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Crete has long been welcoming visitors to its southern shores for sun and relaxation. No hotel has been offering a luxury stay longer than the Aldemar Royal Mare, and I got to experience first hand why.

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Room to Relax

The first thing I noticed as we took our golf cart ride to our room was how quiet the Aldemar Royal Mare felt. I quickly chalked this up to visiting Crete during the shoulder season, but was told later that the property was sold out.

Huh?

800 guests, but you would never know it. This is the biggest take away from my stay at the Aldemar Royal Mare. The resort, despite its size, is carefully designed in such a way that keeps your stay feeling private and uncrowded. No jostling for the perfect poolside spot here – the 29 pools (mostly private or semi private) helps to distribute sun seekers and the selection of restaurants, bars, and activities allow options for guests to spread out and go where their interests lay.

I was already impressed with the Aldemar Royal Mare and I hadn’t even set foot in my impressive room yet.

What a Room

The spacious theme continued as we entered our room. Situated just off the beach, this suite was huge. It included a living room area, deck with loungers, and a private freaking pool. Well done ask Aldemar Royal Mare. Well done.

No Corners Cut

Speaking with the manager, I got an insider’s take on the Aldemar Royal Mare secret to its spacious luxury. It all comes down to sparing no expenses on their flagship property. The 20-year-old hotel looks immaculate thanks to its 500+ staff members and its location keeps people coming back. Situated about 25 kms from Heraklion, the resort is 2 km from the Islands best golf course and has four tennis courts on-site. The food enjoyed by guests is fresh and delicious and there is a huge variety to choose from so finding something to suit every kind of palette won’t be a problem here. I ate my weight in smoked salmon, prosciutto, and Greek salad. There are themed restaurants available at a premium and the main buffet-style restaurant that is included in your stay is excellent.

Perhaps the best example of the Aldemar Royal Mare desire to exceed expectations is its Thalasso spa – the first of its kind in Greece. The spa is a point of pride for the Aldemar team and with good reason. The facility is listed among the best 10 Thalasso Centres worldwide and voted as “World’s Leading Thalasso Resort” 8 years in a row.

And don’t forget about the beach…

Diversity at the Aldemar Royal Mare

As my stay at the Aldemar Royal Mare came to an end I realized that its winning formula of high quality services and spacious property design was not lost on the young adult. Typically a property at this high standard is geared towards a certain demographic– but not here. Young couples to retired travellers can be found sipping cocktails after a fabulous meal. Young families enjoying the poolside activities can also be seen at the Aldemar Royal Mare. This diversity can be attributed to the ability to tailor your stay – several different packages and options, from half-board to all-inclusive VIP are available to fit your budget and needs.