A Cretan Gem

This was my first visit to Crete "the largest of all the Greek Islands", where we travelled to the resort of Elounda, staying at the stunning Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas.

The resort of Elounda is home to a number of high-end Properties which are all set within their own extensive grounds, and usually in elevated positions making the most of the stunning vistas. The resort centre and town of Elounda was charming, and a little larger than I had imagined. What was once a sleepy fishing village, now had a good selection of shops, bars & restaurants on offer. As we approached the harbour area there appeared to be a number of attractive looking waterfront restaurants to entice hungry passers by. The harbour itself was a hive of activity, where one could hire a Boat for the day, or embark on various water based excursions and sightseeing trips. During our time in Elounda we also had the opportunity to visit Agios Nikolaos, which was around a 20-minute drive from where we were staying. This is a much larger resort than Elounda, but once again I was really pleasantly surprised as to how nice it was. We spent time wandering around the town centre which was made up of many narrow streets, which led off from the main road which in turn skirted round the Marina area. We browsed various shops and found that there was a really good contrast of the selling of traditional handmade wares, through to modern boutique‘s & designer shops. There was a plethora of bars, restaurants & street cafes to choose from to. We ended our visit with a Cocktail down by the waterfront. The resort just had a really lovely relaxed vibe, although I am sure that it might be a little different in the height of the season. I would however thoroughly recommend a visit.

The Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas was about a 40-minute taxi transfer from Heraklion Airport. The Elounda Beach Hotel commands the most enviable location within the resort area, together with its neighbouring Sister property the Elounda Bay Palace. These were the first main hotels to be built in the area (1971), and as a result, were able to claim prime position. We stayed at the Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas for our 3 nights on the Island, and were treated to absolutely amazing accommodation during our visit. The property has I believe 27 different room types, so it does get quite confusing, and for this reason we work closely with their amazing sales team to ensure our customers get the right room type for them and their budget.

The hotel has a wonderful selection of Restaurants, from informal to more formal fine dining, together with restaurants offering a mix of Japanese & Peruvian Cuisine (Blue Lagoon). All the restaurants we tried offered up something different, and this is definitely a place where foodies would be in absolute heaven. The service throughout this property was the real standout for me though as everyone was so friendly and attentive, whilst still maintaining total professionalism. The Hotel boasted a fabulous Chenot Spa, where the emphasis and philosophy were very much on well-being and rejuvenation of mind & body. Other facilities included a badminton court, swimming pools, and a very well equipped water-sports centre & PADI certified dive centre. The Hotel and beautiful grounds felt very spacious and calming as you meandered your way through pretty floral lined pathways. There was a lovely private beach with plenty of comfortable sun loungers, and a button to press should you require drinks etc. brought to you. The hotel for me would suit couples and families with perhaps younger children. The hotel has a good animation programme, and can also provide babysitting. I also feel that this property would work really well for multi-generational families, as there is such an amazing selection of room types & configurations on offer. The property would also offer guests guaranteed interconnection options at the time of booking. I would recommend anyone considering the Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas take the half board meal plan, as this is incredibly flexible allowing guests the chance to dine in all of its restaurants without additional supplements, as well as those at the Elounda Palace next door.

We enjoyed a site visit to the Elounda Palace during our stay, which is a short walk away, or an even shorter ride on a Golf Buggy which are readily available to guests. So, anyone staying at either property are free to use the facilities at each Hotel, and guests at the Elounda Palace can get a credit to dine at the Restaurants of the Elounda Beach. I really liked the Elounda Palace as I was looking at how it could work for my own family, and concluded that this would work extremely well. The Elounda Palace has much more going on for older children, such as tennis, basketball, volleyball, football, mini-golf, gym & indoor & outdoor swimming pools. The hotel had a great selection of room types, 2 small private beaches and beautiful & spacious grounds. There are a number of restaurants to be sampled, and we ate a couple of times at the traditional Greek restaurant. The general consensus within the group was that we felt it may have just had the edge on its counterpart over at Elounda Beach, although both were fabulous in all fairness. The Elounda Palace is a great option in my opinion for couples and families a like, and would prove to be a lot more affordable than the Elounda Beach, and may also work better for families with older children.

Excursions - During our time staying in Elounda we took a 20-minute boat trip across to the fascinating Island of Spinalonga, which really is a must if staying in the area. Spinalonga is an island fortress, and after 1904, was used as a refuge for Cretans suffering from Leprosy. For more than 50 years, this barren rocky Island had been home to life’s outcasts, who had to live with extreme pain. Despite this, the people taken there forged out communities, relationships and raised families on the Island. Their ingenuity in building homes & places of worship “some of which were beautifully decorated” was still clear to see

General feedback - I would definitely like to return with my Family, "so I guess that says it all really". The Elounda Palace would be a fabulous option for my family, as it has everything we would need and more besides. The service received between both properties was equally impressive it has to be said. The Elounda Beach & Villas would suit couples and younger Families, where price is not such a factor. It is also felt so calm and relaxing with plenty of quiet areas to chill and properly unwind.

So, in summary, the choice of accommodation is staggering, and the quality of restaurants and impeccable service should impress the most discerning of customers.