08-05-2025
Enjoy a luxurious getaway in Crete at Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas
With shimmering Pantone-blue waters, tumbles of whitewashed cottages and rainbow-hued fishing boats clinking sails in the harbour, Elounda on Crete's northeastern coast is like a postcard sprung to life.
A hundred miles south of the mainland in the southern Aegean Sea, Crete is the largest and the best known of Greece's many islands. With a rugged mountainous interior, sweeps of white-pebble beaches and millennia-old ruins around every corner – not to mention soaked in 300 days of sunshine a year – it's easy to see why Crete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe.
Book a holiday package with British Airways Holidays and fly directly into Heraklion. After an easy 40-minute transfer to Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas, you could be nibbling Cretan olives and sipping ouzo overlooking the bay by sunset.
With its swaying palms, blushing bougainvillaea and curved stone paths winding through the 40 acres of landscaped gardens, the Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas – a member of the Leading Hotels of the World – evokes the feeling of a lush private estate.
One of the first five-star hotels to open in Crete, it's bookended by a pair of Blue Flag sandy beaches and designed to offer privacy and a space to truly unwind.
Start the day with sunrise yoga or a water aerobics class in the saltwater pool or maybe hit the running trail through the vast landscaped gardens. Alternatively, you can enjoy a long and leisurely breakfast on the terrace – you are on holiday after all. For the more active, days can be spent jet skiing or windsurfing, playing tennis or badminton. There's also a kids' club with a host of activities, games and even swimming lessons that are sure to keep little ones happy and content.
If you're struggling to shake off stress, a few treatments in The Penthouse Spa should do the trick. A true sanctuary, it offers guests a range of holistic rejuvenation options – from therapeutic massages to a full detox programme.
In true Elounda style, all of the rooms and suites are elegant and plush, from the deluxe sea view rooms and suites to spacious family villas with private pools. Crete is the inspiration for the décor – think whitewashed walls, natural stone and local artwork adorning the walls. Several suites open out onto the water, while others feature large private terraces or private swimming pools – perfect for that al fresco soak under the stars.
However, it's the attention to detail that really elevates Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas to luxury status – from the pillow menus and complimentary beach bag in all the rooms to the attentive beach butlers who will happily serve a cocktail to your sun lounger.
There's little chance of going hungry on a holiday in Greece, so famous as a country of feeders. From rich lamb kleftiko fragrant with fresh oregano, to the ruby-red tomatoes that taste of summer, peppery olive oil and thick yogurt drizzled with wild honey, most produce is grown locally or in the hotel's kitchen garden, and much of it is showcased in the hotel's five à la carte restaurants. Dionysos offers modern Mediterranean fine dining served under century-old olive trees. Blue Lagoon brings authentic Japanese and Peruvian dishes to Crete, while Argonaut offers incredible Italian food overlooking the sparkling lights decorating Mirabello Bay.
And for those nights when you don't fancy leaving your luxury villa, you can choose the private dining service and enjoy a quiet supper on the terrace.
If you want to explore the island further, the concierge team can arrange a tour to visit famed archaeological site the Palace of Knossos, or Lassithi Plateau, known as the birthplace of Zeus. Or if you'd prefer to hit the water, unique experiences include a sunset cruise around the bay to a private boat trip over to Spinalonga. Of course if you just want to kick back and bask in the splendour of Elounda's beautiful bayside setting, few could blame you.
British Airways Holidays packages include a generous checked baggage allowance for each customer and come with full Atol protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your holiday to Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.
*Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure for short-haul holiday bookings. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.
