The Greek island with the ‘cheapest pints in the Med’ and affordable luxury resorts

FROM the top of the cliffs, I look down on an historic city painted in vibrant colours and dissected by tiny cobbled streets.

Sun-kissed Chania, on the Greek island of Crete, is believed to be about 4,000 years old and is a mix of Venetian, Greek and Ottoman architecture.

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Its stunning waterfront was also the filming location for 1964’s Zorba The Greek — and I can’t help but hum the movie’s famous tune as I admire the city from above.

Being able to jet off from a cold UK for as little as £30 to a destin-ation where sunshine is almost guaranteed year round put this spot high on my holiday list.

On top of that Crete, which is Greece’s biggest island, offers ancient culture, delicious cuisine and some of the cheapest pints on the Med.

And of course there’s the stunning turquoise swim spots teeming with colourful marine life.

Chania sits on the north side of the island and is home to Brown Hotels’ latest jewel in its collection, Isla Brown Chania.

The affordable luxury resort has 148 spacious suites that overlook the sea.

It also has a private beach, three swimming pools, a gym, games rooms and three top-end restaurants.

Don’t forget to swing by the spa, either, which offers a vast menu of treatments, from anti-stress massages and body detoxes to hydrating facials and body scrubs.

As nice as it would have been to bask in five-star luxury the whole time, the staff promised that a trip into town — a 15-minute drive away — would be an unforgettable adventure.

And they were not wrong.

On day one I found myself at the Patriarchal Monastery of Agia Triada Tsagarolon, established in 1632.

Still in good nick today, it has a more modern purpose now thanks to a local family teaming up with the monks to operate an organic winery and olive oil operation out of its cellars.

It produces fine wine, organic extra-virgin olive oil, traditional brandy tsikoudia, pure thyme honey and balsamic vinegars.

Visitors can indulge themselves for £12 a head, but expect to come out swaying.

About 30 minutes farther south lies the picturesque Venetian port.

The plethora of tavernas that line the wharves are what attract thousands of tourists to Chania every year.

Day or night, the area is a hub of activity, with food, drink and shop-ping all overlooking the blue sea.

There is also an impressive array of museums that range in theme from archaeology, maritime and Byzantine to the National Football Museum.

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For me, it was the Cretan cuisine that was the highlight, though.

Whether you want freshly grilled octopus straight from the fisherman’s net or a succulent slab of kri-kri goat (local to the area), the restaurants have it all.

I was most impressed by the Salis restaurant, which had been recom-mended by a local.

The brainchild of chef Afshin Molavi and his business partner Stelios Kalivianakis, it prides itself on farm-to-fork principles, using only products that are harvested in Crete.

The long-fin tuna belly with burned grape molasses and pickled watermelon rind was probably the most insane meal I have ever eaten.

It’s no wonder they call this place the island of the gods

Come evening time there are plenty of typical bars where you can sample the Greek tradition of smashing plates, while knocking down crisp pints of beer.

Or head to one of the wine bars which are fast becoming a local speciality, with most places stocking produce from the local vineyards.

For something a little different, pay a visit to Maiami, run by local artist-turned-restaurateur Alexandra Manousakis.

Island of the gods

Her art-and-ceramics studio is so much more than just a place to display her creations.

Here, visitors can tuck into a mezze spread paired with Manou-sakis Winery’s Nostos Wines (which don’t break the bank), all while admiring the artworks.

On my final day, I treated myself to one last paddle in the sea.

Luckily, Isla Brown Chania has a private pontoon with direct access to the water that is crystal clear and, oh, so inviting on a sunny day.

Letting the sea carry the full weight of my body, I cast a glance back at the rugged yet picturesque shoreline.

It’s no wonder they call this place the island of the gods.