Published: Fri 15 Mar 2013 at 16:03
Updated: Fri 15 Mar 2013 at 16:04
Morpheus was the Greek god of dreams, who lived in a world of total fantasy – much like the world waiting for holidaymakers who book cheap flights to Crete and check in at the recently constructed Yachting Club Villas of the Elounda Beach Hotel, in fact.
Elounda is a friendly, scenic resort on Crete’s north eastern coast, almost totally enclosed by its natural harbour, with fantastic views across Mirabello Bay and the island of Spinalonga towards the bustling tourist capital of Agios Nikolaos – with which it shares little in common. Hotels here lean towards upmarket quality, and the most prestigious of all is the Elounda Beach. A haunt of the rich and famous, it was opened in the 1970s by the Mantonanakis family, and has set the hallmark in personalised service, privacy and luxury – beginning the moment guests arrive at Heraklion Airport. Now, the Elounda has added another string to its Eros’ bow, with its Yachting Club villas.
Set around a courtyard in a secluded position at the water’s edge, the entire concept is one of stepping on board a large, luxury yacht – made all the more plausible by the real-life ones cruising by in the background. The illusion goes beyond expansive teak decking and brass and mahogany fittings, with a retractable motorised “bridge” to the seafront and bottom deck, accompanied by a brass console furnished with inviting buttons. Just like any modern sea-going craft, the villa is bristling with high-tech gadgetry, with no stone left unturned in the quest for ultimate luxury.
Of course, dreams like this come at a price, but by booking cheap flights to Crete with Jet2.com, they become just that bit more affordable.
