Elounda Mare is the classic private-pool honeymoon on Crete: a Relais & Châteaux resort in Elounda where stone bungalows with their own pools and small gardens look out over the calm Gulf of Mirabello. It is one of the longest-established luxury resorts on the Elounda coast and it runs with the polish you expect from a Relais & Châteaux house.
The resort is built in a traditional style, with bungalows furnished with antiques and set in scented Cretan gardens that step down to private beaches. You can swim in your own pool before breakfast, spend the afternoon on the sand and dine at the Old Mill, a Cretan restaurant set around an ancient millstone by the water. A Six Senses Spa handles the rest.
It suits couples who want privacy, polished service and a sheltered sea for swimming. Elounda is the east of Crete, so it pairs best with a few nights in Chania in the west. Pick a newer, design-led resort if you prefer a minimalist look, since Elounda Mare is proudly traditional.
Highlights at a glance
- Relais & Châteaux resort on the Gulf of Mirabello
- Stone bungalows with private pools and gardens
- The Old Mill and its Cretan fusion cooking
- Six Senses Spa
- Private beaches on a calm, sheltered bay
Why Couples Love Elounda Mare
Privacy is the first reason. Most couples book a bungalow with a private pool and each one has a small furnished garden with a sea view, so you can spend whole afternoons without seeing anyone else. The Gulf of Mirabello is sheltered and usually calm, good for floating together at sunset.
The second is the atmosphere. Elounda Mare feels like a well-run Greek country house by the sea, with stone paths, bougainvillea and attentive staff. Restaurants are spread across the property, each with its own view of the water. As a Relais & Châteaux member, the resort takes food seriously and the Cretan cooking at the Old Mill is a real highlight. The resort also lists restaurants at its sister resorts in the Elounda collection nearby, which adds variety on a longer stay.
Rooms, Bungalows and Villas to Book
There are several categories and the bungalows are the heart of the resort.
- Main Hotel Seaview Rooms and Suites are the entry option, with views over the gulf but no private pool.
- Deluxe Bungalows with Private Pool have about 30 to 45 m² of living space and a small private garden with a sea view. Some have a door between the bedroom and the living area.
- Superior Bungalows with Private Pool are larger, at about 35 to 55 m² and some have a separate living room.
- Two Bedroom Superior Bungalows (80 to 90 m²) suit two couples.
- Minoan Royalty Villas and the Minoan Palace are the top tier, with private pools and the Minoan Palace has direct beach access.
For a honeymoon, a Superior Bungalow with Private Pool is the best balance. Ask for one lower on the slope for easier access to the beach.
Food, Drink and the Spa
The Old Mill is the signature restaurant, set in gardens by the water around an ancient millstone. Chef Stavros Kokkinakis cooks Cretan fusion dishes such as vine-leaf dolmades with cuttlefish and goat's yogurt and the restaurant has won a Toque d'Or award. The Yacht Club sits on a ledge above the beach and serves Greek seafood dinners in summer. The Deck is the breakfast spot, with a buffet and à la carte menu each morning from 7 to 10:30.
For drinks, choose between the Beach Bar and Lounge, Karavia, the Wine Cellar and Thea. Sister resorts nearby add more choices, including Italian, Japanese and Greek restaurants. The Six Senses Spa offers treatments and wellness programs, with couples' rituals available. Book dinner at the Old Mill and spa treatments early in July and August.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Spinalonga, the Venetian fortress island in the bay, is the classic outing. Boats leave from Elounda village and the island's history as a former leper colony makes it a moving visit. Go early in the morning to avoid the heat.
Agios Nikolaos, the lively regional capital, is a short drive away, centered on the small Voulismeni lake with cafés around it. The Lasithi Plateau, with its windmills and the cave where Zeus was said to be born, makes a good half-day drive. Knossos, the great Minoan palace near Heraklion, is about an hour west. Golfers can play the Crete Golf Club's 18-hole course near Hersonissos. If one of you would rather stay put, the resort's beaches, pools and spa fill a day easily. Boat trips along the coast to quiet coves can be arranged through the concierge.
Getting There
Heraklion International Airport (HER) is about an hour's drive from Elounda, with many direct flights from European hubs in summer and year-round connections via Athens. Some seasonal nonstop flights from the US to Athens make the connection easy. Sitia Airport (JSH) is closer but has few flights.
The resort can arrange private transfers, which is the simplest choice after a long trip. A rental car is useful for Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos and Knossos, though taxis work for short trips. Chania in the west is about three hours away by road, so most couples split their stay, spending a few nights in Chania and the rest here, or fly in to one airport and out of the other. Most Elounda resorts close in winter, so check opening dates for early spring or late autumn trips.
Is It Worth It?
Elounda Mare sits in the luxury bracket and a bungalow with a private pool in summer costs considerably more than a suite in Chania's old town. Rates vary widely by season and category, so treat any figure as approximate and look at the official offers page for early-booking deals.
It is worth it if privacy and calm water matter most. A private pool and garden, a sheltered bay and polished service add up to the kind of honeymoon many couples picture when they think of Greece. Pick elsewhere if you prefer a contemporary, minimalist look, or a kid-free resort, since Elounda Mare does not market itself as one. Couples on a tighter budget can get a private pool for less at resorts near Chania. For a traditional, romantic retreat in eastern Crete, it remains one of the best.
Insider tips
- Book a Superior Bungalow with Private Pool for extra space at a fair premium.
- Visit Spinalonga on the first boat of the morning to beat the heat and crowds.
- Reserve the Old Mill for your first night so you can return if you love it.
- Fly into Chania and out of Heraklion to see both ends of Crete without backtracking.
