Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection, Crete

A perfect experience from start to finish. A seamless check in which was appreciated after travelling with 3 kids, no waiting in line etc to check in, we sat down had a drink and everything was handled by polite and fun staff who were great with the kids. We had a 2 bedroom suite, spacious and luxury with a hot tub, clean modern and well looked after. The “resort” is big however it feels a lot smaller, even though it was fully booked it never felt crowded and it was always possible to get a sun lounger either by the pool or beach - the private beach was the highlight of the trip, warm clean sea, good service for drinks or food to your chairs and clean bathrooms and changing area. I would recommend to anyone, literally a perfect stay

Recently returned from Domes, having travelled as a family of 5 - had a good time but definitely thought it not as special and truly 5* as other family resorts we’ve stayed at in Greece (e.g. Sani, Ikos). We enjoyed it, but are unlikely to rush back. On our second evening we had an incident in our room which could have been terrible. For some reason, there’s an electric hob in the cupboard with the minibar and coffee machine (no pans or plates that would mean this was actually useful!) - unfortunately, this was accidentally turned on high by housekeeping when doing turndown service and, once discovered, couldn’t be turned off. It was by total chance that we discovered this, and thank goodness - even after a short time the cupboard surround was boiling hot. Maintenance eventually fixed this but I dread to think what would have happened had we not discovered it when we did. Disappointingly, we didn’t get so much of an apology from staff. Our room was nice - in the older part of the hotel and a little tired but spacious and with a nice pool. Some small things would have made it better. Oddly, for a 2-bed family suite, the second bedroom had a double bed - for families, this would be much better as two singles as teen siblings would definitely not choose to share! Also, the kids had a large frosted window directly behind the headboard that had no blind or curtain, meaning bright light walking them early morning. The second bathroom was badly designed and you needed to be small and squeeze awkwardly past the sink cabinet to get in. And in the main bedroom there were no hooks for towels (despite all the cards understandably requesting that towels are re-used). Service was fine - from certain staff members it was great and friendly (e.g. Renia at Tholos) but we found this the exception rather than the rule. Examples include when taking club cars - we asked to go to the beach, to which the driver said ok, and then when we got to reception we were simply told “you walk from here”, after which the driver continued past us down the the beach! We since know that drivers aren’t meant to go to the beach (a shame) but this could have been communicated better! And, oddly, staff were jet-washing the walkways by the beach at 11am in the morning, the noise and spray causing disturbance, when you’d expect this sort of activity to be done earlier in the morning before the beach is busy. The beach is a highlight - it’s not huge but there are a good number of sun beds, the water is crystal clear, there are lots of trees for shade, and you get a great view of Spinalonga. However, part of what you pay 5* prices for is exclusivity and this felt lacking. Whilst we understand that Greek beaches are, by law, public, this doesn’t extend to hotel facilities and sun beds. Every day, groups of non-guests would visit and use sun beds, toilets, showers etc and, even when the beach was very full and guests were asking for help finding a spot to sit, these groups were not asked to move. Be aware that the resort is on two sides of a steep hill - we didn’t mind it being hilly but it’s trickier with those less mobile. Club cars zip around all day but not all rooms/areas of the resort can be reached without climbing stairs etc. The hotel also felt like it was in two halves rather than being one cohesive resort. And it’s a shame that certain services are only available on one side or another - it would be a great addition if a shop like Bakaliko could be added to the main part of the hotel. Also, if you’re on the beach but fancy a swim in a pool, families have to walk up to reception and club car across to the other side of the resort. Atmosphere was slightly lacking - for what should have been a busy August week, restaurants weren’t overly busy (we didn’t struggle to book or just turn up on the day) and buzzing. It’s odd that the pools and pool/beach bar close at 6pm - there’s nowhere for a sundowner and the only bar open in an evening is the (mostly indoor) lobby bar. A real shame. Food was decent. We didn’t mind the main buffet restaurant (Tholos) for daily breakfast and some dinners, and the Vilebrequin la plage was lovely for lunch. Lunch was also good at Blend but it felt a bit soulless and service was a bit slow and surly. Core is a fun concept but there’s only so many burgers one wants. The best decision we made was heading into Plaka for dinner one evening (Giovanni’s was great). It’s definitely worth a trip to Spinalonga - we took a speedboat from the watersports centre as this was the same price return as it would have been for 5 of us from Plaka port. We’d suggest 1.5hrs to explore there. Overall, a happy week but the hefty price tag didn’t quite live up to expectations.

It’s a wonderful oasis. Great time to get away… celebrated two birthdays :-) with a nice welcome-chocolate cake!! We stayed at the core residency room(s) with private pool and it was a gorgeous accommodation. Fantastic housekeeping. Very friendly and welcoming staff. Special thanks to Eleni, the Villa Manager for taking wonderful care of us, and going extra mile after bumpy check-in…the music and dance dinner was a very memorable experience. Gorgeous well kept and clean beach, sandy, excellent service at the beach. Pool area similar super chill. We had a marvelous relaxing time and overall enjoyed our stay very much.

The secret to this hotel’s success lies in two things: its stunning beach and its outstanding staff. The sandy shoreline and the calm, crystal-clear waters of Elounda Bay create the perfect atmosphere for relaxation. Arrive early if you wish to secure a sun bed and fully enjoy the serene setting. The staff are simply remarkable- From hotel GM Yorgos through Alexandros the rooms divisions manager, Pantelis the food and beverage manager, the ever-helpful guest relations team of Stella, Kelly, and Marina, to the dedication of almost every baggy driver and housekeeper- the service is genuinely caring, attentive, and eager to make every guest feel special. It’s not every day you see a hotel’s General Manager and senior staff strolling the beach in full uniform, in over 30°C heat, personally checking in with guests to make sure everything is perfect and if there’s anything they need. I would like also to mention Anthi, the wonderful beach waitress, for her friendly and professional care. When it comes to dining, Makris offers an exceptional fine-dining experience that should .not be missed. For meat lovers, Blend is a great place thank you for a wonderful vacation

We had the most incredible stay at Domes of Elounda. The staff and the service were impeccable. They went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed. We went with our two children and the hotel is very well catered for both an adults only trip or a family holiday. For me the highlight was the private beach. It is so beautiful with amazing views, not too busy and very relaxing. I would 100% recommend.