lagoon

I HAVE normally necked far too much Ouzo the night before to rise with the sun during a holiday in gorgeous Greece.

But my eyes are being opened, literally, to a much more wholesome and healthy way to start the day here on the island of Crete.

While my downward dog should arguably be put down, as my balance has gone walkies, the sound of the Cretan Sea gently lapping at the shore does make a sunrise yoga session surprisingly satisfying.

Never mind sinking sambuca shots, this is how holidays should be — relaxing, restful and geared towards recuperation.

I’m staying at Giannoulis Santa Marina Plaza, a 4* adults-only hotel tailored to a quieter and more authentic Cretan vacation.

Superbly serene, with a calming, child-free environment, it’s right on the golden, sandy, Blue Flag-rated Agia Marina beach.

READ MORE ON GREEK ISLANDS

SHELL SHOCKED

Bizarre rule that could see you stranded last-minute on Greek island holiday

RHODE TRIP

5 cheapest Greek islands this summer revealed with 7-night holidays from £249

My double room is small but comfortably formed, with an ensuite bathroom, TV and compact balcony to enjoy the sunrise over Kri-Kri island (more on that later).

With just 51 rooms and suites at this boutique hotel, even at full occupancy you’ll always get a sun bed.

The food is as good as you’d expect in Greece — super souvlaki, terrific tzatziki, outstanding olive oil — but the jewel in the crown is the hospitality.

From reception staff to the waiters and cleaners, this family-run resort is full of welcoming faces, attentive and always ready with a friendly “kalimera” (good morning) or “kalispera” (good evening).

The majority of guests are couples, over 50, enjoying the easy-going vibe.

By day, the only activity is people rising from a sun lounger for a refreshing dip in the pool or sea.

By night, it’s all about a game of cards on your balcony or a casual al fresco dinner by candlelight.

Crucially, this tranquil base is only 20 minutes — by bus, right outside the hotel, or taxi — from Chania, Crete’s charming old town, where ancient architecture meets a more modern city.

It’s an easy-on-the-eye cultural hub, with shops carved into honey-coloured stone walls, restaurants, cute cafes and churches.

After a few relaxed hours searching for souvenirs down its narrow, cobbled streets and snapping away at the beautiful Venetian harbour and 16th-century lighthouse, it’s time for a change of location, as I head west along the coast to Giannoulis’s sister hotel, Cavo Spada.

A much larger complex, with 150 deluxe rooms and suites, this sporty 5* leisure and spa resort is more suited to active holidaymakers. With tennis and padel courts, an assault course, a running track and indoor and outdoor gyms kitted out with top-quality equipment, its facilities are so good that the Swedish Olympic team use it for their training camps.

You can take part in a calendar of events ranging from spinning to body combat.

But that’s not my idea of a holiday.

Instead, I take advantage of the ­all-inclusive board to sample the decent cocktail menu at the bar overlooking the huge lagoon pool at the heart of the resort.

After over-exerting my right arm with the repeated lifting of a pina colada from table to mouth, I head to the on-site spa for a full-body massage, followed by a sauna and steam room.

Clearly a gem of a resort for keep-fit couples, it’s also a good option for families, with a kids’ outdoor playground and indoor play room.

And it’s just a short taxi ride from Kolymbari port, where I clamber aboard a catamaran for a half-day at sea. Destination — Kri-Kri island.

Our deckhand tells us of the ancient Greek mythology that Kri-Kri — AKA Thodorou island — was created when a massive sea monster and its child were turned to stone by Crete’s protector Poseidon, God of the Sea.

Now it’s a breeding ground for the protected Kri-Kri wild goat.

And while anchoring up for some paddleboard play and a snorkel in clear azure water, it’s fun to see if you can spot any of the cliff-climbing goats.

Having worked up an appetite thanks to all that, well, relaxing, back at the hotel’s Azzuro restaurant I really get stuck into a sensational a-la-carte option with Michelin star-worthy food.

After another cocktail workout (my right arm really is doing the heavy lifting on this break), I educate myself with two mainstays of Greek culture.

A complimentary olive-oil tasting session (FYI: trust the Cretan chef and store your olive oil in the fridge) is followed by wine-tasting with the hotel’s maitre d’.

I could quite easily finish a bottle of the white — an indigenous Vidiano.

But like I have done since arriving in Crete, I’m taking it easy — I’ve got another yoga session at sunrise.

IF you want to find natural phenomena like rich pink lagoons, you would think you’d have to go as far as Egypt or even Australia.

But actually, there’s one just two hours away from the UK – and it happens to be one of the most affordable coastlines of Spain.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel. 

Laguna Rosa is one of Europe’s only naturally pink lakes and it’s on the Costa Blanca coastline just outside of Torrevieja.

Flights to the nearest airport of Alicante can take as little as two hours and 15-minutes.

Laguna Rosa, or going by its official name Laguna de Torrevieja, is a pink salt lake that stretches across 1400 hectares.

BARGAIN HOL

Travel companies reveal their CHEAPEST spots this summer, with hols from £189pp

GREAT ESCAPES

Ten European city or beach holidays for under £100pp INCLUDING flight & hotel

It’s famous for its bright pink colourcaused by halobacteria (a microorganism) and Dunaliella salina (a type of algae), which are both naturally pink in color and release a pigment into the water.

The high concentration of salt in the lake means that technically you’d be able to actually float in the water – but swimming here is actually banned.

For the best chance of a deep pink lake, holidaymakers should aim to visit the lake between June to October.

Otherwise, make sure to head there during late August and early September where you’ll see as many as 2,000 flamingos in its shallow water.

Laguna Rosa is just one place to stop by on a visit to Costa Blanca which has been dubbed a ‘dupe’ for far-flung Red Sea-style escape.

Other popular spots around Torrevieja include Tabarca Island, is about an hour by boat from Alicante.

It has crystal-clear waters, calm coves, and is a sought out snorkelling destination with plenty of marine life to see – which is why it’s been compared to the Red Sea.

Back on land, a place where you can relax in amongst nature is Elche’s UNESCO-listed palm grove.

Here you can find shade under more than 200,000 palm trees.

If you want to see even more pink, the city of Elche even has its own palace that looks pink in the sun.

Palau d’Altamira is a fortress built during the 11th and 13th centuries – and rebuilt later on too.

Now, it’s a museum full of artefacts showing off the history of Elche.

When it comes to getting a bite to eat, the region has its own signature dish called ‘caldero’.

It’s a rich fish stew cooked with fresh local catch and rice.

The Costa Blanca coastline is cheap too. TravelSupermarket worked out that the average price of a holiday per person is £566.

In Alicante, which is the capital of the region, you can pick up beer for €3 (£2.61), coffee from €1.89 (£1.64) and a meal for as little as £13.

And when it comes to where to stay First Choice recommends Albir Garden Resort.

Families can base themselves at Albir Garden Resort which pools with aqua park’s slides and fountains, buffet restaurants and a kids’ club with daily activities.

Each one bedroom apartments accommodation comes with a lounge area, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and balcony.

Holidays here start from £442pp.