Amy Adejokun
Section editor
If Poseidon were to spend any time in a Cretan hotel, he would undoubtedly choose the Amirandes, a luxury Minoan-style hotel and member of the Grecotel chain where water is king! The hotel offers luxury surroundings enhanced with beautiful ornamental lagoons and pools, with a personalised service and extremely comfortable accommodation to make your stay here extra special.
Grecotel Amirandes - © Heinz Troll / Grecotel Amirandes
Grecotel Amirandes - © Heinz Troll / Grecotel Amirandes
The Amirandes is located in the seaside resort of Gouves, 11 mi from Heraklion airport. Its central location on the northern coast of the island means it is ideally placed for exploring both the east and west. Gouves is not the most attractive of villages but it does have plenty of leisure facilities, including the island's only proper golf course, just over 4 mi away, the aquarium, 1604 ft away, and a diving centre just over half a mile from the hotel.
The 212 luxurious and modern guest rooms at the Amirandes all vary slightly in terms of design, colour scheme and materials, though all are very carefully decorated and very sophisticated. The rooms all have a large LCD television with a CD and DVD-player, individual air conditioning, a safe and a minibar, whilst the bathrooms, also slightly different from one room to the next, all have at least one luxurious bathtub, imposing mirrors, a separate toilet, a hair-dryer and bathrobes. For the ultimate in luxury, go for a suite with its own deluxe gym. These rooms have an outdoor shower, in addition to the shower and bathtub in the bathroom, as well as a private pool, which is a feature of the other suites, too. Ten of the standard rooms also have pools, but the garden is communal and the pools are rather close together. Come nightfall, all the pools across the complex sparkle with hundreds of tiny lights built into the floor, a sight you'll never tire of. The hotel also has a series of deluxe seafront villas. The most upmarket of these, the Royal Residence, boasts an incredible 10,764 sq ft floor area and comes complete with an impressive lounge housed in a private cave.
The rare elegance of the Amirandes is clearly inspired by the palaces of Minoan and Venetian kings, the fountain in the entrance courtyard a mere indication of the pivotal role water plays throughout this 17-acre property. This first impression is confirmed by the large lagoon at the heart of the hotel, surrounded by bars and restaurants and seemingly running right down to the sea and sparkling like a thousand stars by night. It is an unforgettable setting for your stay here. The hotel's two communal swimming pools, the largest of which is adorned with a series of pillars and is amazingly beautiful, are surrounded by comfortable deckchairs complete with folded beach towels for your convenience. Those travelling with children will be pleased to know that the hotel also has a mini-club, Grecoland, which is decorated right down to the fabulous play area in the blue and white colours of Greece!
As far as dining is concerned, guests at the Amirandes will be spoilt for choice, with no fewer than six fine restaurants to choose from. The buffet restaurant, where the continental breakfast is served, also opens for dinner, with a varied and sophisticated menu of both local and international dishes. The furniture is a little ordinary inside, but the setting soon makes up for this as you can eat outside, with the spectacular lagoon in front of you. There is also an 'à la carte' seafront restaurant serving upmarket, Mediterranean-influenced cuisine, and an Asian restaurant featuring particularly charming smart red furniture. If you'd prefer to sample the delights of the Aegean Sea, head for the Cretan or Greek restaurants, both of which are 'à la carte'.
The private, fine sandy beach is over 328 ft long and is provided with wooden deckchairs complete with their own beach towels. The water here is crystal clear and there are no rocks to worry about when bathing in the sea, whilst the water is shallow enough for a good few feet to make it perfect for children. Villas and VIP suites have their own private beach with a personalised service which includes water and fruit, and whilst gazebos are also provided free of charge for guests checking into this accommodation, others can also hire them for the day (£43). The hotel also has a water sports club offering various sailing activities, canoes and pedalo boats.
Built in 2007, the Amirandes has been attracting a German, Russian, Belgian, Swiss, English and French clientele since 2008 and operates on a half-board or full-board basis. The design of the hotel has been heavily influenced by the Chinese philosophy of Feng-Shui, which explains why the conspicuous presence of water makes for such a soothing ambience. The sophisticated spa, which does incur an additional charge, only serves to enhance the relaxing atmosphere of the complex. In addition to all the usual treatments and massages offered, the spa specialises in Ayurveda, the Indian philosophy of well-being which will plunge you deep into a world of physical and spiritual relaxation. The traditional Indian dress worn by the extremely welcoming and well-qualified staff adds a touch of true authenticity. The hotel also offers many personalised services, although these, too, incur an additional charge. Room service, for example, is available 24 hours a day, and guests can call upon the services of a valet or a butler, take advantage of the in-room massage service or even use the nearby heliport.
massage, beauty salon, sauna, keep fit, spa, wellness
tennis, water skiing, gym, football, beach volley, basketball, horse riding, golf, jet ski, sailing, kayak, canoe, surfing, windsurfing, fitness, sports
Anonyme.
Cette hotel est paradisiaque nous avons été très bien accueilli cest un hotel que je recommande fortement personnel au top :) la cuisine est vraiment excellente, le cadre est magnifique, la ville est belle en revanche trop de monde a la periode ou nous avons été
plage francais conviviale
trop de monde ds cette hotel
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