“Crete’s only Relais & Chateaux Hotel: The Elounda Mare“
If elegant and luxurious are your favorite holiday buzzwords, then head to Crete’s only Relais & Chateaux hotel: the Elounda Mare, where you’ll enjoy Greek hospitality, fine food, and gorgeous scenery.
White cottages look out onto the turquoise waters of the Mirabello Bay
The Elounda Mare Experience
An hour from Heraklion International Airport, and between neighbouring sister hotels, Elounda Peninsula and Porto Elounda, the five-star Elounda Mare sits in the centre of the cove overlooking a stunning turquoise waters of Mirabello Bay on the northeast coast of the island.
You will find there a private 9-hole golf course, several private beaches, a state-of-the-art Six Senses Spa, several pools, a nursery and kid club, a shopping centre, an art gallery, private sailing and motor yachts, tennis courts and of course all kinds of water sports. A complimentary shuttle service is available to get to the different spaces of the hotels’ complex.
Beach at Elounda Mare Hotel
Dining
It’s a good idea to arrive hungry. There are no less than nine restaurants and six bars open to guests at the the three different hotels with the “dine around” program. You will hardly be able to try them all during your stay and can choose from Japanese, wine cellar, Italian, seafood, Greek and Cretan as well as special thematic dinners with live music.
Three of these restaurants were recently awarded as among the best in Greece.
Elounda Mare beach restaurant is just one of many you can sample
The Toque d’Or prize is awarded to Greek restaurants recognised for their fine cuisine, excellent service and immaculate environment.
A team of experts travels throughout the country each year on an incognito basis reviewing hundreds of restaurants before making their demanding selection. The three awarded restaurants at the Elounda Hotels & resorts are the Old Mill at the Elounda Mare. The second is the Yacht Club, also at Elounda Mare. The third is Calypso, found at the Elounda Peninsula. Go ahead…try them all!
At Elounda Mare Hotel all rooms, suites and bungalows have a sea view
Rooms & Bungalows
The bungalows offer a great experience with a private heated pool with seawater and garden. Built in the middle of the lush gardens on the seaside each bungalow has its own spirit and decoration and offers total privacy. You will feel there like staying in your own holiday home.
Don’t expect outrageous bling-bling. The decoration is subtle with white walls, authentic Cretan materials, a fireplace in the lounge area and a vast marble bathroom.
Some rooms have private pools
Small bonuses will make your stay even more enjoyable such as the welcome gift, Nespresso coffee machine, tea set, hypoallergenic or feather pillows, breakfast on your terrace next to your pool. You can even stay here with your pet.
The Elounda Mare recently renovated its seven Minoan Royalty Villas and its Minoan Imperial Villa. These huge accommodations can welcome up to five people (seven in the Imperial Villa) with one to four bedrooms. They are built right on the seafront with a vast outside space and unobstructed views over the Aegean Sea. Some of them have a private fitness area, sauna, marble Turkish baths and a kitchen.
The Elounda Mare has been an iconic hotel in Crete for 40 years and a member of the Relais et Chateaux since 1988. Through the following four decades it has managed to remain one of the best resorts in Greece.
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BeSeeingYou In: Crete
Good to know: The resort is only a 15-minute taxi ride to the pretty harbour at Agios Nikolaos
WOW! Factor: Elounda Mare was the first hotel in Europe with bungalows and private pools
Tip: Take a boat trip to Spinalonga Island, the setting in a best-selling novel by Victoria Hislop
Author bio: Annick Dournes
Photos: ©Frederic de Poligny and ©Annick Dournes
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