Domes of Elounda
Autograph Collection, a secluded 5-star retreat located on a beautiful Cretan beach.
Total capacity:
- 158 rooms, suites and villas, many with private pools and direct beach access
Useful things to know:
- The closest airport is Heraklion, about an hour and 15 minutes’ away by car
- 4 restaurants and 4 bars
- Fitness room and open-air fitness centre
- State-of-the-art spa
- 5 pools (2 saltwater and 3 freshwater pools)
- Private beach reserved for guests
- Hair and beauty salon
- Child-care and activities for children as young as 4 months up to teens aged 18
- The hotel is open from early April till end of October
Advantages when booking with The Little Voyager:
- Competitive rates
- Personalized check-in over a chilled glass of sparkling wine
- Complimentary welcome basket with seasonal fresh fruit and a bottle of wine
- Family package including gifts for the children (for bookings of minimum 5 nights)
- Mineral water replenished daily
- Complimentary kids and teens club (ages 4-17)
Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection offers everything you would expect from a 5-star hotel: luxurious and stylish accommodation, state-of-the-art facilities, impeccable service and delicious gastronomic experiences, and all with privileged views of the Aegean Sea.
The rooms feature Mediterranean architecture and are stylishly decorated with natural materials and handcrafted ornaments. There are several accommodation types that are ideal for families, ranging from cosy family suites to large private villas, most of them with private pools and stunning views of the sea.
On a hot sunny day, there are plenty of options to freshen up: the resort has two saltwater and three freshwater pools. Some are for adults only (guests over 16) and there is a large family-friendly pool as well as one reserved for little guests. The resort also has its own strip of private beach.
Dining at one of the four restaurants is a gift to your senses: you can taste Cretan and Greek specialities as you take in stunning views of the bay, indulge on delicious seafood right by the beach, try out exquisite Asian fusion creations while sipping on refreshing cocktails or delight your tastebuds with grass-fed beef at the Blend steakhouse. Little gourmands are well catered for with specially designed menus for children.
Guests can also unwind and relax at the spa. Personalised massages and beauty treatments are available there, or you can enjoy the spa experience in the privacy of your own room.
The indoor fitness centre features state-of-the-art equipment with everything you need for an intense workout. Guests can also exercise outdoors at the open-air fitness pavilion, attend a yoga or Pilates class, and sign up for a private session with a personal trainer. There are also different trekking, running and walking paths near the hotel. Other sport options include a tennis court, mountain bike rentals, and a vast selection of water sports – including diving, speed boating, canoeing, sailing and wakeboarding.
Children are very well taken care of at the hotel’s kids club, run by qualified and multilingual staff who follow Montessori principles. There is a crèche for babies from 4 months to kids aged 4 (for an additional fee) and there are special activities for children aged 5-12 (complimentary for guests). Prior reservation is recommended, as these services are very popular and tend to be booked out well in advance. Older children can have fun in the teen room, try out the climbing wall, get creative at the graffiti walls available for urban art workshops or use the skate and BMX ramps. Babysitting services can be booked for an extra charge.
The hotel also organises exclusive events such as aqua yoga, outdoor cinema nights, digital detox, sailing trips, cooking sessions, BBQ nights and olive oil tastings.
The Area
Located on Mirabello bay, on Crete’s northern coast, and overlooking the Spinalonga peninsula, the hotel enjoys fantastic weather throughout the opening season (March to November). The islet of Spinalonga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a popular tourist attraction on the bay, and is visible from the hotel. Visitors can check out the abandoned leper colony (whose last patient left about 50 years ago), and the fortress. The island is also known for its secluded pebble beaches with shallow waters and can easily be reached by boat from the hotel.
The pretty village of Elounda gets very busy in the summer months, with lots of visitors coming to see its traditional tavernas and charming boutiques. Nearby, the small seaside fishing village of Plaka is known for its lovely pebbly beaches, with crystal clear waters and secluded coves just waiting to be explored.