Resort 5 stars Elounda

After spending two weeks exploring Crete, with its history, charm and wild nature, Elounda Mare stood out from the occasional place that could have been anywhere. We’d definitely return. It was our first trip to Crete, and we wondered whether the warmth and quality we’ve found in some of our secret Peloponnese spots would be there too. Elounda Mare lived up to it. This felt like a genuine five star hotel in its comfort, facilities and, above all, the professionalism and kindness of the team. Thoughtful touches, real smiles and a calm, caring atmosphere made the stay feel luxurious and personal. A special thank you to Jason, whose advice was always spot on and much appreciated by two slightly over curious travelers.

For our honeymoon, we stayed six nights, and honestly, that wasn’t enough. The views, food and staff were all incredible, and our villa was clean, cozy and homey. Elounda Mare made us feel like part of the family, and if you’re getting married soon, they’ll be especially excited to welcome you. The team went above and beyond to make the stay wonderful. It was a long trek to get here, but we’ll be back again and again. Make time for the wine tasting. The sommelier knows so much and is a lot of fun, and we had a great afternoon tasting wines after a really fun cooking class. We made authentic Greek food, mussaka, and it’s a dish and skill we’ll treasure. Every restaurant was delicious. We happily returned to some for a second or third dinner because there were so many things on the menus we wanted to try.

The timing of our visit made a real difference. We arrived at the end of October, five days before the hotel closed for the season, and were upgraded from a one bedroom suite to a two bedroom suite. The room, balcony view and private pool were incredible. The air conditioning worked very well, though we didn’t really need it then. The beach was lovely, and since nobody showed up in the morning until 10:30 AM, it felt like I had a private beach. There’s a dive shop, and the water is perfectly clear. I really enjoyed my time there, though end of October is wonderful only if you can handle the cold. Staff were extremely helpful. Breakfast was good and plentiful, with lots of variety, though nothing super amazing. I was happy to be able to make my own tea. The bottle of wine they gave us was delicious, and their olives were divine. Some restaurant dishes were okay and others really good. For me, the Yacht club food was absolutely fabulous.

The sea is so clear that we could see fish with just goggles, and there are plenty of loungers on the little sandy beach and rocky promontory. The grounds are beautifully kept, full of flowers and peaceful, with lots of space. It’s a fantastic spot overlooking Mirabello Bay. Some of our party were upgraded to a modern villa with bathrooms and an infinity pool that could compete with anywhere. The others had a bungalow that felt a bit dated. It could be redesigned to make better use of the views, though they still had all the facilities and that amazing setting. We only ate at the hotel for breakfast, which was good but not the best of the holiday. We made use of the tavernas in Elounda and Agios Nickolas.