Elounda Gulf Villas by Sandglass

We stayed here for a week and have nothing but nice things to say. The staff is very welcoming and always at your service. The food is absolutely great, Cretan products with a twist. Nice view on Elounda bay and the surroundings since the resort is located on a hill overlooking the bay.

We loved our stay at this Amazing place, Staff excelled themselves at making our stay the most relaxing week. Food and service second to none…. cannot wait to go back…..

Wonderful experience! My wife and I stayed here on our first stop in Greece for our honeymoon. The villas are gorgeous! We stayed in the Andros Villa, which was one of their highest elevated locations. The villa came complete with a very beautifully appointed room, spacious grounds with ample seating, a sun-filled infinity pool which was awesome, an outdoor shower, and a downstairs level with our own private steam room, additional bathroom and a massage therapy table setup which we made use of with the Elounda’s spa offerings. Overall, our stay was amazing. The service was great, we could make use of the club car services to get up and down the steep hills to the room when we needed, and they were always timely. The room service was attentive and any food and drink we had was tasty and delivered professionally. The housekeeping did a wonderful job of tidying up for us as we constantly ran around the town to take in the sights. We made use of the gym (small, but useful), and dined at the on-site restaurant one of the nights there. The food and drinks were good. I can see why some people spend most of their time on the grounds, as they’re beautiful and give you the opportunity to relax! The views were stunning! We felt like we were looking at a post-card or a painting all of the time. It really was wonderful. I can’t speak for many other accommodations on the island, but this one was top notch. We also visited their private beach area which we were shuttled to one morning. Their location is serene and private and the service and food at their beach club is great. No frills, just a good beach beautiful water and peace. The only qualm if I had to have anything at all was the amount of insects (small spiders) that scampered around (but please believe they were mostly outside the huge sliding glass doors to our villa space)…my wife absolutely hates spiders, as I would imagine that most people do. But please, don’t take this as heavy consideration, it’s just a fact. We would not hesitate to stay here again and loved every second of the island and the villa! Also a note for anyone who wonders about A/C, it was ice cold when we needed to escape the heat. 10/10

Outstanding. We have a private pool and spa, incredible. Staff incredibly attentive. Boutique vibes so it’s small and intimate. Front desk very good especially Maria 💕. If you visit make sure you attend Greek night. What an experience. The manager very engaging. Food Devine. The chef was very hands on and proud of his kitchen

Elounda Gulf Villas is just perfection! From the moment we we were checked in by the lovely Angela, nothing was too much trouble. Our room was a one bedroom suite, the perfect mix of traditional and modern. The main pool area is beautiful and quiet. We were on a breakfast only basis, but did eat a few times at the hotel and the food was very delicious. The hotel is small and intimate and very relaxing. The standout difference for us was the staff, every single member was kind, friendly, helpful and courteous, we felt truly spoilt, nothing is too much trouble. The hotel manager is fantastic, taking time to chat to all the guests, even about Formula 1 (as he noticed our daughters cap). I don’t think any review could convey just how wonderful our stay has been. This was our first time in Crete and this hotel had left a wonderful impression. Thank you to Elounda Gulf, we will definitely be back.

Very nice hotel, very kind staff, every thing you ask they make it happen. Very good food at the restaurant, only there could be some more variation for longer stays. In the wellness we received some of the best massages from Yuliya, she really knows what she is doing. Be sure to ask for her!

A gem of a holiday: we were made to feel welcome from the very first moment we entered the grounds to the last minute of our holiday at Elounda Gulf Villas. We stayed in the Villa Erofili which had a cool and relaxing interior, great views and a lovely pool. The hotel grounds are beautiful with stone pathways sloping down between trees, stone walls, lawns and flowers. There’s a steep walk up from the restaurant to the villas but there’s also the option of a ride in a golf buggy. We found we did the walk much more quickly by the end of the week 😉. The choice of food and wine in the restaurant was excellent and based on local produce. We loved the cocktails, too. It was fun to dine whilst enjoying the view over the infinity pool to the sea. We spent a morning at the beach club which was a 15 minute drive away: it was a great place to relax and watch the boats go past. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff team, who really are the jewels in the crown of this wonderful hotel. A big shout out and thank you to Sofia, sommelier Stathis, Dimitrios, Dimitri, Giorgos, Giorgios, Manos, Michalis , Maria, Angela and Kiki and all the rest of the team - sorry we weren’t able to remember all your names. We are already making plans to return.

If you are considering going to this part of Crete, I think you should give Elounda Gulf Villas serious consideration. So, why is it so excellent? Firstly, as ever, the most important ingredient in a splendid hotel is the staff. It doesn’t matter what facilities are available; it is the people* (see end of blog) that create the atmosphere and provide the service that makes your stay special. The challenge is to strike the right balance between friendliness and professionalism. If hotels get this wrong, staff are either too chummy and matey, or too aloof and snobbish. It’s about making the guest feel genuinely welcomed. At Elounda Gulf Villas, whether in reception, by the pool, at the bar, at the private beach, in the restaurant, or anywhere else, they got the balance just right. The hotel is set on a hillside. We were at the top, and the restaurant was some way down below. We always walked down in an attempt to ‘justify’ how much we planned to eat. There are a wide range of choices for breakfast, hot and cold. We ate like royalty, think King Henry VIII, and consequently we never needed lunch. The return journey was on an electric buggy driven by a member of staff. I never stopped thinking this was fun! There’s plenty to do in the local area during the daytime. Trips to the ruins of the leper colony at Spinalonga run from Elounda and Plaka, which is nearby. There are several beaches in the vicinity, Agios Nikoaos is a famous example, but it helps to have a car to reach them. Likewise, one could visit Lake Voulismeni, or the beautiful village of Kritsa. There are plenty of options. We spent a couple of days on the hotel’s private beach. Dimitri took us down there. It’s a little bay with all you’d need, including food and drinks. I can recommend the frappe with ice cream. And my favourite beer, Etsa Pilsner, is very tasty. Every hour or so I’d take the same photograph and/or video sweep. I couldn’t resist it. The hotel has an excellent restaurant. We ate there once. My lamb was tender and yummy. Prices are fine. Maybe a little more expensive than in Elounda town, but not much. Given it’s a first class establishment, you’d expect that. We got a few complimentary treats. Other guests did too; the occasional drink, mid-morning cake by the pool, a plate of cheese and biscuits one evening. It’s the little touches that make you feel like a special guest. Elounda Gulf Villas is boutique in the sense that it is sophisticated and chic. It is small in the number of rooms and guests (33 villas/suites) but the site is quite extensive so you get a sense of privacy. It’s 5* so it’s not inexpensive, and the argument runs that you get what you pay for. For us, because as we went early in the season, we got rather more than we paid for. And, frankly, a few things money can’t buy.