Multigenerational Family Trip to Crete
Bringing three generations together is not only a matter of enough beds. A good family stay gives people time together without asking everyone to follow the same rhythm. Crete rewards a longer stay, Rethymno is a practical base for different interests, and private villas give shared meals and pool time alongside real privacy.
By Argyris Skordilis, owner and host · Updated
At a Glance
| Decision | Practical guidance |
|---|---|
| One villa or nearby villas? | Start with households, privacy and bathrooms, not the total number of guests |
| Length of stay | About a week from Europe, 10 nights or more from the US, two to three weeks from Australia |
| Daily rhythm | Alternate shared outings with optional time apart |
| Steps and access | Check each villa’s steps and bedroom floors before booking (table below) |
| First step | Send Argyris the ages, households, bedroom needs and arrival times |
Why Crete Works for Three Generations
- Everything close together: a beach approx. 3 km away, Rethymno Old Town approx. 13 km, Arkadi and the Museum of Ancient Eleutherna within about 20 minutes. Short drives suit children and grandparents.
- Something for every age on one island: sea, history, villages, food and easy day trips.
- A family food culture: long lunches, shared plates and tavernas that welcome children.
- Two airports: Heraklion approx. 73 km (about 60 min) and Chania approx. 79 km (about 75 min) from the villas.
Coming from far away
| Coming from | Getting here | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| The US and Canada | No direct flights: fly to Athens or a European hub, then a short flight to Heraklion or Chania | Greece is about 7 hours ahead of the US East Coast. Plan 10 nights or more, with one quiet day to recover. History, food and English widely spoken make it easy for every generation. |
| Scandinavia, the UK and northern Europe | Direct flights in season to Chania and Heraklion, about 3–4 hours | Sun and warm sea from June to October. May, June, September and October are pleasant for grandparents; school-holiday weeks fill first. |
| Australia and New Zealand | About 20–30 hours via Asia or the Gulf and Athens | Greece is 7–9 hours behind eastern Australia. Stay two to three weeks and keep the first days light. Many Greek-Australian families combine a villa stay with visits to relatives. |
Start with the Family, Not the Destination
“Twelve guests” says very little. It could be three couples and six children, or grandparents who need quiet and adults who do not want to share bathrooms. Answer these first:
- Which adults need their own bedroom?
- Which children can share?
- Who needs a quieter room or an earlier bedtime?
- Who should avoid stairs, or needs a bathroom close to the bedroom?
- Will everyone arrive together, or at different times?
- One shared house, or nearby private homes?
Family-fit worksheet
Write one line per household and send it to Argyris:
| Household | Who | Bedrooms needed | Stairs OK? | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandparents | … | … | … | … |
| Family 1 | … | … | … | … |
| Family 2 | … | … | … | … |
Steps and Layout at Each Villa
| Villa | Ground floor | Steps | Children’s pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villa Asteri (8) | 2 bedrooms, raised approx. 7–10 cm | Small step at the entrance and to the pool terrace; 20 steps to the two first-floor bedrooms | Yes, 0.50 m |
| Villa Kitron (6) | Twin bedroom with its own en-suite, kitchen and living areas | 1 at the entrance, 4 down to the pool, 15 to the first floor | No |
| Villa Myrrini (6) | All rooms on one level inside | 17 from the parking to the front door | Yes, 0.50 m |
| Villa Argiris (8) | All indoor spaces on one level | 2 at the entrance, 6 up to the pergola | No |
None of the villas is wheelchair accessible. Argyris can help place each household where the steps suit it. To try it yourself, use the group planner: add each household and see which villa fits.
One Villa or Nearby Villas?
| Choose one villa when… | Choose MAZI when… |
|---|---|
| The bedrooms and bathrooms fit every household | Households want private homes as well as shared time |
| The family is happy to share the same rooms and rhythm | Bedtimes, naps, work or rest are likely to differ |
| One meeting point matters more than separation | Privacy would make shared meals and outings easier |
- MAZI: two or three of Villa Asteri, Villa Kitron and Villa Myrrini in Asteri Village, 30–90 m apart, for up to 12, 14 or 20 guests.
