A minister, a mayor, directors of hotel groups, the general manager of the Southern European Accor group, an Orthodox priest, hand-picked guests, a handful of journalists and fireworks. In St. Nicholas of Crete, it was good that it was necessary. Monday night at the official unveiling of the latest piece of jewelry in the MGallery collection. Opened a few weeks ago, this new five-star adults-only resort an hour from Heraklion reinvents beach vacations… in the city. Because here there is no direct access to the beach (10 minutes by foot), but a very large and beautiful infinity pool at 5.e floor and a second, more intimate one on the roof of the 9the stage The architecture is subtle, almost minimalist. it’s MGallery. Like all the other establishments in the collection, Niko Seaside Resort tells its own story, a story inspired and fueled by legendary legends, history and the uniqueness of its inhabitants.
Pools, more pools!
Instead of the old Coral Hotel on the seafront, here we are a few steps away from the center of this small port town and its Woollisman Lake, one of the few that is connected to the sea. According to legend, the goddesses Artemis and Athena were washed. their hair is there. Today, the piers are enlivened with many terraces that are crowded on summer evenings. Nearby, Saint Nicholas Church dedicated to Saint Nicholas is a typical example of early Byzantine architecture.
You must still want to leave the hotel. Because it’s hard to get away from the main infinity pool and the amazing view of the Aegean Sea. In contrast, only the wild island of Agios Pandes is uninhabited except for a few rare carry carry (the island’s endemic feral goat), with intense blues disrupts the horizon line as far as the eye can see. Another blue for private pools. Because many of the 141 rooms and suites here have their own infinity pool. Set on terraces, they offer a wonderful view of Mirabello Bay. Luxury Room with Sea View, Deluxe Plunge Pool (Sea View), Superior Balcony, Relax Junior Suite Pool or Amazing Escape Suite Grand Pool with its corner balcony, private pool and unobstructed views over the Mediterranean Sea…. The hardest part will be choosing among the hotel’s 13 room types, even if the suite pool is a few steps away.
The Niko Seaside Resort – MGallery in pictures
In terms of decoration, the establishment also takes its guests on a journey with a symbolic object, the Cretan harp. The main decorative element of the resort, this string instrument is typical of the musical tradition of the region. Its elegant outline is the starting point for the art and figurative works placed here and there in the hotel. Wood and marble, which are used as the main elements, give the place a natural air. Small drawback. the palette of greys, greens and blues in the common areas, particularly in the large corridor of 4e floor, a bit cold for a holiday hotel.
On the other hand, the rooms provide a feeling of well-being, especially thanks to the natural light that pours in from the large windows, the mirrors reflecting the blue of the Aegean Sea and the shades of beige, white and black. furniture. Very good bedding and memory foam pillows. Also a good spot for beautiful bathrooms with gray local stone and XL shower stalls. It amenities signed Clarins – luxurious and tasteful.
In 2021 and despite the Covid crisis, we opened a hotel every six days in Southern Europe
Maud Bailly, Accor Group General Manager Southern Europe
This is probably the key to success for this brand of premium boutique hotels, which are experiencing the strongest growth in Southern Europe. The general manager of the Accor group for the region explains: We’re #1 pretty much everywhere except the US. In 2021 and despite the Covid crisis, we opened a hotel every six days in the Southern Europe region. “After the Athens Capital Center Hotel MGallery in the Greek capital, the Mercure Rhodes Alexia in Rhodes, the Angsana Corfu in Corfu, the French hotel group is therefore strengthening its presence in Greece and will double its portfolio there by 2025.” Focusing only on Athens and Mykonos misses out on what Greece has to offer. the time of joya combination of business travel and leisure has arrived and Greece is idealadds Maud Bailey. If you are looking for a destination 3-4 hours away from your place of residence in a safe country, then this is the country for you. “.
In terms of catering, we will be tempted by the half-board formula – after all, we are in a resort. All that remains is to enjoy the three restaurants and bars located on three levels. In honor of Princess Ariane of Crete, a bar-restaurant Ariagne on the ground floor serves lunch and light dinners throughout the day. Greek artist Ilias Papailiakis’ huge red mural of the Minotaur’s alphabet warms up the place, which is still a bit chilly. main restaurant, Mirawhere you also have breakfast facing the sea is 5e stage Place Mediterranean and Cretan flavors here, always respecting the gastronomic traditions of the island. Finally, thatEther pool barLocated on the ninth floor, it offers stunning panoramic views of the coast. Between the two cocktails, the hotel offers the island’s only sushi bar.
Private sailing and raki
syrup on galactoburekoEach MGallery hotel offers its guests experiences – a “moment to remember”. So in Crete, Niko Seaside Resort MGallery can arrange a private cruise for you, departing from the village of Plaka, about twenty minutes from the hotel, to Spinalonga. A highly strategic location and a defensive fortress for millennia, fortified by the Venetians in the 16th century, the island is best known for being one of Europe’s last leper colonies. Here, until 1957, hundreds of patients from all over Crete had to be exiled. It was not until the late 1970s that the site was classified as an archaeological heritage site.
But it is above all a novel by Victoria Hyslop Island of the Forgotten which will bring Spinalonga back to center stage. The most curious will push through its hillside houses to Christa, where they will get lost in the alleys perched on the heights. On the terrace, between two glasses of raki, the ancient Greeks pass the time. On the high street, you’ll knock on the doors of shops where fabric and traditional embroidered tablecloths, leather boots and glass work coexist in a happy jumble. A beautiful escape between sea and mountains on the largest of the Greek islands.
Niko Seaside Resort – MGallery, Akti Koundourou 20, Ag. Nikolaos 721 00, Greece. Such. +30 2841 304040 One night from 215 euros with breakfast.
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Source: Le Figaro
