Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection, Crete

If you are searching for the perfect balance between five-star luxury and genuine family-friendly hospitality, then look no further than the Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection, nestled on the picturesque coast of Crete, Greece. This resort offers more than just a holiday—it offers an experience that imprints on your heart, a destination so remarkable that leaving feels more like saying goodbye to a second home. From the moment we arrived, we knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary getaway. As our car pulled into the stone-lined entrance, we were greeted not just with warm smiles, but with the kind of authentic, heartfelt welcome that instantly makes you feel like part of something special. This wasn’t corporate hospitality—this was genuine warmth, attention, and care, personified by everyone we encountered. Service Beyond Expectations – The Heart of the Resort If there is one defining feature of the Domes of Elounda, it’s the people. The level of service we received during our stay was unparalleled—the best we’ve experienced anywhere in the world. A very special thank you must go to Kostas Koulouvakis, the general manager, whose leadership and passion are evident in every corner of the resort. His dedication to excellence radiates through his team and sets the tone for the entire guest experience. But it was Harry Balanakis, the resort’s service manager, who truly transformed our holiday into something magical. Harry is nothing short of a hospitality prodigy—his energy, kindness, and professionalism were awe-inspiring. In our time at the Domes, Harry wore many hats: concierge, bellman, activity guide, and above all, our friend. His connection with our family, especially our children, was something truly special. Harry is the kind of person who anticipates your needs before you’ve even had a chance to voice them. He remembered every detail and always delivered with a smile. He is, without question, an irreplaceable asset to the Domes and the entire Marriott brand. Other members of the team also left lasting impressions—Giorgis and Farie, who made every breakfast feel like a celebration, served with warmth and laughter. Their attentiveness and charm made each morning feel like we were dining with old friends. Philoxenia: The Greek Art of Hospitality What truly sets this resort apart is something uniquely Greek—a cultural value deeply embedded in the people and the experience. The word is philoxenia (φιλοξενία), often translated as "hospitality," but it means much more. It literally means "friend to strangers," and it speaks to the Greek spirit of welcoming others into your home, your life, and your heart. At Domes of Elounda, philoxenia isn't just a word—it's a way of life. From the warm handshakes to the heartfelt goodbyes, every moment here reflected this ancient, beautiful tradition. The staff didn’t just serve us—they embraced us. And in turn, we felt not like guests, but like family. Accommodations: Elegance Meets Comfort The rooms and villas at Domes of Elounda are a perfect fusion of modern luxury and Cretan charm. We stayed in a beautifully appointed suite with a private pool and panoramic views of the sea and the iconic Spinalonga Island. Every detail, from the premium linens to the beautifully curated décor, was thoughtfully selected to enhance the guest experience. The rooms were spacious and well-designed for families, offering both privacy and comfort. Dining: A Culinary Love Letter to Greece Let’s talk about the food—because it was nothing short of exceptional. Every meal was a celebration of Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine, elevated with modern flair. Whether we were indulging in freshly grilled seafood, artisanal cheeses, vibrant salads, or delectable desserts, each dish was a reflection of the island’s culinary heritage and the chefs’ creative passion. Dining here was not just eating—it was an experience of flavor, freshness, and finesse. Family Fun: A Paradise for Kids (and Parents) One of the most impressive aspects of Domes of Elounda is how effortlessly it caters to families without compromising on sophistication. Our children had a blast with the array of activities available to them. From the dedicated kids' camp, to video game stations, football camp, cooking classes, and more, there was never a dull moment. The staff in charge of children’s activities were not only highly trained but incredibly loving and fun. Knowing our kids were safe and happy gave us the peace of mind to fully enjoy our time as well. Final Thoughts – Why You Should Book Without Hesitation We’ve been fortunate to travel to many places around the world, but our time at the Domes of Elounda stands in a class of its own. It’s rare to find a resort that manages to exceed luxury standards while still feeling so human, warm, and inviting. This is not just a place to stay—it’s a place to connect, to recharge, and to create lifelong memories. If you’re even considering a trip to Crete, do yourself a favor—book Domes of Elounda. Whether you’re a couple, a solo traveler, or a family, this is a destination that will capture your heart. We left with full hearts, unforgettable memories, and new friendships that will last a lifetime. We will be back. Again and again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 – A living expression of philoxenia.

