The Blue Palace, Crete

The Blue Palace has an enviable hillside setting with views to the island of Spinalonga. It has 251 rooms, comprised of bungalows, many with private pools; suites and villas. Lady G and the footballers take the villas when they stay, I enjoyed a light and airy Superior Bungalow with private pool (see photos) and views to Spinalonga. 

Food is not something you will go short of here, in fact, if you are thinking of sticking to your diet, think again, the food is delicious, divine, heavenly and... plentiful. Take a cooking lesson and learn how to make dolmades to die for (that's stuffed vine leaves if you were wondering), and a traditional Greek Salad amongst other things. If you overdo it at breakfast, check out the cereal counter with the properties of each of the seeds listed. Dare I say that I have made Greek Salad 3 times since I got back.. a week ago ? ! 

Between meals you can spend time at beach, in the spa or just relaxing by your private pool, planning your boat trip to Spinalonga, ah well maybe tomorrow...

So, Spinalonga, once a fortress and then a leper colony in the early part of the 20th Century, the ruins are visited by thousands every year and a short boat trip can take you there. If you enjoy reading books whilst on holiday, Victoria Hislop's novel, The Island will give you a little more insight into life on the island for the lepers. Victoria stayed at the Blue Palace whilst researching and writing The Island, perhaps the Blue Palace will bring out the writer in you during your stay? 

So apart from, swimming, eating, cooking lessons and boat trips, what else is there to do? Well you could talk a walk into the nearby village of Plaka, which is about 300 metres away, or if you feel that is just a little too much effort, hit the Thalassotherapy spa. With 3 Thalasso pools, 24 treatment rooms, 2 marble hammams, a sauna, jacuzzi, a relaxation pool and an extensive treatment list, you could spend the rest of your holiday in the spa. I had the signature scrub with Cretan herbs (Olive Oil, Oregano and rock salt), I may have smelt like a Greek Salad when I left the spa, but I was a very relaxed one :-). 

So, did I discover what makes the Blue Palace special, you bet, why not find out for yourself?

Thinking of a holiday in Crete? Contact me to find out which property might suit you best.

Janet x