Elia Hotel & Spa

You can’t really get more peaceful than this, or pretty for that matter. The Rural Elia Hotel and Spa is submerged in some of the most striking landscapes and surrounded by a plethora of colourful plants, fruit trees and lush shrubs, plants. You could be forbidden for thinking you were somewhere in the tropics, instead of hidden away in the far west of Crete.
Just a 5 minute drive from the coast, this 200 year old farmhouse was historically a hideout when it was infamously used during the 2nd World War to hide from the islands invaders. George, the owner, was the fortunate choice of fifteen Grandchildren to inherit the home of his famous Grandfather of the same name; an important player in the historical history of the island and its freedom, ‘George Digridis’.
A trusted friend of Venizelos himself, he fought against the Turks all over Greece, finally defending his island against the German invasion during the war leading the Cretan resistance for the Kissamos, the very region that the Battle of Crete actually took place.
It seems fate had chosen the youngest grandson, George to continue the history of this beautiful house; a plastic surgeon in his day job, his eye for detail and passion for aesthetics helped him to create and restore the beautiful, though slightly derelict house. The gardens, though always stunning, have now taken on a magical atmosphere with the hundreds of tropical, colourful plants and fruit trees that George has planted, all centred around the old Mulberry tree that provides the much needed shade to the terrace, and the 1500 year old oak tree that welcomes guests at the entrance.
The once store rooms and stables have been now converted in nine individual and characteristic rooms, each with their own style embracing the original artefacts of the farmhouse. Divided into four categories of accommodation ranging from the simpler standard rooms to the elegant Elia Suite (the original bedroom of George’s Grandfather where the gun hole for protecting the house at night is still evident). Each room is fitted out with comfortable wooden beds with luxurious mattresses, many of them four poster with romantic canopies above them. They all enjoy the same room facilities and share in the simple but delightful breakfast buffet, complete with homemade cakes, pies and treats. 
Lunch is an informal affair of light salads and snacks served at any time you would like it, or a picnic is prepared if you would prefer to follow the shepherd trails around the hotel and have lunch on the go. Dinner is a home cooked three course meal (though you can actually eat any course you like!) and is served on the sun terrace with glorious views across to the sea and Kolimbari, and to the setting sun in the west.
The nine rooms, suites and maisonettes are beautifully furnished using traditional wood, four-poster beds or iron beds draped with soft, light fabrics, and various antiques. All rooms have modern comforts such as en suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, TV and mini bar.