Elounda Beach Hotel and Villas

Phantastic view to the bay, and able to See the sunrise! Very glad that we booked a room with shared pool, because many of the „Standard“ rooms have a quite poor ambience, no sea view, a lot of shadow (only sun in the morning). Size of rooms are very small, only suitable for short-stay vacations. Lady at the reception quite slow and not very friendly. Service at the Breakfast and Bar superb. In total the hotel is overpriced.

I do now know where to start as this place exceeded by far all my expectations. This was the first time we were taking the plane to travel to a ‘faraway’ place (we are based in Switzerland) and did not know what to expect. We took the taxi from the Heraklion airport and for to the resort. We were immediately welcomed and offered a glass of sparkling wine and juice for the kids. The check in was done in the lounge on the sofas and everything was very smooth. We then were escorted to our rooms and our luggage arrived shortly after. The rooms are spacious and the spa wing where we were was very lovely. The furniture was a bit outdated but in the big scheme of things that was not a factor that negatively impacted us. The bed was comfortable, the toiletries were very nice and the housekeeping was phenomenal. Speaking of phenomenal, we had half board and the choice was ample (at dinner one Greek restaurant, one Italian and one gourmet fusion). Breakfast was also very good and many choices as well. The Veghera bar is worth a very special mention as this is the place where we would go regularity to every evening at 6pm for sunset drinks and then we would return after dinner. Yannis is one of the best and most welcoming bartenders I have ever met and the setting is spectacular overlooking the sea and the beach. The beach is really nice, fine sand and the water is crystal clear despite the wind that constantly blows in Crete. The beach service was also very efficient and the sun beds were disinfected every day. We felt very safe and good at this place! Great for honeymoons, families with or without kids, singles.....The service is really good throughout the resort and it is a place where one can definitely come back to as it has everything. A small mini shop where you can find newspapers, medication, beach stuff, souvenirs, more luxury stores for jewelry, clothing and others.. there is even a small Greek Orthodox Church in the middle of the square! I was quite apprehensive about COVID and safety as I was traveling with children but from the moment we arrived and until we left we could not feel safer and happier. A huge congratulations to Mr. Eduardo Sgubin and his entire team for such a perfect resort! I have been to many places and stayed at very nice proprieties throughout the world but Elounda Beach is probably the one that I could almost call home. I will attach a few pictures as well but my recommendation would be for all of you to leave your gears behind, go to Crete and when you do stay at the Elounda Beach- you will not be disappointed!!!!!

my wife and I have spent a week in that resort.. and I am not saying hotel but Resort as everything gives the fezeling of a resort not an Hotel. Overall we had a good time but for having worked in the industry and also for having an extensive experience in 5 stars AND in the chain LHW, this hotel does not match the standards for the price they are asking for. why did I write "5 stars but not for everyone"?! ... this resort offers two types of rooms locations... the Villas all around the place some with pools some facing the sea, and the rooms in 2 main buidlings. the resort is currently uprgading and renovating their villas, when we arrived our sea view room in the main building (standard category) was a huge disapointment... old, oudated (although everything in functionning status)... we asked to visit some different options the day afetr and went trhough some different ones... the renovated villas are definitively offering a real 5* modern standard with beautiful finishing (magnificent showers)... but a week can easily go up for 6K EUR for 2.... The Front of house manager gently upgraded us to a larger room for free which helped our week but we were located at the very end of the main building and lost the front sea view as we had previously... the room we ended up shows full rate at 4500 EUR a week and it is absolutely NOT worth this (in comparison to same category elsewhere) ... we had a better deal as we are return guest in the LHW program thank God!!! now the POSITIVE: - staff overall is friendly, smiling (not everywhere though) and available... I liked their uniforms, simple and easily recognizable. I would like to underlign 2 names here: IYORGIOS (blond waiter at breakfast and Greek Grill) who was one of the nicest friendliest guy we have met and YANIS (night Barman) who entertained our evenings with a huge smile and a professional but genuine sense of welcoming! - the location: BEAUTIFUL surroundings and gardens, full of olive trees, 2 restaurants al fresco in the middle of it with an authentic small Greek chapel... so pretty! the location of the all complex in a magnificent bay with mountains alla round! something we did NOT like: the beach for swimming is small but very nice and it would be the perfect place IF there would not be the Nautical base just right there! 5 powerfull speedboats + 2 jetskis are departing from that very place (on the side in a non swimming corridor) and it is a big disturbance, it smells when they refill their tanks with Gasoline and some boats pilots are having too much fun pushing their engines especially for people doing water ski.... This should be in ANOTHER place!!! now Food: we have tried the 3 restaurants on site as we were half board and the extras options at the beach too... overall the food is good, nothing wrong there we had some good meals but do not expect to be wowed... none of them deliver a Michelin experience as you would like to have in a place where a week can go so high pricewise... speaking of prices, their wine list tarriff is absolutely ridiculous... seems to be a problem of poor demand on the island according to the Somelier... we took only local Cretan wines during our stay and they were very good for a reasobale price.. so at least you can have options.. finally the breakfast, nothing special there except the staff who is very quick (in a good way) and responding... the continental is of very poor quality (type you get in a 3 stars in France), cheap jams, heavy untasty pastries, ham and cheese cuts which we tried once and did not take the rest of the week... the hot plates are better.. the fruits plates are very very good. the SPA: indoor pool closed for COVID reasons, we simply did not go. tood bad. OVERALL: this Resort offers beautifull surroundings and we appreciated A LOT to take a meal under the Olive Trees and have a drink at night at the Sea Bar.. the place is mostly frequented by families with children and the service tends to be oriented towards them but a couple can have a nice week there too, we did... My suggestion is go there if you get a good offer as we did or just avoid it, otherwise you are so loaded with money that you dont know what is worth! for the same prices my wife and I have experienced much luxurious and high quality places. last re COVID 19: the staff wear masks or covering protection devices everywhere and they all are carefull about that which is good. they disinfect transats near the pool and the beach and the menus are accessible by smartphones (or paper which they disinfect too).. Hotel do his outmost to make us feel safe... BUT the guests for most of them (English, Germans, Russians for the most of it) just dont care and nobody (we felt very alone in this) do wear a mask in the common area and nothing is done to remind them to.