Elounda, on Crete, is a place of calm, clear water and small fishing villages. It is also home to the Venetian castle on the islet of Spinalonga, which became the setting for Victoria Hislop's novel. Here, at Agia Paraskevi, sits Domes Aulus Elounda, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton: a five-star, adults-only hotel that sets out to keep only the essentials of Elounda.
The Character
The tone is relaxed and simple, the service attentive. The communal areas are laid out on the first floor, while the rooms are positioned to catch the cool, salty summer breeze coming off the sea. Around them, stone paths wind up through gardens of fragrant Mediterranean herbs and plants.
The Rooms: Nests and Suites
What the hotel itself calls a Med-retro aesthetic runs through every room: natural textures, earthy colours, muted greys set against sapphire and sea blues, wooden furnishings. The Nests are bungalow-style rooms of 15 to 24 square metres for two adults. The Sapphire rooms face the sea, and the Sapphire Nest looks out to Spinalonga from its veranda. The Tropical Nests, with garden views, sit high at the top of the stone paths. Some share an infinity pool: one pool for every two rooms in the Sapphire category, one for every five in the Tropical.
The suites, from 30 to 39 square metres, all face the sea. The Sapphire Cozy Suite has a separate sitting area and sleeps up to three adults; its version with an individual pool and wooden deck looks directly towards Spinalonga. The Sapphire Zen Suites are open-plan spaces with a queen bed, designed for two, and each differs in one detail: an outdoor bathtub, an outdoor jacuzzi, a private pool or a shared one. In the suites with a pool, outdoor jacuzzi or outdoor bathtub, the stay comes with the Cool-Inclusive Dine Around meal plan and the perks of the Cool Living Selection.
Dining and Board
The hotel offers an all-inclusive or a half-board option. Dining is spread across several points: a restaurant, a bar restaurant, a bar, a beach bar, a pool bar and a pool snack bar. In the official list of facilities, these outlets are marked as chargeable.
Water, Wellness and Sea
Besides the swimming pool, there is a heated indoor pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna and a gym. The spa, massages and beauty treatments come at a charge. The beach has sunbeds, umbrellas and towels, while water sports, boat trips and car or motorbike rental are available at extra cost. There is also a concierge.
In Essence
Domes Aulus Elounda is for adults who want the calm of Elounda, a carefully designed room and an unhurried pace without pretence, with the option of letting all-inclusive take care of the rest.
