Elounda Palm Hotel
This friendly family run hotel situated in the beautiful Elounda Bay, provides an excellent base for exploring the east of the island of Crete. The excellent general hotel facilities consist of :
• Aeolous main restaurant with outdoors terrace
• Aretousa main bar
• Cavo pool and snack bar
• Sea water outdoor swimming pool
• Children's swimming pool
• Children's play ground
• Free sun lounges and umbrellas
• Table tennis and billiard table
• Satellite TV lounge
• Private parking
• Buffet breakfast and dinner
• Weekly music night (middle and high season)
Junior Suite with pool
Bedroom with double bed, elevated wooden floor and sitting area, which can be converted to a single bed, bathroom with shower, private veranda with view to the sea and private shared seawater infinity swimming pool (50 sqm each pool shared with two or three suites). The Junior Suites are of a contemporary design, providing an atmosphere of relaxed elegance.
In- room facilities include individually controlled air-conditioning/heating, satellite T.V, direct dial phones, internet access, mini bar, safe deposit boxes. The pool area is equipped with outdoor furniture. Set in lush gardens of palm, olive and fruit trees, this small hotel offers a friendly and elegant choice of accommodation for both small families and couples alike.
Elounda Area Information
Elounda is a particualrly scenic resort located on the North East coast of Crete,
approximately 7km from the bustling prefecture capital of Agios Nikolaos.
Whilst Agios Nikolaos sits on the western shores of the large Mirabello Bay,
Elounda to its north has its own almost enclosed bay approximately 5km by 2
km. At the southern end of the bay a narrow canal cuts through an isthmus giving
access to Mirabello, whilst at its northern end sits the evocative island of
Spinalonga. The wider Elounda area essentially consists of a number of small
villages in close proximity. The area immediately around the harbour and main
shopping street is Schisma, with Kato (lower) Elounda, Pano (high) Elounda,
Kato Pines and Pano Pines in order being progressively higher up the road after it
passes the church and heads into the hills. Mavrikiano sits overlooking the bay,
yet is still only a short walk from the centre. Leaving the centre and following the
coastline leads first to Tsifliki, a sleepy hamlet, before reaching Plaka which sits
opposite the island of Spinalonga.
The area of Elounda has been a population centre for thousands of years and the
sparce remains of the ancient city of Olous are now under the sea close to the
canal. Olous was a Dorian city at its height during the half millenia BC,
frequently locked in a power struggle with the inland city of Lato (located close
to the village of Kritsa). Although only a few walls now bear testament to the
existence of Olous, the name Elounda and its variations are directly related to that
of its ancient predecessor with Olous, Olondi and Spin Olous morphing into the
modern names of Elounda and Spinalonga
The tiny island of Spinalonga, or to give it its true name Kalidon, is a popular
excursion for tourists staying as far afield as Malia and other large resorts on the
island. Its history is varied and reflective of Crete's turbulent past, at times
having been a Venetian fortress and in its saddest incarnation as the last leper
colony in Europe, the last sufferers of the disease only leaving their exiled
existence in the 1950s. Most of the buildings from the various centuries remain
and it is a destination guaranteed to fill the visitor with both awe and humility.
Trip boats depart for the island from both the harbour at Schisma and the
quayside at Plaka. Spinalonga is the setting for the recent bestselling book "The
Island" by Victoria Hislop
Elounda is a moderate sized village resort, a far cry from the the large towns of
Heraklion, Rethymnon and Chania and the big tourist resorts such as Malia and
Hersonissos. It is large enough, however, to offer all necessary amenities such as
banks and ATMs, numerous shops selling most things including groceries and
provisions, books and newspapers, fishing tackle and chandlery, gold and
jewellery, clothing, souvenirs and toys. There are also pharmacies in the village,
should you need to visit. A market predominantly selling food and clothing is
held every Friday morning on the road running in front of the church.
Elounda has a plethora of places to dine out or enjoy a drink including traditional
ouzeria, kafenions and tavernas, modern bars and restaurants, located throughout
the centre and in the villages beyond.
Places of Interest in Elounda, Spinalonga Island, Salt Pans, Sunken City of Olous
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