ome places, once you’ve spent quality time there, really stay with you. And some move in, rearrange the furniture and refuse to leave. Crete is one of those.
Greece’s largest island doesn’t do fleeting impressions. Months later, you’ll catch yourself mid thought – was the light really that honeyed, were the tomatoes that indecently ripe?
Did the air actually hum with legend, or was that just the rattle of cicadas and the clink of ice in a glass?
The birthplace of Zeus and home to Europe’s first civilisation, Crete is a patchwork of sun-bleached landscapes, Venetian harbours and mountain villages.
Whether you’re hiking the gorge-strewn interior or kicking back in a pebbled cove with a carafe of something golden, the island doesn’t demand much of visitors.
Pebbled coves and olive groves, a swim between cocktails, lantern-lit dinners by the glittering Aegean Sea… the exquisite hotels where rustic charm meets sun-blessed relaxation on an island humming with history and myth
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Time to reflect
Kicking back Cretan style is a five-star experience
British Airways Holidays packages include a generous baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection and a 24-hour helpline for complete peace of mind. Secure your Crete holiday at Phāea Blue or Phāea Cretan Malia with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*
in Crete
British Airways Holidays knows Crete well, and when it partners with a hotel brand, it’s because it represents the best of the island. Founded by sisters Agapi and Costantza Sbokou, who grew up immersed in the art of hospitality, Phāea is a brand that offers quiet luxury with a soul.
Rooted in the ancient Greek notion of philoxenia – warm, generous hospitality – Phāea embodies an approach to luxury that is immersive, sustainable and deeply connected to place.
The name “Phāea” means “the light of the eye”, symbolising joy and happiness, and reflecting the brand’s commitment to creating meaningful travel experiences that bring like-minded people together.
Blue Door Taverna plates up just-caught seafood in a restored fisherman’s house; Phāea Farmers Feast hosts long communal dinners; while at Votsalo Bar, the expertly made cocktails are cold and the view does most of the talking.
You don’t leave Phāea Blue so much as pause your stay. The first thing you do when you get home? Figure out when you can go back.
*Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply
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PHĀEa Blue
Imagine waking to a sea so still it looks staged, the sun slipping over whitewashed walls, olive groves stretching towards the horizon.
That’s Phāea Blue – a private Cretan estate stitched into the northern coast, where splendour whispers rather than shouts. A place of quiet indulgence, where time slows and the Aegean calls the shots.
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Phāea Blue spills down the hillside towards a private pebbled beach with knockout views of Spinalonga – Crete’s fabled fortress island, once a Venetian stronghold, later a leper colony, now simply a beautiful landmark.
By day, you can crack the code of Cretan cooking, taste olive oil so fresh it bites back or sample wine right there in the vineyards where it originated.
There are garden tours, beach games, covered open-air yoga and access to watersports, while children get their own kingdom – The Little and Tiny Explorers’ Kids Club, where they can dig, perform or run wild-ish.
As the sun slinks off, the energy shifts – live music sparks up, lantern-lit feasts take over and the cocktails don’t stop until you do.
Luxury can often feel like a closed door, but not here. At Phāea Cretan Malia, five-star comfort comes with a seat at the table, a welcome that feels like home and a celebration of Cretan life.
Perched on Crete’s northern coast, between golden beaches and the lively town of Malia, this is luxury with its sleeves rolled up: a design hotel with a big personality, balancing rustic elegance with a tremendous energy that invites you to be part of something bigger.
Some rooms, bungalows and suites, with their whitewashed walls, wooden beams, hand-painted tiles, are tucked among the gardens, while others open straight onto the sea. And for those craving a getaway with loved ones, family-friendly options marry sophistication, practicality and privacy.
Magic castle
A Venetian fort forms a glorious backdrop for chilling at the Phāea Blue
One resort is a secluded saNCtuary, the other a homAge to cretan culture
Its flagship hotels, Phāea Blue and Phāea Cretan Malia, offer two takes on perfection – one a secluded sanctuary, the other a homage to Cretan culture. Whichever calls to you, expect cosy touches, farm-to-table feasts and views that Instagram was made for.
