Daios Cove – Crete, Greece
In the northeast of Crete, Daios Cove blends seamlessly into a terraced amphitheatre-shaped cove surrounding the secluded Vathi Bay. It’s built as a little village, with sweeping views out to sea and roads trickling down past the suites and villas to a private gentle sandy beach. This is a place for forgetting everyday life and recharging batteries. Explore the ancient ruins and picturesque interior of the island, or opt to stay firmly poolside and take advantage of some first-class Cretan hospitality.
It’s a meander down to the beach and for those who’d rather not retrace their steps, there’s a funicular to take you all the way back to the top, stopping at restaurants, the main pool and the Spa. We love the low-key nature of this resort and the unfaltering friendliness of the staff. Dining here is a treat and there’s everything families with young children could need.
At A Glance
Luxury Hotel
Why We Love It:
For its Resident's Club! You can not fault the luxury of all inclusive - eat as many ice creams or drink as many cocktails as you like.Style:
A ocean front hotel that blends into the natural cove & Cretan landscape surrounding it.Location:
Wonderfully located in a private secluded cove in Agios Nikolaos, Crete, with uninterrupted views over the Aegean Sea.Rooms:
290 luxurious rooms, suites & villas all of which have private pool options.Swimming:
Private beach, heated infinity pool, 2 indoor pools as well as plenty of accommodation options with private pools.Children:
Families are very welcome here with a Kids Club & a babysitting service.Accessibility:
Daios Cove hotel has excellent wheelchair accessibility.Open From:
April - October.rooms
The choice of accommodation at Daios Cove is almost overwhelming (we will find the perfect option for you), but the common thread is the elegant furnishings, comfortable outside space and floor-to-ceiling windows with glittering Mediterranean vistas. And the beds are some of the most comfortable we have ever slept in. Each room, suite and villa are exceptionally spacious and all the suites and villas come with private pools as well as complementary access to the Residents Club. There are also a lot of fantastic options for families with suites and villas having more than one bedroom.
food
Ingredients in all the restaurants are fresh and seasonal, and the resort’s chefs have some very impressive pedigrees, giving Cretan, Greek and Mediterranean cuisine a creative treatment. From flame-grilled fish to delicious vegetarian dishes, there’s a mix of simple taverna-style dining and sophisticated fine dining with something for every palate, in a choice of four restaurants. There are two bars for light snacks and cocktails, with the Ocean Pool Bar conveniently by one of the infinity pools.
activities
It’s easy to spend an entire week here without venturing out to explore the island. The oh so glamorous Spa has an enticing range of treatments and therapies, which can also be given in the privacy of your own room. The resort has several pools, heated to a very pleasing warmth, tennis courts and a comprehensive array of water sports. Guests can scuba dive, paddle board, windsurf and rent boats to explore the coastline.
And if you don’t want to drive to the resort, you can use the helipad! Further afield, guests can hike or mountain bike through the unspoilt landscape or play golf on an international standard 18-hole course less than an hour from the resort.
family
One of the best resorts for childcare, Daios Cove promises a real break for parents and an adventure for children. The kids club (below 4 years old is an extra charge) is superbly equipped and run, with babies looked after by trained nannies and older children entertained with a variety of creative and sporting activities, depending on age, including an exciting range of water sports.
The Family Villas come with everything you need for small children – sterilising equipment, monitors and stair gates, whilst the children’s menu can be ordered as room service.
sustainability
Daios Cove has been designed to incorporate beautiful natural surroundings into its vision, supporting a philosophy of sustainability. Across the hotel, 90% of lighting systems are LEDs, whilst a Building Management System monitors and optimises energy consumption related to heating and cooling. A desalination plant reduces the pressure on local water reserves, whilst the hotel also adopts waste-water recycling practise in their gardens.
Solar panels are used for 30% of hot water production, and efficient building insulation further reduces the need for artificial heating and cooling. Responsible recycling practices have been adopted, reusing glass, plastics, and batteries wherever possible.
Location
Crete, Greece
Wonderfully located in a private secluded cove in Agios Nikolaos, Crete. It has uninterrupted views over the Aegean Sea & its impressive architecture blends in with the natural rugged hillside surroundings. Daios Cove is an hours drive from Heraklion International Airport.
