Blue Elephant Boutique Hotel & Spa

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 — A Truly Amazing Family Getaway at Blue Elephant, Crete.
We visited the Blue Elephant in Crete last month with our family, and I can honestly say it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The hotel exceeded all our expectations in every possible way.
The amenities were top-notch—everything from the pool area to the spa facilities was impeccably maintained and beautifully designed. The views were absolutely breathtaking, offering stunning panoramas of the Cretan coastline that made every sunrise and sunset feel magical.
What truly set this place apart, though, was the sense of luxury and comfort throughout. The rooms were elegant, spacious, and thoughtfully appointed with every detail taken care of. We felt pampered every step of the way.
Finally, the quality of service deserves special mention. Every staff member we encountered was warm, professional, and eager to help. Their attention to detail and genuine hospitality made us feel incredibly welcome and well cared for.
All in all, it was just an amazing experience, and we’re already talking about going back. If you’re looking for a luxurious and relaxing family retreat in Crete, Blue Elephant is a perfect choice.

Had a lovely 10 night stay at The Blue Elephant. The hotel is stunningly clean throughout, with cleaners having an obvious presence throughout most of the day. We had a room with a shared pool with our neighbours, who we saw very little of, and this was a great choice — but having said that we did spend most of our time by the main pool, where the atmosphere was pretty chilled throughout, and there were always sunbeds available. The room itself was large, but could do with having a bit more storage options. Breakfast was great, with a small number of options changed daily. I would echo what others have said about the staff at the hotel — they genuinely do make you feel welcome — special mention to Penny in reception, and Kostas and George at the bar/breakfast. Each room has a mini fridge, and you are given 2 free bottles of water daily — we were also kindly provided with a packed breakfast due to a very early excursion one morning. A couple of things to be aware of, and whilst they weren't a problem for us, it could have a bearing on others, are that the restaurant is not open after 18:00, and reception closes at midnight. Almyrida itself is a lovely village with plenty of dining options and the beach and sea are great too. Diolch / Efcharisto.

Excellent hotel in a quiet location but very close to the bars and restaurants in almyrida. The view is fantastic as it's at the top of a small hill. From around the main pool and the private pools, it's a very serene and chilled atmosphere. Worth mentioning also that in July the pools were perfect temperature.
Reception very helpful and the bar/ waiting staff are brilliant and friendly.
Breakfast top notch, lunch also brilliant and drink choice and quality great!
Only slight improvement to suggest would be some more storage (drawers would be ideal) in the rooms as they are huge rooms with limited space for clothes storage.

We loved our stay at the Blue Elephant. The property itself is lovely, with a lovely pool that has a gorgeous view, the rooms are spacious with everything you need. We had a shared plunge pool and loved it. We never saw our neighbours with whom we shared it. The staff were also fantastic, with a special shout out to Kostas, Emiliano and George at the pool restaurant and bar area. Penny at reception was also very helpful. Everyone we encountered was friendly and lovely. There were only a few things on the very small con list and that is while the breakfast buffet was great, it was exactly the same everyday, no variarion at all and the milk area was kept out in a fairly warmish area — if they'd put the milk in ice that would be great! But honestly, those were small things. The town of Almyrida is so lovely, with everything in walking distance. Lots of great restaurants with friendly and lovely employees and delicious food.
Just note that if you have a mobility impairment, there is a fairly steep hill from the main drag to the hotel. It would not be an easy walk to get up. We will definitely be back. It's one of the loveliest hotels we've stayed at.

The Blue Elephant Hotel in Almirida particularly stands out for its beautiful sea view, which can be enjoyed directly from the large balcony in the room. The rooms are very spacious and super clean. However, the rooms lack coziness and a feeling of home. The interior design of both the rooms and the entire hotel (especially the pool area) is very sterile, minimalist, and cold. We never really felt comfortable and therefore would not book the hotel again.
The service at the hotel is okay but not really friendly or warm. You feel more like a customer than a guest, and the otherwise so warm Greek hospitality is not conveyed here. If that doesn’t bother you and you prefer anonymity, then this hotel can be recommended.
The village of Almirida is not particularly nice. There are 2-3 pleasant tavernas directly by the sea, but apart from that, the village is quite deserted and not a typical holiday destination.

We really liked this hotel. It ticked all the boxes in terms of what we wanted:
— adults only.
— private pool.
— chilled out vibe.
— actual good cocktails with garnishes, etc.
— close to the beach and tavernas.
— clean and modern.
The hotel is on a small hill in Almyrida, which we did resent for maybe 30 seconds during the steepest part of the walk, but then we got back to our air-conditioned room and got over it. Plus the benefit outweighs the cons in this case because the views of the bay are just stunning!
Almyrida itself is small so nothing feels far away. The hotel is about three minutes walk around the corner from the main road running along the beach and its many bars and restaurants. Also there is a lovely family-run taverna a couple minutes the other direction if you fancy a change of scene from the sea.
In terms of the room; it’s clean, modern and modestly luxury. It’s not over the top luxury. It’s understated and timeless. Just the vibe you expect from a 4* hotel. I loved the tile in the bathroom and the black fixtures. The shower also was really nice, with a rainfall feature, back massaging jets and also a handheld shower head. You get free toiletries but I mainly used what I brought so can’t comment on them. The kettle was spotless, you’re provided English Breakfast tea with small sachets of milk (very important for us Brits).