I thought long and hard before posting this review. It is not my style to sit back and retrospectively criticise. For that reason, I took my frustrations up with management at an early stage, in person, to give them the chance to put things right. They did to an extent, but not to a point where we felt we received what was ultimately a £10,000 experience. By way of background, we were travelling with our daughters (aged 1 and 3). It was our first trip abroad with two children, and clearly, our priority was staying somewhere that made our life easy. Indeed, the hotel’s website claims to be perfect for “new parents looking for effortless holidays.” Alas, that was not to be. We booked a Core Residence Suite with Private Pool for 10 days, which opened up use of the “Haute Living” facility. With that said, I don’t consider there was anything “Haute” about it. It was effectively a small canteen where the “locked” doors were left open so that anybody could (and they did) pile in to use it, not just “Haute” guests who had paid (a substantial amount) more. We barely used it. Positives: Cleanliness: Save for “ant-gate” below, we couldn’t fault the cleanliness of the whole hotel. Buggy drivers: They were all superstars, but an honourable mention must go to Periklis (our eldest daughter’s favourite). They really keep the hotel ticking. Location: Elounda and Plaka are just stunning. The hotel feels like it is in the middle of nowhere, but yet not, all at the same time. We loved this part of it. Reception/concierge staff: We really couldn’t fault them. Concierge organised car hire (seamlessly) and managed to book us into a very in-demand restaurant (apparently with a 6-month waiting list) on only two days’ notice. Our main frustrations can be summarised as follows: Filming: On our first morning we arrived at the family swimming pool to notice that a large proportion of it was taped off for promotional filming. We have no issue with that - everyone has a job to do. But having chosen an area that was NOT taped off, we were soon greeted with a group of approximately 15 people, and what must have been a van load of camera equipment right in front of us. We felt like we were on Love Island. It was not exactly the relaxing start we hoped for. Ants: On our second day we noticed a large number of ants emerging from the shower. Our 1-year old was of course sleeping in a cot, so naturally this would concern us. We accept that nobody can do anything about nature. What we cannot accept is having to ask twice on consecutive days for this issue to be rectified. The problem re-occurred on our final night. Inconsistent service: Sometimes the service was amazing. Sometimes, drinks that we had ordered would not show up at all or take a long time to appear, or we would be waiting indefinitely for a pile of plates to be cleared, or we would have to use the same cutlery for every course, or they would run out of English breakfast tea and bananas. One night we asked for a carton of milk for our baby, and concierge immediately went and fetched one from a restaurant for us. Two nights later, it took 3 attempts and we were told that it would be delivered to our room but “don’t be surprised if they charge an €8 fee” for doing so. Restaurants: An odd thing to write about in a way, because the food was always (save for the below) excellent. But we had a very bad experience in one of the a la carte restaurants (Blend) one lunchtime. We were already wondering why my wife’s burger had taken 25 minutes to cook in an almost empty restaurant, but when it did arrive, it was essentially raw inside. My wife was then told that it would take another 20 minutes for a replacement to arrive. Similarly, my pasta tasted of frying pan and complacency, and I sent it back without asking for a replacement. Again, the frustration is not about the issue itself, rather the knock on effect with having to then go hungry because we had to go back to our suite to nap our baby, given the delay. We were also told that “there would be no charge” which was an odd comment to make when we were half board and had swapped an evening meal for it, thus, we had already paid for it. Supplements: In some cases, even in the a la carte restaurants, if you don’t want just a salad for your starter, or a small plastic pot of bought-in ice cream (not what we expected in a hotel of this class), you’re going to have to pay some hefty supplements on your half board package. Those supplements can be utterly bizarre. For instance, in the outdoor food truck restaurant “CORE” a chicken burger would not incur a supplementary charge. However the Korean fried chicken would. Being flippant, removing the bun and adding some Korean sauce to a piece of chicken apparently costs you (an extra) €17. Charging error: When we came to check out, there was someone else’s €171 dinner bill allocated to our room charges. I must confess that I don’t usually forensically them before we pay, but the other issues here caused my wife to remind me to. It is a good job I did. They did remove it, of course, but given the receptionist immediately confirmed the error by looking at a till receipt, this can only have been a hotel error, not a guest error. Other: Some things were just odd. About 8 days into our holiday, our wine glasses and mugs disappeared from our room. This was the first time it happened. When I rang reception, they asked me to check the outdoor dishwasher. There they were (albeit dirty). I don’t think the world revolves around me, but this is a 5* hotel, not an Airbnb. In short, our biggest issue with the hotel is that it didn’t achieve what it claims to. Travelling with little ones, we felt like our life was often made harder, not easier. It was far from the relaxing effort-free holiday we expected. We have previously been regular visitors to the IKOS group. I am afraid that, although we paid pretty much an IKOS price to stay at Domes of Elounda, (certainly for our needs) they were not comparable. At IKOS they just have a sixth sense ability to know what their guests need before they even know they need it, and that is what separates the good from the excellent. My (hopefully balanced) view is that Domes of Elounda tries hard to be both a luxury adults resort, and a family friendly hotel. But that is a very hard line to tread and not many do it easily.

If you visit Crete, Domes of Elounda is a “must stay”! From arrival to departure we were so impressed with this resort. The facility is beautiful and the accommodations were spacious and welcoming. We especially appreciated our private pool! Food served at both the breakfast and dinner buffets were absolutely delicious. But what really makes this resort a five star experience is the professional and super attentive staff - with a special shout out to Stella, Renna, Irene and Emma.

Large resort hotel for couples and families, set in a beautiful location between Elounda and Plaka, overlooked by the fortress island of Spinalonga. There is a spa, great selection of restaurants, choice of pools and chauffeured golf carts to move around the resort. There are various room choices, the pool villas being superb with an array of personal facilities including a washing machine. There is a private beach with a bar and food. Water sports, water taxis and excursions are available. A stand out feature here is the excellent level of service by all the staff in all areas, particularly the Blend restaurant and pool.

I stayed at Domes twice, once for our honeymoon and most recently for 5 nights with my wife and our 1 year old daughter. We had an incredible stay this time again, this is a very special resort for my family. Our room was beautiful and spacious, with a large private pool with an amazing view on Spinalonga island. Our daughter spent a few hours everyday at the crèche, where she had a great time playing with other kids and the educators who took great care of her - and made her feel comfortable quickly (the drop offs were not easy the first couple of days!). The onsite beach is spectacular, and we particularly enjoyed our dinner on the pier at Vilebrequin. Food in general is good across all the onsite properties (we tried them all except Makris). We also used the spa and got amazing deep tissue massages there. All the employees were super nice and went above and beyond to make our trip special. Special shoutout to the reservations desk that managed to get us a late checkout thanks to my Marriott titanium status when the hotel was packed, it made our last day of vacation feel truly like a vacation day rather than a travel day. I was hoping to wakeboard onsite but didn’t find the time this time around, but highly recommend wakeboarding there, it’s super cool to wakeboard in this beautiful bay right in front of Spinalonga (I got to do it on our honeymoon). We can’t wait to come back for a 3rd time!