- Price: the same as the villas booked separately. Many families share the cost, or the grandparents treat the family; each villa can have its own booking and payment. See prices in One Villa or Multiple Villas?
- Bathrooms: all three villas together have 9 bathrooms and 1 WC for up to 20 guests, about one for every two guests.
- Meals together: at one villa, agreed with Argyris before arrival; a private chef or catering on request.
- Villa Argiris: a separate villa in Stavromenos, about 2.6 km away, with its own booking; not part of MAZI. Together up to 28 guests in two locations.
See also One Villa or Multiple Villas?.
Something for Every Generation
| Who | Near the villas |
|---|---|
| Grandparents | A slow morning in Rethymno Old Town (approx. 13 km), an olive oil tasting at the villa on request, a long lunch in the shade |
| History for all ages | The Museum of Ancient Eleutherna and its archaeological site (approx. 13 km, about 20 minutes), Arkadi Monastery (approx. 9 km); for a longer day, the Palace of Knossos near Heraklion (approx. 72 km, about 75 minutes) |
| Parents | Day trips along the north coast or into the mountains, a wine tasting on request, a beach morning (nearest beach approx. 3 km) |
| Young children | Children’s pools at Villa Asteri and Villa Myrrini, the playground in Chamalevri (approx. 500 m from Asteri Village), sand and shallow water at the beach |
| Everyone | A family dinner at one villa, with a private chef or catering if you want; dinner all together at the village taverna; a Cretan night nearby every Thursday and Friday from late April to mid-October, with dinner, live Cretan music and dancing |
Rethymno Old Town has cobbled lanes, and the Fortezza has slopes and steps: plan a shorter visit for grandparents.
A Rhythm That Does Not Exhaust the Group
Keep a few shared anchors, such as a first dinner, one cultural day, a beach morning and a last meal, and let smaller groups do their own thing in between.
- Arrival day: no programme.
- First full day: gentle, near the villa.
- One main outing, then a slower day.
- Flexible afternoons, not back-to-back bookings.
- In July and August, rest at the villa in the hottest hours. May, June, September and October are milder and easier for grandparents.
- Last day: packing and one shared meal.
The First 48 Hours
- Airports: Heraklion approx. 73 km, Chania approx. 79 km. A hire car or a private transfer is the easiest way to arrive.
- Different arrival times: tell Argyris when each household lands, so every villa is ready.
- One lead guest keeps in touch with Argyris for the whole family.
- First morning: breakfast, groceries and time at the villa, not the longest excursion.
Transport is not included in the villa stay. Argyris can introduce you to independent local providers for car hire or transfers, including child seats; the provider confirms the vehicle, price and terms directly with you.
Food, Children and Older Guests
- Food: mix simple villa meals, local shopping and meals out; the Breakfast Basket is included in direct bookings.
- Babies: free cots and a highchair on request.
- Children: leave room for repetition; a pool afternoon can matter more than another attraction.
- Pools: not heated and not separately fenced; children must always be supervised. The pools of the other villas in a MAZI booking only with a written agreement, and children only with their parents present.
- Older guests: check the steps, parking and bathroom arrangements in the table above before booking.
- Health: a pharmacy is approx. 2 km from Asteri Village, and the hospital is in Rethymno (approx. 12 km).
Five Red Flags Before Booking
- Choosing by maximum guests without checking bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Assuming a ground-floor bedroom makes the whole stay step-free.
- Making every outing compulsory for every generation.
- Relying on one car when households arrive and move at different times.
- Assuming pool safety, heating or access without checking the villa.
Before You Book
- MAZI is Villa Asteri, Villa Kitron and Villa Myrrini in Asteri Village, for up to 20 guests.
- Villa Argiris is a separate villa in Stavromenos, not part of MAZI, with its own availability, booking and payment.
