Are you after a Crete family resort, that’ll cater both for the adults, and the kids? Maybe you want a break from parenting? Or your teens would like to try some water sports, or have fun in a waterpark? Then, why not check out the Fodele Beach waterpark resort, like we did. This was our first trip to Greece as a family, with teenagers in tow, and it’s never easy pleasing everyone on holiday, so how did Fodele Beach get on with managing it?
Note: We were gifted a number of activities during our stay at Fodele.
Holiday paid for in full!
As always with our reviews, we are going to take a look at the rooms, dining, activities, and services for families on the resort; as well as sharing the prices where we can.
What is the accommodation like at the Fodele Beach waterpark resort?
The accommodation in Fodele is varied, and caters for family in a number of different ways. Guests can book double/triple and family rooms, as well as suites within the complex. There are rooms that overlook the sea, as well as those that are a little less expensive without the sea view. The rooms all have private patios or balconies for a little outdoor space and relaxation time.
For those with younger children, the double rooms are big enough to accomodate a child, and the triple rooms offer an alternative for those with slightly older children.
We have two teenagers, so opted for a family suite, so our teens had a little more privacy, and we had somewhere to sit outside our rooms as well. If you really wanted to push the boat out in terms of cost, the resort also boasts two-floor maisonettes.
Our family suite was perfect with loads of outdoor space, including patios connected to both bedrooms, and the seating area. This meant that there was plenty of room for us to spread out after having fun on the resort at the end of the day. Plenty of space for board games, listening to music, and playing cards with a cool drink as the sun sets….
If you have older children, it really is important for them to have their own space. It also gave us somewhere to put our wet costumes to dry at the end of the day, particularly as the resort has thought of including a pull-out drying rack on the terraces!
The decor within the rooms is beautifully light and relaxing, creating a lovely Cretan feel to each apartment, with clean lines, and pristine style. The flavour is distinctly mediterranean, giving the resort a fresh feel, and helping it to overcome the feeling you sometimes get in resorts of being on top of each other. The way the buildings are laid out on the hillsides of Crete above the beach, has enabled Fodele to keep an intimate feel, despite having a large site.
Though the site is expansive, the train that takes people to the accommodation and the water park does mean that you can get around without having to walk too much. However, it is worth noting that there is a lot of up and down to get to and from your room. For those thinking of taking grandparents, or that aren’t happy with walking a lot, it might be better to ask for a room nearer reception to minimise the climbing required. The nearer the beach you are, the less walking you will need to do!
Where can you eat at Fodele?
Fodele caters for families, and adults with two buffet restaurants, a couple of a la carte restaurants, and small buffets at the beach, and pool bars. We were able to eat what we wanted as all inclusive guests, but there are other options for food, so make sure you check what’s available when you book Fodele, either through your agents, or direct with the site. There are often offers on their site for getting free nights at the a la carte restaurants when you book direct.
Basilikos
This is the main restaurant at Fodele, and a buffet restaurant with everything you will ever need. There is enough that fussier kids will be able to find their favourites, including pizza and fries. They also have a salad bar, and a huge selection of bread if you are watching that waistline. There are themed nights for the evening meals including Greek, Spanish, Mexican and Asian. Our kids particularly enjoyed the Chinese nights, with as much stir fry, spring rolls, and prawn crackers as you wanted.
The dessert section at both Basilikos and F (see below) are mouth-watering, with so many different tastes and textures to explore.
There is always ice cream there too, for the little ones that perhaps aren’t so adventurous even when exploring around a sweeter tooth.
As you can see from the dessert photos, the resort’s presentation, and attention to detail is second to none – enough to make anyone’s mouth water around more than just the desserts section!
“F” All Day Restaurant
This restaurant is available near the main pool during the day, and as it suggests is open for business all day so that you can get food whenever you feel the urge.
Food isn’t allowed by the pool, though they are OK with you taking out ice cream of course. THis restaurant closes at 6pm, but as it opens at 10am, there is still plenty of time to relax in the sun on the terrace by the pool.
