1. Does the hotel organize transport to and from the Heraklion airport/port?
The hotel can organize transfers with Mercedes E class cars, for our guests to and from the airport or port of Heraklion upon request. Your precise flight details are required in order to make the necessary arrangements. A driver would be waiting for you with a name card. Each car can take a maximum of 3 people in order to allow sufficient space for luggage. Child and baby seats for the cars are available on request.
2. If I hire a car at the airport, could you give me driving instructions to reach the hotel?
Driving to the hotel is easy from Heraklion using the main highway of the island. On leaving the airport follow the signs to Agios Nikolaos (approx 70klms) on the main highway going away from Heraklion along the Northeastern coast. You drive through the town of Malia and by pass the town of Neapolis. On approaching Agios Nikolaos you will come to traffic lights where you turn left towards Elounda. Immediately after there is a second set of lights where you turn right and you are then on the road to Elounda (approx 6 klms). As you drop down towards the resort the hotels can be seen on your right hand side. The Elounda Bay Palace is clearly marked, on the outskirts of the village.
3. Can we rent a car at the hotel?
This maybe arranged prior to your arrival or by visiting the Car Rental desk in the reception of the hotel.
1. Is it far to the nearest town?
The Elounda Bay Palace is on the outskirts of the village of Elounda and is only a 5-minute walk enter the village. The larger town of Agios Nikolaos is only 7 klms from the hotel and easily accessible by bus, taxi or car.
2. Are there places of interest to visit during our stay?
The island of Crete is one of natural rugged beauty. With its high mountains and acres olive groves lending a spectacular background to the blue of the Mediterranean. With the roots of the islands history steeped in mythology, going back thousands of years, there are many archeological sites and places to visit. Excursions can be arranged from the hotel by our Guest relations team. For example:
Spinalonga Island
The leper colony which features in the novel ´The Island¨ by Victoria Hislop, is a short boat trip away with our own traditional fishing boat.
The Minoan Palace of Knossos
Discovered by Arthur Evans in the early 1900´s, Knossos was once the Palace of King Minos who ruled the Minoan civilization on Crete. With its 1300 rooms, frescos, corridors taking you back over 3500 years ago to the time of the Minotaur half man and half bull until the earthquake of Santorini that sent a tidal wave that wiped out the palace and its people.
CretAquarium Thalassocosmos
The Aquarum first opened in Dec 2005, since then there have been over 100,000 visitors to marvel at the thousands of species and underwater marine environment that can be see through the floor to ceiling glass walls. With over 1.6 Million liters of seawater in specially designed tanks placing host to the different types of marine life, many of which can be seen by viewing the displays situated around the aquarium.
Lassithi Plateau
This is a flat plateau in the center of the Lassithi mountain range, which is surrounded by the high mountains and was once home to over 10,000 windmills, which irrigated the fertile soil of the plateau. Now a spot of natural beauty and famous for the wealth of herbs and local flora and fauna as well as the cave of Diktion whose entrance can be found on the slopes of the plateau. According to Cretan mythology the God Zeus was born at the bottom of this 40m deep cave.
1. What is there for children and teenagers at the hotel?
The hotel has a wide range of activities for children and teenagers. The specially organized programme to entertain the younger children is run by our highly trained staff and is free for all the children to join in. The specially adapted children’s pool and playground as well as the safe and well-kept beach keep the children amused for hours. In the hotel we also have a wealth of sporting activities and areas where the older children gather to enjoy games including billiards and table football.
Babysitting services are available at a charge per hour and the hotel does provide any equipment that is requested for babies on holiday.
1. Does the hotel have tennis courts?
The hotel has 5 floodlit courts with a choice of clay or Astro turf. Equipment is available from the reception and tennis professional is on hand to teach or to play against.
2. Is there a nearby Golf course?
A 35-minute drive from the hotel lays The Crete Golf Course. This is an international renowned golf course with 18 holes. Built to blend in to the Cretan landscape, it creates a challenging experience for any golfer. All equipment and golf buggies are available and our hotel guests will receive preferential rates and tee times.
3. What sporting facilities are available?
The hotel provides Basketball, Volleyball courts, Tennis courts, Badminton court, Mini soccer pitch, Mini golf, Table tennis, fully equipped gym, which are all complimentary. Billiards, table football, Water sports center with a wide variety of water toys, PADI certified diving center are all available at and extra charge.
1. Is there access to the Internet at the hotel?
The hotel provides an Internet corner and a business center for our guests. For guests who have there own laptops there are Internet hotspots in the reception and other locations through out the hotel with access via cards that can be bought at reception.
The weather on Crete varies from any other Greek island. The warm summer months enjoy a light Meltemi breeze that controls the heat and makes the summer evenings pleasant. The water temperature warms up from April and remains warm through to November.
