Luxury Travel Advisor - December 2008 - (Page 47) TWO-BEDROOM SUITES at Porto Elounda feature their own pool. specializes in energy treatments, while Sergei Manik’s specialty is deep-tissue massage. Request Crystie Potamianou for facial and energy treatments; Maria Vlataki is also a top esthetician for facials, but is frequently requested for body treatments, as well. Georgia Kokolaki has mastered a variety of massage treatments, and Grit Hammer can’t be beat for a private lesson in Pilates or yoga. Contact Head Receptionist Eleni Papadopoulou (spa@ elounda-sa.com; 011-30-2841068060) at least one week in advance of your VIPs’ visit to ensure availability for their own spa journey. Make sure your most private clients retire to a Porto Exclusive Two-bedroom Suite each night. Like the spa, these suites are awash in soothing neutral tones that are livened with sprays of sea-inspired green and blue. Each suite features its own pool, two bathrooms with air-bath tubs, and separate living and dining areas. Individual furnished verandas allow guests to take in stunning views of the Aegean Sea from their own private paradise. Ask Commercial Director Manolis Giakoumakis (sales@eloundasa.com; 011-30-28410-68011) to assist with reservations; he can also offer insight regarding the resort’s sister properties, the Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel or the Elounda Mare Hotel. Keep in mind that occupancy peaks in July and August, and prepare to book at least two months in advance. Note: Head Concierge Eleni Kourouni (kourouni@eloundasa.com; 011-30-28410-68000) can arrange anything from dinner reservations to private guided tours and countryside excursions for groups or individuals, with transportation in a privately chartered chopper. Another Cretan sanctuary, this one just three miles outside the village of Elounda, Blue Palace Resort & Spa (www. bluepalace.gr) boasts a threestory, 21,000-square-foot spa that promises guests a relaxing experience on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The spa, a member of the Starwood Spa Collection, comprises traditional marble Turkish steam baths, indoor Jacuzzis, three thalassotherapy pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center and 23 treatment rooms, where guests can indulge in a variety of signature services designed to reduce stress, facilitate weight loss, decrease the ap- pearance of cellulite and aide in muscle and joint healing. With its emphasis on Thalassotherapy, the spa specializes in treatments using naturally healing elements from the sea, including thermal clay, plankton and seaweed. What’s new? Spa staff are currently transitioning the spa to a “boutique approach,” meaning that niche top brands will be offered for each group of therapies. Contact Reservations Manager Katerina Youlaki (reserva tions@bluepalace.gr; 011-3028410-65500) two to three weeks in advance of your clients’ visit to secure their preferred spa treatment times. Insiders say the Elounda Wellness & Beauty Scrub, which uses the spa’s signature olive oil-and-sugar scrub, and the Traditional Olive Oil Massage are two of the most popular treatments. Adventurous clients should try the Rakotherapy treatment; the massage unveils the therapeutic results of the traditional Cretan beverage raki, whereby high alcohol content and neutral oil combine to open the senses and energize the body. Tip: Most treatment rooms offer panoramic views of the sea, but for a peaceful seaside experience request that your clients enjoy their treatments in a secluded open-air pavilion. For a more rigorous spa experience, ask Youlaki about Luxury Bootcamp, which returns in May. Celebrity trainer Joe Fournier, who whipped Keira Knightly into shape for Pirates of the Caribbean, joins the spa’s staff for one week, leading a regimen of exercise, excursions, cuisine and spa treatments designed to quicken slimming and strengthening. Luxury travel advisors should contact Director of Sales and Marketing Agapi Sbokou (asbokou@sbokoshotels.gr; 01130-210-363-3551) or, onsite, Sales Manager Sarantis Nikolovienis or Sales Executive Maria Kalognomous (sales@bluepalace. gr; 011-30-28410-65624) for assistance with room reservations. All are eager to make sure the perfect room pairing is made. For couples, we say Island Luxury Sea View Suites are a top draw; each is named after a Greek island and has its own heated pool that’s surrounded by a spacious veranda. Outdoor showers and Jacuzzis add an extra touch of romance. If you’re sending a group or family, ask about the resort’s spacious villas. Keep Front Office Manager Claire Anastasoglou (fom@blue palace.gr) as a close contact. In tending to past celebrity guests, she’s grown accustomed to requests that are “less than common” and has arranged Champagne cruises for clients to the island of Spinalonga, including an off-hours visit of the site itself; fishing trips to private beaches with picnic lunches and snorkeling excursions; and private helicopter tours of the islands. Tip: Let General Manager Theodoros Frangos (manager@ bluepalace.gr) know when your own VIPs are en route. —Lindsay Lambert www.luxuryta.com December 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 47 http://www.bluepalace.gr http://www.bluepalace.gr http://www.luxuryta.com
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