HotelChatter

Tags: Movenpick Hotels / Crete Hotel Reviews / Mediterranean Resorts / → All Tags

Crete's New Mövenpick Mixes Swiss and Greek Together

Where: Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 71414

About eighteen months ago we mentioned that the former Candia Maris resort on the beautiful Greek island of Crete was being taken over and turned into the Mövenpick Resort and Thalasso Crete. In fact, they've spent a good two years doing renovations and are finally open for business.

With all that time passing we're figuring the new resort won't resemble the old one very much. The Mövenpick people are advertising the new Crete resort as being upscale and modern, with some particular cultural characteristics, including an:

exquisite combination of typical Greek hospitality and the traditional Swiss passion for efficiency, reliability, punctuality and precision.

They have a huge seawater spa known as the Aegeo Spa Center which includes a range of seawater baths, a sauna, solarium and steam baths, just to name a few of the ways you can relax there. The resort also includes several restaurants with various dining styles, including the open-air "Taverna" which fits the Greek surroundings well.

For all the talk of being upscale and fancy, Crete's Mövenpick seems very reasonably priced. At short notice, we'd be able to book a double room for tonight for just €95 (US$150); we're not sure if it's opening teething problems or solid bookings, but online availability of rooms from mid-May through the summer is non-existent at the moment.

Tags: Crete Hotel Reviews / Mediterranean Resorts / → All Tags

Mövenpick Makes A Move Into Crete

Swiss coziness (and maybe a decent helping of alpine chocolate) will meet the relaxed Greek way soon as Mövenpick Hotels take over the Candia Maris resort on Crete. From early 2008 the four-star spot will be known as the Mövenpick Resort and Thalasso Crete.

Sounds like Mövenpick has big plans for its first Greek hotel, which is nicely located directly on the beach and seven miles from the aiport--they plan to do renovations during the next two winter seasons. The big drawcard is the massive Thalasso spa complex which will offer regular thalassotherapy and beauty treatments plus niche specialties like a unique spine rehabilitation institute. Two indoor thalasso pools will add to the huge volume of water you'll find lying around here.

And on top of their Crete move, Mövenpick's looking to expand their presence around the Mediterranean, so keep an eye out for your other favorite resorts turning all Swiss on you.

[Photo: Tigerlyl]

Related Stories:
· Candia Maris reviews [TripAdvisor]

Tags: Villas / Honeymoon Hotels / Mediterranean Resorts / Crete Hotel Reviews / → All Tags

Crete Villas With an Expat Feel

Let's get two things out of the way up front, Elounda is a resort town.

Furthermore, plenty of Brit expats find themselves starting a new life in this small Crete town--what exactly are they running from anyway?

Anyway, if you want to test the waters before relocating to resort town, or just go on a holiday where you don't need to worry about leaving your hotel, Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites could be your style.  The owners of this beautiful villa-dise are hands off, which is perfect if you don't want some stranger up in your grill from the moment you step off the plane.

Villas include cliff-hanging infinity pools, jacuzzis with ocean views and mood lighting, airport transfer and your own personal assistant.  Some villas even come equipped with a full-fledged gym.  

This place screams Med honeymoon, but before you book, call ahead and make sure there is no work being done on the property.  Nothing ruins a cliff side view faster than construction workers banging on the villa next door.  

Related Stories:
· Elounda Gulf Villas Reviews [TripAdvisor]