Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection, Crete

We just returned from a 9-day stay at Domes of Elounda with our 2-year-old son, and honestly, we had a fantastic time from start to finish. We stayed in a Premium Sea View Suite with Jacuzzi, and the views were absolutely stunning. Waking up every morning overlooking the water and Spinalonga never got old. The room was spotless throughout our stay and always felt calm, comfortable, and luxurious without being overly formal. What really made the trip special, though, was the staff. Every single person we interacted with was incredibly warm, helpful, and kind to our son. Traveling with a toddler can sometimes be stressful, but the team here made everything feel easy and relaxed. The resort itself is beautifully set up for families. The heated family pool was great, the beach is fantastic, and the buggy service around the resort was incredibly convenient (and honestly also very fun for our little one). Food was another huge highlight for us. The breakfast buffet was excellent every morning with a huge amount of choice, and the evening buffets were consistently impressive as well. We especially loved the themed night at CORE. The BBQ night in particular felt endless in the best possible way because there were so many different dishes to try. Even after 9 days, we never felt bored with the food options. We only ate at Antonio’s once, but really enjoyed it too. What stood out consistently throughout the stay was how genuinely attentive and engaging the staff were with children. So many team members took the time to chat with our son, wave to him when we passed by, and make him feel included everywhere we went. Small gestures like remembering his name or helping keep him entertained while we waited made such a difference to us as parents. It never felt forced because everyone seemed to genuinely enjoy interacting with families, and that warmth created such a relaxed atmosphere throughout the resort. The kids club was wonderful and gave us some time to properly relax while knowing our son was having a great time too. He made crafts, enjoyed the snacks they provided, and stayed happily entertained throughout. Our son also really enjoyed the bubble show at CORE, which was such a lovely touch for families in the evenings. One of the absolute highlights of the trip was taking a private speedboat to Spinalonga. It was such a fun experience and something we’ll remember for a very long time. We genuinely struggled to find any negatives during our stay. This was one of those rare holidays where everything simply came together perfectly. Highly recommended for families looking for a luxurious but relaxed place to stay in Crete. We would happily return.

This was our third visit to the Domes of Elounda and by far the best yet. Location is just stunning and being in one of the new Choros Suites the views of Spinalonga did not fail to impress. From check in check out over 11 days the atmosphere and friendliness of all the staff was incredible. Our room #963 was rustic from outside but inside was immaculate and very well presented with the most comfortable bed and luxurious bed linen. On the evening and mornings you are surrounded by nature and the tranquility of the Elounda Bay. Inside the rooms it was as silent as outside and very relaxing. This has the adults only pool and bar and right next to Makris Michelin Star inspired restaurant. We dined here twice and the food here was both local, organic, divine and very well presented to us. The resort has CORE for outdoor BBQs and stall inspired food outlets. The Domes Beach Club is very much Vilebrequin inspired and the restaurant to have amazing lunches by the sea. Again all the staff very friendly, knowledgeable about the food/drink. Last but not least a huge thanks to the tireless work of both room service and they guys transporting us around the resort in golf carts, thank you! The GM George Kyriois and his entire team really are what makes this resort work seamlessly and treat all their gusts with respect, dignity and the genuine desire to nave all guests experience the best of the best. Bravo and see you again real soon!!

We stayed in one of the Residence for just over a week on half-board dine around. The food is genuinely the hotel’s strongest card: the buffet breakfasts are excellent — fresh pastries, fruit, and proper Greek yoghurt — and dinners are reliably good if you’re lucky enough to sit where a sharp waiter is on duty. Makris restaurant is a highlight: superb cooking and bold flavours, albeit served at speed if they spot you’re on a dine-around package (you’ll get through starter to dessert before you’ve finished reading the menu). Unfortunately, a string of practical failings dulls the experience. Maintenance is patchy — the main pool lining is peeling so badly it turns swimwear and feet blue — and building work next to the residence villas creates a steady background of noise. Around the beach and pools there are hardly any bins, and water is surprisingly scarce: guests get one small carton of water per day in-room, plus you’re charged for water at meals and in the shop. Our own villa had a number of issues during the stay, including TVs not working and intermittent internet outages, which added to the frustration. To the hotel’s credit, the GM did step in and reduce our bill in recognition of this, which was appreciated and handled professionally. Service staff are friendly and plentiful, but the operation feels over-centralised. Requests are passed up a chain via ear mic and often don’t materialise. Even simple housekeeping tasks aren’t standard practice here: in-room tea and coffee aren’t automatically replenished during room servicing — you have to ask. The hotel’s digital offering is disappointing too — a flimsy QR-code to a poorly designed web portal, rather than a proper app other comparable resorts provide. The dine-around half-board offering is mixed: Makris is excellent, but Antonio’s was a real low point. On top of that, anything outside the included meals is expensive. Wine appears marked up 400–500% (checked on Vivino), a small can of beer in the shop is €6, and a pint of milk costs even more — thank goodness the concierge delivered milk to our room for our one-year-old, otherwise it would have become a very costly exercise. There are definite positives: the location is spectacular, the gardens and landscaping are beautifully maintained, and the views over the bay and islands are outstanding. Overall, excellent food and a beautiful setting are let down by maintenance issues, inconsistent service systems, and high on-site pricing. The gesture from the GM was appreciated, but there’s still a gap between the experience offered and what you’d expect at this level.

