Autumn Sunshine in Crete

The Island of Crete...

I've just got back from beautiful, sunny Crete, courtesy of Nathan from Leeds Bradford Airport and Briony from Grecotel Hotel & Resorts. I had the pleasure of staying in some fantastic Grecotel hotels and visiting others whilst spending time with fellow travel agents.


My heart certainly skips a beat whenever I land in Greece. It is always our go-to destination, and Helen and I generally require an annual fix!


I had never been to Crete, so I was super excited. The airport in Heraklion is a little outdated, but don't worry, the new airport will be up and running by 2029, so Crete will be ready to accept more passengers. Infrastructure everywhere is getting an upgrade, so watch out, Crete really is improving for travellers.


Crete has everything to offer for all types of holidaymakers, from a romantic getaway to a multi-generational holiday. Grecotel Hotel & Resorts have perfect offerings for everyone on an island which gives and gives. Crete is fast becoming a near all-year-round destination.

A Little October Sunshine

The temperature was a great 23–25 degrees during the day. In the evening, it was a little cooler, so at times another layer was needed.


We swam in the sea outside the Marine Palace hotel. Initially, it was a little cold, but after a while, very refreshing! The beaches in Crete are beautiful. Normally, beaches in Greece are pebbly and shaly, but here there are miles of sandy beaches.


Most of the Grecotel Hotels are beachfront and have a sandy beach. In October, there were still plenty of people enjoying their best life.

Discovering Grecotel's Beautiful Hotels

During my time in Crete, I had the opportunity to experience several Grecotel properties, each offering something a little different.

Grecotel Marine Palace & Aquapark in Rethymno


This traditional family hotel is brilliant. It is spacious, in a fantastic location and, once again, beachfront. Activities galore for the kids, and there were many multi-generational families having a great time.


I would recommend this hotel every time. Truly exceptional for families.

Amirandes A Resort To Live in Kato Gouves


This hotel is exquisite, a beautiful beachfront property where you feel on your own. It feels like there is nobody around, even though the hotel was full. It has an effortless beauty, and the gastronomic experience was delightful.


It truly is a hotel to experience.

Exploring Rethymnon

We managed a couple of hours in Rethymnon, which is an old Venetian port. It has narrow alleyways, small shops and little eateries, which gave us all a great feel. The port was quaint, with plenty of tasty restaurants, a great place to while away the hours.

Grecotel Casa Adele in Platanes (Adelianos Kampos) near Rethymno


This is a perfect spot for a getaway for the family.


Walk straight out to different restaurants and bars. The beach is only a five-minute walk away.

Caramel A Resort To Live


This is a beautiful, chic hotel, an absolute gem for whoever stays. The pool area is magnificent, and the gastronomic experience is the best. It truly is memorable.


This is also a beachfront property with many spots to relax and enjoy.

Grecotel Creta Palace in Missiria, Rethymno


This is also a beautiful hotel with pools galore, both fresh and salt water, and a stunning beachfront position like many of the Grecotels.


It offers plenty for both families and couples, where lazy days are the most important thing of the day.

A Special Final Evening

Grecotel LUXME White in Pigianos Kampos


We visited this hotel on the last night, and it didn't disappoint. The entrance is stunning, and the dining options are out of this world. The hospitality was brilliant, like all the other Grecotels, and the all-inclusive experience was a very special treat.

Until Next Time, Crete!

Crete truly has everything to offer. The flights from LBA and the range of beautiful Grecotels will give you the perfect holiday. All of the hotels offer different facilities but are honest, trustworthy and top quality. Some offer chic surroundings and tranquillity, whilst others give family fun and a truly unforgettable experience.


I must just compliment the staff in all the hotels, who were attentive, always smiling and a great testament to Grecotels.


Thank you, Grecotel Hotel & Resorts, Leeds Bradford Airport and Crete. I will definitely be returning to this beautiful island.


~Nick

Corfu: Old Favourites, New Discoveries and Far Too Much Food

By Helen Parry • August 14, 2026
Corfu: Old Favourites, New Discoveries and Far Too Much Food 🇬🇷❤️

Florida Fun, Fireworks & Fabulous Site Inspections

November 20, 2025
After a smooth flight with Virgin, a full season of Georgie and Mandy (highly recommend) and maybe a wine or two. We touched down in the Sunshine State for our Florida Adventure to start. The drive from Tampa to Orlando went quickly (thanks to our speedy driver Sam) and we arrived at the Drury Inn in no time, ready for a good nights rest before our jam- packed week. The Drury Inn was our hotel for the first 2 nights, it was lovely to have a big comfy king to myself, the staff were friendly and the free popcorn in the lobby was dangerous. It was the perfect little gem tucked away in bustling Orlando, in a great location to the theme parks and surrounding attractions, offering free hot breakfast and a 5:30 kickback service in the evenings, which is offered across of all the Drury hotels: light-dinner/ snacks and 3 drinks.

