Elounda Mare Hotel, Relais & Châteaux

Our seventh stay in seven years. The hotel never disappoints. A fifty minute drive from Heraklion airport, located on the coast at Elounda, with fabulous views across Mirabello Bay. Set on a lovely estate which is immaculately maintained, with a good choice of accommodation, including the main hotel building, bungalows and villas. The hotel also enjoys its own small, sandy beach. There are a number of restaurants to choose from, all of which are excellent. Elounda itself is a twenty minute, downhill walk, very pleasant in the cooler evenings. Plaka, a delightful fishing village with fantastic views of the famous Spinalonga island, is a 10 minute drive away. The hotel is set up in a way which is not too modern, with traditional Greek/Cretan furnishings helping to create a wonderful authentic and relaxed ambience. At the risk of sounding clich??d, above all else it is the staff that make a stay so enjoyable and memorable. All of them, including those behind the scenes, are committed to providing a warm and friendly, as well as efficient, service. Special mention to the tireless Marina in The Deck, Yacht Club and Old Mill and Giorgos who runs the hotel bar with good humour and great stories. We very much hope to return in 2023. Highly recommended.

Little left to say after my previous reviews ,it???s very pretty with staggering views at lunch from the yacht club where we went almost daily , prawn sanganaki particularly Good , At the beach bar where Anna had left and been replaced by eirini , equally nice person where at 12.30 each day we indulged ourselves with a few glasses of rose Champagne ,accompanied by some delicious canap??s To mention here this is the only hotel giving free canap??s with champagne ,that we have ever visited and we have stayed at many hotels An addition to the dining offer was il borro an Italian in the sister hotel the peninsular With a most delightful evening setting , cozily lit ,terrific bar , and the best food To be specific , mushroom risotto with truffles - plenty - , perfectly cooked fish be it daurade or any other , that is crispy skin , juicy fish , hot vegetables . We loved this restaurant and after our first visit we went every evening when it was closed on our last evening we went to Elies , their Greek restaurant , under the trees Where we had also very enjoyable food . Great staff in both places , Babis rushing around serving the wine expertly , and a chap whose name I probably have wrong , keissel ,and any of the other staff A really delightful place . We had the Minoan royalty room , own pool , largish garden where we had those perfect breakfasts on white table cloths under the shade of the olive tree This room was quite modern with lights in the shower smart bathroom and plenty of wardrobe space - with enough hangers !, This year we have stayed at the splendido , the residencia Majorca , cobblers cove in Barbados , Colombe d ???or St. Paul de Vence , this hotel was sufficiently different From all of them and it must be said with better food than the splendido or the residencia , although they are both magnificent hotels . A passing word for George in the bar to whom after a night out it was nice to return to for a night cap and a chat .

I stayed at this lovely hotel for the first time recently. I was on holiday with a friend and really wanted a peaceful and tranquil hotel where I would be able to rest. I could not have made a better choice. It was rather like stepping back in time. Very caring staff who always seemed to go the extra mile to make sure my friend and I had everything we needed to enjoy our holiday. Great value for money, we couldn't fault it and a room with a view that I will miss. I hope to return one day.