Domes Noruz Chania

It was late when Mr Smith and I checked into Domes Noruz Chania, so we did that classic late-night arrival routine of quickly admiring each and every corner of our room, marvelling over the fresh fruit bowl, opening the terrace doors to say ‘I can’t wait to see the view in the morning’, then falling sound asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.

The next morning, we were able to admire our room – and the view – in all its glory. And, oh, it was worth the wait. We woke up, sun pouring on our faces. Our sun-kissed terrace overlooked the glistening main pool and, over the rooms on the far side, we could see right out to the sea and the horizon. Bliss. Come evening, with the sun setting, this was quite the spot to raise a glass of the local wine left for us in our room.

Said room was an Upbeat Retreat Sea View where a heavenly bed took up the majority of the compact yet cleverly designed entry level, facing out to the sparkling waters.

A sort of ‘deconstructed’ bathroom niftily fitted into the space, with a shower and toilet in one room, and a mirror and cabinet in the main space. A steep, stylish wooden staircase weaved up one side of the room, leading to a relaxed living area upstairs which opened out onto the top terrace, complete with incredible view, two plush loungers and, wait for it, our very own hot tub. (The sort you race through your dinner in Chania just to get back to savour…)  

Though quite tightly packed, we felt like we were in our own little home. It was a real luxury to have the upstairs lounge; somewhere to sit with a coffee in the morning, or with a wine and a film in the evening. The decor itself erred towards contemporary beachy cool, crafted from natural materials, soft finishes, pale surfaces and sea-blue upholstered highlights.

Our first morning started with a dip in the sea to work up an appetite for breakfast. The well-kept private beach is scattered with grass-straw parasols, bean bags, and comfortable loungers. The sand is spotless.

I think I squealed when I saw the breakfast buffet. Maybe I was just hungry from the swim but it was a spectacular spread – a buffet full of international faves (eggs, any and every style) and local delicacies: the thickest Greek yoghurt you could wish for, and spanakopita (spinach pie) so delicious I went back for thirds.

What with the sun, the sea, and the sand, the gym probably isn’t likely to be many people’s priority while holidaying here, but we did check it out briefly with a view to working off a little of that all too moreish Greek wine…

It’s a basic space but with enough equipment to get in a good workout should you want it. If you fancy working up a sweat in the sunshine, there’s also an outdoor frame so you can work on your guns and your vitamin D levels.

Of course, you’re only 15 minutes away from beautiful Chania, a web of charming backstreets and quite easily Crete’s prettiest town. It’s definitely worth a visit or two, both in the day and in the evening (it really comes alive at night, with diners spilling out onto the streets).

A forewarning, though: you’ll want to spend most of your time on that beachfront of yours, and you won’t want leave your lounger. Even when you do, it’ll probably be just to jump in the pool or to order an Aperol from the swim-up bar. You’ve got DJs playing laid back house tunes, bean bags scattered around the sand, and double sun-beds to curl up with a good book on.

And there’s not one but three pools to choose from: two large outdoor pools that shimmer in the sunlight, and another in the swish Soma spa. Not to mention the Aegean Sea, a mere 10 steps from the restaurant front.

With 83 rooms and suites, there’s no denying it’s a ‘resort’ but it’s one that feels sophisticated and serene. There are no little ones running around and no teens splashing in the pool. It’s romantic and grown-up with an ambient atmosphere from morning till late. Holiday heaven, that’s what we’ll call it.