DESTINATIONS GREECE & CYPRUS |NEW RESORTS
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The main pool at Ella Rocrita; Moni Toplou monastery; boat trip to Spinalonga; Ella Rocrita’s Mamalū beach bar and pool PICTURES: Heinz Troll; Shutterstock/trabantos, Paul Cowan
DINE AND DRINK Clients have a choice of six restaurants and three bars. The main buffet at Domenū has live cooking stations and covers everything from early breakfasts to late-night dinners. Vióla offers Italian dishes, Anthéma leans towards the Mediterranean, Carūma is a fusion of South American and Cretan cuisine, and Smígo – one of the strongest dining options in the resort, suited to a slower-paced evening – has meze plates alongside raki, ouzo and wine. Reservations are required for most à la carte restaurants, and smart-casual dress is expected in the evenings. The Street Food Hub, near one of the main pools, covers the more casual end of the spectrum with wraps, salads, burgers, sushi and ice cream – though quality was inconsistent and service rather slow. At Mamalū beach bar, set by the beautiful sandy beach, orders were taken from my very comfy sunlounger, but guests are expected to collect drinks themselves.
IN AND OUT I popped into the Roée Wellness spa, which sits alongside the gym so guests can move from training to treatments. The signature massage
was far more physical than I expected – but ended up being one of those experiences I really needed, even though I hadn’t realised how much. It would be tempting to dwell there all day, but that would be a mistake; the resort’s Ellascapes programme helps clients explore this part of Crete. A boat trip to Spinalonga – a small island fortress, once a Venetian stronghold and later a leper colony, sitting just off the coast near Elounda – is a must. The stop in Plaka afterwards is all waterfront tavernas and sea views; clients should save room for a plate of fresh sea bass at Giovanni’s taverna. Another highlight was Moni Toplou, a fortified
monastery. The drive is not for the faint-hearted, but the setting is striking. Monks produce organic wines on site, and there are tastings of reds and rosés – drinking wine never felt so ordained. Review by Dominique Hines
BOOK IT
Jet2holidays offers a seven-night all-inclusive stay from £1,165 per person, based on two sharing. The price includes 22kg baggage, transfers, tourist tax and flights from Manchester departing September 28.
jet2holidays.com
46 30 JULY 2026
IMPERIAL ISLAND RESORT BY LOUIS HOTELS CYPRUS
Half of ancient Paphos still lies underground, but the modern-day Cypriot city is charging ahead at full chariot-pelt with its tourism upgrades. Imperial Island Resort by Louis Hotels is one such property, having opened in May after a winter glow-up to emerge, like Aphrodite from the foaming waves, with a shiny new fifth star. The metamorphosis is part of Louis
Hotels’ strategy of annual investment, upgrading mid-range properties to join its higher-end Elegant Collection. All 239 rooms in the resort have been renovated, with more than half converted to family suites, switching children’s bunks for swish daybeds and adding bedroom-dividing sliding doors, providing some much-needed privacy for multigenerational groups. Juniors can also taste freedom at the
refreshed Kids’ Club (now with an outdoor soft play area) or the new Teen Club, complete with gaming stations, billiards table, a photo booth and TV lounge.
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travelweekly.co.uk
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