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The Independent UK

James Litston

Daios Cove, Crete, hotel review

Crete Greece

It's all about living your best life at luxurious Daios Cove: a sophisticated resort with exceptional style, an exclusive East Crete location and quite possibly the largest and most comprehensive spa in all of Greece

Location

If location is everything, this property scores an instant 10/10 for its position on a dramatic, essentially private Cretan cove. It's an hour's drive from Heraklion airport and 15 minutes from Agios Nikolaos, the nearest town (hire a car or reserve private transfers to get here). There's nothing of note in the immediate vicinity, but that just means fewer distractions for a guilt-free, fly-and-flop sunshine holiday.

The vibe

Rooms and restaurants cascade down the slope to the beach at Daios Cove (Daios Cove)

You'll appreciate Daios Cove's wow-factor even before you check in: from the belvedere above reception, the view across the huge swimming pool and Prussian blue bay is a stunner. The architecture makes liberal use of local stone blocks, helping the resort to blend into its hillside setting. The main building's Asian aesthetics (stained wood, tropical plantings, lofty dimensions, ceiling fans) pair with original art, contemporary furniture and acres of coloured marble. From here, the rooms and restaurants descend in tiers to the lounger-packed beach.

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Service

It's hard to maintain great service in a 284-room hotel, but the team here manages it with a tone that's professional yet laid-back. Particular praise goes to the restaurant staff, who always ensure that you're seated at the best available table. The team at the spa also shine for their helpfulness, warm welcome and skilled execution of treatments and therapies.

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Bed and bath

Some 160 rooms have a private pool, ideal for a secluded stay (Daios Cove)

Around 160 of the rooms, suites and villas have their own pool (the perfect respite should the beach or communal pools feel crowded). All units have outside space and sea views, including the larger-than-average, entry-level deluxe seaview rooms at the property's higher elevations. A sandy colour scheme with sea-blue accents reflects the cove’s natural shades and is enhanced by quality furnishings, fabrics and fittings. Marble-wrapped bathrooms feature local Olivia Thinks products, separate tubs and walk-in showers. Hydration stations are being phased in for single-use-packaging-free filtered water.

Food and drink

Cretan cuisine can be tasted at Taverna restaurant, which overlooks the cove (Daios Cove)

This is where Daios Cove really shines. Though standard rooms are sold on half-board basis, every category upwards from junior suites offers Residence Club benefits spanning full-board, drinks and 24/7 room service. Highlights among the six restaurants include buffet-style Pangea (breakfast and dinner), inventive Cretan cuisine at Taverna (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and adults-only, dinner-only RHO. Whichever you choose, expect quality ingredients and very high standards. Don't miss drinks at the Crystal Room bar, whose back-lit, white-marble centrepiece is stunning.

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Facilities

Daios Cove has an extraordinarily large 2,500-square-metre, guests-only spa (Daios Cove)

The resort's showpiece attraction is its 60-metre swimming pool tiled with beautiful, petrol-green marble, which appears to hang above the sandy cove. Equally alluring is the 2,500-square-metre, guests-only Kepos spa staffed by doctors, dieticians and a squadron of exceptional therapists. With a wellness offering that includes vitamin infusions, cortisone-lowering cryotherapy and immunity-boosting hyperbaric oxygen treatment (not to mention an outstanding gym), it's by far the best on the island.