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Blue Palace, Crete
Blue Palace in Elounda, Crete, is a five-star sanctuary of whitewashed bungalows and private-pool villas overlooking Mirabello Bay and Spinalonga Island. With five gourmet restaurants, a renowned thalassotherapy spa, water-sports center, and its own helipad for direct charters, it fuses authentic Cretan charm with modern upscale amenities and unrivaled privacy on Greece’s largest island.
Design & Atmosphere
Blue Palace (recently rebranded as Phaea Blue), perched on the northeastern coast of Crete near Elounda, is a captivating blend of wild Cretan beauty and sophisticated island style. Sprawling across 143 acres on a hillside, the resort cascades down toward a private pebble beach and azure bay, facing directly across to the storied Spinalonga Island and its medieval fortress. The design ethos here is harmony with nature: clusters of whitewashed and stone bungalows, suites, and villas are built into the slope, connected by garden paths and a funicular that shuttles guests from the hilltop to the beach. Traditional Greek architecture elements – terracotta roofs, shaded pergolas, and courtyards – are combined with contemporary touches like infinity-edge pools and floor-to-ceiling windows. The overall atmosphere is serene and timeless. You’ll find corners of absolute tranquility, such as an olive tree garden or a small chapel on-site, underscoring the resort’s sense of place and heritage. Yet, Blue Palace is also vibrant and chic: its central areas feature stylish design pieces, and the Arsenali Lounge Bar (set in a restored stone building) exudes bohemian elegance as guests sip cocktails at sunset. Whether you’re gazing at the sunrise over the Aegean from your suite or wandering the lantern-lit pathways at night, Blue Palace envelops you in an ambiance of laid-back luxury – it feels like a private Cretan village devoted entirely to leisure and indulgence.
Popular helicopter tours from Santorini for sightseeing
Amenities & Services
As one of Crete’s premier resorts, Blue Palace offers an extensive array of amenities. The private 200-meter pebble beach is a standout: accessible via the funicular or steps, it features a long wooden deck with plush sunbeds and cabanas, and attendants providing towels, refreshments, and Evian mists. The beach’s crystal-clear waters are perfect for swimming or snorkeling; non-motorized water sports like paddleboards and kayaks are available, and the resort’s jetty allows direct boat pickups for sailing or diving trips. The Elounda Spa & Thalassotherapy is an attraction in itself – a 3,000m² sanctuary with two indoor thalasso pools enriched with sea minerals, hammam baths, a Finnish sauna, and a full menu of treatments blending Greek and Asian traditions. Guests can enjoy couples’ suites for side-by-side massages and an outdoor spa veranda with sea views for relaxation between treatments. Five swimming pools (including a main infinity pool near the beach and several private pools in suites) ensure everyone finds their ideal spot to soak up sun. Dining at Blue Palace is a culinary journey: there’s the famed Blue Door taverna, a charmingly rustic beachfront restaurant serving authentic Cretan mezze and freshly caught fish; Anthós, a fine-dining venue celebrating modern Greek cuisine (its excellence earned a World Luxury Restaurant Award for Greek cuisine); an Italian trattoria; and an Asian fusion restaurant, among others. Each venue offers distinct ambiance, from toes-in-the-sand casual to elegant terrace dinners under the stars. The resort also frequently hosts theme nights – seafood barbecues, wine tastings highlighting local wineries, and olive oil workshops, leveraging Crete’s rich gastronomy. Additional amenities include a well-equipped fitness center with sea views, tennis courts, a PADI dive center (the waters around Spinalonga teem with marine life), and a boutique shopping arcade for luxury clothing, jewelry, and local crafts. Blue Palace prides itself on personalized service: a “Cove Concierge” assists guests in crafting their ideal itinerary, whether arranging a private boat trip to Spinalonga or a guided hike through the Lasithi Plateau. With 24-hour room service, nightly turn-down with local treats, and an expert team ready to fulfill any request, Blue Palace ensures every guest experiences true Cretan hospitality in five-star fashion.
Privacy & Suitability
Couples find Blue Palace to be incredibly romantic – its secluded bungalows with private infinity pools and sea-facing terraces offer intimate hideaways. Many honeymooners choose the seafront suites or the exclusive “Island Luxury Suites” which come with gated privacy and dedicated beach gazebos. The resort’s serene adults-only areas (like certain pool sections and quiet zones on the beach) provide peaceful escapes. Private dining on the pier or in a seaside pavilion can be arranged for special occasions, making memories to last a lifetime. Families are equally at home here. The resort thoughtfully accommodates children with family suites and villas (up to 3 bedrooms) so everyone has space. The supervised Kids Club keeps youngsters entertained with Cretan mythology storytelling, crafts, and beach games, while teens enjoy activities like paddleboarding or Greek cooking lessons tailored for their age. Parents appreciate services like kids’ menus at restaurants, babysitting on request, and even stroller-friendly pathways via the funicular. The beach’s gentle shallow areas are safe for kids to splash in, and there’s a separate children’s pool as well. Blue Palace is also known for attracting VIPs and celebrities seeking a discreet retreat. Its sprawling layout and independent bungalow design mean guests can enjoy privacy without feeling observed. In fact, some Hollywood stars and European elites have stayed in the private villas (one villa, the “Grand Villa”, even has its own gym and staff quarters). The resort’s private helipad allows VIPs to come and go unseen, and the staff is adept at providing security and confidentiality. The combination of Marriott Luxury Collection standards and family ownership by people deeply connected to Crete means service is both highly professional and warmly personal. Whether you’re an adventuring family, a couple in love, or a high-profile traveler, Blue Palace’s ability to cater to different needs while maintaining a relaxed, exclusive atmosphere is part of its enduring appeal – it truly offers something for everyone without ever compromising on privacy or luxury.
