Dive right in: Crete’s Daios Cove provides the perfect dose of half-term fun

New opportunities

Scott Dunn isn’t a brand we’ve written about to any great length in Aspire. Its direct-to consumer focus naturally meant it wasn’t appropriate or right for our audience, but times have changed. In early 2024, the operator announced it would start working with a small number of luxury agents, initially launching exclusively with Wimbledon-based agency Swords Travel. At the time, the brand’s then chief executive, Sonia Davies, said she believed the Explorers offering would be highly attractive to agents – and she wasn’t wrong.

Speaking to Aspire, Simon Meeke, head of family growth at Scott Dunn, said he recognised that the “Explorers kids’ clubs [were] an attractive and appealing proposition to trade partners servicing families in the luxury segment”. He added that the operator was open to exploring relationships with more agents and encouraged them to get in touch if they felt the proposition suited their client base.

Scott Dunn has eight Explorers clubs located in Europe, the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives, with an additional outpost due to open in May at Sun Gardens Dubrovnik in Croatia. The offering at Daios Cove has been in operation for more than a decade and is one of the reasons the property has cemented its place as a firm favourite among families.

Kids’ club aside, the hotel sits on a pristine cove where the water gently laps the shore. My nine-month-old daughter had her first encounter with the sea on this spot, giggling as the waves tickled her toes. The beach is undergoing an extension and will double in size to accomodate an extra 100 sunbeds which will be spaced further apart from each other. The epic infinity pool is equally kid-friendly, but also large enough for grownups wanting some respite (there’s an adult-only pool next to the pool bar, complete with giant, sumptuous, padded lilos).

An epicurean’s delight

The main buffet restaurant, Pangea, has a separate area exclusively for families, so you never feel like your children are disturbing other guests – helpful when your four-year-old insists on flinging cars along the floor during breakfast. There’s also a small adult-only area, which looked like a peaceful spot to enjoy the smorgasbord of delights on offer.

The food at Daios Cove is nothing short of divine, putting other big brands to shame, with an extensive and impressive selection across all six venues. Every menu highlights the provenance of ingredients that have been sourced locally. For example, we knew our honey had been procured from Aroma Kritis in Chania; oranges were grown at Fragakis Farm, also in Chania; and olive oil was produced by Kritsa Cooperative in Agios Nikolaos.

Joining the Residents’ Club allows guests to enjoy à la carte dining in all restaurants, along with access to an extensive wine list and unlimited room service (the latter came in handy after a late arrival at Heraklion International Airport, located about an hour’s drive away). Our favourite dining spot was the relaxed Beach House, which serves a Cretan-inspired lunch and dinner menu by the shores of Vathi Bay. Another standout venue was Ocean Restaurant, which is slightly more formal, as is Taverna, which, as well as lunch and dinner, also serves an adult-only breakfast.

Rho Restaurant is the adult-only evening option and, while I didn’t eat there, other guests raved about the dishes they enjoyed. We’d often overhear the highlights of other holidaymakers’ stays while riding the property’s funicular, which runs down the cliffside, providing easy access to all levels of the hotel.

This facility alone highlights the scale of Daios Cove – it’s a sprawling resort that requires a buggy to access its 276 rooms, suites and villas. If our son wasn’t at the kids’ club, he was splashing about in the pool or enjoying fancy sorbets from La Glace Alain Ducasse. He was endlessly happy, which meant we were endlessly relaxed – the ultimate outcome for a family holiday.