with garden view on a bed and breakfast basis starts from £207 a night during peak season, and £189 a night during the shoulder months of September and October. The transfer from the airport takes around an hour in the car, costing £93 for two people.