Euphoria Retreat Holistic Wellbeing DestinationSpa

The setting at the foot of the Mystras mountains is breathtaking and instantly puts you at ease. The Sphere Pool was the standout for me, a one-of-a-kind experience that you have to feel to believe. Everything about the design and the atmosphere left me feeling renewed. Euphoria Retreat is one of the most special places I’ve visited, and I can’t wait to return.

The surroundings are beautiful, and getting out on trips helped us relax. The hotel itself still has a way to go before it delivers the wellness atmosphere it advertises. Its facilities feel five-star, but the service often didn’t. We’ve stayed at several wellness resorts, including Adler, and this didn’t feel as relaxing or seamless as we expect from that category. The spa is a magical, stunning space, though the spa reception staff seemed reluctant to explain how things worked, as if we should already know. We also found a design problem with the toilets in every area we used: flushing sent water onto the floor and even the closed toilet seat. That’s not acceptable for hygiene, especially at a five-star wellness retreat. Some parts of the stay were much better. Breakfast was great, while dinner was very average. The waiters were friendly and fun, and the parking staff were exceptionally kind. They charged our car several times, which we really appreciated. The hiking activities were another highlight. Nikos was excellent and knew the area well. But when we asked reception about the on-site routes, they couldn’t answer even basic questions shown on their own map. We ended up researching nearby things ourselves, including local chestnut festivals. As a Hilton Gold member, I expected at least a warm acknowledgment of my status. When I asked whether an upgrade might be possible, reception said no rooms were available and that upgrades depended on availability. I checked the website, pointed out that several rooms appeared to be available, and only then did they double-check and find one. They explained that it had been intended for a solo traveler who had just cancelled. It was a strange explanation, and the whole exchange made me feel more uncomfortable than recognized. The yoga class was disappointing, too. The instructor was late, which didn’t bother us, but there was no shoe box or guidance, so people walked across the floor in outdoor shoes before we were meant to lie down there. She also didn’t ask about anyone’s health concerns or injuries, something I’d expect in a first yoga session at a wellness resort.

We call these our “geeking out” trips: bring the books you’ve been wanting to read, settle in with aching muscles and all those thoughts in the back of your mind. Spa and relaxation in the perfect spot. So glad we found it.

We had a lovely, quiet two-night stay up in the mountains, with good food, great treatments and really good service. Check-in and checkout were smooth, and the boutique had some beautiful clothes. The spa is amazingly built and was the highlight. The bed felt a little too firm for us, but I’d still highly recommend the place.