STELLA Island Luxury Resort & Spa, Crete, Greece | World's Best Luxury Resort 2021
Hello everyone and welcome back to The Luxury! Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa is an Adults
only indulgent haven with an exclusive feel. Designed as the ultimate relaxation retreat.
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Location The hotel is located at the end of the quiet
(and fairly isolated) Analipsi beach road – lack of signage makes it difficult to
find (after the turn off from the old Heraklion-Agios Nikolaos main road). The busy beach resort
of Hersonissos is four miles (6 km) away and the island's capital Heraklion, with its recently
(superbly) renovated archaeological museum, is 14 miles (23 km) – you'll need a car
to get around.
Style Style is minimalist: all white with lots of
blonde wood, canvas and bamboo. Entry through the open-plan, glass-walled reception (the
desk is made from a huge block of marble ferried in from near Athens's Parthenon) leads to
the bar area (low green canvas-backed seats and tables hewn from chunks of olive). Narrow
bridges criss-cross the vast lagoon pool; couples lounge in sunken seating areas, or
on islands dotted with beds and hammocks.
Service Service is excellent in every area of the
hotel – from the reception staff who can't do enough to help, to housekeeping who cheerfully
greet guests. The spa is delightful: the elevated, heated pool (no charge for guests) has glass
sides so you can see through it to the sea beyond. The elegant relaxation area, with
plump couches and refreshing drinks (try the iced grapefruit), hammam and whirlpool baths
are for spa guests only. Treatment rooms (Cinq Mondes treatments) are dimly lit, candle-scented
and very comfortable. Head and foot massages are blissful.
The resort is built around one of Europe's largest lagoon pools (inflatable giant flamingos
are a nice extra touch). Other facilities include a modern fitness room. Guests can
also use the organised beach and other facilities of neighbouring sister property Stella Village.
Rooms There are 89 rooms, bungalows and villas in
six categories. They all have retro décor: think egg-shaped mirrors (and large mirrors
above the bed), pine furnishings, bamboo-and-cane hanging lamps. Large (very striking) bathrooms
clad with white and green veined black marble have his and hers sinks with attractive (but
splashy) open spout faucets (but no makeup mirrors).
The 18 second-floor pool-view rooms are small (but balconies add a sense of space); ground-floor
double and premium double swim-up rooms have decks with direct pool access. Best for privacy
are nine South Pacific-inspired overwater bungalows with private terraces and waterside
hammocks, or 12 Island Villas with private pools (big enough to swim a few strokes).
Food The breakfast buffet served in the pool-view
Kimata restaurant is copious, with plenty of healthy options (fruit, salads, fresh juice)
as well as cold cuts, hot dishes and local options (try the Cretan dakos rusks). Vergara,
overlooking the hotel's kitchen garden, is the Cretan restaurant (expect stone arches,
antique wooden sofas and Cretan music). Mezes are delicious and fresh: try dakos rusks with
tomatoes and grated graviera, cheese; laxanika vegetarian pies piping from the oven; pork
with greens and the (very tender) lamb casserole. The buffet dinner in Kimata restaurant is
good quality but choice is limited (and not sophisticated). Options include moussaka,
spaghetti bolognese, two hot stations, a Cretan corner, and half a dozen desserts.
Spa A true sanctuary of pampered wellbeing evoking
the warmth and hospitality unique to this enchanting land. Utilizing indigenous and
authentic techniques at the Stella Island Spa encourage you to immerse yourself in the
experience to truly understand and embrace the exquisite environment. Techniques from
around the world are designed to release tension and restore the body and mind to a natural
state of harmony.
Pool The hotel has Two outdoor swimming pools,
Free sunbeds and umbrellas available by the pool, Private beach area and pool and beach
towels available! This place isn’t shy when it comes to luxurious
touches. The massive pool's lined on one side by a collection of swish swim-up rooms. Plus,
you can splash around your own private pool if you opt for one of the villas. So chill
out under the sun at these luxurious outdoor pools!
Gym Ate a little too much? Not a problem the Resort
has you covered! There is also a fully equipped gym with personal
training sessions for yoga and Pilates, and professional trainers to assist and encourage
guests with their fitness regime. So worry not eat your heart out during your vacation
but don't forget to visit the gym afterwards!
So when are you planning your next trip? Do let us know in the comments down below!
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