6 Days in Crete with an 8 month Baby: Beaches, Gorges, Olive Oil, & Travel Hacking

Crete felt like Athens' smaller cousin. Less crowded, more laid back, and with far more beach vibes. The main airport is Heraklion (HER), which honestly feels a bit underwhelming considering how popular Crete is as a vacation destination.

We chose to stay on the north side of the island and based ourselves at the InterContinental Crete, a relatively new 5-star hotel right on the water in Agios Nikolaos. What made this trip especially fun was that we largely stayed there for free thanks to some travel hacking.

How We Booked the Hotel for (Almost) Free

This was one of the better Chase Sapphire Reserve redemptions I've found.

Each Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with:

• A $250 annual travel credit

• A $250 Chase Edit hotel credit on eligible stays

Normally these credits cannot be used on back-to-back reservations under the same card. To work around this, we split our stay into three separate reservations.

Reservation 1

My Chase Sapphire Reserve

• First two nights

• $500 total credits applied

• $0 out of pocket

Reservation 2

My wife's Chase Sapphire Reserve

• Weekend stay

• About 20,000 Chase points out of pocket

• Upgraded room with a private plunge pool

Reservation 3

My Sapphire Reserve Business

• Final two nights

• Another $500 in credits applied

The Chase Edit program also includes:

• Free breakfast for two

• Property credits

• Welcome amenities

• Potential room upgrades

• Late checkout

The coolest part is that because the hotel is an IHG property, I was still able to receive IHG Platinum benefits and earn IHG points on the stay. So we were essentially earning points toward future stays while paying almost nothing for this one.

The hotel itself was excellent. The staff were friendly and accommodating, there was a 24-hour gym, a children's playroom, and a great outdoor training area next to the gym that we used frequently while traveling with our 8.5-month-old daughter. Breakfast was varied and excellent, and the buffet dinner on Thursday night was one of the highlights of the food offerings.

The only downside was the parking situation. The hotel sits on a very narrow one-way street and has no onsite parking. Valet service is provided, but the cars are stored about 10 minutes away. One morning they didn't have our car ready despite us requesting it the night before, and on departure day our vehicle was blocked in by another guest's car, causing about a 30-minute delay.

Overall hotel rating: 4/5

One thing I would strongly recommend is renting a car. While Agios Nikolaos itself is walkable, nearly all of the highlights we visited—including the gorges, olive oil farms, villages, beaches, and factory tours—would have been difficult or impractical without one.

Day 1: Arrival and Exploring Agios Nikolaos

Arrival day was simple.

We checked into the hotel, got settled, and spent the evening exploring Agios Nikolaos. The town itself turned out to be a great base for the trip, with a beautiful harbor, lots of restaurants, and plenty of things within walking distance.

Day 2: Spinalonga Island

Spinalonga is one of Crete's most famous attractions.

You can reach the island from either Plaka or Elounda. We chose the simple ferry option and purchased roundtrip tickets that brought us directly to the island and back about two hours later.

There are also longer boat tours available that combine Spinalonga with island hopping, swimming stops, and visits to secluded beaches around the bay. If you enjoy being out on the water or want more of a boating experience, this may actually be the better option.

The island is an old Venetian fortress and former leper colony with some fascinating history. We spent our time walking around the island, exploring the ruins, and enjoying the views.

While Spinalonga was interesting and unique, it ended up being one of our less favorite experiences of the trip. It was definitely worth seeing, but we personally enjoyed the hikes, beaches, and villages more.

We also visited:

• Elounda

• Plaka

Both are beautiful coastal towns and worth visiting while in the area.

Day 3: Kritsa Gorge and Kritsa Village

Kritsa Gorge was our first major adventure.

The hike takes roughly 2–4 hours depending on pace and features plenty of scrambling over rocks and uneven terrain. We completed the hike while carrying our 8.5 kg, 8.5-month-old daughter on our chest, which definitely made things more interesting.

The gorge is beautiful, rugged, and a lot of fun for people who enjoy a more adventurous hike.

Afterward we explored:

• Kritsa Village

• Ancient Lato

Lato was unfortunately closed when we arrived, but the viewpoint overlooking the area was still beautiful and worth the stop.

By the end of the day we were exhausted, but it was one of the most memorable adventures of the trip.

Day 4: Rest Day in Agios Nikolaos

Saturday became our local rest day.

After a leisurely breakfast we spent most of the day enjoying the hotel's facilities.

The infinity pool overlooking the sea is gorgeous and became one of our favorite places to relax.

In the evening we explored Agios Nikolaos and highly recommend:

Bioaroma Store

Excellent natural cosmetics, herbal products, soaps, and gifts.

Solo Gelato

Possibly the best ice cream we had in Crete.

Lake Voulismeni

A beautiful area to walk around in the evening while exploring the town.

Day 5: Richtis Gorge and Mochlos

Originally, we planned on doing olive oil tours.

