It’s All Inclusive
Resort head-to-head

Crete's two best-known all-inclusives, and they could not be aimed at more different people. Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa at Analipsi is adults-only, five-star, and built around its water. Creta Maris Resort at Hersonissos is a 676-room family resort with 17 pools, one of the largest all-inclusive operations in Greece. Both are strongly rated; they are not alternatives to each other so much as answers to different questions.

Creta Maris Resort · Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa · How we score · Last reviewed August 2026

Head to head

Creta Maris ResortvsStella Island Luxury Resort & Spa

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Creta Maris Resort
Creta Maris Resort
Five-Star·★ 4.7
Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
Five-Star·★ 4.8·Adults Only

Scores at a Glance

Creta Maris ResortStella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
Overall
9.0
8.9
Beach
8.6
6.8
Food
9.0
8.4
Service
8.8
9.1
Rooms
8.4
9.1
Luxury
·
9.0
Value
8.6
7.5
Romance
·
9.5
Scores out of 10 · higher is better

Quick Stats

Creta Maris ResortMeasureStella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
(better)9.0Overall Score8.9
5-starStar Rating5-star
4.7 (5,715)Google Rating4.8 (1,836) (better)
From $145Price / Night (pp)Rates TBD
NoAdults OnlyYes
YesKids' Club–
Near coastBeachfrontNear coast
Mid-sizeResort SizeMid-size
25 minAirport Transfer25 min

All Scores

Creta Maris ResortMeasureStella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
(better)8.6Beach6.8
(better)9.0Food8.4
8.8Service9.1 (better)
8.4Rooms9.1 (better)
9.5Pools9.7 (better)
–Luxury9.0
(better)8.6Value7.5
9.5Family–
–Romance9.5
(better)8.2Nightlife7.4
–Quiet8.7
–Wellness8.5
–Remote work8.0

Of the 9 measures we call, Creta Maris Resort leads on 5 and Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa leads on 4.

Vibes

Creta Maris ResortMeasureStella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
YesLively–
–RomanceYes
–QuietYes

Activities

Creta Maris ResortMeasureStella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
YesSpaYes
YesWater sportsYes
YesNightlife–
YesKids–

Creta Maris Resort

  • 17 pools
  • 7 restaurants & bars
  • Full-service spa
  • 25 min from HER

Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa

  • Adults-only all-inclusive
  • 8 pools
  • 7 restaurants & bars
  • Full-service spa
  • Overwater bungalows
  • Swim-up suites

Pros · Creta Maris Resort

  • True all-inclusive product
  • 17 pools and waterpark
  • Seven restaurants and nine bars
  • Blue Flag beachfront
  • Excellent family and teen fit

Pros · Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa

  • Spectacular lagoon-pool design.
  • Strong adults-only honeymoon atmosphere.
  • Wide range of swim-up, overwater and private-pool rooms.
  • Good service and food sentiment.

Cons · Creta Maris Resort

  • Large resort scale
  • Some room decor may feel dated
  • Reservations and layout require planning
  • Spa costs extra

Cons · Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa

  • Not beachfront.
  • All-inclusive dining rules are more limited than many guests expect.
  • À la carte access can depend on rate or room type.
  • Privacy varies by room position around the lagoon.
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Round by round

Who it takes

The decision, again. Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa is adults-only. Creta Maris Resort takes families and is built for them at scale.

Scale

Creta Maris Resort runs 676 rooms, 7 restaurants, 9 bars and 17 pools. Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa is a smaller, quieter property with 5 restaurants. One is a resort village, the other is a retreat.

Guest sentiment

Both rate well, with Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa slightly ahead on the overall guest rating. Read the category breakdowns below; on properties this different the averages hide more than they show.

Setting

Analipsi and Hersonissos are both on Crete's northern coast within reach of Heraklion, so the transfer is not the deciding factor. What differs is what is outside the gate.

Season

Crete is a summer destination and both resorts run seasonally rather than year-round, which is worth confirming against your dates before anything else.

White Mediterranean villa with blue shutters, stone terraces, wooden railings, and pink flowers in foreground under clear sky.
Creta Maris Resort, null
The referee's call

The verdict

Close call

Adults travelling without children should book Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa, which is the higher-rated and quieter of the two and does not need to be anything else. Families should not attempt it: Creta Maris Resort is the one with the pools, the space and the programming, and at 17 pools it is unusually well equipped for a European all-inclusive. Check your dates against the season before you compare anything else.

Frequently asked questions

Can children stay at Stella Island?

No, Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa is adults-only. Creta Maris Resort is the family option on Crete.

How big is Creta Maris?

676 rooms, with 7 restaurants, 9 bars and 17 pools. It is one of the largest all-inclusive resorts in Greece.

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