Elounda Mare

Getting there was quite a journey—a 9.5/10 -hour flight, a 3.5-hour layover in Athens, a quick 40-minute connecting flight which was very late, and a 1.5-hour drive on the other end due to construction. Let me state clearly: it was totally worth it!! From the moment we arrived, the property was breathtaking. The accommodations are top-notch, blending luxury with authentic charm, and the food across their dining venues was absolutely outstanding. We were celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary, and the hotel went above and beyond by generously upgrading our room and sending champagne to help us mark the special occasion. During our stay, the owner’s daughter actually chatted with us and asked why we chose this property. For us, the answer was simple: it checked every single box. It gave us the gorgeous private beach we were looking for, aligned perfectly with our budget, and offered an intimate luxury experience you just can't find elsewhere. What truly elevated our stay, however, was the exceptional service. Joanna was remarkably attentive and went completely out of her way to ensure everything was perfect for us from start to finish. Her genuine care and personalized touch made us feel exceptionally well-looked after. If you are looking for a tranquil, beautiful luxury escape in Crete with world-class hospitality, look no further than the Elounda Mare Hotel. We cannot wait to return!

We arrived at Elounda Mare yesterday for a 10 day stay and everything has been incredible. We had a very warm welcome and the check in was seamless before being escorted to our room where we had been given a very generous upgrade to the most amazing pool suite. After a lovely dinner at the Yatch Club we have been blown away by the whole resort, the staff, the atmosphere, everything is far beyond our already high expectations. I will post an updated review upon our departure but Elounda Mare is already one of if not the very best resort/hotel we have stayed.

Although this was our eleventh straight year at Elounda Mare (and that is very modest compared to some of the repeat guests!) there was a welcome freshness to the visit this year. We are fortunate enough to stay in a Superior Bungalow and for 2026 these properties have received a significant and most welcome upgrade. All rooms including bathroom have been fully refurbished and redecorated to a high standard and the pool has been improved too with much better accessibility. An overall feel of more modern, understated elegance. Quite a few new staff around too at the front desk and Yacht Club @ lunch in particular. What impressed us was the seamless way these new members of the team have picked up the tremendous standards set by all the other staff across the estate. Special mention to Adam, Eva and Nagia. Plenty of our friends there from the past too and delighted to see Giorgos the barman and Marina. I have always felt reassured when I cross the threshold to the hotel that I know I am guaranteed an absolutely wonderful holiday and this year was no exception. All of the previous accolades myself and others have written remain in evidence every single day. A beautifully stylish hotel, set in a wonderful location, with the best staff I have ever had the pleasure of being looked after by. Food at Yacht Club and other sister hotels superb. The loyalty programme is very generous indeed. Elounda Mare continues to thrive. Thank you again for even more special memories. We cannot wait to see you all again in 2027.

This hotel is a cut above . We have visited many times and the high standard is always maintained. Top class service and food . Breakfast is the best. The staff are all friendly and helpful .Nothing is too much trouble . Bungalow room and private pool lovely The grounds are gorgeous too ! Can’t wait until next year when we will hopefully visit again .

Note that the directions to the hotel are generally wrong if you’re using Apple and Google Maps. We stayed in the lovely Bungalow 4 with private pool. The room is quite nice but no bathtub. It has good temperature control. The shower was having trouble keeping temperature with many hot spikes of water. The service and food at the fish night at the Yacht Club was poor but perhaps they were overwhelmed. We had lunch there the next day and it was a much better experience. The servers at dinner and breakfast are largely the same. They are somewhat standoffish but some friendly. The food at The Mill and at Sumosan was fair. The sommelier was amazing and helpful. The bartender in the lobby bar is very good. There are many good restaurants in town which is just a few minutes by car. It was very nice to swim in the ocean every day which was a great temperature, but note that there are some jellyfish in the water. Joanna, the Customer Relations contact, is lovely and helpful.