Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas

Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas Review

One of Greece's most renowned and luxurious resort hotels, on 40 acres of gardens next to the gulf of Mirabello, Elounda Beach has inspired dozens of imitators—and little wonder, as the array of delights here are dazzling: 5 restaurants (including the Kafenion, in a stage-set traditional Greek plaza setting) with cuisines that range from gourmet Continental to casual taverna style; a dramatic Cretan architectural vocabulary of whitewashed walls, shady porches, and cool flagstone floors; and a guest-friendly variety of accommodations, from villas with James Bond-like electronic gadgetry and their own swimming pools to large, gracious doubles in a hotel block. All have terraces or gardens and are beautifully appointed (the higher-priced suites are truly glorious), but the nicest are those tucked away in gardens above a stretch of shoreline reached by stone steps from your own waterside veranda. Two sandy beaches are the jumping-off point for numerous water sports, including scuba diving. As for dining, one is spoiled for choice. Dionyssos is the flagship eatery, with an exquisite patio setting, serious gourmet selections, and more than 8,500 bottles at your beck and call. Others will opt for the starlit ceiling of Blue Lagoon and its Polynesian and sushi delights.