Parts of the Amirandes, near the Cretan capital of Heraklion, really needs to be seen to be believed. Styled after the palaces of the Minoan kings and Venetian nobles who once ruled Crete, its mixture of architectural styles resembles something from 1001 Arabian Nights. Vast stretches of water, including an Olympic-size saltwater pool combine with a hotel that blends modern and Ancient Greek building techniques.

The facilities

The resort's facilities are numerous, with the Olympic pool as the centrepiece, although there are over 60 other pools on site that are distributed among the suites. There's also a private beach with watersports equipment and tuition, a spa, a golf course, three tennis courts, football and basketball areas and an amphitheatre for entertainment (though the rock'n'roll evenings and Mama Mia screenings may leave some visitors nonplussed).

The rooms

The Amirandes offers suites of many varieties, most of which have something special to recommend them. Rooms in the main palace come with a sea view and state of the art bathrooms, and sometimes include home cinemas, private gyms and Jacuzzis. The more spacious villas generally come with greater privacy and their own swimming pools.