DREAM TRIP
The charms of the Greek islands are hard to resist – that magical Mediterranean light, beautiful beaches, the heady scent of aromatic herbs and the distinctive sound of cicadas – drawing visitors in their droves every year.
Greece’s biggest island not only delivers on every level but also has one of the longest summers in the country, basking in balmy 200C temperatures late into October.
On Crete’s northern coast, in picturesque Mirobello Bay, hip resort Elounda has been quietly trending after catching the attention of A-listers including Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Leonardo Dicaprio. Five-star Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel is in prime position, perched on the water’s edge, to soak up spectacular views across the shimmering waters of the Aegean Sea and inland to the impressive Sitia mountains.
A choice of 59 suites, villas and residences comes not only with a lounge area and private waterfront pool on the terrace, but also access to a private sandy beach.
Not content with its beachfront position, the hotel has splashed out to create the largest seafront pool on the island. Gently winding through trees and shrubs, the 4,520 sq ft pool complex hosts a hydro-massage area and several submerged loungers in the shallows.
And you’ll find an indoor and outdoor seawater pool in the resort’s state-of-the art two-storey Six Senses Spa, with 23 treatment areas, hammam, tepidarium and thalassotherapy suites.
Chef Jean Charles Metayer presides in the kitchen of one of the country’s finest restaurants, award-winning Calypso, serving exquisite cuisine using local ingredients. Guests can also enjoy tastings in the restaurant’s outstanding wine cellar.
Tuck into traditional Greek favourites such as souvlaki and slow-cooked lamb at seaside restaurant Odysseus, and for a postprandial drink head to the bar of sushi restaurant Koh right on the waterfront.
A boat trip to Spinalonga in the Gulf of Elounda will be both poignant and fascinating. The former leper colony is one of Crete’s most-visited attractions, thanks to Victoria Hislop’s bestseller The Island.
An hour’s drive away, near capital city Heraklion, are the ruins of the Palace of Knossos and Crete’s most important archaeological site.
The mythological home of King Minos and the Minotaur, dating back around 4,000 years, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1700BC
You can learn about the island’s rich history at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum through its incredible display of ancient finds, including treasures of Minoan civilisation, said to be the oldest in Europe.
No wonder Crete is so legendary.
A night in September at the Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel starts at €413 based on two people sharing and including breakfast. eloundapeninsula.com
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