We absolutely loved our stay at Domes of Elounda and would go back in a heartbeat. The resort itself is gorgeous — beautifully maintained, clean, aesthetically stunning and set in an incredible location. We stayed in the adults-only Chora area and our room, terrace and view were genuinely beautiful. We also had a stunning view of Spinalonga, which we did a boat trip over to visit during our stay and really enjoyed. The Chora-only pool is also a really nice area, with relaxing beds and a lovely, calm feel. We also went near the main family pool area for dinner, which was nice, although we didn’t spend extended time there. For us though, the best place to spend time was definitely the resort’s private beach, which is such a beautiful place to relax, with food and drinks brought directly to your chosen spot and helpful staff always nearby. The biggest mention, though, has to go to the staff. They were phenomenal from start to finish. Nothing was ever too much trouble, everyone was warm, helpful, professional and so personable. It never felt forced or overly formal — they were genuinely friendly, engaging and made every interaction feel easy and welcoming. A special mention to Petros, Iasonas, Maria, Louisa, Kostas, Nadia, Savvas, Christos, Harris, Lambis, John, Yullia, Eeni, Eleni and Yiannis — and an extra special mention to Christina and Panagiota, who were both absolutely outstanding. They were so chatty, friendly and genuinely lovely to speak with, and they really stood out to us. We didn’t manage to get everyone’s names, but even the staff we haven’t named were brilliant. They are a real credit to the hotel. We only had two very minor issues during our stay, and both were dealt with quickly and without fuss. The team were only too happy to help, which really summed up the service throughout. The food was lovely overall. Breakfast buffet was excellent, and the dinner buffet was good and varied. Personally, I would say it’s worth comparing the board options, as breakfast-only may suit some people better than half board simply because the resort restaurants are really nice, and Plaka and Elounda also offer good dining options, so you may want the freedom to try more places without feeling tied to the buffet. Booking for dinner services is required, but they provide a personalised link so you can do this easily on your phone and, to be fair, it is probably part of the reason everything runs so smoothly. We stayed in Chora and thought it was a brilliant addition. What Domes does really well is balance being a family resort with quieter adult spaces. There are children and families around, which gives the resort atmosphere, but you also have quieter breakfast areas, adult areas at the beach, and the Chora adults-only area, so you really get the best of both. A few helpful tips: yes, the resort is hilly, but those hills are also what give you the beautiful views. We managed fine, but if you think you may struggle, the hotel runs a 24/7 buggy service which can be requested from reception, guest services WhatsApp, or through staff around the resort. The bellboys were always friendly and helpful, so the hills really do not need to be an issue. Water is complimentary at breakfast, so it is worth taking a bottle with you if you want some for later in the day. Plaka is walkable and well worth visiting. Elounda is also walkable, with most of the route being a lovely cobbled path along the seafront, although part of it is along the road, so that is worth considering. It is well worth the walk though. We also hired a car during our stay, and the valet parking at the hotel was really easy. You simply leave your keys with the team and they deal with it for you. Overall, we absolutely adored our stay. The setting is beautiful, the resort is stunning, the food is lovely, and the staff are exceptional. They really do make the place, and we cannot praise them highly enough. We would return without hesitation.

My stay at Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection was truly exceptional and exceeded all my expectations. From the very first moment, I felt the warm hospitality and attention to detail that make this hotel stand out. The view of the sea and Spinalonga was absolutely breathtaking, the surroundings were beautifully designed and peaceful, and the room combined comfort, luxury, and impeccable cleanliness. The staff was always kind, professional, and genuinely willing to help, making me feel welcome throughout my stay. I especially appreciated the excellent food, the relaxing atmosphere, and the overall quality of the experience. Every moment felt special and allowed me to fully enjoy and unwind during my vacation. This is definitely a place I would love to return to, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious and memorable stay in Crete