Top 10 best luxury hotels on the Greek island of Crete

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.

Today (October 5, 2020): Top 10 best luxury hotels in Crete (Greece)

Crete is a remarkable place to visit. Greece’s largest island is packed with pristine beaches where it’s easy to get a tan whilst respecting social distancing in times of COVID-19. The mountainous island is also crammed with spectacular sights, from desert island atolls to far-flung traditional villages, many of them way off the beaten path. Although Crete is also not as expensive compared to its more famous siblings Santorini and Mykonos, it still has plenty of resorts where one can indulge in luxurious settings. Here’s my pick of the 10 best luxury resorts on the island of Crete.

There is more information (with trip reports and YouTube clips) below the slide show. Think I missed one? Leave a comment.

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10. CAYO EXCLUSIVE RESORT & SPA

Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa is a new, modern, ecologically sensitive, luxurious resort born out of passionate love in the art of traveling. Cayo’s vibe and feel are the results of thoughtful consideration of the spiritual, cultural, and natural environment. Cayo’s interiors of outstanding aesthetic caressed by Greece’s ample sunlight create a feast of colors its guests will savor. Cayo’s alluring interiors were conceptualized by the famous Italian art director and designer Gian Paolo Venier. Cayo’s 74 exclusively designed luxurious rooms, villas, and suites come with private swimming pools. Stylish exteriors and a panoramic view invite guests seeking luxury to immerse themselves into a world of exquisite elegance.

• Hotel website: Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa

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9. NANA PRINCESS

Nana Princess is a brand new exclusive beachfront resort in Hersonissos overlooking the spectacular Cretan Sea. Nestled amongst a lush green landscape, the resort is a haven of luxury and high-end services which will appeal to all those who desire discretion and privacy during their stay. The 112 spacious suites and villas capture the essence of pure luxury and the spirit of wellness flows through each habitation, with some boasting private pools, steam rooms, saunas and gyms. Two expansive outdoor pools filled with seawater are the focal points for those wishing to enjoy a refreshing swim while sipping on a poolside cocktail in between dips. The two a la carte restaurants offer local, Mediterranean and international dishes.

• Hotel website: Nana Princess

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8. DOMES ZEEN, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT & SPA

Domes Zeen’s 101 rooms – that range from lavish villas to well-appointed family bungalows – were simply created to be lived in by you and yours. With serene terraces, private pools and laid-back sophistication throughout, they feel as familiar as home and as luxurious as you deserve. An earthy colour palette, the warmth of sustainable natural materials, unbelievably comfy furniture and every amenity you could wish for come together to ensure that you can spend endless hours luxuriating in complete privacy before you head out to enjoy a wealth of experiences which span from elevated gastronomy to spa rituals, DJ nights, adrenaline-filled adventures and beyond.

• Hotel website: Domes Zeen, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

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7. DOMES OF ELOUNDA, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

From magnificent views of the historic island of Spinalonga to award-winning services, Domes of Elounda redefines Greek hospitality. Offering suites and villas only, the hotel sets new standards in luxury on Crete. The architecture blends seamlessly with the beautiful Cretan land, while guests are constantly close to water: the beach, pools, and spa are all just a few steps away. The four restaurants offer Greek and international cuisine, while the wine-tasting evenings complete one’s adventures in taste. Domes also offers a great range of activities, from picnic getaways in idyllic spots to boat trips around the islet of Spinalonga.

• Hotel website: Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection

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6. DOMES NORUZ CHANIA, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

Located in a dreamy seaside setting, Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection is a lifestyle, adults-only resort celebrated for its novel and modern design. From moonlit live jazz events at the beach and helicopter rides at the breathtaking Samaria Gorge, guests are invited to a highly curated world where unique experiences are the forefront. By embracing the past and the present of the city Noruz offers a fresh, contemporary way for design-savvy guests to explore Chania and enjoy it differently. The hotel’s close proximity to the city makes it even more ideal, as Chania is amongst Mediterranean’s ‘must see’ cultural destinations.

• Hotel website: Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection

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5. BLUE PALACE, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT & SPA

A place that feels welcoming and safe, think of Blue Palace Hotel as your home away from home in Crete. Stretching across 143 acres, the resort has no main building but it is surrounded by bungalows, suites & villas that are dotted around a gentle slope, leading to its private beach and bay. All rooms open up to extended verandas, most of them with a private pool and all with beautiful views to the Aegean Sea and Spinalonga island. Its lush cuisine, the award-winning Elounda Spa with thalassotherapy facilities, and world-class service set this resort apart, offering its guests a relaxed and summery vibe.

• Hotel website: Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).

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4. AMIRANDES GRECOHOTEL EXCLUSIVE RESORT

Designed in keeping with the grand palaces of the Minoan kings, Amirandes is an exclusive beach-side hotel that epitomizes Crete’s most inspiring features: beautiful architecture, warm hospitality, excellent cuisine and stunning land- and seascapes. Themed around the lagoons that swirl through its center, the resort comprises six restaurants, private beaches, an Elixir Spa with indoor pool, and extensive children’s facilities. Amirandes’ 212 guestrooms range across 20 different types of accommodation, featuring indulgent details such as private pools, home cinema and state-of-the-art bathrooms with colour-therapy and aromatherapy Jacuzzi bathtubs.

• Hotel website: Amirandes Grecotel Exclusive Resort
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, a 3 course lunch for two people, a 10% discount at the unique organic Agreco Farm experience and Taverna, and a selected gift from the Agreco Farm with Bio products upon departure).

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3. DAIOS COVE LUXURY RESORT & VILLAS

Located in a spectacular private bay on Crete’s northeast coast, Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas evokes the intimate charm of the traditional villages found throughout the Greek isles, expressed in an elegant, contemporary architecture. The resort’s exclusive location, along with its impressive architecture seamlessly blending in with the rugged surroundings. In this dramatic setting of breathtaking natural beauty, the property boasts spacious accommodation, all with the backdrop of those stunning views. Facilities include an award-winning spa, direct access to a private beach, a magnificent infinity pool, and several gourmet dining options.

• Hotel website: Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit or one complimentary lunch or dinner for up to two people per room).
• Review: read my review of Daois Cove Luxury Resort & Villas here.

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2. ABATON ISLAND RESORT & SPA

Located on Crete’s northern coastline, near the lively resort town of Hersonissos, Abaton Island Resort & Spa offers elegant and trendy accommodations, most of them with a panoramic sea views. The low-lying, all-white, ultra-modern hotel complex – one of the most stylish in Crete – offers world-class facilities against a beautiful setting, including a long stretch of rocky shoreline with dozens of sunloungers, a strip of sandy beach, several large pools, an Elemis spa, and a collection of restaurants offering Greek and international cuisine. Abaton Island Resort & Spa’s unobstructed sea views are one of the best on the island, especially at sunset.

• Hotel website: Abaton Island Resort & Spa
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).
• Review: read my review of Abaton Island Resort & Spa here.

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1. ELOUNDA BEACH HOTEL & VILLAS

The first fully-fledged five-star hotel in Greece, Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas put the the sleepy fishing village of Elounda in northeast Crete on the map in 1971. Since then half a dozen pretenders have squeezed into Mirabello bay, jostling for a sea-view slot, but Elounda Beach will always have the prime position. The property includes several mini-resort-like clusters, like the Yachting Club, whose state-of-the-art bungalows have electric sliding glass doors and retractable television screens. Guests can enjoy the peace and quiet of two private beaches, a treatment at the acclaimed spa Espace Vitalité Chenot, or a delicious meal at one of nine world-class restaurants.

• Hotel website: Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas
• Review: read here my review of Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas

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