Acro Wellness Suites
Crete, Greece
May 2024
The Inspiration
Crete. The birthplace of Zeus.
As ancient Greek myths go - Zeus was born in a cave on the island of Crete. Two caves lay at the center of these claims. Dictaean Cave and Idaean Cave. Dictaean Cave is found high in the plateaus of Mount Dikte in eastern Crete. Idaean Cave is found on Mount Ida, the tallest mountain on the island in central Crete.
Although not on the highest mountain in Crete or on the plateau, Acro Suites is situated atop the cliffs of Agia Pelagia above Mononaftis Beach 30 minutes from the Heraklion International Airport.
First Impression
My anxiety started to awaken, humming quietly inside me, as we drove up that last cliff, veering left, then right, then back left. I started to wonder how high the cliff might be. Where exactly had the driver taken me. Had he misunderstood me. Was I about to be murdered on a barren desert cliffside never to be found.
Thankfully, we arrived shortly after those thoughts started. As I stepped out onto the landing, after a quick 360 of the compound, I caught my first breath and felt the relaxation and calm work its way through my body. The main building is cool to the touch stone and cold tile with grasses, succulents, and palms dotted in front that somehow were thriving despite the heat. As I headed towards reception, I noticed all the staff were dressed, not in a suit, tie, and heels combination, but rather a long tunic and pant set. As if they were all wellness therapists ready at any minute to offer me a cooling sage infused towelette.
The Space
The rooms, set on the cliff side, are a juxtaposition of exposed rough cut stone, washed concrete, smooth tile floors, soft wood tones, and textured linens. The design elements enveloped me in that same calm zen from reception. That peaceful calm continued as I moved toward the terrace. The terrace was an extension of the main room. There was no harsh delineation - the stone, the tile, it all repeated but now the space incorporated some of the natural grasses and brush from the landscaped grounds earlier. What was unexpected was the plunge pool. The infinity edge blurring the lines between the cliffside cave and the Aegean below.
Food & Drink
Cremnos serves up local sustainable farm to table Mediterranean and Umi specializes in Japanese Peruvian fusion. The breakfast buffet at Cremnos was incredible and was included in the room rate. Dinner was also delicious but having only two restaurants open during my three night stay did leave me wishing for more options. Do note that dinner reservations were quite hard to secure - resulting in a goldilocks moment, dinner my first night a lot later than I would have liked and dinner my last night a whole lot earlier than I had hoped for.
The family run Taverna Bar Vasilis down the cliff at Mononaftis Beach leans into Meditterrean fare and locally caught seafood. The grilled dorade was excellent.
The Experience
The service overall at the resort was excellent. The beach a quick five minute walk down the pathway easily accessible without a vehicle. The only real disappointment was that the Byzantine Hamman was available only for guests who had reserved a treatment at the spa.
FT’s Take
Greece and its islands are likely on your bucket list of places to visit. Crete offers a different feel from say a Santorini or a Rhodes or a Naxos, but if you’re needing to unwind, to focus on centering yourself for a few days, with blue Aegean waters as far as you can see, Acro Suites could be the place for you.
