Tucked into a private bay in the North East of Greece’s largest island you’ll find Daios Cove, one of Crete’s most renowned luxury holiday resorts. An hour’s drive along a winding coastal path from Heraklion Airport, it sits in the southern portion of the Aegean Sea, which laps up against the coastline of mainland Greece, Crete and Asia Minor. Crete’s climate is typically Mediterranean, bringing intensely sunny, hot and dry summers that are slightly shorter than other parts of Greece. You’ll find a welcome coastal breeze and calm swimming conditions which get a little choppier as you leave the cove.
Catching the cusp of the beginning of the season, we visited Daios Cove in the middle of May, when the hotel’s occupancy sits just above half, the temperature remains in the comfortable mid 20’s (though it felt 30 – which was great!) and the ratio of staff to guests was perfect, we were well looked after and efficiently accommodated throughout our stay, for our beach orders and room requests, to the concierge services and dining experiences in each of their restaurants. Nothing seemed too much to ask for, the staff were welcoming, personable, spoke superb English and clearly loved working at the Cove.
We stayed for a short but very sweet three nights, and managed to experience most of what this beautiful sanctuary had to offer.
Rooms
Most of the accommodation is sea facing with sweeping views over Vathi Bay with its clear blue seas and arid mountains. We stayed in a junior suite with a private pool, which we persisted to use despite its chilly temperatures. The bed was huge, comfortable and each room featured shower and skincare products from a local independent company which was a nice touch. Guests are encouraged to re-use towels, and they held a conscious approach with water being served in glass bottles and loo paper sourced from a sustainable brand.
Services and Facilities
Whether yearning for an active escape or complete R&R, Daios Cove offers a balance for both with tennis courts, a state of the art gym, and fitness classes by London’s most popular boxing outfit BXR. And a 2,500 sqm tranquil sanctuary that was renovated in 2022; with the launch of Daios Cove’s brand new wellness offering KEPOS by Coco. Offering uninterrupted views across the bay, KEPOS combines a holistic healing philosophy with innovative medical technology. Expertly curated signature offerings include regenerative treatments such as cryotherapy (which we loved), hyperbaric oxygen therapy and colon hydrotherapy. With a 360 degree wellbeing experience, relaxing treatments include a superb range of facials using 111SKIN products, wellness therapies and massages to compliment the, one could say, less relaxing alternatives. One of our favourite hours was spent in their spa, featuring a thermal bathing suite, different temperature saunas, a steam room and vitality pool.
Whether you’re a beach bather or enjoy slipping in a pool, both options are superb at Daios Cove, although we found you had to nab a lounger rather early in the morning to get a spot by the pool. Luckily for us, we love hearing the sound of the sea and soaking in the coastal views. The beach staff were always on hand, and there always seemed to be loungers available. We were told that in the height of the season spaces are scarce, but they always make it work so that everyone gets their spot.
Restaurants
The resort is a culinary affair, home to six restaurants with award winning chefs at the helm, and a bar with cocktails curated by Clumsie’s. From buffet dining to beach bar lounge vibes, you don’t need to leave the resort to get a taste of traditional Greek cuisine with The Taverna, or experience more of a high end à la carte experience with Pangea, boasting scenic views for breakfast with homemade jams and local honey too. Our favourite spot has to have been The Beach Bar with its relaxed, hip ambience (you could be in Cannes or Mykonos), grilled fresh fish and marinated meats, ceviche and flavourful salads. Joining the Resident’s Club grants you inclusive à la carte dining in all six of the resort’s restaurants, with an extensive wine and cocktail list; including their “wellness” cocktail selection made using elixirs, botanical infusions and raw juices which we had fun working our way through.
From Summer 2022, Daios Cove is delighted to unveil their fourth Culinary Journeys Series: a gastronomical adventure with Michelin-starred and award-winning chefs from the finest restaurants around the globe. Taking over the Cretan resort’s six restaurants throughout the summer, these celebrated chefs will be creating signature dishes to satisfy even the most discerning palates. From French haute cuisine, to the finest Brazilian fare, to playful and colourful cuisine nourished by local ingredients to unforgettable high end Greek cuisine, this culinary series is one not to be missed. The Culinary Journeys range from 99 Euros to 149 Euros for a set tasting menu.
The series line up includes:
- 5 JUNE – Amaury Bouhours – Le Meurice**, Paris
- 28 & 29 JUNE – Alex Atala – D.O.M.**, São Paulo
- 8 JULY – Romain Meder – Domaine de Primard, Paris
- 21 & 22 JULY – Karime López – Gucci Osteria*, Florence
- 10 & 11 AUGUST – Gikas Xenakis – Aleria Restaurant, Athens
- 18 & 19 AUGUST – Pavlos Kiriakis – The Zillers, Athens
- 8 & 9 SEPTEMBER – Spyros Pediaditakis – Pastry Chef, Athens
Guests
The resort seemed to attract all ages, as well as families, singles and couples. While there were lots of young children, the space is large enough to make it a predominant adult-focused getaway if that’s what you’re seeking, with the spa and one of the pool areas being adult only. For those requiring childcare and a family friendly place, Daios Cove is perfect, with a protected beach space, special child dining times with a variety of food options, a crèche on site and lots of activities to keep young ones entertained.
Sad to leave Daios Cove and head home to reality, we left with magical memories and cannot wait to return. Some photographs from our wonderful stay are included in this piece.
You can explore Daios Cove and curate your ideal getaway here: CLICK HERE
