Singular pleasure
Rather than being side-lined, solo travellers are the centre of attention at the Mistral Hotel on Crete, finds Scott Macnab
Striking out on your own to go on holiday need no longer be an awkward or solitary experience, but for many the apprehension about taking the plunge into the unknown can still be daunting. Finding the right place which provides a welcoming environment and friendly mix of fellow guests is a tricky balance to strike. That’s why the Mistral Hotel, which caters specifically for solo travellers in the sunny Mediterranean haven of Crete, is that bit special. The hotel is located in the coastal resort of Maleme in the west of the island, about half an hour from the historic Venetian port city of Chania.
Making guests feel at home and fostering a convivial environment is what makes this boutique-style hotel so unique for the residents who stay here – and keep coming back. Owner Vassilis Gialamarakis, a former
Strathclyde University graduate, has set out his stall to create a safe atmosphere where no-one, ranging from those in their thirties through to their seventies, feels alone. And it really works.
“Hello, you must be Scott,” says the first fellow guest I come across at breakfast, the morning after my late night arrival. I’m quickly introduced to the rest of the group and before long new friendships are being forged. The hotel is just a five minute stroll from the pebble beach with an array of bars and seafront restaurants. The sheltered bay also means little wind and calm waters – just stunning vistas out across the open Mediterranean.
But you can also just choose to take things easy at the hotel which has two pools, a spa and a cocktail bar to keep guests entertained. There are always some guests who just chill out and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the place. Staff go out of their way to deal with problems or queries and gladly offer to drive guests around the local area. I arrive at the tail end of the walking week and get to join the group on a trip to the Avlaki Gorge, a modest hike down to the abandoned monastery of Katholiko with the cavernous church of St John the Hermit, who lived here. It takes an hour or so and the views out across the ocean are breathtaking. On the way back we stop at the Koy Koy Batia music cafe and feast on a huge slab of their signature chocolate cake with stunning panoramic views over the bay towards Chania below.
Dinner is the focal point of the social experience at the Mistral. Everyone eats together at 8pm, either inside or out. And it’s a true Cretan feast, with an ongoing procession of courses served up. Moussaka, mixed grills and fresh fish are among the food options while I’m there, with a dazzling array of side dishes including roast vegetables and goat’s cheeses. The hotel prides itself on only using the finest Cretan cuisine and even runs a themed week in July offering guests the chance to see the provenance of the ingredients in the restaurant and join in cookery classes. A recipe book has been published containing all the Mistral favourites so that guests can recreate them when they get home.
After dinner, it’s over to the bar for a few cocktails and even some Greek dancing to round off the night’s fun.
I meet fellow guests from across the UK and Ireland as well as the US.
Everyone eats together at 8pm, either inside or out. And it’s a true Cretan feast
Many are return visitors and most say they are planning to come back again. Guests even strike up their own communities on Facebook where they co-ordinate return visits.
I fly to Chania from Leeds Bradford Airport which is the closest to Edinburgh for direct flights. The three-and-a-half hour drive is surprisingly manageable and ever reliable budget carrier Jet2 helps make it a seamless journey.
Crete is the biggest of the Greek islands and a stunning place to visit. While it may be renowned for the sun and beach resorts, the vista that dominates much of our stay in the west is the snow-capped mountains of the Lefka Ori massif.
There are a range of excursions which the Mistral lays on both exclusively and through agencies. I enjoy a memorable day at Elafonissi beach on the southern coast, widely held to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. The shallow waters allow you to wade over to the Deer Island and an abandoned monastery. The enclosed bay also forms a lagoon which makes for some of the calmest waters in the Libyan Sea for a spot of swimming. It’s a moment to treasure.
If you’re feeling a bit more energetic, you can always have a go at the Samaria Gorge. This is one of the longest and most dramatic canyon walks in Europe and is situated in a national park. It can be done as part of the walkers’ week which is run by Mistral in mid-may, but I decide to have a go on my own. It truly is stunning, dominated by 600 metre sheer cliff faces, the only worry is that you forget to keep looking up to appreciate the enormity of it all. The end of the walk brings the reward of a dip in the sea for walkers and a bite to eat at some restaurants, before a ferry (there are no roads) transfers you back to the bus.
There is no dinner served at the Mistral on a Sunday evening, but residents are invited to join Vassilis or his brother Adonis for trip into Chania. A short tour of the winding lanes and back streets of the old town is laid on, or a sunset cruise on Agia Irini can also be taken. After this it’s dinner in one of the award-winning restaurants in the city’s picturesque Venetian harbour.
After a fantastic week in some wonderful company it’s easy to see why that Mistral magic keeps so many from across the globe coming back for more.
The cost of a standard stay at the Mistral starts from €874 for a week, half board. Discounts of 15 per cent are available for stays of 14 nights or more. For more information visit www.singlesincrete.com or email info@singlesincrete.com
Jet2.com offers a 22kg baggage allowance to Chania from Leeds Bradford Airport. Flights start from £69 one way including taxes. For more information visit www.jet2.com or call 0800 408 5599.