It's a Crete life!

A FAMILY of five sunning it at a five- star hotel with 520 stunning rooms backing onto a fab 500 metre beach.

But without having to get up at 5am to bag a sunbed.

It all adds up to, you’ve guessed it, a HIGH FIVE for Crete when it comes to being the perfect place for a holiday. And in particular the stylish Aquila Rithymna Beach hotel where we spent a stress-free fortnight away from it all.

There’s no Rithymna blues here when it comes to getting a good spot by the pool. The irritating ploy of people racing down to bag sunbeds by chucking their towels over them before breakfast has been BANNED by the hotel.

And anyway there are THREE separate swimming pools to choose from plus an indoor one in what is a five-star paradise—but not at five-star prices.

Space

This fabulous Aquila chain hotel in northern Crete, promoted by Thomson in their Platinum Premier Collection brochure, had everything my family could have asked for.

The staff were very friendly and there seemed to be just so much space to enjoy ourselves.

The hotel—which also boasts 117 bungalows in its grounds—was full when we were there, yet when you have 80,000 square metres of lush gardens to stroll through PLUS that 500-metre beach you never feel crowded.

The rooms are also spacious and the suites can sleep four people in comfort and have a lounge area too.

When it comes to cuisine, you’ll always want to fill up. The food is superb. Diners are escorted to their tables, served soup and then it’s a sumptuous help-yourself buffet.

But this is no ordinary pile it on a plate place. There is a huge choice of starters, succulent main courses including fish, pasta and meats and a range of sweets including local fruit. For the even more discerning diner, you could choose to eat outside in the romantic a la carte waiter service restaurant or at the Taverna next to the huge salt walter swimming pool where there is a different theme and show every night.

Next day, there’s always plenty of opportunity to work it off.

My children Lucy, 14, Simon, 17, and Mark, 20, threw themselves into a blur of pool games, beach volley ball, boules, darts, table tennis, archery and tennis—all superbly organised—while my wife Katy tried some Greek cookery classes and para-sailing and jet skiing. The gym is also free and you can get a relaxing massage. For younger children there is a well- supervised children’s village with full entertainment programme.

After a few days settling in, there’s plenty on offer outside the hotel if you want to explore. Dozens of tavernas, shops and bars are just a few minutes walk away and nightclubs a five-euro taxi ride. Buses to the old town, port and markets run every 20 minutes and cost about two euros each way. Outside the hotel, where drinks are a little more expensive, cocktails are priced around five euros and large beers around three euros.

If you are feeling more adventurous, Thomson offer a full Discover Greece excursion programme with trips every day.

They include hiking, cruises, 4x4 trips off the beaten track and visits to ancient Greek historical sites.

Sunsets

My advice would be do a little at a time and make the most of it.

My family decided on the catamaran trip around the coast and we were not disappointed. Limited to just 21 people, you can laze around on deck or jump overboard with the snorkels and flippers provided.

It’s an all-day trip including lunch in a village restaurant a couple of hours down the coast. It costs 76 euros each for adults and 50 euros for children and is good value for money.

If you don’t fancy going too far away from base, a 25-minute bus ride takes you into the beautiful ancient town of Rethymnon which dates back to the 3rd Century. Much of the old architecture is still intact and the town is full of beautiful stone stairways, narrow streets and arched doorways.

No Cretan holiday would be complete without a boat trip to the stunning island of Santorini which boasts breathtaking sunsets. Born from a volcanic eruption in 1660, the island, with its steep cliffs and red and black sands, is truly dramatic.

For the energetic, both Thomson and the hotel offer scuba diving lessons from professional instructors and there are plenty of interesting dive sites around the island.

But where the Rithymna makes it biggest splash is in getting you to relax. On sunbeds you’ll never have to race for.

GETTING THERE

THOMSON offers seven nights half-board at the 5T Aquila Rithymna Beach in Rethymnon, from £599 per adult based on two sharing. Child from £269. Prices based on departure from Stansted on May 5 and include flights, transfers, taxes and charges. For more information, or to book, visit http://www.thomson.co.uk or call 0871 231 3235.