The sky blue panorama of a Cretan boutique hotel

Domes of Elounda Boutique Beach Resort spreads its 90 suites and private residences out along a private beach sited in the most secret and intimate part of Elounda. The boutique hotel offers a breathtaking view over the island fortress of Spinalonga.

Domes of Elounda lives the beauty of Mediterranean and breathes traditional Cretan culture. The architecture of the domes, the pyramidal roofs, and the earthly coloured building materials find their roots in Greece, in the Carpath and in Syria. The pure design, vibrant colours, and intense sea-blue invite guests to a luxurious and relaxing stay. The Domes Soma Spa, impressive with its in black and gold mosaics, perpetuates ancestral techniques of 3000 years ago. Whether in family or in couple, each will find his happiness.

Domes of Elounda Boutique Beach Resort is open from April 21th to October 31st.

A boutique hotel with Mediterranean roots

Sited on the hill side, planted with olive trees and blossom gardens, the Domes of Elounda’s design reflects typical Mediterranean architecture and decoration. The oversized bay-windows, large balconies, and spacious verandas facilitate the free and abundant flow of light and lets the soft breeze play with the curtains. The environment brings guests closer to nature.

Each suite, with private pool or jacuzzi (from 70 to 100sq.m) has a unique decoration that embodies the elegance of the Mediterranean interiors. Hand-picked local art, white and vibrant coloured fabrics, everything is set to create a romantic and sensual universe, with a view over the sea.

The eight private residences and the four luxury villas, each with a private pool (from 110 to 450sq.m) reflect the excellence of the Domes of Elounda. Dome or pyramidal roof, large balcony, spacious veranda and breathtaking view over the sea characterize these luxury spaces. Attention to details and an upscale service complete this seductive setting.

Tempting experience: Ancestral Spa Treatments inherited from ancient Greece

Be pampered at the Domes Soma Spa and experience authentic and original treatments with unusual and secret techniques coming from the ancient Greek times. With the famous brands of La Sultane de Saba and Thal’ion, Domes Soma Spa restores internal energies, delivers peace and tranquility, and offers a full sensation of well-being.

Services and activities on site

At Domes Soma Spa: treatment areas, sauna, and hammam with black and gold mosaic offer you moments of escape and relaxation in a zen and peaceful environment. An indoor heated seawater pool, a beauty and hairdresser salon and a gym complete the equipment of the Domes Soma Spa.

The main swimming pool, edged with sofa beds and umbrellas, offer unobstructed view over the sea and the Spinalonga beach.

A few steps away from the hotel, accessible via a short passageway by foot or by buggy-car, is the private sandy beach and its shallow waters. The beach is bounded with olive trees, perfect spots to relax!

The Domes Kids Club and babycare facilities welcomes kids and teenagers from 4 months up to 12 years old, every day exept Sunday,in a beautiful playground nearby the sea. Activities are selected by ages and managed by a team of professional animators from the Worldwide Kids Company.A full range of activities are proposed: tennis lessons, interior gaes, singing, costume making, drawing lessons, water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving and sailing lessons.

The two bars of the hotel offer you with various musical atmospheres: live music at the Grand Dome bar and jazz music at the Spina lounge, under a canopy of stars and sea breezes.

Crete: an island steeped in history

Spinalonga island, opposite the hotel, hosts a fortress built by the Venetians in 1579 to protect the harbour of Elounda. It was one of the best defended fortifications in the whole of Crete! The Turks evicted the Venetians in 1715 and inhabited the island until the beginning of the 20th century at which time the fortress became a leprosarium. Uninhabited since 1957, the island features important relics of the fortress which can be visited. A boat transfer from Elounda is available every 15mins.

The salines of Elounda date from the 15th century and were operated up until the 70’s. They were originally built by the Venetians to provide the table salt for the whole Republic of Venice after Venice had lost Cyprus, their main table salt production site, to the Turks. The latter, once they had conquered Crete (in 1669), carried on exploiting the salines to provide salt to the Ottoman Empire. Greece regained possession of the salines in 1929 at which time the local population was able to freely produce salt according to traditional methods.

Close to Heraklion, the capital of Crete, do not miss the Knossos Palace, a major archeological site, witness of the grandeur and elegance of the Minos and Mycenae civilizations. The 1300 rooms of the palace make Knossos one of the largest sites of the Minos civilization. According to the mythology, the site hosted the Knossos labyrinth with the half-man, half-Taurus Minotaur. Do not miss the throne room, the royal path, the theatre and the royal apartments with the famous dolphin frescoes and the fresco of the priest-king.

Awards and Press Reviews

• Quintessentially
• Conde Nast Johansens 2009 recommended
• Part of Great Hotels of the World
• Part of the Finest Hotels of the World
• Rolls Royce official sponsor