Blue Palace
📍Crete
For our Neighbourhood Stays series our travel tastemakers uncover hotels and boltholes that ooze style whilst celebrating local. In this instalment Amira Hashish soaks up the allure of the Aegean in Elounda…
Neighbourhood: The sprawling estate that is home to Blue Palace, A Luxury Collection Resort, sits between the quintessential fishing village of Plaka and the sweet port of Elounda. Both are worth a visit but our heart lies with Plaka which is just a five-minute stroll away. A slow-paced and authentic spot, it is admirably low-key and ideal for pottering around local boutiques or enjoying a taverna lunch by the sea.
What truly sets the resort apart is the uninterrupted view of the anarchic Spinalonga Island, a National Monument of Greece and UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the most coveted places to explore in Crete, it is the setting of Victoria Hislop’s best-seller The Island and draws in fans of the book. On arrival at the hotel you will be struck by the remarkable view of the glistening Aegean Sea with Spinalonga rising boldly from the water.
What to expect: A luxurious and thoughtfully curated resort which strikes a brilliant balance of serenity and sumptuousness.
Community and ambience: The team at Blue Palace are are polished and passionate. Despite its vast scale (there are more than 250 bedrooms), a sense of warmth trickles throughout the resort from the friendly faces at the front desk to the joyful restaurant teams and the spa staff. The overarching vibe is that this is your place to unwind and soak up the sunny dispositions of those who are intent on making that happen. Many of the core members of the team have been working at the property since it opened 20 years ago, which speaks volumes.
Design Details: From the moment you arrive in the enormous lobby area leading into a patio with a pool towering over the Aegean, you know Blue Palace means business. A funicular connects each of the levels, from the entrance to the private beach at the bottom. The scale and shape of the architecture is breathtaking. Arches are the name of the game here. Giant, beautifully curved structures in hues of pink and brown form striking features. They make for a fun contrast to the low-rise buildings and bungalows dotted around the cove, crafted from local stone to evoke a sense of nature.
Each corner of the resort has its own style. Take the unassuming and traditional Blue Door taverna, for example. Perched over the sea with chequered table cloths picking up the breeze, it feels every inch as rustic as you would hope. Meanwhile, Anthós, a traditional Cretan farm-to-table restaurant, is housed in a long, dome-like building surrounded by pebbled patios with an al fresco cooking range. Its modern farmhouse allure is complemented by the endless sea views that form its backdrop.
Where should I stay? All rooms are blessed with views of the beach as well as the on-site garden so you are in safe hands. However, we would recommend splashing out on one with a private pool. Our Deluxe Suite came with the L-shaped patio of dreams, with shaded spots for unwinding and a generously-sized wrap-around pool overlooking the twinkling Aegean. It was hard to pull ourselves way from this blissful set-up.
If it is privacy and space you are seeking, The Haven Collection is Blue Palace’s most elevated option with a dedicated section on the private beach and a mix of a la carte and buffet breakfast served in Anthós. This experience offers the sense of a boutique and bespoke stay whilst having all the thrills of a big retreat on your doorstep.
On the menu: The culinary game is strong with each of the five restaurants offering a refreshingly different menu and ambience. Anthós is the get-dressed-up, farm-to-table gastronomic concept with a kitchen garden. Expect contemporary twists on traditional Cretan cuisine such as Antikristo smoked lamb shoulder and Guna seabass with raw bio vegetable salad. Ask for the crispy potatoes and leave room for the carob chocolate choux.
Blue Door, the traditional Greek taverna right beside the sea, gets booked up so reserve in advance. Go for the fish of the day and the lobster spaghetti. Asia Deep Blue is the place for stylish, vibrant Asian fusion whilst Isola is the Italian hotspot which comprises a more formal dining space by the sea and a casual beach club serving tasty salads and buns.
The Arsenali Lounge Bar is just the spot for a sunset drink with award-winning resident bartender Aristotelis Papadopoulos reinventing classics on his mixology menu. Listen out for DJ sets too.
Spa time: As well as 24 treatment rooms, there is a 24-hour gym, indoor pool and a beauty salon so whether you are in the mood for a mani or a massage, The Elounda Spa has you covered. We opted for the Anne Semonin express facial on the final day of our trip to enhance that sun-kissed glow. It was a treat.
Local experience: One of the highlights of our trip was a private cruise on a wooden caique (a traditional Cretan boat). The sunset sail circled Spinalonga Island, making its way towards Elounda Pier before dropping us back to the hotel beach. Champagne and canapés accompanied this truly luxurious and special experience. You can opt for anything from a one-hour sail to a full day out at sea. Book in with concierge.
Book: Rooms start at around £450 per night in peak season. The nearest airport is Heralikon and the hotel can arrange a private transfer, which takes around an hour. Visit bluepalaceresort.gr.