Elios Hill - Sun Kissed Happiness Hotel

Set in Limenas Hersonissos, this 275-room resort is built for the sort of holiday where the day can move from pool to spa, from dinner to a late drink, without requiring a tactical operation. The hotel combines family facilities with quieter ways to spend your time, including a sauna, a gym, yoga and a full spa menu.

Hotel communication is available in English, and the website is also available in Greek. That matters when you are sorting out a transfer, an excursion or simply trying to establish what is actually included in dinner. The atmosphere is broad rather than specialist: families have a kids' club and playground, while adults can choose the terrace, the wellness centre, billiards or the evening entertainment.

You are in Limenas Hersonissos, on Crete's northern coast, with the town centre a few minutes away on foot. The surrounding beaches include Iliostasis Beach, Meltemi Beach and Buddha Beach, giving you several options for a change of scenery when the pool has had enough of you.

The hotel has a garden, terrace and outdoor furniture, while parking is available if you arrive with a car. A complimentary beach transfer is also available, which saves you from turning a swim into a small logistics exercise. There is access to nearby beaches.

For two people, the choice is mainly about how much of the holiday you want brought into the room. Deluxe and Premium doubles are the more fully equipped options, with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a desk, a safe, a wardrobe, towels and a private bathroom. Sea-view versions are available in both double-bed and twin-bed layouts, so you can choose the view without having to negotiate the sleeping arrangements.

The Family Open Plan room is the practical option when a fridge, television and coffee facilities will earn their keep. Two-bedroom suites give families or small groups separate sleeping areas, while the junior suite keeps things simpler for a couple who wants a little more room in the layout. Several categories are soundproofed, which is welcome when the resort's day eventually turns into karaoke, a disco or simply other people having a holiday.

Air conditioning is available in the Deluxe, Premium and Family Open Plan categories, along with heating where listed. Every listed category has a private bathroom; selected rooms also include toiletries, and the more fully equipped categories add a shower, hairdryer and towels. Choose the sea view for the outlook, the Family Open Plan layout for its in-room practicality, or the twin-bed version if sharing a double bed is not part of the dive plan.

The food setup covers breakfast, a restaurant, a buffet restaurant, a snack bar and a bar, with picnic lunches also available. That gives you a proper meal, a quicker stop and something portable for a day away from the hotel. The exact meal arrangement depends on the booking selected, so check the board details rather than assuming the buffet has already solved every meal.

The culinary offer ranges from Cretan and Mediterranean dishes to Asian and Mexican specialities. In other words, the kitchen is not trying to keep you on one narrow track for the whole week. After a salty morning, the snack bar is the straightforward answer; when you want to sit down properly, the restaurant and buffet provide the longer version of dinner.

There is one bar, alongside the restaurant and snack bar. The published meal arrangement is available.

Three pools, a water park and a seasonal outdoor pool give you plenty of water-based downtime without adding another timetable to the holiday. Pool equipment and pool towels are available, and the hotel also offers water-sports equipment. If the sea is already asking too much of you, the sun terrace, garden and outdoor seating make the slower option perfectly workable.

The Spa & Wellness Center is the serious recovery stop, with massages, facials, a hammam, sauna, jacuzzi, mud baths and body wraps. The gym has modern equipment, and yoga is available for those who prefer stretching to pretending that a hotel treadmill is a scenic activity. Tennis, darts and billiards cover the more competitive moments.

For evenings, karaoke and a disco are available. Families have a kids' club, children's pool, playground and babysitting service, so the resort can accommodate a mixed-age group without asking every adult to become an unpaid entertainer. The range is substantial, but the sensible approach is to pick what suits your energy rather than attempt the full programme.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 23:00, with check-out by 12:00. Reception operates from 06:00 to 23:30, giving you a useful margin around normal arrival and departure times, though a late arrival still needs to fit within the stated reception hours.

Airport transfers are available through the hotel, either as a private transfer or a shared shuttle arranged with the property. Vehicle hire and parking are also available, making the resort workable for an island itinerary rather than only a stay put by the pool. Excursion assistance and concierge services can help organise time away from the hotel.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are available, while luggage storage, a 24-hour reception listing and a currency exchange service add the sort of practical support that becomes useful once the dive bag, travel clothes and Greek island timetable all meet in the same room. The hotel accepts Visa, Mastercard and cash. Rooms and public areas are air-conditioned, and electrical supply is 230 volts with Type C and F sockets.