Elounda Akti Olous

Located on the northern coast of Crete, overlooking the majestic Mirabello Bay and Spinalonga Peninsula, Elounda Akti Olous offers respite for adults in the Greek sunshine. Top up your tan or read a book on the small private beach, while listening to the soothing sounds of the sea. If you run out of reading material, the hotel has its own library.

Tranquillity and breathtaking views can be found on the rooftop, which boasts a garden, a pool, sunloungers and a bar. Prefer to keep up-to-date with the latest news and sport developments? Breeze offers a variety of refreshments all day long, while showing satellite channels on the TV screens. When it’s time to eat, Bluesea Restaurant promises fine dining by the sea, with a range of Cretan and fish dishes on the menu. If you want to head off just as the day is dawning, an early breakfast service can be arranged.

The air conditioned rooms at Elounda Akti Olous offer a balcony, a TV with satellite channels, a hairdryer, a safe and a fridge. The hotel has a modern style so you won’t find an old fashioned landline in your room but you will be offered the loan of a smartphone on a local network, allowing unlimited calls and mobile data. Ideal if your own mobile network has introduced charges for roaming in Europe. If you’re looking for additional home comforts, why not consider a suite upgrade?

The town of Elounda has a wide range of bars and bakeries, so there’s no shortage of places to buy a feta & spinach pie or a baklava for an afternoon snack. Spinalonga Peninsula, accessed via a causeway, offers further beaches, as well as lush green forests providing hiking opportunities. You may also wish to explore the ruins of Ancient Naxos on Mount Oxa, which overlooks Elounda. (Not to be confused with the island of Naxos).

Cretan Olive Oil Farm is just over 10 minutes drive away. Here you can experience hands-on production demonstrations and take a bottle of extra virgin oil home with you. But that’s not all, they also run a cheesemaking experience, cookery lessons and pottery workshops. You can even accompany the shepherd to milk the goat, for a real feel of local rural life. Also nearby are the remains of the Ancient City Of Lato, founded by the Dorans in the 7th century BC. Animal lovers should head to Amazonas Park, where you can not only see lemurs, parrots and macaques but also learn about rearing and reproduction of rare species, which are threatened with extinction.