If you are considering going to this part of Crete, I think you should give Elounda Gulf Villas serious consideration. So, why is it so excellent? Firstly, as ever, the most important ingredient in a splendid hotel is the staff. It doesn’t matter what facilities are available; it is the people* (see end of blog) that create the atmosphere and provide the service that makes your stay special. The challenge is to strike the right balance between friendliness and professionalism. If hotels get this wrong, staff are either too chummy and matey, or too aloof and snobbish. It’s about making the guest feel genuinely welcomed. At Elounda Gulf Villas, whether in reception, by the pool, at the bar, at the private beach, in the restaurant, or anywhere else, they got the balance just right. The hotel is set on a hillside. We were at the top, and the restaurant was some way down below. We always walked down in an attempt to ‘justify’ how much we planned to eat. There are a wide range of choices for breakfast, hot and cold. We ate like royalty, think King Henry VIII, and consequently we never needed lunch. The return journey was on an electric buggy driven by a member of staff. I never stopped thinking this was fun! There’s plenty to do in the local area during the daytime. Trips to the ruins of the leper colony at Spinalonga run from Elounda and Plaka, which is nearby. There are several beaches in the vicinity, Agios Nikoaos is a famous example, but it helps to have a car to reach them. Likewise, one could visit Lake Voulismeni, or the beautiful village of Kritsa. There are plenty of options. We spent a couple of days on the hotel’s private beach. Dimitri took us down there. It’s a little bay with all you’d need, including food and drinks. I can recommend the frappe with ice cream. And my favourite beer, Etsa Pilsner, is very tasty. Every hour or so I’d take the same photograph and/or video sweep. I couldn’t resist it. The hotel has an excellent restaurant. We ate there once. My lamb was tender and yummy. Prices are fine. Maybe a little more expensive than in Elounda town, but not much. Given it’s a first class establishment, you’d expect that. We got a few complimentary treats. Other guests did too; the occasional drink, mid-morning cake by the pool, a plate of cheese and biscuits one evening. It’s the little touches that make you feel like a special guest. Elounda Gulf Villas is boutique in the sense that it is sophisticated and chic. It is small in the number of rooms and guests (33 villas/suites) but the site is quite extensive so you get a sense of privacy. It’s 5* so it’s not inexpensive, and the argument runs that you get what you pay for. For us, because as we went early in the season, we got rather more than we paid for. And, frankly, a few things money can’t buy.
自動翻訳