TRAVEL
A CRETAN SUMMER
WITH GIANNOULIS HOTELS
BY SAMANTHA READY
CRETE IS AN ISLAND THAT WORKS ITS WAY UNDER YOUR SKIN. OLIVE GROVES STRETCH OUT ACROSS HILLSIDES, CICADAS HUM LAZILY IN THE MIDDAY SUN, AND THE SEA- A HYPNOTIC EXPANSE OF CALMING AEGEAN BLUE- BECKONS AT EVERY TURN.
For our family summer trip, we wanted a stay that balanced indulgence with ease, something that felt both special( as we prepared to bid farewell to the oldest as she departed for university) and relaxed( for us to have a much needed reset and for the middle one to prepare for the start of Year 6); a place where the kids could roam happily( spades in hand) while the adults could find those quiet moments of sanctuary. Enter Giannoulis Hotels, whose cluster of special family-owned properties on the North West coast manage to feel both timeless and contemporary, with Greek hospitality that’ s genuinely heartfelt. Over the course of the week, we split our time between two of their gems: Cavo Spada Luxury Sports and Leisure Resort & Spa, and Santa Marina Beach Hotel. Each offered its own character and rhythm, but together they delivered exactly the kind of Cretan summer we had hoped for.
www. insidekent. co. uk • 129