Six pockets of Crete
Three Venetian-port towns (Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion) string along the north coast. Add the Elounda hotel cluster in the east, the mountain villages south of all three, and the under-touristed south coast for the off-the-clock half.
The Old Town and Venetian harbour on the north-west coast — 14th-century lighthouse, candlelit harbour-front, twelve restaurants in walking distance, Casa Delfino and Serenissima inside Venetian mansions. The most photogenic base, the foodie's base, and the trailhead for Samaria, Elafonissi, Balos.
The second Venetian town, halfway between Chania and Heraklion — smaller, less polished, with the largest still-standing Venetian Fortezza in the Mediterranean. Avli is the cellar-and-courtyard dinner. The right base for two of seven nights if you're doing the whole island.
The working capital and the only base for serious Minoan culture — Knossos is 15 minutes out, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum holds every original Minoan fresco (Knossos itself has replicas). Peskesi is the heritage-Cretan dinner. Skip the cruise-port waterfront; eat in the Old Town and at Lakkos.
The east-coast hotel cluster — Rosewood Blue Palace, Domes of Elounda, Daios Cove, Elounda Mare (Relais & Châteaux since the 1980s), Minos Beach Art Hotel. Each on its own bay, each with its own beach. Spinalonga (the leper-island fortress) is the half-day boat from the Plaka jetty.
The drive that converts the trip. Drakona for Ntounias (no electric appliances; everything cooked in wood ovens). Anogeia for the thyme honey and the antikristo lamb. Vamos for the restored stone village; Archanes for the wine. A full day from any base.
The Libyan Sea side — Loutro is car-free, ferry-only from Chora Sfakion. Agia Roumeli is where Samaria spits you out. Preveli has the palm-grove beach. Matala has the Joni Mitchell cave-house history. Wild, slow, no resort scene. Two nights if you've got the time.