Platanes Holidays

Seaside scene

Life at this north coast town in the Rethymnon area of Crete revolves around the beach, and it's easy to see why. Platanes claims the widest and sandiest patch of an eight-kilometre stretch – plenty of space to lay down your towel. There are cool seafront bars and eateries on hand for lunch with a sea view, too.

Day-to-night trips

The town of Rethymnon's only a 10-minute drive away and provides many a photo op, with its cobbled streets, picturesque harbour and huge fortress. Stay on until nightfall when its clubs open up to the party crowd. On Thursdays, you can trawl market stalls piled high with the freshest local food.

Turtle time

Keep your eye on the beach conservation zone from May to September, and you might just spot a local celeb – loggerhead turtles arrive here during the summer season to lay their eggs. If you're lucky, you could catch sight of tiny, flippered babies making their dash for the surf.