Admittedly it was 4.30am and I might not have been functioning at full speed, but when the taxi dropped me off at the Daios Cove hotel reception, I swear I was staring at an angel.
She was standing right at the end of a glass enclosed walkway dressed entirely in white behind a counter that was bathed in a yellow glow and smiling straight at me. Wow.
It transpired of course, that everyone gets greeted this way no matter what time of the day or night they arrive. A quick check in (keeping the formalities to a minimum) a welcome drink and a whisk up one floor to check out the stunning view over the bay before you get transported to your room.
My view was a little more stunning than usual I suspect, given the sun was just beginning to coming up and the entire bay was bathed in new dawn red. It really was a magnificent moment.
Having recovered from the shock of my potential demise, (albeit the angelic downside didn’t seem all that bad) the room turned out to be equally heavenly.
A large contemporary space with plenty of comfortable furniture and a breathtaking view through the floor to ceiling patio doors of my private infinity pool above the huge expanse of Cretan sea below.
The huge bed was wrapped in crisp cotton linen and a choice of pillows, whilst the luxury open plan bathroom included a bath as well as a separate rain forest shower room.
The Daios Cove hotel is a brand new luxury property built high up on the side of a spectacular piece of Cretan coastline just 40 minutes east from the capital Heraklion and close to both Elounda and Agios Nikolaos.
The trade off for having such a spectacular view and a private secluded beach front is the distance and elevation you have to negotiate to get from your room to the rest of the property.
This has been resolved via a series of funiculars that transport you across the various levels of the estate or taking one of the numerous chauffeured golf carts available 24 hours a day.
Of course, if you fancy the exercise, you could just walk, and then you’ll be guilt free to indulge yourself eating a plentiful buffet feast in the main restaurant or sample Cretan specialities in the Taverna which holds lively Greek theme nights once or twice a week.
The Ocean Club, the Daios Cove Hotel signature fine dining restaurant delivers up an excellent menu of classic Italian dishes given a contemporary twist.
There is a level of luxury and sophistication at Daios Cove that is hard to match and for me, as long as they keep employing angelic receptionists, I will be a very happy man indeed.
Tell me more about Daios Cove Hotel in Crete
Rooms from £177 including breakfast. 7 nights B&B from £830
