Aquila Elounda Village

I can highly recomend the place : beautyful location , clear full of fish sea , hotel owened jetty and bay protected from currents ; perfect cusine , I used the Spa - the first day after arrival - Cretan Massage by Sofia - was amazing !!!

Had a wonderful complimentary foot massage with Sofia. So relaxing. Felt like she gilt out all the knots ant tension.

I am about to leave what has been an incredibly restorative and relaxing week at this beautiful resort. The communication prior to my stay regarding travelling solo was handled exceptionally by Eleni, who made me feel reassured and welcomed before I had even arrived.

My check-in at 1am was smooth and efficient. I appreciated that I was not kept waiting unnecessarily, was escorted to my room, given the essential information I needed for the night and invited to return in the morning for the full details of my stay. It was a thoughtful touch.

The 5 star elements:

1. Mythica – an exceptional dining experience

I highly recommend booking Mythica. I booked all my evening meals at the à la carte restaurants and only ate at the buffet on my final night because I had no alternative, as well as breakfast. I am so glad I made that choice.

Imagine experiencing a fine dining experience every evening as part of your stay. I genuinely could not believe these meals were included, as back home many of these experiences would easily cost upwards of £50 per person per night.

Mirabello had the most incredible sea views and a lovely ambience. I enjoyed my three meals there, with special 5 star recognition to Anna, Niko and Pritesh, who were attentive, warm and genuinely kind.

However, my favourite dining experience was Symposium. The food was sensational. The deconstructed pastitsio was genuinely an experience, not just a meal. The service was impeccable, with attention paid to the smallest details.

One detail particularly stood out: they ensured I had a single setting when I arrived to dine, recognising that I was a solo guest before I sat down, rather than simply removing an extra place afterwards. That level of awareness and thoughtfulness makes a real difference.

Special recognition goes to Anna, who was a true “girl’s girl”. During my stay I was on my monthly cycle and had a concern about a possible mishap. I discreetly asked her for help as I left, and she handled the situation with such grace, kindness and dignity. That moment demonstrated the care that goes beyond standard service.

I also want to recognise another gentleman whose name I sadly did not catch. He wore glasses, had lovely green/light brown eyes, and described each dish beautifully, including suggesting the best way to enjoy it. Such a simple touch elevated the experience. He also kindly rescued my shawl when I accidentally left it behind one evening.

2. Maria in Guest Relations – the highlight of my stay

Without question, one of the biggest highlights of my experience as a guest was the incredible Maria in Guest Relations.

Maria was classy, knowledgeable, attentive and the ultimate professional. She asked me honestly how my room was. I replied that it was spacious and clean, but perhaps a little dated for my personal taste. She immediately said she knew what I needed, and she was absolutely right.

When she opened the door to my new room, I genuinely almost cried. She had understood something I had not even articulated myself. She gave me a room I had not requested and did not even realise I needed.

It became my haven of peace for the entire stay: an incredible sea view, privacy, tranquillity, a beautiful balcony and terrace. I spent more time there than on the beach. It was simply perfect.

Maria’s ability to read a guest, understand their needs and create a memorable experience is exceptional.

3. Spa

The spa was lovely. I had a 70-minute full body massage with Maria, which was very enjoyable. Having access to the private six-room spa was such a treat, and the steam and sauna facilities were wonderful.

4. The people who keep everything running

The cleaners and porters are the unsung heroes who keep this resort looking immaculate and functioning so smoothly.

A lady with short cropped grey hair cleaned my first room to an extremely high standard and deserves recognition for her attention to detail.

Unfortunately, the cleaning service in my second room was less consistent. Dirty glasses and plates remained untouched and would likely have stayed there throughout my trip had I not cleaned them myself.

I also want to acknowledge Armetis at reception, another consummate professional who went out of her way to make small exceptions that had a significant impact. Her actions helped me feel safe, comfortable and cared for.

These individuals are the reason this review receives five stars, because without them my overall rating would probably have been closer to 4–4.5 stars.

Areas where there is room for improvement

1. Buffet hospitality

The hospitality in the buffet area needs some refinement. It is not a major issue, but it is noticeable.

On my first day, I was overlooked for some time whilst the white guests around me were warmly greeted with enthusiastic welcomes and offers of assistance. I cannot ignore the fact that I wondered whether my experience would have been different had I been white.

I share this not to make an accusation, but because creating a genuinely inclusive luxury experience means recognising when guests may feel treated differently and ensuring all guests receive the same warmth and attention.

2. Final buffet dinner experience

On my final evening, I ate at the buffet before my airport transfer. Sadly, compared with the outstanding quality of the à la carte restaurants, it was bland and underwhelming.

I also had an uncomfortable interaction. I had not even sat down when an elderly gentleman approached me, gesturing towards my water bottle and telling me I could not drink it there. I had carried it with me because my belongings were packed and I intended to drink it whilst waiting for my collection.

I fully respect resort rules and did not challenge the instruction. However, despite calmly saying “noted” several times, he continued repeating the point in broken English. The interaction felt unnecessary and could have been handled much more simply and warmly.

3. Communication regarding charges

My husband surprised me with a beautiful fruit platter delivered to my room. It was delicious and lasted throughout my stay.

However, at checkout I noticed I had been charged for it incorrectly. The team resolved this when I queried the unfamiliar charge, but without a clear breakdown of costs I could easily have paid for something that was intended as a gift. My husband was understandably disappointed that a thoughtful surprise had resulted in me being shown the price.

A clearer itemised bill would help avoid this.

4. Sunbed reservations

Sadly, some guests continue to reserve sunbeds despite the clear policy asking guests not to do this and warning that items may be removed.

I am sorry to say that, particularly among some fellow British guests, I witnessed groups reserving the best spots and not appearing for several hours. Whilst those locations are understandably desirable, there are plenty of beautiful alternative areas around the resort.

I spoke with Jimmy, a lovely member of staff and a credit to the team, about this. He explained that enforcing the rule often resulted in guests going to reception to complain, creating difficulties for staff. This genuinely saddened me.

I would encourage the hotel to reinforce this policy at check-in or during the guest relations welcome meeting so expectations are clear from the start.

I did love the thoughtful evening towel and needs check, where someone came to ensure guests had everything they needed.

5. Different guest tiers

The different tiers of guests are slightly confusing. I only realised I had access to the minibar as part of my package when I was preparing to leave.

That said, Mythica is absolutely worth the additional cost. The à la carte dining experience is exceptional.

6. The app

The resort app is excellent and contains really useful information. It was one of the best features for navigating the stay.

Helpful tips for future guests:

• Book your à la carte restaurants immediately. They fill up quickly and are absolutely worth prioritising.
• Take advantage of the free shuttle. I enjoyed a lovely trip to Agios Nikolaos and then took a taxi to a local beach for the day.
• If you are a solo traveller and prefer earlier dining, consider booking early meals. On my first two evenings I had later bookings after 9pm and felt slightly vulnerable walking back to my room alone afterwards.
• I stayed in room 471, which was an incredible room at the back of the resort. However, due to its location it felt quite isolated at night. I would welcome the option of a chaperone or additional support for solo guests returning late.

Final thoughts

Overall, this was a wonderful stay. The resort has so much potential to be truly exceptional. The setting is beautiful, the food experiences are outstanding, and the right people within the team deliver genuine five star hospitality.

The individuals I have mentioned by name are the reason this review is five stars.

I think some racial bias training would be helpful as I noticed a difference in the treatment I received compared to white guests in the buffet area.

I would return in a heartbeat, and next time I hope to return with my husband.