Charming Crete : Domes of Elounda to Spinalonga
Charming Crete ticks so many boxes for fun, zen, culture and luxury seekers and certainly from Elounda to Spinalonga, one won’t be let down! We stayed 5 days with Domes of Elounda and this lovely Autograph collection and Mr and Mrs Smith meets nicely the needs of young travellers whilst keeping parents entertained!
family holidays in Crete with Domes of Elounda
The location overlooking Spinalonga is stunning: the island of Victoria Hislop’s bestselling novel and a former leper colony, rich in history and nuances. We could not get enough of the million shades of Aegean turquoise and this fascinating island : from our suite, hotel’s lounge, the beach, the spa pavilion.
Topos beach restaurant with Mediterranean a la carte dining is bliss. Right by the water, so kids can also play merrily on the sand and by the rocks once they finish dinner or lunch.
Domes of Elounda Topos dining on the beach
We loved the seabass, the shrimp saganaki and the mussels with chilli and feta cheese. We also had a great lunch with friends in here, 5 kids and 6 grownups rose wine and spritz flowing, all loved it. And the kids were ecstatic with their icecream with marshmallows and M&Ms.
The breakfasts at Tholos were superb but occasionally felt super busy. My boys loved the pancakes with blueberries, my other half the eggs royal and me the French toast. The fruit platters were so fresh and exquisite, watermelon, apricot, melon and peaches – all super juicy and packed with flavours.
The beach is lovely and sandy, just bear in mind that the shady bits can be scarce and as it can get quite windy at the Moet bar end, so installing umbrellas is not always feasible. The waters are crystal clear but beware of the fire worms by the shallow rocks – I got a terrible bite and rash on my bum, worst in 15 years of extended diving and many more of swimming and snorkelling. The hot tub has done wanders initially for 2 hours and thereafter with lots of swimming in the sea the pain was gone. A week in and still had the marks but judging from another guests post a couple of years ago, I am on the lucky side for figuring out what it was and how to treat it.
The suites are stylishly furnished and have generous terraces, perfect for stargazing , sipping wine and a great family holidays in Crete.
Mosquito repellent is probably a good option if you are as fond of us of stargazing and wine! The youngsters are also super spoiled with their own bathrobes, slippers, and toiletries – our boys loved them!
Other considerations and 2020 adjustments:
(i) The kidsclub location is quite a hike and in July Cretan heat without a buggy it is quite a workout for all parties. In the travelling era of Covid 19, the kidsclub activities were all outdoors but did not lack variety: yoga in the grass, painting, Greek mythology and seeing the Museum of the Greek Monsters.
Ingredients of great family holidays in Crete with Domes of Elounda : the kidsclub
(ii) The pool is nice but also quite a ride from Reception and the beach. Given the Covid 19 circumstances, the pool by reception is closed.
(iii) The leading sushi Peruvian restaurant became an open-door gym, whoever can exercise in 33 degrees Cretan heat will have a blast in here. There’s rowing and plenty of equipment, Swiss balls and yoga mats. Perfect for our little rowing champions on a fundraising mode!
(iv) In the world of 2020, the spa only offered treatments to adults, massages more specifically. No treats for kids or sauna, steam room or jacuzzi. Better safe than sick, they said! The marketing team generously gifted me a 20min back massage, after months and months of no spa it felt bliss! The spa villa was at the top has a private pool and blissful views over Spinalonga.
Domes of Elounda staff is graceful and kind, all responsive to various norms and instructions.
Boat trip Elounda to Spinalonga island
There is a water sports centre right by the restaurant and self driving the boat Elounda to Spinalonga was fun, scenic and felt easy! And if selfdriving is not for you, Spinalonga Tours has several boats which depart every 30 minutes from Plaka and Elounda to Spinalonga!
Zenbabytravel visited Crete first time in 2005 with Greek friends and fell in love: over the years we explored Heraklion with its stunning Byzantine churches, Venetian wall and harbour fortress; the famous Knossos with the Minotaurus legends, residential Ierapetra, Rethymnon with friends and baby, enchanting Agios Nikolaos, boutique Daios Cove and stunning Elounda also at the blissful Elounda Beach Hotel & Villa.
For further island hopping, we raved extensively about Santorini and party island of Mykonos in here.
Disclaimer : many thanks to Domes of Elounda for the media discount and upgrade to free dining. All impressions all ours as usual 😊
16 comments on “Charming Crete : Domes of Elounda to Spinalonga”
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This looks absolutely beautiful! My children really want to explore Greece. I can’t wait to go back and discover more of it with them. The perfect destination for a combination of culture and nature. #Culturedkids
Indeed Lydia, hope you get to go soon with the kiddies!
Can’t wait to take my kids to Greece too, Crete sounds wonderful for a family stay #culturedkids
Hope you get to go soon Tanja! Absolutely wonderful indeed !
Looks sooo dreamy. Like I’m dreaming of when I can travel again! What a beautiful place to explore with family. Thanks for putting Crete back on my bucket list! Cheers from much chillier Copenhagen. #culturedkids
Crete has been back on UK travel corridor since last week and their October temperatures are so much balmier than ours Erin! I’m also daydreaming about going back to Greece next week for half term, but not daring just yet to book the tickets 🙂 2020 has been surely a roller coaster, guidance and stats changing pretty much every day! Cheers from grey London!
EXACTLY! So hard to plan!
Museum Boy would love to visit – he’s obsessed with Greek Mythology. The Museum of Greek Monsters sounds right up his street. Hopefully we can travel again soon. #CulturedKids
Many fingers crossed indeed Vyki that we can travel again ! And yes absolutely Museum Boy would have a blast at the Domes of Elounda and so would you and Museum Girl! X
This looks idyllic, especially the sea (though your rash didn’t sound good). Crete is somewhere I haven’t taken the kids yet, but I’m sure they’d love it.
#CulturedKids
Haha yes Jan, the firewarm rash made the stay with the Domes even more memorable ! But seriously I am equally dreaming about heading back, especially that Crete still has over 20 degrees and sunshine even late October !
Ah, the colour of that sea – it looks so lovely there! #CulturedKids
I never considered Crete a place to visit, but it definitely looks inviting from your photos. I especially like the boat trip Spinalonga island.
Wow! Holidays in Crete are amazing!