Elounda Mare Relais & Châteaux Hotel

After nearly 2 1/2 weeks travelling mainland Greece and the west of Crete, we kept saying to each other that we could not wait to get back to Elounda, and the Elounda Mare hotel and staff. The pull was so strong that we rebooked flights and hotels to get us there 2 days earlier. Although we thought we were relaxed on our Honeymoon vacation, once we arrived, we were able to finally relax on a whole other level. The surroundings, weather, hotels rooms,, restaurants and facilities are of course all great, and we won't both to say much about them as you can read all of that in the others great reviews. What really makes this place different, is the unparalleled level of friendly and professional service from each and every member of staff. As a family business, there is a feeling after visiting numerous times, of coming back to meet and catch up with family. So much so, that we even plan in extra time just for the round of catch-ups ;) Our last day is always tinged with a little sadness at having to leave, but once we are home we know that we will immediately start planning our next trip. Maybe even on the plane home already ;)

We had a wonderful Easter here and would definitely recommend it. We stayed in one of the bungalows with a private pool (€80/day to heat it—not cheap, but worth it since the sea and main pool were pretty freezing). The sea views were absolutely stunning—from the bed, the terrace, and the pool. The layout of the bungalows is cleverly designed so you don’t see your neighbors and they don’t see you, which makes for a very private stay. Our bungalow (#6) was spacious enough for a family of three, with comfy beds, a great selection of pillows, and plenty of cupboard space. The bathroom was recently renovated, and it showed—fabulous marble,shower, bathtub. Breakfast was lovely, with a wide variety of food and great coffee. Once again, you get those amazing sea views from the breakfast room. There were plenty of water sports on offer—we tried the crazy sofa and jet ski, both loads of fun. The hotel grounds are beautifully maintained, with thoughtful landscaping that in some areas makes it feel more like a little village than a resort. The beach and rocks were lovely too—clear water and plenty of deck chairs. Only downside: the beach bar prices. €5.50 for a tiny cappuccino in a paper cup felt a bit much. We really appreciated the tasteful interior design—1980s modernism, but it didn’t feel dated at all. Quite the opposite, actually—we loved it. The nearby village, with plenty of decent restaurants, is about a 20-minute walk. Did it once on a sunny day (a bit too hot) and drove after that. Huge shout-out to the brilliant staff—from reception to waiters, concierge, parking, water sports, and housekeeping. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, helpful, and friendly. Well done Elounda Mare!

DO NOT STAY HERE! I booked this resort for our family trip to Greece because of its relais and chateaux status. This resort is not worthy of 5 stars and I would not consider it luxury by any means. My two main issues were the quality and cleanliness of the rooms and the lack of customer service. We booked a deluxe pool bungalow with private pool. Not only did the room we were given not resemble the online marketing but it was also extremely basic and what I would consider uninhabitable. It was very old, smelled of must and mold, had multiple cobwebs and spiders. The hotel's response was even more abhorrent than the room itself. The front desk attendant initially claimed that this was an upgraded room (which I think is preposterous based on the terrible quality for a so called 5 star resort with relais and chateaux status) but then offered us a nicer room tomorrow. The general manager told us the conditions were "part of Cretan charm" and to just "enjoy ourselves." I asked three times for a room change (once around 7pm immediately after checking in, 8 pm on our way out to dinner, and then 11 pm on the way back to dinner at which point I was told housekeeping had left for the night so it was impossible to change rooms despite my earlier attempts.) Additionally, during my two earlier attempts for a room, I was told they were fully booked despite their website showing multiple rooms available to book. I would like to mention, I was also five months pregnant during this stay and it caused me undue stress to stay a night in this room. The next night, we were moved to a 2 bedroom pool villa with private pool. This room did resemble the pictures online and was improved in the room quality. I did still take issue with the fact that the second bedroom had an ant infestation and that there were mosquitos in the room. When we brought this up to the hotel, they did spray for ants and they gave us a mosquito repellant machine. My mom did get 4 bug bites. Overall, this was a 1-2 star experience and I am upset that I spent so much money on a subpar stay. When I book a relais and chateaux, I expect my spend to be worth it. I also do not expect to be made to feel "extra" or "picky" by hotel staff for wanting a luxury experience at a luxury resort. Even when I am staying at a non-luxury hotel, I expect bare minimums to be met such as cleanliness and a lack of insects in the room.

What a wonderful incredible holiday and overall 10/10 experience. The hotel while old is very beautiful, the food is fantastic, the drinks and cocktails made by Giorgos are awesome, the ocean is magic but without doubt the staff make this place very special. Jason the concierge, Maria on front desk, Ionnna guest relations, Giorgos barman all were so welcoming to my family and made our holiday very special. We have stayed at lots of places around the world but this hotel will always hold a special place in my families heart. We can’t wait to return

We have just returned from another stay at this wonderful hotel - our happy place. Everything about this hotel is of the highest quality but what makes it special and why you want to always return is the warmth and welcome of every single member of staff each of whom makes you genuinely feel special. From the irrepressible Ioanna at Guest Relations, to the stars of the Bar, Giorgios and Thomas. The lovely Michalis at the Beach, the always smiling Solou and the wonderful Reception team. We can't wait to return

Beautiful hotel, grounds, staff and breakfast. Superb all round experience. Spotless. Timeless. We last stayed 20 years ago & this place just gets better & better. Faultless. Gorgeous private beach. Chryssa looked after our booking and made sure everything was perfect. Thank you Chryssa. Very highly recommended