This was actually our favourite place to sit and eat lunch during the day and into the night as well. It is light, airy, relaxing and fun – the waiting staff were always incredibly friendly, and the location is to die for. As you can clearly see from the image above. They keep the area open after 6pm, and you just need to go to the Starlight Bar for drinks instead.
Elia
This is the traditional Greek restaurant on the site, and you need to book in advance, as otherwise you might be disappointed. When you arrive, check out the guest services within the lobby and they can help sort out when you eat there during your stay. The restaurant opens at 7pm, and serves all you would expect from a Greek, but with a bit of Fodele style; welcoming and attentive.
Ambrossia
If your kids are anything like mine, then they will adore Italian food; from pasta to pizza, there is always something for the most delicate palate. Ambrossia is open from 7pm in the evenings, and brings a little of Greece into Italy. The menu is extensive, and will have your taste buds fluttering.
Bars
Our favourite past time in the evening was to sit and play games at the main starlight bar at Fodele. The Breeze bar is located nearby inside the hotel, and is also welcoming. However, we wanted to be outside and looking at the stars while we could.
The resort is busy, but the bar area by the main pool has enough seating, and space to make sure that you don’t feel you are packed in. There is regular entertainment for the kids, alongside fun family nights. Anything from Karaoke to Greek and Latin dancing.
We had lots of fun watching the Fodele version of Strictly, and the wonderful Zorba the Greek. Because the all inclusive bar ends at midnight, there was the added bonus that there weren’t too many loud or late nights. The resort really did feel perfect for families, with a friendly, but fun atmosphere at all times.
What are the activities like at Fodele Beach Waterpark?
The main reason that we chose Fodele was the waterpark on site, and we were 100% right in making this decision.
The waterpark is located at the top of the resort, and provided a wonderful place for us to go as a family, have fun together, and cool down. The temperatures get high in Crete during the summer, with averages pushing 30 degrees. It is a humid heat, and you need to be in and out of the water to help the body cool down.
The Fodele waterpark has seven different slides, with two of them requiring a tube to ride. Some of them can be ridden with younger children and the adults together:
- Body slide
- Freefall Slide
- Kamikaze
- Three Multislides (White): This white slide was perfect for us to race each other. Loads of competitive fun for all the family, particularly your teens,
- Black Hole (Black): This slide was my favourite – completely dark inside except for some fabulously colourful lights, it was both exciting and relaxing all at the same time! (Tube slide),
- Rafting Slide (Green): The other of the two tube slides, and a fast ride that was loads of fun, except if you managed to get turn around and ended up doing it backwards! (Tube slide),
- Compact Slide
The waterpark was our favourite activity from Fodele, and is reason enough to visit there on it’s own. As you can see from the above video, the teens can have loads of fun messing about on the slides, with their social channels. Get their creative juices flowing using their tech – and they’ll be making memories without realising it.
There are loads of other activities at Fodele too, with tennis, mini golf, ping pong, with other activities and ideas posted on their board (near the main pool) every day. The kids club are keen to keep your children entertained too, if you should need it, during the day.
In other words, the activities really make your holiday at Fodele, and if you didn’t want to explore the island, you could easily spend your holiday here and stay well and truly entertained.
If you want a little bit of me time, they do have a gym and a spa. The spa is gorgeous, with some wonderful relaxing treatments and massages. We managed to have a facial and get nails done while we were there, and the staff were welcoming, chatty and a joy to be with. Wellbeing is an important focus for the hotel, so their spa reflects this, with a chilled out vibe, and plenty of Greek hospitality.
We met a furry friend not long after the visit to the spa – she was admiring the nails we think!?! You can check what is available at the spa on their website. They have a full menu of services.
Our final though on the site entertainment, is that the resort has an amphitheatre with regular shows there every night for the entertainment of the guests.
Shows start at 9pm, and there is a theme for them each night, from comedy to magic. We didn’t attend these, and they were very much for those with younger children we felt.