We stayed 7 nighs early June at the Blue Elephant Hotel in Almyrida. We highly recommend. Starting with the reception upon arrival which was class, professional and helpful. The rooms are spotless clean and the entire hotel is amazing, very beautiful and modern. We enjoyed the location, Almyrida is a small town perfectly located in the North-West section of Crete. The buffet breakfast was also good. Overall we recommend this hotel without hesitation.

Really lovely hotel, nothing too much trouble.
Complimentary breakfast is a really great start to the day.
The infinity pool is really cool, with a lovely view.
I will definitely come here again.

After a disappointing experience at a nearby hotel, we were so relieved to find this wonderful place. It completely turned our trip around and gave us the peaceful break we were looking for.
From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was calm and welcoming. A big thank you to Penny and Marina, who made a real difference to our stay with their warm and thoughtful hospitality. They were kind, attentive, and genuinely helpful throughout.
We stayed in Room 16, which we believe is the best room in the hotel. It had a private pool with a view over the infinity pool, which itself overlooked the sea — a truly beautiful and relaxing setting.
The hotel itself is spotlessly clean, well-maintained, and designed with comfort in mind. We had some of the most relaxing days by the pool and enjoyed a few incredible massages that left us feeling completely recharged.
Overall, this is a peaceful and serene place that we would absolutely return to. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a quiet, beautiful setting with kind staff and a focus on guest comfort.

I cannot praise enough about this hotel! We were there for my friend’s wedding! Absolutely beautiful location with private pool! The ladies Penny, Marina, Efi, and Ntiana at the reception desk provided above and beyond customer service. They were prompt, honest and very informative. These girls made us feel at home!
Thank you for providing quality customer service!

Lovely clean and well kept hotel. Beautiful views, especially from room 45. Staff very good especially at breakfast. Only one slight criticism is I'd prefer softer pillows but overall excellent hotel that we will definitely visit again.

Stayed June 2025 for 1 week.
We got the best room in the hotel, room 17! Although all looked very nice too!
All rooms are finished to a very high standard, It's immaculate and well maintained and has been open approx. 5 years. It sits at the top of Alymrida, a short walk (very) downhill to the local village amenities, beach, and sea.
The staff here were excellent. Vangelis, George, and Kostas were there to greet us every morning and lunchtime around the pool bar. Their attention to service and consideration really made the stay a great one to remember. The food is prepared fresh and was VERY tasty.
Lots of choice for breakfast every day. I would strongly recommend their traditional cretan salad with the Tbone steak for lunch, simply delicious!
Infinity pool is approx. 15 x 10m, never too busy, and the sights are fantastic to see as well.
An amazing stay! 👏

The most beautiful hotel we have ever stayed in! Everything was so clean and the view from the room, pool and the restaurant was amazing. Hotel breakfast was fresh and delicious, and staff were always helpful and friendly. Room cleaning service was also very quick. The location is very good, only 5minute walk to the beach and the restaurants. And bus-stop to chania is also nearby. I warmly recommend, if you want a luxurious and relaxing holiday.

Probably the best hotel we’ve ever stayed at! We went there in summer 2023 and 2024 and we are going back this summer again. Everything about it is simply breathtaking. The view each room offers, the rooms with private pools, the breakfast it offers, the kindness of the whole staff (whether it’s at the reception, the restaurant or the room cleaners, everyone is adorable), the proximity with the beach, the quietness of the area and I’m probably forgetting many things! Our stays have always been unforgettable and we’re looking so much forward to going back in a few months.

I cannot recommend this hotel enough. We thoroughly enjoyed our recent two week stay. The hotel itself is immaculate, the room was spacious, nicely laid out and decorated. We ate in the restaurant a few times and the food was excellent — the waiter introduces each course and there is an amuse bouche to start with and a sorbet to finish which is an added bonus! All the staff are really helpful and pleasant. Claudio and George in the dining room and Penny on reception all went above and beyond to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. I was unwell the first couple of days of our stay and Penny went out of her way to help. As mentioned in other reviews, the hotel is up quite a steep hill so you need to be reasonably fit to manage the climb! However it is worth it when you get there! We will be back!

This is an amazing hotel. Our hotel room was very spacious with a private pool overlooking the beautiful Creatian sea. The hotel is clean, the staff is very friendly and helpful. It is very neatly located at a hill very close to restaurants and bars. The sea and the beach are literally just a stone throw away. The food in the hotel restaurant is great. The hotel is definitely not crowded as it has a certain capacity to host guests. It’s adults only, so no kids. Simply put: great choice. 5 stars.

This place was highly recommended. Exceeded our expectations. Food was out of this world and portions were good. Service was amazing, and servers were very friendly. Best meal we had on our trip by far. If I could give it 6 stars I would. Definitely worth the price.