Hotels
Crete villas with private pool: your own pool with resort service
A villa with a private pool gives you privacy, but at a resort you skip the cooking and cleaning. Crete has several resorts with villas and suites with a private pool. These are the ones we pick.
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In short: villas with a private pool in Crete
Most resorts with private pools are in eastern Crete, around Hersonissos, Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Our first choice is Nana Princess, with villas, a private beach and two pools. Book early, as the villas are few and fill up fast in high season.
Our first choice: Check availability and prices at Nana Princess Suites, Villas & Spa
A resort villa or a private villa?
A private holiday home gives you the most space, but you shop, cook and often need a hire car. At a resort you get your own pool by the villa, plus breakfast, restaurants, a spa and housekeeping. It suits you if you want privacy without running the house yourself.
Good to know: Not every room type at these resorts has a private pool. Choose the room type with a private pool when you book, and check if the pool is heated if you travel in spring.
The resorts we pick
Nana Princess Suites, Villas & Spa
Nana Princess sits on its own private beach in Hersonissos, with beach cabanas, parasols and morning yoga. There are two outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a spa and its own vineyard. The kids club is included, so the villa stays calm for the adults while the children are busy.
Best for: families and couples who want space and a beach.
Good to know: The water park costs extra.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Nana Princess Suites, Villas & Spa
Daios Cove
Daios Cove has its own cove and private beach north of Agios Nikolaos, with a beach bar and diving straight from the sand. The villas sit in terraces above the sea, and the resort has both outdoor and indoor pools. The spa offers hot stone massage, and the kids club is included.
Best for: couples and families who want a sheltered beach.
Good to know: You need a car or a taxi to get out of the cove.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Daios Cove
Elounda Mare
Elounda Mare is a member of Relais & Châteaux and sits on a private beach in Elounda, with a golf course as its nearest neighbour. The bungalows are spread through gardens running down to the water, and the spa offers Ayurvedic treatments and aromatherapy. Three restaurants mean you can eat well without leaving.
Best for: couples who want a classic luxury hotel with privacy.
Good to know: The hotel welcomes pets.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Elounda Mare
Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa
Cayo sits in terraces down to the sea at Plaka, about fifteen minutes from Elounda by car. Five restaurants, three bars, an indoor pool and a spa with Ayurvedic treatments give you plenty of choice. Transport to the beach is included, and guests single out the staff for praise.
Best for: couples who want sea views and good food.
Good to know: There are slopes between the levels of the resort.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa
Our first choice for a villa
Nana Princess Suites, Villas & Spa
Nana Princess sits by the sea in Hersonissos, with villas, suites and a private beach. There is room for the whole family and your own outdoor space. By day you swim in the pool or the sea, and in the evening you eat at the resort restaurants without cooking yourself.
Frequently asked questions about villas with a private pool in Crete
Where in Crete can you find a villa with a pool?
The resorts with private pools are mostly in eastern Crete, around Hersonissos, Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Around Chania and in Apokoronas you find many private holiday homes with pools. Choose a resort if you want service and restaurants, and a private villa if you want the most space.
Is the pool heated?
It varies. Many private pools are not heated, and the water can be cold in April and May. From June it is usually warm enough anyway. If you travel early or late in the season, ask the hotel if the pool can be heated, and what it costs.
When should you book a villa with a pool in Crete?
Book as early as you can, ideally several months before summer. Each resort has only a few villas with a private pool, and they fill up fast in July and August. In May, June and September it is easier to find free villas, often at lower prices.