Watersports at Fodele
Alongside the waterpark within the resort, Fodele Beach itself has a watersports station, where you can hire boats, jetskis, and have fun on the water in inflatables.
There is an additional cost for the water activities, which were kindly gifted to us by the resort, but they are well worth the extra to add a little bit of excitement and fun to your break.
We sampled both the jet skis and the sofa ride, but there are loads of other fun activities (as you can see from above) that you and your family will love to do. A holiday in Greece isn’t complete without mixing it up a bit on the water. Why not try a spot of parasailing, or go on a jet ski safari?
We were lucky enough to have Manos take a few photographs of the activities, and he’s captured the moments perfectly for us. Do go check him, and Fodele Water Sports out on Instagram.
5 reasons Fodele Beach waterpark is a perfect Crete family resort
We know that most of our readers are looking at resorts from the perspective of wanting to take their families, so we have five reasons for you why Fodele Beach is a good place to come. We couldn’t fault the hospitality, or the facilities. The only tiny comment we had was that sometimes when the restaurants are busy, service can be a little slow. However, given the number of people that staff are having to look after, it was surprising we didn’t have any further problems while we were there. All staff were helpful, and welcoming wherever we went.
1. Loads of onsite activities even for teens
There are loads of sports, activities, and ideas at the resorts for anyone that wants to take part, and plenty even for those that don’t! The easily accessible beach, and the pools mean that you can do as much, or as little as you want. Hire a cabana on the main Fodele beach for a little more family fun too. For those over 10+. there are even Scuba classes, to get even closer under the sea.
From archery, to scuba, there is something for you all.
2. Babysitting services so you can be YOU
For a little extra, you can find yourself at one of the a la carte restaurants without the kids, thanks to the babysitting on site. Even if you don’t use sitters, the kids club helps entertain the kids during the day, and there is usually an activity for the kids in the evening, so you can steal a little me time anyway.
We know family holidays are just that, about family, but we also know that you do need time alone as well to un-wind, and Fodele beach provides you with opportunities to find that from time to time.
3. Getting out and about with guest services
Sometimes one of the best things about a holiday is being able to explore off resort, and the guest services at Fodele beach offer car hire for trips around the island, as well as other activities picked to suit your tastes. We chose to do a sunset boat trip with one of the providers (which was gifted to us), and this was stunning. A lovely trip out from Heraklion to explore one of the islands off shore, and to see the sun setting over the ocean.
Quite simply, a stunning way to experience the island, and to make some very precious memories of a beautiful holiday.
4. Water, water everywhere
The waterpark speaks for itself, and the additional water sports make the location even more special; with paddle boarding, canoes, jet skis and much more. You’ll find something for the young and the old to enjoy.
The waterpark enables adds another dimension to a traditional resort, because it is always there, and you can use it whenever you think that the kids need to burn off a little of that excess energy. There is enough there for the younger children, but importantly it is exciting enough for teens too.
5. Even fussy eaters catered for
It can be tough finding places that are going to be able to manage when you have fussy eaters, or even a child with more complex sensory needs. Fodele beach has so much choice in the buffet this means it is much easier for you to sit down and enjoy your meals with the family in the evening.
This takes so much stress out of meal times, which we know can be a flash point in many houses on holiday.
So what if they have pizza, pasta and chips for a week – you are all on holiday 😂
What did we think of Fodele Beach waterpark resort overall?
This is a 4.5/5 for us – and we KNOW that’s hard to achieve, but we really only found service a little slow from time to time, and that was it. The staff were willing to help whenever we needed them. The rooms spotless, and the restaurants and activities catered for everything we could throw at them.
The apartment was even big enough to give four (almost) adults enough space, but comfortable enough to enable us to spend time together in the evenings.
We wouldn’t hesitate to go back there again, either as a couple or as a family. We know we made great memories there, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommending it to others so they can make their own special memories too.
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See you soon,
Helen
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!