Domes of Elounda

From the moment we arrived we were immersed in 5* luxury. The check in process made us feel like celebrities and our whole holiday continued in the same vein. We had a villa with jaccuzzi (perfect after a day on the beach or a trip out somewhere) and a fantastic sea view. The adults only swimming pool was great with sunbeds always available. Whether on the beach or by the pool the QR code enables drinks and food to be ordered and delivered to your sunbed. We walked into Plaka (an easy 15 minute walk) where there are lots of cafes and restaurants for somewhere different to eat/ drink. It is also easier to get a boat across to Spinnalonga which is well worth a visit. The Tholos restaurant is the main place to eat in the hotel for breakfast and dinner. The buffet was excellent with lots of choice of quality food. There were a lot of families with pre-school age children while we were there (2nd week of October) which made the restaurant quite noisy at times but it wasn't an issue for us. The food trucks at Core were fabulous, but make sure to book early as there is limited availability. The access to the beach is provided by a private path from the hotel with a tunnel under the road which makes it a very safe route especially if you have children.

The Domes of Elounda is a beautiful resort, nestled on a mountain side. We drove there at night from Heraklion. It’s about a 2 hour drive, 2/3 highway, the rest of the drive was on windy mountainous roads, a drive I wouldn’t recommend after dark. We arrived later in the evening, and were warmly welcomed by our hostess who explained everything in the resort. We were also treated to the buffet dinner that had extensive food choices. This was a nice treat, since the buffet is normally $45 EU per person. The resort grounds are very extensive. We were taken to our room by golf cart, which was very far from the the main campus facilities in the “adults only” section. Our suite was spacious, very well appointed, comfortable and tastefully designed. There was a separate sleeping, living and bath area. The bath area was spacious, with double sinks, shower, separate tub and WC area. For amenities we had bathrobes, a welcoming bottle of wine, snacks, water, plenty of coffee and tea. Outdoors we had a private sitting area, lounge chairs, umbrella and hot tub, which we didn’t use. The bedroom area with its king bed was extremely comfortable and cozy, with curtains for privacy and room darkening. Closet space was ample. Our room had a direct view to the water and beautiful sunrises each morning. Țhe breakfast is served out of two locations, and included in our rate. It was extensive, tasty and fresh with many options. The breakfast place by the “Family pool” was less busy but a much further walk from our suite. The grounds are beautiful, but as mentioned extensive. While you can always get a ride from a golf cart, we prefer to walk and not have to wait around to be picked up. Note that when we requested a pickup, someone was there within 5 - 10 minutes. Getting around had its challenges due to the steep hills, long distances to food and car parking area. In addition there was poorly marked signage (for example, no signs directing you to different areas of the resort or showing which way to your suite numbers). We got lost on our first day and walked around extensively through the hills and hot, morning sun. The map that they give you doesn’t correspond well to the layout. I suggest having a location-interactive map for smartphones. The resort has many activities and things to do. We didn’t take advantage of any activities since we wanted to spend our time exploring Crete. We chose to eat our dinners off campus in the nearby villages of Elounda. The Domes would be an ideal hotel if you are looking for an all-inclusive vacation in a lovely setting. Between the pools, beach and activities, you could easily spend a week without ever leaving. The resort seemed very kid friendly, and there were many families around. All of the staff we encountered were wonderful, professional and courteous. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Domes of Elounda, and would recommend this hotel, especially if you are looking for a beautiful place that has something for everyone.