Discover Crete’s only all-suite luxury hotel

The award-winning Elounda Peninsula hotel in Crete is not just any luxury hotel, it’s a luxury hotel consisting of only plush suites, each boasting its very own outdoor terrace complete with sun beds, dining table and best of all – a private pool.

The ultimate in scenic sophistication, these glam home-away-from-homes feature classic Greek style furnishing with a touch of modernity. The marble bathrooms are spacious and feature powerful Jacuzzi baths and organic toiletries infused with locally sourced, herbal ingredients.

Fluffy bathrobes and slippers are provided, but I can guarantee that you’ll be slipping on that skimpy bikini and lazing the day away outside in the hotel’s exclusive private beach.

When I visited recently with a fellow sun-loving friend, we had planned to travel around the island, visiting historic sights, discovering tranquil hidden beaches and buying handmade ornaments from quaint tourist shops. Instead, our five day beach holiday consisted of hibernating within the hotel and its grounds – simply due to its sheer fabulousness.

Our favourite place to laze about in was by the stunning ‘sea pool’ – a crystal clear, calm section of the ocean partially cordonded off with stone walls to create a natural swimming pool effect.

We would sunbathe until we couldn’t take the sweltering heat any more, before diving into the cool azure waters of the Aegean Sea. This blissful routine continued until lunch, when attentive waiters would arrive at our sunbeds bearing tempting plates of fresh salads and smoked salmon.

Dinners were a more opulent affair. The hotel’s main restaurant would put on a buffet to end all buffets night after night, serving traditional Greek food such as moussaka and plump vine leaves stuffed with rice and spices.

One evening we visited Elounda Peninsula’s award winning fine dining restaurant – The Old Mill, and were seriously impressed by the elegant surroundings and exquisite food we devoured. Starters of pan-seared scallops and lightly grilled fish were followed by hearty mains – all beautiful presented and alluring to even the most fussiest palates.

We both gorged on hefty slabs of melt-in-the-mouth fillet steak before watching in a sugary haze of wonderment as a suave waiter created syrupy-sweet Crepe Suzettes in front of our eyes.

As we rolled back to our suite, hands clasping our rounded tummies and breathing in the heady scent of honeysuckle, we mentally made a note to return next year – and pack substantially more looser clothing…

Prices at Elounda Peninsula (www.eloundapeninsula.com, +30 28410 68250) start from €458 /£393 per room per night on a B&B basis – based on 2 sharing.

 

 

 

 

Mitra Msaad

Editor in Chief