Your holiday can be secured with a low deposit, and you can pay off the remainder of the balance with flexible instalments to suit your budget.* You’ll get a generous baggage allowance, full ATOL protection and a 24/7 holiday helpline in case you need assistance.
British Airways offers daily flights to Heraklion International Airport from Gatwick and twice-weekly direct flights from Heathrow.
Phāea Farmers Feast hosts long communal dinners
The resort’s bungalows and suites come dressed in earthy tones with handcrafted details, and either private heated pools or terraces so close to the sea you can almost taste the salt.
Days unfold at your pace. Ease into them with a yoga mat and an espresso, wander through the hotel’s organic garden, or dip a spoon into honey straight from the hive. The sea is always an option – whether you’re up for scuba diving or just an occasional swim between cocktails.
Food is direct from the source. For meals masterminded by the highly rated chef Giannis Kallivretakis, and washed down with signature drinks, there’s Anthos.
Dining is a highlight. Mediterraneo serves up Cretan classics; Almyra offers oceanfront à la carte; Kafenio does light Cretan meze and coffees; and Mouries brings home-style cooking straight from generations of family kitchens.
For something special, the weekly chef’s dinner at Bostani, hosted by chef Lefteris Iliadis, showcases ingredients plucked fresh from the hotel’s own vegetable garden.
Phāea Cretan Malia isn’t just a hotel – it’s a sun-drenched invitation to sink into the island’s rhythms. It lingers like the warmth of a Cretan sunset, the taste of salt on your skin and the echo of a late-night feast with strangers who feel like old friends.
This isn’t just a hotel – it’s an invitation to sink into the island’s rhythms
Full menu
Food is fabulous – from Cretan meze to weekly dinners hosted by the chef
Warm welcome
The hotels articulate the Greek idea of kindly hospitality
Take a peak
The resort tumbles down wooded slopes to calm waters and diving spots
Just dip in
Nothing beats a sun-drenched soak in elegant surroundings
Country air
Rooms nestling among gardens radiate a rural vibe with traditional whitewashed walls
PHĀEa Cretan Malia
British Airways Holidays packages include a generous baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection and a 24-hour helpline for complete peace of mind. Secure your Crete holiday at Phāea Blue or Phāea Cretan Malia with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*
*Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply
ome places, once you’ve spent quality time there, really stay with you. And some move in, rearrange the furniture and refuse to leave. Crete is one of those.
Greece’s largest island doesn’t do fleeting impressions. Months later, you’ll catch yourself mid thought – was the light really that honeyed, the tomatoes that indecently ripe?
Did the air actually hum with legend, or was that just the rattle of cicadas and the clink of ice in a glass?
The birthplace of Zeus and home to Europe’s first civilisation, Crete is a patchwork of sun-bleached landscapes, Venetian harbours and mountain villages.
Whether you’re hiking the gorge-strewn interior or kicking back in a pebbled cove with a carafe of something golden, the island doesn’t demand much of visitors.
Time to reflect
Kicking back Cretan style is a five-star experience
Pebbled coves and olive groves, a swim between cocktails, lantern-lit dinners by the glittering Aegean Sea… the exquisite hotels where rustic charm meets sun-blessed relaxation on an island humming with history and myth
SPONSORED CONTENT
ome places, once you’ve spent quality time there, really stay with you. And some move in, rearrange the furniture and refuse to leave. Crete is one of those.
Greece’s largest island doesn’t do fleeting impressions. Months later, you’ll catch yourself mid thought – was the light really that honeyed, the tomatoes that indecently ripe?
Did the air actually hum with legend, or was that just the rattle of cicadas and the clink of ice in a glass?
The birthplace of Zeus and home to Europe’s first civilisation, Crete is a patchwork of sun-bleached landscapes, Venetian harbours and mountain villages.
Whether you’re hiking the gorge-strewn interior or kicking back in a pebbled cove with a carafe of something golden, the island doesn’t demand much of visitors.
Where to find
immersive luxurY
in Crete
immersive luxurY
in Crete
immersive luxury
Where to finD