Then we remembered something important:

It's Sunday.

Most things were closed.

So naturally we went on another hike.

Richtis Gorge ended up being one of the highlights of the entire trip.

The trail starts through beautiful forest scenery before leading through river crossings, pools, and eventually arriving at a stunning waterfall. There is also a shorter version available for families or those who want a less demanding experience.

It was farther away than we typically wanted to drive—we generally tried to keep daily driving under 20 minutes each way—but it was absolutely worth the effort.

On the way back we stopped in Mochlos.

Mochlos ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the trip.

It's a tiny fishing village with only a handful of waterfront restaurants, but there was something magical about the place. We sat on the rocks overlooking the bay while drinking smoothies and watching the water.

Despite being one of the smallest stops on the itinerary, it became one of our favorite memories from the entire trip.

Day 6: Olive Oil, Bioaroma Factory, and Voulisma Beach

Our final full day may have been the best.

We started at the Spiridi Olive Oil Farm.

Although we chose the self-guided option, they also offer:

• Olive oil pressing workshops

• Cheese making

• Cooking classes

• Family-friendly activities

The self-guided tour takes you through multiple stations explaining olive oil production, quality standards, harvesting methods, and traditional production techniques.

We learned a tremendous amount and ended up buying 5 liters of olive oil.

Next we visited the Bioaroma Factory.

This was one of the most unique experiences of the trip.

Unlike many factories, there were no giant warning signs, hazardous chemical smells, or industrial environments. Instead we saw people processing plants and herbs into natural products.

The entire operation is designed around sustainability. Even many of the containers can be reused, and some of the packaging can later be converted into beeswax candles.

We purchased:

• Soaps

• Cosmetics

• Gifts

• Honey

• Various natural products

Our final educational stop was Physis Olive Oil Park.

Compared to Spiridi, Physis felt more production-focused and industrial. It was fascinating to compare the two approaches.

Naturally, we bought another 5 liters of olive oil.

At this point we had somehow accumulated 10 liters of olive oil during a 6-day vacation.

To finish the day we visited Voulisma Beach.

This was probably our favorite beach of the trip.

The water was absolutely stunning, with some of the clearest turquoise water we've seen.

We rented chairs and an umbrella, went paddle boarding, relaxed in the shade, and enjoyed our final full day in Crete.

Although it can get crowded, there are plenty of rental options, trees for shade, and activities including:

• Paddle boarding

• Jet skiing

• Banana boats

Voulisma Beach was absolutely magical.

Departure Day

For our final day we kept things simple.

After a gym session and an extremely leisurely breakfast, we spent some final time by the pool before driving to Heraklion Airport for our flight home.

Quick Rankings

Favorite Beach: Voulisma Beach

Favorite Hike: Richtis Gorge

Favorite Village: Mochlos

Best Ice Cream: Solo Gelato

Best Family Activity: Spiridi Olive Oil Farm

Best Travel Hack: Chase Sapphire Reserve + Chase Edit + IHG stacking

Most Surprising Stop: Mochlos

Most Overrated Attraction: Spinalonga (still worth visiting)

Athens vs. Crete

If I had to choose between the two, I'd say Athens is better for city life, Greek history, ruins, museums, and food culture.

Crete is better for a relaxed vacation, beaches, water activities, hiking, and simply slowing down. We found ourselves spending far more time swimming, hiking, and enjoying nature in Crete, whereas Athens felt more like an urban adventure.

If you've never been to Greece before, I'd probably recommend Athens first. If you've already done Athens and want a more laid-back Greek experience, Crete is hard to beat.

Final Verdict

Crete ended up being exactly what we were looking for: a slower-paced Greek vacation with beautiful beaches, great hiking, excellent food, and plenty of family-friendly activities.

Looking back, our highlights weren't necessarily the biggest attractions. Some of our favorite memories came from places like Mochlos, Voulisma Beach, and the two gorge hikes. While the famous attractions were interesting, it was often the smaller villages, local experiences, and time spent outdoors that made the trip memorable.

Traveling with an 8.5-month-old never felt limiting. We managed to:

• Hike two gorges

• Visit Spinalonga

• Explore villages

• Tour olive farms

• Enjoy beaches

• Visit factories and workshops

all while carrying a baby.

My Personal Highlights

1. Voulisma Beach

2. Mochlos

3. Richtis Gorge

4. Kritsa Gorge

5. The InterContinental Crete

Best Hidden Gem

Mochlos.

Nobody goes to Crete dreaming about Mochlos, yet it ended up being one of the most memorable stops of the entire trip.

Would I Return?

Absolutely.

Especially to spend more time around Agios Nikolaos, Mochlos, and the surrounding beaches.

Crete may not have surpassed Athens for us, but it offered a more relaxed, beach-focused version of Greece with fewer crowds, incredible scenery, and some surprisingly memorable hidden gems.

And next time, we'll probably come home with another ridiculous amount of olive oil.