Sebatana Reserve – A Bucket List Trip

By Penny Price • October 20, 2025
I have wanted to go on safari for more years than I can remember, so when I saw the price for a week at The Rhino Lodge in January 2023 we booked without hesitation. We then had over 2.5 years to wait till we went. 4 September 2025 was flight day. A week before we realised they only had a Jaguar at the reserve so to see the Big 5 we had to do the additional tours and just figured this was why it was so reasonable. It was an absolute trip of a lifetime, and I would recommend it to anyone! I can’t lie, when you live in Yorkshire, flying from Heathrow is a bit annoying, and being 26 hours door to door is not for everyone. But it was worth every second! When we arrived at Heathrow, (about 4 hours before our flight) we were able to check our bags in straight away. The guy at the desk asked if there were 22 of us in our party, but this was the whole Newmarket booking so we knew there was a group of 22 on the flight going to Sebatana. We arrived at Johannesburg airport and have to say we struggled to find our transport guy as he didn’t have a Newmarket sign, he was just wearing a Sebatana cap. We are fairly well travelled so are used to refusing help from locals as they always expect to be paid but having wandered round a few times we were scooped up by a guy that knew where we needed to be. Everyone in the party had struggled to find him so we were relieved it wasn’t just us! It was about a 3-hour minibus ride from the airport but on the way to the reserve we stopped for a comfort break and a sandwich lunch at a lovely roadside eatery, so it took about 4 hours. On the drive you’d pass the odd wildebeest, monkey and so on which started to get everyone on the minibuses excited.

Escape to Mauritius with Nick

October 14, 2025
When I heard I was going to Mauritius, I was absolutely overjoyed! The beautiful island in the Indian Ocean had always been on my list!

Bea’s Overnight Adventure Aboard the Ultramarine in Aberdeen with Quark Expeditions!

April 28, 2025
Hiya, I’ve just had the most incredible overnight experience aboard the Ultramarine, Quark Expeditions' luxury expedition ship and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. But first of all who are Quark Expeditions? In short, they have been ‘Polar Obsessed since 1991’ this pioneering company were the first to take commercial passengers to the North Pole and since then have been offering immersive expeditions to the Artic and Antarctic. And if travelling to some of the most remote corner of the world is on your bucket list then this company is for you. Whether it’s cruising past icebergs, spotting wildlife such as polar bears, and penguins or experience cultures up close then Quark can take you on this trip. When you book with Quark Expeditions, you're not just getting a cruise—you're getting a unique experience. Their team of experts, from naturalists to expedition leaders, are passionate about teaching you all about the regions you’re exploring. There’s something magical about having the chance to learn from people who have dedicated their lives to exploring the world’s most remote places. And if you want to explore the wildest parts of the world in a luxury, comfort and Style then Quark Expeditions have that covered.

Unforgettable Moments from South Africa!

By Evie Arundel • November 16, 2024
For the longest time, South Africa has been on my bucket list. After hearing stories from my mum about her visit there when she was 18, I knew that one day I needed to go and explore it for myself. Fast forward to a few months ago when Helen received a phone call from Premier Holidays offering me a place on their South Africa Fam trip... safe to say there were tears of joy from myself and Helen. September quickly rolled around and there I was heading down to London Heathrow to meet Nicky (Premier Holidays) and the rest of the group and what an incredible group we had.

Libby’s Lisbon & Porto Adventure

By arundeltravel • November 22, 2023
I flew out from Leeds Bradford on Thursday 5th October to Porto and stayed at the HF Tuela Porto, which was near the pick up points for the conference. The hotel was only 15 minutes walk away from the outskirts of the bustling centre, the sun was shining so I set off to explore for a few hours. After I’d spent some time wandering around and enjoying a chilled glass of Vinho Verde, the local wine, I sat by the river side and had a bite to eat. Watching the trams pass me by with the sun setting over the Douro river, I reminded myself of how lucky I am to be able to experience beautiful places.

Celebrating in Corfu

By arundeltravel • September 23, 2023
This year my Husband Nick turned 60, and as part of his birthday celebrations we went to one of our favourite places, Kassiopi in Corfu. We have visited Kassiopi a few times now and we couldn’t wait to get back, visit some amazing places and of course see one of my best friends Lucy and her family, she has lived there for 17 years! Over our 3 week stay, more than 40 of our closet friends and families joined us – and they all had the same opinion- they loved this place – Kassiopi and Corfu.

Brilliant Barcelona by Evie

By arundeltravel • May 12, 2023

Our bucket list trip to Toronto and Niagara Falls by Penny Price

By arundeltravel • May 11, 2023
We like to make life as easy as possible on travel day so often we book a hotel the night before. We stayed at Ryland Farmhouse, about 5 miles from Manchester Airport which was perfectly adequate for the night and had the full English breakfast it was one of the best I’ve ever had!