Within minutes of arriving at the Elounda Beach Hotel, after turning down a long driveway off the main highway 45 minutes east of Crete’s Heraklion airport, I understand why the website hails it as ‘heaven at sea level’. Is it the idyllic location on the island’s stunning northeast coast, on the edge of Mirabello Bay facing the perfect angle to catch a breathtaking sunrise? Is it the impeccable service throughout the resort that makes you think if you looked up ‘pampered’ in the dictionary there would be a photo of this place? Or is it just the fact you feel like you are blissfully marooned at one of the most luxurious destinations in the world, a place that has attracted a crowd so diverse it could have Mariah Carey, U2 and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Anan all visiting at the same time!
Whatever it is, I’m not complaining. In my gorgeous beachfront villa, I discover a private front balcony that overlooks the Mediterranean with two lounge chairs to catch the morning sun. The room is large and comfortable, there is a rose on the bed, a bottle of wine and bowl of fruit waiting on the table and a blue tiled bathroom with a gym and sauna that is bigger than most single family homes!
The first big choice of the day is where to eat. There is something for everyone with eight restaurants on the 200-acre property, from sushi to Polynesian fare to traditional Cretan specialties. Once a week the Dionyssos gourmet restaurant turns into a buffet with authentic Greek music and dancing from a local troupe, who will force you out of your chair to experience your own Zorba the Greek moment! At the more low-key Kafenion restaurant, you can gorge on calamari and a Greek salad with feta cheese that melts in your mouth. The feta bruschetta is not to be missed at another popular choice for lunch that became an addiction, the Argonaut seaside café, located on the deck of the water-sports building overlooking the sparkling blue waters of Mirabello bay.
The second big choice of the day is beach or pool? The turquoise and endless blue of the Mediterranean or the crystal clear blue of your private pool? A short walk from our villa is one of the two private beaches the resort offers with chairs and umbrellas, or you can opt to stay in your room and take a dip in the pool if you’re lucky enough to have one at the higher level accommodation. The Presidential Suite has 4-bedrooms, sleeps 11 people and features a private pool, bar and grand piano! Or from our villa, you can take a few steps down to a deck where you will find your own lounge chair and umbrella reserved with your room number, so you can jump into the deeper waters of the Mediterranean and not have to wear yourself out wading from the beachfront to get there!
Hard to believe you could get bored doing nothing here but you have no excuse with the long list of other activities offered. The Water Sports Centre offers sailing, water-skiing, windsurfing, fishing and Jet Skis. There are five tennis courts, numerous walking paths throughout the property and did I mention the personal gym in your own bathroom or a larger one complete with personal trainer available if you decide to take it more seriously?
One popular day trip you can sign up for at the hotel jetty takes you to Spingalonga, a former leper colony and army fort at various times in history that has been preserved and offers a fun excuse to take a boat about an hour away from the hotel to explore the historical and abandoned village and then stop in the middle of the Mediterranean for a quick dip and a plate of fresh fruit on the way back. If you want to get really cultural and actually leave the hotel, a visit to the Palace of Knossos is a must, and a leisurely walk from the hotel to the nearby fishing village of Elounda, which is sprinkled with cute local restaurants offering fresh caught fish, also highly recommended. That was where I discovered my new favorite Greek takeout food, a gyros – pita bread wrapped around lamb and French fries, it was one of the best and cheapest meals of the trip!
When you need to really recover from all that relaxing, the Elounda Beach Spa is world class, featuring 12 private treatment rooms with stunning sea vistas and indoor and outdoor heated pools and relaxing areas that offer the ultimate indulgent sensory experience. With a full range of massage, facial and other signature treatments offered, the highly skilled and ESPA trained therapists help you select the right oils for your needs. I wanted something for tired, aching joints so my therapist came up with the prescribed fusion of essential oils of clove buds, peppermint, eucalyptus, West Indian bay, Chinese litsea cubeba, rosemary and lavender. There are combinations to boost energy, for body toning and jet lag, and the products are all available to take home with you.
Built in 1971, the Elounda Beach Hotel had an extensive renovation in 2002, with the spa getting an overhaul in 2006. Last year they added on a new level of luxury with the Yachting Club Villas, built to give you the feeling you are on your own waterfront paradise with cutting edge design and high-tech computer-driven gadgets in every corner to help you unwind and relax. The property also offers a private jet service to help you make a smooth arrival, but with a rate of more than 80% of clientele being returning guests (also attracted by impressive frequent guest programs to reward their loyalty), it’s harder to understand why anybody would actually leave!
