Grecotel LuxMe White

On Crete’s north coast near Rethymno, Grecotel LuxMe White brings its bright, contemporary style to a kilometre of shoreline, with 17 pools, an exceptional choice of dining and some particularly tempting seafront suites and private pool villas.

White is more than a name here. Brilliant pale architecture, sunlit terraces and shimmering water give the resort a distinctive brightness, with the blue of the Cretan Sea providing the contrast. Buildings are spread along the coast rather than concentrated around a single centre, creating a resort that feels open to the sea from almost every direction.

Water is everywhere. Pools run between accommodation and gardens, swim up rooms open directly onto the water and the beach remains a constant presence beyond. There are 17 pools altogether, including sharing pools reserved for particular room categories and 11 private pools, so choosing where to stay can completely change the character of the holiday.

Rooms & Suites

Rooms and suites begin with garden, mountain and sea views before progressing into accommodation that increasingly embraces outdoor living. Junior and Open Plan Suites provide more space, while Prestige Guestrooms add their own gardens and Swim Up White Rooms place the pool immediately outside.

The Yali accommodation is particularly appealing. Petit Yali and Yali Seafront Suites sit close to the water and share pools between a limited number of suites, creating a more intimate little world within the resort. Families can choose from dedicated guestrooms, apartments, sea view rooms and a substantial Grand Family Suite.

For the most private experience, the Villa Luxe Yali and Villa White sit right on the seafront with their own pools. Here the scale of the wider resort recedes and the experience becomes much more personal, with the sea, terrace and private water forming the centre of the day.

Dining

Dining is one of the strongest reasons to choose LuxMe White. Ventanas Il Mar opens towards the sea and forms the main culinary hub, with Mediterranean dishes and live cooking, while Tavernaki turns towards familiar Greek flavours in the relaxed spirit of a traditional taverna.

Fico d'India brings Italian cooking into the mix, while Asia White takes a different direction with Lebanese inspired dishes. The White provides an adults only dining setting and Lobsteria adds another distinctive experience, giving evenings enough variety that choosing where to eat becomes part of the pleasure of the stay.

The LuxMe concept continues well beyond the restaurants. A pâtisserie and chocolaterie, creperie and gelateria, snacks, coffee, premium drinks and four bars keep food and drink flowing throughout the day, while a visit to Agreco Farms offers the chance to experience traditional Cretan cooking away from the beachfront surroundings of the hotel.

Experience

The kilometre long sand and pebble shoreline gives the resort room to spread out, while the extraordinary number of pools means days need never follow quite the same pattern. A morning beside the sea can become an afternoon at a sharing pool or back at your own private pool without ever feeling as though you are repeating yesterday.

Water sports, cycling, aerobics, yoga and fitness provide plenty of activity, while live music, themed dinners and evening entertainment take over as the sun goes down. Families have a kids’ club and dedicated activities, with complimentary access to the Aqua Park at Grecotel Club Marine Palace adding an especially good option for a day away from the resort.

Rethymno also brings another dimension to the stay. Its Venetian harbour and old streets are close enough for an afternoon or evening away, giving you the freedom to combine a full resort holiday with one of Crete’s most atmospheric towns.

Wellness

The Hippie Spa suits the relaxed personality of White, bringing together massages, facials and body therapies with hammam, sauna and steam facilities. Yoga, fitness classes and personal training add a more active approach to wellbeing, while treatments provide an easy retreat from the heat of the beach.

There is a pleasing informality to wellness here. A massage can simply become another part of a long day beside the water rather than something that requires the entire afternoon, leaving plenty of time to return to the pool before deciding where dinner should be that evening.

Where

Grecotel LuxMe White lies directly on Crete’s north coast approximately 8 kilometres from Rethymno and its Venetian harbour, with historic Arkadi Monastery around 9 kilometres from the resort.

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