- Booking: for MAZI, one enquiry and one combined proposal; each villa keeps its own booking reference and payment.
- Minimum stay: varies by villa and season, and the booking engine confirms it for your dates.
- Transport is not included and is arranged with independent providers.
- Accommodation only: the villas are private homes, not an event venue.
- Book early: as early as possible, especially when two or three villas must be free on the same dates.
- Keep at least one part of the holiday unplanned.
Plan the first family conversation around privacy, not only capacity. If each household has a place where it can close the door and rest, the shared meals and outings usually feel easier. Leave one or two days deliberately light; those often become the days the family remembers most.
Argyris Skordilis · Owner and host, Amazing Villas in Crete · usually replies within 12 hours
Facts checked against our four villa pages · Last reviewed by Argyris Skordilis, owner of Amazing Villas in Crete.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crete good for a multigenerational family trip?
Yes, especially when the family wants a longer stay with a mixture of shared time and independent choices. Crete offers town, coast, countryside, food and cultural visits without requiring every guest to follow the same daily plan.
Is one villa enough for three generations?
It can be, if the bedroom, bathroom and privacy arrangement fits the actual households. Larger families may prefer nearby villas so that each household has private space while remaining close to the rest of the group.
What is MAZI?
MAZI combines two or three of Villa Asteri, Villa Kitron and Villa Myrrini in Asteri Village. Depending on the selected villas, it accommodates up to 12, 14 or 20 guests. The villas remain separate private homes. Villa Argiris is not part of MAZI.
Which villa suits grandparents or guests who prefer fewer steps?
None of the villas is wheelchair accessible. Villa Argiris has all its indoor spaces on one level, with 2 steps at the entrance. Villa Kitron has a ground-floor twin bedroom with its own en-suite and one step at the entrance. Villa Asteri has two ground-floor bedrooms with a small step at the entrance. Villa Myrrini is on one level inside but is reached by 17 steps from the parking.
Are there children’s pools?
Yes, Villa Asteri and Villa Myrrini each have a separate children’s pool, 0.50 m deep. The pools are not heated or separately fenced, so children must always be supervised. Free baby cots and a highchair are available on request.
How many nights should a multigenerational family spend in Crete?
As a guide: about a week from Europe, 10 nights or more from the US, two to three weeks from Australia. Allow enough time for arrivals, slower villa days and a small number of worthwhile outings without making the holiday feel scheduled from morning to night.
Is Rethymno a practical base for an extended family?
It can be a strong regional base because it supports different interests across town, coast and inland Crete. Planning should begin from the selected villa, current routes and the family’s mobility and transport needs.
What should we ask before booking?
Ask about the verified bedroom and bathroom layout, household privacy, current availability, pool facts, access routes, parking, steps and thresholds. Also explain whether the family will arrive together or in separate waves.
Is there a minimum stay?
Yes. The minimum stay varies by villa and season, and the booking engine confirms it for your dates. For a shorter stay, ask Argyris what is possible.
Plan the Right Family Stay
Tell Argyris who is travelling, how the households divide, what privacy each generation needs and how the group expects to spend its days. The right answer may be one villa or a two- or three-villa MAZI stay; the decision should follow the family rather than a headline capacity.
More MAZI guides
- One Villa or Multiple Villas? Group Accommodation in Crete
- Best Villas near Rethymno for Wedding Guests
- How to Organise a Wedding Guest Stay in Crete
- Stay near Agreco Farm: Private Villas for Wedding Guests
- Group Villas in Crete: How to Choose the Right Setup
- MAZI2 or 3 villas in Asteri Village · up to 20 guests
- Villa AsteriThe Carpenter’s House · 8 guests · children’s pool · Asteri Village
- Villa Kitron6 guests · every bedroom en-suite · Asteri Village
- Villa Myrrini6 guests · children’s pool · Asteri Village
- Villa Argiris8 guests · one level, sea views · Stavromenos
- Compare the villasAll the facts side by side