Helicopter Access
Blue Palace is one of the few resorts on Crete with its own private helipad, underscoring its commitment to exclusivity and easy access. Guests can arrange helicopter transfers that land directly at the resort, avoiding the 1-hour drive from Heraklion Airport (HER) or 3.5-hour drive from Chania. The helipad, located on the resort’s grounds, accommodates daytime and nighttime landings for up to twin-engine helicopters, making it feasible to arrive from Athens (flight time ~45 minutes) or even directly from other islands like Santorini or Mykonos. Many travelers choose to incorporate Blue Palace into a multi-stop Greek holiday by hopping on a helicopter from Santorini – a scenic ~50-minute journey over the southern Aegean – and touching down at the resort to continue their vacation in Crete. The resort’s concierge team works with private charter services to coordinate these flights seamlessly; upon landing, you are only moments away from your suite or villa. Luggage is transferred directly, and check-in formalities can be handled privately in-room for helicopter arrivals. The helipad doesn’t just serve incoming guests, but also enables excursions by air. For example, Blue Palace can organize a day trip to the Acropolis in Athens or a heli-tour of Crete’s Samaria Gorge and Knossos Palace, offering guests unique experiences that would be impractical by car. Given Elounda’s reputation as a luxury enclave (often hosting VIPs and even royalty), this helipad is also used by yachtsmen who moor mega-yachts offshore and take quick helicopter hops to and from the marina. In summary, Blue Palace’s helicopter access transforms what is a somewhat remote corner of Crete into a conveniently reachable luxury destination. It exemplifies the resort’s dedication to providing world-class accessibility for its guests, ensuring that getting there is as effortless and stylish as the stay itself.
Advantages of Helicopter Arrival
Arriving at Blue Palace via helicopter confers numerous advantages that align perfectly with a luxury travel experience. Foremost is the time saved – Crete is Greece’s largest island, and reaching Elounda can be time-consuming by land or ferry. A helicopter transfer bypasses all connections; you can step off a flight in Athens (or even arrive by private jet to Heraklion) and be at Blue Palace shortly after, without lengthy drives. This means more precious vacation hours lounging by your private pool or exploring Crete’s wonders instead of in transit. The aerial route to Elounda is stunning: you’ll fly over eastern Crete’s dramatic landscape – mountains, gorges, and the vivid blue Sea of Crete – and possibly over iconic spots like the ruins of Spinalonga from above, which is an awe-inspiring sight that sets the tone for your stay. Privacy and comfort are other key benefits. If you’re a celebrity or value discretion, the helicopter lets you avoid public airports or the need to be ferried in boats where others might notice you. You land directly at a secure location on resort property, far from any crowds. The Blue Palace staff ensures a VIP welcome at the helipad with limousine service or luxury vans to take you on the short ride to your room. No waiting, no luggage carousel – everything is handled. For those prone to seasickness or simply looking for a smoother ride, helicopters offer a stable alternative to choppy ferry rides across the Aegean. Additionally, a helicopter can operate on your schedule, not a fixed ferry timetable, granting flexibility. If your incoming flight is late, the helicopter will still be ready when you are; if you want to leave a bit later to soak up one more Cretan sunset, you can. Finally, arriving by helicopter carries that memorably glamorous arrival factor. It’s the sort of travel moment that stays with you – the thump of the rotors, the bird’s-eye view of the resort’s white villas and turquoise bay coming into focus, and the knowledge that you’re literally landing in luxury. It’s an entrance befitting the indulgence that Blue Palace offers, ensuring your trip begins (or ends) on a high note.
Awards, Affiliations & Sustainability
Blue Palace has been a fixture on lists of the world’s best resorts for years, earning a place in Travel + Leisure’s 500 Best Hotels in the World 2023 and consistently ranking among the Top 10 Resorts in Greece in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards. It’s part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, indicating its heritage and high service standards, and also affiliated with Virtuoso and Signature Travel Network, which speaks to its reputation among luxury travel advisors. The resort’s fine dining restaurant Anthós won a World Luxury Restaurant Award (Global Winner for Greek Cuisine in 2022), highlighting Blue Palace’s culinary excellence. Sustainability-wise, the resort, under the Phaea Resorts group, places strong emphasis on eco-conscious hospitality. Blue Palace has a number of green initiatives: it operates a state-of-the-art water recycling and desalination plant to reduce freshwater use, maintains an organic kitchen garden that supplies its restaurants with fresh produce, and sources ingredients from local fishermen and farmers to support the community and reduce food miles. The beach is certified with the Blue Flag for cleanliness and environmental management. There’s also a turtle protection program in collaboration with local NGOs to safeguard sea turtle nests in the region. The resort engages guests in sustainability through experiences like guided nature walks and visits to nearby villages to learn about Cretan traditions, thereby fostering appreciation for the local environment and culture. Staff uniforms are made by local artisans as part of supporting traditional crafts, and decor includes upcycled materials and Cretan artwork. Blue Palace’s parent company has received awards for corporate social responsibility in Greece. Moreover, the resort’s family-owned nature (the hotel is still managed by its founding Greek family) gives it a genuine commitment to the land and people – it’s not just about luxury, but also about responsible stewardship. This ethos has earned Blue Palace recognition not just in travel magazines but also in sustainability circles. In summary, Blue Palace’s long list of awards and affiliations cements its status as a leading luxury resort, while its sustainable practices ensure that it preserves the rich natural and cultural environment of Crete for generations to come.
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