Creta Maris Resort: An All Inclusive Cretan Village by the Sea
A blue-flag beach, seventeen pools and seven restaurants built like a village — reviewed by a specialist who lives ten minutes down the road.
Published by Eleni on 5 June 2026 · Last updated 5 June 2026
How we put this review together
This review was researched, written and approved by the GoToBeach product team. It draws on first-hand local knowledge, supplier information, guest feedback and publicly available review sites including Tripadvisor. Our author, Eleni, lives in Malia, a few minutes along the coast from the resort.
Facilities, room types and the all inclusive programme can change by season, so please confirm the current details with us when you book.
Of all the big all inclusive resorts on my side of Crete, Creta Maris is the one I find myself recommending most — and the one I know best, because I live about ten minutes away in Malia.
It is one of the originals. The Metaxas family opened Creta Maris back in 1975, when there were barely any hotels on Crete, let alone resorts on this scale — and it is still family-run today. That history shows in the feel of the place: rather than one big block, the resort is laid out like a Cretan village, with winding lanes, little squares, gardens and a long sandy beach.
What guests love
- Village feel, gardens and a real sandy Blue Flag beach
- Genuine all inclusive choice across seven restaurants
- Strong for families — waterpark, pools and kids' club
- A separate adults-only side for couples
Honest cautions
- It is large — expect a fair bit of walking
- Minibar is soft drinks only and there is no room service
Where it is
Creta Maris sits right on the sandy seafront at Hersonissos, on the north-central coast of Crete — close enough to walk into the resort town, but with its own beach and grounds so you never have to leave if you don't want to.
| Location | Detail |
|---|---|
| Setting | Sandy seafront, Hersonissos, north-central Crete |
| Heraklion airport | About 16 miles — roughly a 30–40 minute transfer |
| Hersonissos centre | About a 10-minute walk |
| Malia | About 10 minutes along the coast |
| Beach | Around 270 yards of sandy Blue Flag beach, on-site |
A Blue Flag is awarded for clean, safe, well-managed bathing water — the kind of thing that matters more once you are travelling with children.
The rooms
Accommodation is spread across the grounds in low-rise buildings and bungalows rather than tower blocks, which is a big part of the village feel. There is a wide spread to choose from, so it pays to match the room to who is travelling.
| Room type | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Deluxe (garden / pool) | The everyday choice for couples and small families. |
| Family & connecting rooms | More space and flexible layouts for children. |
| Premium / Sea View | Upgraded rooms with a closer outlook to the sea. |
| Exclusive Adult (16+) | Includes access to the separate adults-only area. |
| Bungalows & villas | For guests who want extra space and privacy. |
Accessible rooms are available, and because the grounds are large the resort offers golf-cart assistance for guests who need a hand getting around.
Food & drink
This is where Creta Maris earns its reputation. The all inclusive board runs across seven restaurants, six snack points and nine bars, from an early breakfast through to a late dinner, with snacks and ice cream during the day. There is a main buffet plus à la carte and themed dining, and a lovely setting in the gardens for the evening. In my honest opinion, no resort on Crete does the all inclusive concept better.
Two honest notes so there are no surprises: the in-room minibar is soft drinks only, and there is no room service. For most guests that is a small trade-off against the sheer choice on offer.
Pools, beach & children
There are seventeen pools, including dedicated children's pools, plus a free waterpark with slides — which on a family holiday is worth a great deal. Add a kids' club, snorkelling and scuba lessons, an open-air cinema and a wide range of sports, and you have a resort where children are genuinely well looked after. The sandy Blue Flag beach has loungers and umbrellas and an accessible ramp into the water.
For couples and the adults-only side
What makes Creta Maris cleverer than the average family resort is its adults-only side. Guests in the Exclusive Adult rooms get access to a separate adults-only area with its own pools, the Adama cocktail bar and a beach bar, plus an outdoor spa pavilion. So a couple can enjoy the buzz, choice and value of a big resort during the day, then retreat somewhere calm and grown-up in the evening — while families a few lanes away have the waterpark and kids' club to themselves. That balance is genuinely well thought out, and it is why I happily send both couples and families here.
Who it suits
Strong fit for
- Families who want space, pools and a free waterpark
- Couples wanting an adults-only side without leaving the resort
- Guests who value a real sandy Blue Flag beach on-site
- All-inclusive lovers who want genuine choice across restaurants
Less suitable for
- Anyone who would rather not walk — the village layout is large
- Guests who want room service or in-room alcohol
- Travellers after a small boutique or whole-hotel adults-only feel
- Those wanting a quiet, low-key beach hideaway
If you are still weighing up the island, our Crete holidays guide is a good place to start, or browse all our Greece holidays.
Booking & protection
Booking your Creta Maris holiday
Low deposit: a deposit of just £30 per person, plus the cost of your flights, secures the holiday at the time of booking. Flights are dynamically priced, so seats are confirmed straight away. The remaining balance (hotel, transfers and any extras) is then spread across instalments up to departure.
Financial protection: your package is ATOL protected under licence 11211 (Caria Holidays Ltd). ATOL covers the failure of the package itself; it is not travel insurance and does not cover operational disruptions, so we always recommend taking out appropriate travel insurance as well.
Our price policy: if you find the same package on a like-for-like basis elsewhere, send it to us and we'll review it under our price policy.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Creta Maris Resort?
Creta Maris is on the sandy seafront at Hersonissos, on the north-central coast of Crete. It is about 16 miles from Heraklion airport and roughly a 10-minute walk from the centre of Hersonissos.
Is Creta Maris all inclusive, and what's included?
Yes. The all inclusive board covers meals and drinks across seven restaurants, six snack points and nine bars, from early breakfast to a late dinner, plus snacks and ice cream through the day. Note that the in-room minibar is soft drinks only and there is no room service.
Is Creta Maris good for families?
Very much so. There are seventeen pools including children's pools, a free waterpark with slides, a kids' club, snorkelling and scuba lessons, an open-air cinema and a wide range of sports — plus family and connecting rooms.
Is there an adults-only area at Creta Maris?
Yes. Guests in the Exclusive Adult rooms (16+) have access to a separate adults-only area with its own pools, the Adama cocktail bar, a beach bar and an outdoor spa pavilion, so couples can enjoy a quieter side of the resort.
Does Creta Maris have its own beach?
Yes — a sandy blue-flag beach of around 270 yards, right on-site, with loungers and umbrellas and a ramp for accessible access to the water.
How far is Creta Maris from the airport?
It is about 16 miles from Heraklion airport, which usually means a transfer of roughly 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
Is Creta Maris a big resort?
Yes, it has around 680 rooms laid out like a village across extensive grounds, so there is a fair amount of walking. The resort offers golf-cart assistance for guests who need help getting around.
Is my Creta Maris holiday financially protected?
Yes. Every flight-inclusive package booked through GoToBeach is ATOL protected under licence 11211, which covers the financial failure of your travel company. ATOL is not the same as travel insurance, so we recommend arranging suitable cover as well.
Thinking about Creta Maris?
Tell us your dates, party size and whether you want a family base or the adults-only side, and we'll put together a Creta Maris package that fits.