Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas — lostwithlina.com

Nestled amongst peaceful shrubbery-studded grounds, Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas is a high-flying Cretan retreat close to the picturesque fishing village of Elounda on the north-east coast of Crete.

Situated in a prime position of the Elounda peninsula with newly refurbished luxury suites, a glittering spa, a small chapel, an array of restaurants, and a private patch of beach; Elounda Beach Hotel feels like a dream-like traditional Greek village. It was one of the very first five-star hotels to open in Greece; in fact, the hotel put Elounda on the map for travellers. As a Leading Hotel of the World, it boasts one of Crete’s most magnificent settings and features panoramic views across Mirabello Bay to the small neighbouring island of Spinalonga.

LOCATION & HOW TO GET HERE

Situated on the northeastern coast of Crete, the Hotel is located 6.5km from the town of Agios Nikolaos and 1.5km from the fishing village of Elounda. The Hotel is a one-hour drive from Minoan Palace of Knossos and the archaeological Museum and is 45 minutes from Heraklion International Airport.

If you’re travelling by car from Heraklion Airport, as we did, drive South East to Agios Nikolaos (63 km), then turn left and drive to Elounda Village (7 km). Heraklion International Airport is served by several daily flights from Athens (35 min) and other major European cities. If you’re arriving in Crete by ferry, Heraklion Port offers connections to nearby islands. The Agios Nikolaos Port is a 10-minute drive from the Hotel.

LUXURY SUITES & ACCOMMODATIONS

Vastly spread across 40 acres of lush manicured gardens, Elounda Beach Hotel comprises several “mini-resort-like” clusters that offer a wide variety of accommodation categories; ranging from the main hotel building (with the classic rooms and suites) to the dazzling, stand-alone, multi-bedroom villas. Spread out along the rocky shoreline and offering dazzling sea views, the pinnacle of luxury is the Elounda’s “Waterfront Dream Line Collection”, which comprise of a row of ultra-modern seafront suites and villas, most of them creating the illusion of being on a yacht and floating over the tranquil waters of Mirabello Bay.

We spent three nights in the Presidential Waterfront Bungalow Suite, which was 100 square metres of open-planned elegance in the extreme, designed around endlessly eye-catching views of Mirabello Bay and our own 9 metre private heated pool and direct access to the sea. All hotel rooms should be like this. Tom was particularly taken with the remote controlled mattress, which I was excited by the enormous sunken jacuzzi bathtub and the showers with bluetooth speakers inside.

DINING OPTIONS

Diligently, we tried all the restaurants at Elounda Beach Hotel during our stay, and each and every one impressed – although it has to be said; our dinner at Dionysos was the stand out. There are 5 restaurants with varying cuisines to choose from at Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas. Inside the main building of the hotel, under a leafy pavilion is Artemis which is where a lavish breakfast buffet would be served (currently replaced by à la carte options, due to the pandemic).

Our favourite, Dionysos - named after the hedonistic God of Wine - is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, and serves a blend of Mediterranean gastronomy with contemporary influences. Right beside Dionysos you’ll find Kafenion, a traditional Greek restaurant serving homemade-style delights in a traditional Greek village style setting, surrounded by olive trees. Located right on the waterfront is Argonaut, a chic restaurant offering delicious Italian dishes; and directly below Argonaut is the Blue Lagoon Restaurant & Sushi Bar, serving authentic Japanese and Peruvian fusion cuisine with the glistening seaside as your backdrop.

THE SPA

Why not induldge in a treatment at the Espace Vitalité Chenot? The Spa focuses on holistic rejuvenation and relaxation in a setting of complete tranquility and relaxation. The Chenot method employs the latest scientific advances in relation to the functioning of the human body. It works along the lines of the ancient traditions of Chinese medicine, based on energy channels and balance, to establish a unity of body, mind and spirit. There's a range of beauty and salon treatments available, plus hair removal and waxing services. Plus, a spa pool, fitness centre with cardio machines, and fitness classes.

WHAT TO KNOW

STYLE: When the Hotel opened in 1971 it was the height of luxury. Since then it has been refurbished and it has expanded, with more villas being added around the property. The most recent addition to the accommodations are the villas along the waterfront, which are pure luxury and will cater to the most extravagant of travellers. There are, however, some older villas throughout the property, together with the guest rooms in the main building, that may not meet this high standard and may feel slightly old-fashioned, and perhaps dated. So just be aware that your experience at Elounda Beach will largely depend on the room category you book.

RESTAURANTS: The Dionysos restaurant is one of the best in Crete

PARKING: There is free parking available on-site.

Visit https://www.eloundabeach.gr/ to check their availability or visit their Instagram page @eloundabeach.

I was hosted as a guest of Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas, however, all the opinions expressed in this article are, as always, my own.