Of course, we at TennisTraveller also go on vacation. And of course one or two holidays are spent in a tennis hotel. This happened just two weeks ago when our employee Annette spent her summer vacation with her family at the tennis hotel Kalimera Kriti Hotel & Village on Crete - once again. Because it was so beautiful and relaxing there and there is a lot of new things to report, we don't want to withhold our very personal travel tip from you. Without further ado, Annette takes you to the north-east of Crete. And should we tell you something? She would love to get back on the plane straight away! Why? Just read Annette's travel report and then this question will answer itself!
The Kalimera Kriti Hotel & Village Resort has been around for 30 years now. We went there for the first time eighteen years ago on the recommendation of my tennis-loving brother-in-law. At that time with my 5-year-old firstborn, I visited the mini club and had a mini disco in the evening. Since then, we have always been “longing” for the relaxing holidays there, so that we traveled to Kalimera for the sixth time, first with one and then with two children, at longer intervals. Our “longing” was rekindled after several friends spent their vacation there in April and July on our recommendation and were also so enthusiastic that, thanks to their own many beautiful memories, it was clear to us that we would be going on another summer vacation this year.
Kalimera Kriti is half an hour's drive from Heraklion Airport. What is unique is that the 240,000 square meter resort extends over its own bay with several beaches. No other hotel can be seen far and wide. From the distance you can only see the nearby fishing village of Sissi and a beautiful hilly landscape all around.
The water of the Cretan Sea is crystal clear here. Just lovely! The view of the beach and sea allows you to relax, lost in thought.
View from the beach to the right...
... and to the left
Our favorite shady place
In addition to the main building, the hotel complex is modeled on a Cretan village. This means you always have beautiful views far and wide.
There are well-tended small gardens everywhere in the “Cretan Village”.
Although the resort has almost 400 rooms, you never feel any spatial or human crampedness. The pools were never crowded either. With free loungers and parasols, you can relax - in addition to the beaches - either in the almost deserted adults-only pool or at another large pool, where I started the day every morning with the water aerobics on offer. Water polo is also played there in the afternoon.
There are also two separate children's pools directly behind the mini club as well as an indoor pool and a spa area.
The majority of guests choose half board. Full board is also possible. We enjoyed a wonderful view of the complex and the sea for breakfast and dinner on the terrace of the Artemis restaurant. For breakfast you will be treated to an extensive buffet with freshly prepared egg dishes, pancakes and crepes, fruit and much more, which leaves nothing to be desired.
The evening buffet has an international focus that changes daily and also offers a huge selection of different delicious dishes with grill stations with different types of fish and meat, vegetable dishes, salads and starters and dessert variations. For anyone who would like a lunch, snack or ice cream at midday or in between, there is a nice little tavern right by the sea or the beach bar.
With so many culinary temptations, it's even better that the hotel offers an extensive range of sports. Every morning and mid-morning there is a Body & Mind program with yoga and workout as well as beach volleyball and water aerobics. In the afternoon we had a lot of fun playing water polo, beach volleyball and soccer. In the evening, a changing program invites you to the main bar to end the day in a relaxed manner.
Patricio Travel, which has been completed since April 2023 with 20 clay courts, six artificial turf courts and two padel courts (three more will follow), an indoor and outdoor fitness center and a tennis shop, is simply great! The pitches are in top condition. The complex is laid out in terraces so that you can look at individual squares from above and the sea at the same time. Heavenly! The Patricio Checkpoint Tennis Academy (PCT) offers various tennis courses and tennis programs as well as camps. There are also simply the best conditions here for larger tennis groups with or without their own coaches. You can also have rackets strung in the shop.
You can book a variety of excursions directly at the hotel via reception. There are worthwhile discovery trips to historical cities and Cretan villages and the Lasithi plateau, hikes and jeep safaris such as to the Samaria Gorge and boat tours. A special highlight here is a trip to the former leper island of Spinalonga, where one of the last European leper colonies was located until the 1960s (appropriate holiday reading for this is the novel “Island of the Forgotten” by Victoria Hislop).
The region is very steeped in history. In about 35 minutes you can reach the Minoan palace of Knossos, where, according to Homer, the legendary King Minos had the labyrinth built for his son Minotaur - half bull half human - to hide him.
TennisTraveller employee Annette
Pictures say more than words... but it is even more beautiful there than it appears in the photos. You simply have to experience it for yourself! It's best to go there yourself and see for yourself!
With the new Patricio tennis facility, the Kalimera Kriti is an ideal tennis holiday location for all tennis enthusiasts, families or for large and small tennis groups. The hotel is ideal for all age groups and “family constellations”.
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