Agent Report: Left My Heart in Crete
Breana recently returned from a trip to Greece and has all her faves from Athens and Crete to share with us...
Breana at the rooftop Art Lounge at NEW Hotel Athens, enjoying views of the Acropolis and a local Greek wine
We love getting out and about around the world to bring back all the best hotel recommendations and experiences to our beloved clients. When Breana recently ventured to Greece with our friends at Blu Cove, we knew she would come back with beau coups of recommendations, and we were right.
Need the high points for why to visit Athens and Crete? Breana’s got you covered.
Warm, friendly people – seriously, you can’t leave a restaurant without them asking you to try more, take something with you, etc.
Incredible simple Greek cuisine made with the freshest ingredients
The feeling of being entirely surrounded by ancient history
Fabulous luxury hotel options for sightseeing AND relaxation
Glorious weather for sunbathing, hiking, swimming, etc.
It would be a very long write-up indeed if she listed every single thing she loved about this trip, but here are the highlights...
Breana at the Acropolis in Athens
Unforgettable Greek Experiences
Blu Cove are our partners on-the-ground in Greece. They help us to put together totally customized itineraries for our clients and provide 24/7 contact for Poe Travel guests while they explore all the magic of Greece. Breana got to experience a few days of activities with them, and she will never forget just how enchanted she was by these exclusive experiences.
Here’s what Breana had to say about her experiences:
Acropolis with a Private Guide
Being a first-time visitor to Athens, I obviously HAD to visit the Acropolis. We got really good weather for the relatively easy hike up, and my private guide provided so much context for the incredible ruins. Honestly, the 360-degree views at the top of the Acropolis are absolutely staggering. You can see all of Athens and even out to the sea, and you feel truly surrounded by ancient history.
The Quieter Side of Crete
This was my favorite day of the entire trip, partially because the experience was just out-of-this-world and partially because our guide, Natalia, was incredible.
We started out from Chania on Crete and drove about two hours through the White Mountains (Lefka Ori). Did you know that Crete has mountains with snow on them?! I didn’t. We stopped in a mountain town along the way to try sfakiani (pita bread, a thin layer of mizithra cheese which is made from goat or sheep milk, and a drizzle of local honey) and mountain tea (made from the herbs found on the mountains).
We continued on to Sfakia, a seaside town on the southwest coast of Crete that looks out onto the Libyan Sea. I braved the VERY cold waters—which are still frigid in May from the snowmelt—because I couldn’t bear to leave that crystal clear sea without being able to say that I had gone in. Afterwards, we headed back up into the mountains to visit an abandoned village, where Natalia was able to procure keys to a locked chapel featuring 14th-century frescoes. Incredible!
We then hiked an hour to a spot called The Balconies for astounding views of the Libyan Sea from up high. Our hike back was a bit strenuous, BUT we were rewarded with one of the best meals of my life at Alonia. This family-run restaurant is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, and all the food was served family style. More and more plates continued to appear. We ate for nearly two hours! Some of my favorites included dakos (barley rusks topped with grated tomatoes, mizithra cheese, olive oil, lemon, and salt), fresh Cretan salad, and the slow-roasted lamb.
Knossos Palace
Visiting the ruins of the Palace at Knossos was unexpectedly wondrous. I didn’t know too much about Minoan history, but our guide—who was a trained archaeologist—was able to give me so much context about the ruins I was seeing and how everything might have looked all that time ago. It took my breath away. I particularly loved that after we saw the ruins themselves, our guide then took me to the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, where actual Minoan artifacts have been carefully curated and restored, pieced together bit by bit. These artifacts are thousands of years old, and yet many of them looked like things you’d see in modern times. I particularly loved the bee pendant and a vase with a painting of an octopus!
Traditional Caique Experience
On my last day, I boarded a traditional caique boat from Blue Palace to sail out past Spinalonga Island and into the Sea of Crete. Georges and the team onboard provided a delicious lunch. There was time for swimming, sipping glasses of bubbly, and enjoying the views. Plus, Georges—who was an excellent host—had so many stories of growing up on Crete that kept us entertained as we sunbathed and chatted. It was such a phenomenal way to end the trip!
Hotel Spotlight: NEW Hotel Athens
NEW Hotel was perfect for Breana’s couple of days exploring Athens. Located right in the city center and on the doorstep of Plaka (which is full of tavernas, bars, and shops and right in the shadow of the Acropolis), NEW Hotel Athens is a fabulous option for those interested in art and design. This contemporary hotel has only 79 rooms and features a wonderful rooftop bar/restaurant called Art Lounge, where you can enjoy views of the Acropolis. Breana loved going up to Art Lounge at night after hiking the Acropolis to view the site all lit up. Spectacular.
The hotel features tons of local artwork and quirky, modern design. From the moment you enter the front door, you’ll see old furniture that has been repurposed into art on the pillars in the lobby and main restaurant (which serves a lovely breakfast). This furniture came from the old hotel that used to be there before NEW Hotel was opened—so they truly have recycled the furniture in a very creative way!
Poe Perks at NEW Hotel Athens:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Complimentary daily breakfast
Complimentary lunch or dinner for two people/room, once during stay (excluding alcohol, taxes, and gratuities)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Hotel Spotlight: Casa Delfino, Chania
Housed in a 17th-century Venetian mansion in the heart of Chania’s Old Town, Casa Delfino has all the charm and splendor you’d expect from a property included in Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The hotel itself is beautiful, with only 24 rooms, a quaint courtyard where fresh breakfasts are served, and a rooftop bar with views that bowled Breana over. Seriously, she says, her jaw dropped when she stepped onto the rooftop for the first time. Everything here has the mark of being family-run, from the fresh breakfast pies prepared by the manager’s mother to the hand-written notes and restaurant suggestions.
Breana didn’t have time to indulge in a spa treatment while she was in Chania, but Casa Delfino’s spa is legendary, so she will definitely be making a return trip for that alone! Casa Delfino absolutely stole Breana’s heart, and it was the perfect place from which to explore the charming port town of Chania, strolling its many winding lanes and its waterfront bars and restaurants to her heart’s content.
Hotel Spotlight: Blue Palace, Elounda
It would be impossible, Breana says, to visit Blue Palace and NOT be blown away by the views. Nestled between the villages of Plaka and Elounda, Blue Palace is a jewel in Marriott’s Luxury Collection. Breana’s room was nothing short of phenomenal—the Crete Suite, with its private veranda AND private backyard with a pool, all enjoying views of Spinalonga Island.
The hotel’s 251 rooms range from guest rooms to suites to private villas and residences. There are mouthwatering dining options galore, and Plaka—which is only a 5-10-minute walk away—has many restaurants and tavernas as well. There is a full spa including an indoor pool and jacuzzi, plus two outdoor pools and a jetty for sea swimming. Beach service is available, and there are tons and tons of beach loungers for peak relaxation. It was a truly luxe way to end a wonderful trip, says Breana.
Top tip: Read The Island by Victoria Hislop, then take a private excursion to Spinalonga, a famous isle off Crete, to discover its true history and beauty.
Poe Perks at Blue Palace:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily buffet breakfast for two guests per bedroom, served in Olea Restaurant
$100 equivalent resort or hotel credit utilized during stay
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Would you like to Go Away to Greece (or anywhere else in the world?). Simply contact us, and we will set you on your way with a customized itinerary and all the best recommendations to enhance every element of your adventure.