Mykonos and Santorini remain two of the most popular luxury European beach destinations and frequently draw in the A-list crowd. But, thanks to an unrivalled resort experience currently being offered by Blue Palace, stars are flocking to Crete, the largest island in Greece, that, until now, was much less associated with five-star luxury compared with some of its smaller counterparts.
Blue Palace – which has welcomed the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Tyra Banks and numerous members of royalty – is paving the way for the island to lead in the luxury holiday stakes.
The five-star resort is nestled between the fishing village of Plaka and Crete’s famous port of Elounda – and overlooks not just the stunning Aegean sea, but also Spinalonga Island, an uninhabited spot and Greek national monument with a rich and fascinating history.
Spinalonga Island
Home to 251 luxury rooms, 52 suites and four private villas, Blue Palace is a sizeable resort, but one which feels in no way overly busy or cramped thanks to its stepped hilltop layout, which is all pulled together by the hotel’s very own funicular, meaning you can travel from the elevated poolside bar and all the way down to the beach in a mere moment.
Upon arrival, you can’t fail to be impressed by the striking architecture of the reception and of the adjacent Arsenali Lounge Bar, which features an 11-metre high authentic replica of Heraklion Harbour's Venetian Arsenal. You will then be met with a leafy resort with winding roads between the villas until you reach the hotel’s private pebbled beach at the bottom of the resort.
70 per cent of the hotel’s rooms have their own private pools, a factor that not only enhances these guest’s experiences, but also helps to keep the public pools and beaches fairly quiet even during the high season. If you book a suite or private villa, this sense of peacefulness and seclusion is all the more, where you are met with all the benefits of a five-star resort, but still feel that you are tucked away in your own private Greek villa. Our room featured a private balcony with spectacular views, a private pool in a completely secluded garden, two bathrooms, a lounge area and an enormous bed.
As is the way with most resorts of this calibre, the staff cannot do enough to ensure that you have as enjoyable a stay as possible, but at Blue Palace, the level of attentiveness seemed to be on another level. For those staying in the more expensive suites, a private beach is available for use, where not only is there a service button at your sun bed (where you can order fresh juices, co*cktails, wine or food from the beach bar), but sun cream and water is provided for you – and the team will often come and meet you with surprises during your time there. We were brought green tea ice cubes at one point to help cool and soothe us as we sunbathed. This level of service continues throughout your experience, whether it is the face packs left on your pillow after turndown or the owner of the authentic Greek restaurant sharing a shot of raki with every single customer.
There is perhaps only one attribute more appealing than the five-star service at this resort, and that is the food. Housing seven different restaurants, Blue Palace truly has something for every occasion when it comes to dining.
At the more informal end of the scale is Isola, a beachside Italian restaurant serving fresh seafood salads and tasty pizzas that are perfect for lunch. Another spot to try during the day is the Isola Beach Club, where we indulged in chicken tacos and prawn-and-lobster buns.
For dinner, if you’re in the mood for sushi, gyoza or bao buns, head to Asia Deep Blue, where the chef has created an exciting menu inspired by South East Asian delicacies.
The resort’s new fine dining experience is also a must book. Anthós – which opened just this year – offers a new experience of Greek cuisine, bringing traditional and more inventive culinary moments together. We tucked into calamari with squid ink vegetables, mouthwatering smoked eel with aubergine and a perfectly roasted sea bass with tomatoes. The elaborate menu changes frequently, but what doesn’t is the setting – you will sit amongst the herb garden, overlooking Spinalonga, where you can watch the chefs at work in the open-air kitchen.
This is also the spot where you will enjoy breakfast if you’re staying in one of the villas, which puts most hotel buffet experiences to shame. After fresh fruit and pastries, order the buckwheat pancakes or the avocado and feta on toast.
The shining star of Blue Palace, however, is undoubtedly Blue Door, an authentic Greek restaurant that differs totally from what you would usually find in a five-star seaside resort. Located right on the rocks beside the sea in a building that was once a fisherman’s stone house, the quaint restaurant is a truly special spot.
For the full experience, book on the night of the Cretan Feast (which takes every Friday during high season), where you will enjoy three courses of delicious traditional Cretan food, including lamb that has been cooked over a fire for five hours. Prepare to drink plenty of raki, listen to lively music and even dance, if you wish, with the traditional folk performers who provide the unique entertainment.
And if you want to stick to this authentic Cretan theme, do it too when you’re choosing your wine throughout your stay. The Blue Palace team are keen to empower the local vineyards and show tourists the fairly undiscovered Cretan wine scene. So, although you can pick from plenty of fine wines from across Europe, there are also a whole host of local wines which are worth ordering instead.
If you want to learn more about it, book yourself a Cretan wine tasting, which takes place on board a traditional caique boat. You will slowly tour the bay, moving past Spinalonga, tasting and learning about Cretan wine as you go.
And then before you fly home, make sure to get yourself in for a treatment at the Elounda Spa, where a traditional olive oil massage will leave you feeling balanced and totally relaxed before you head back to real life.
Blue Palace is a truly unique resort with plenty of heart, so there is little surprise that the A-listers are queuing up to come here. Want to follow their lead? Head here for more information or to book.
The Island Luxury Suite Sea View at The Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa has a starting price of €689 (about £640) per night.
