The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Costa Rica vs Crete

Costa Rica and Crete, side by side: live travel advisories, our resort catalog's real guest data, and each destination's honest weather picture — everything you need to break the tie.

Costa Rica guide · Crete guide · How we score

By the numbers

Costa RicaCrete
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Resorts in our catalog54
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.7
Nightly rates$800+$300–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts1 of 52 of 4
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskNo hurricane season
Rainy seasonMay–November ('green season'), with September–October seriously wetNovember–February
Sweet spotDecember–April, bone-dry in GuanacasteJune and September; July–August is hottest and busiest

Advisory levels sync from travel.state.gov; catalog figures reflect the resorts we've researched, not every hotel in the country.

Weather, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Costa Rica — high °F919293939188888887868789
Crete — high °F606164697683858581746862
Costa Rica — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5
Crete — rain (in)3.53.02.21.00.60.10.10.10.82.72.33.0

Approximate climate normals for Guanacaste / Papagayo and Crete (north coast) — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Costa Rica

  1. 1.The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort — · ★ 4.4
  3. 3.Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica — · ★ 4.4

Chains here: Westin · Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts · Secrets Resorts & Spas

Full Costa Rica guide

Best of Crete

  1. 1.Grecotel Caramel Boutique Resort — Rethymno, Crete, Greece · ★ 4.8
  2. 2.Ikos Kissamos — Kissamos, Crete, Greece · ★ 4.7
  3. 3.TUI BLUE Atlantica Crete — Agia Pelagia, Crete, Greece · ★ 4.6

Chains here: Grecotel · Ikos Resorts · TUI BLUE

Full Crete guide

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