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Ecology Meets Luxury at the Mourtzanakis Residence Crete

Ecology Meets Luxury at the Mourtzanakis Residence Crete

I arrived in Crete in the middle of the night on a tiny plane from the island of Kos. I was on a double mission: island hopping in the Aegean Sea, alternating between Turkey and Greece and finding outstanding accommodation. My tip to go visit the Mourtzanakis Residence when it was time for Crete,  came from a very discerning Lebanese friend and I decided to follow the suggestion.exterior_view2Despite the late hour and my booking on rather short notice, the owner, Marcos, came to collect me in person. Nice touch. I appreciated the gesture even more, when we left the bright lights of Iraklion behind and turned north, following a rather hair rising road towards the beach resort of Aghia Pelaia and after that it got even more rural. If you are after relaxation, seclusion and tranquility you have certainly come to the right place.

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Esmeralda, Marco´s French wife and known as ´Smero´ as well as the resident cat and dog greeted the late visitor cheerfully. Not surprisingly, Smero is responsible for the kitchen but, as I soon learned, she left French cuisine behind, took private classes with local Crete housewives and has since become an expert, using local products and whipping up the most delicious meals.

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The residence consists of four villas for  families and single/double rooms in the main building. Emphasis of the whole enterprise lies on the conservation of the environment and the use of Crete products as far as possible.

The buildings are constructed from local stone, spice for the food comes from a sweet smelling herb garden, Smero´s pride and joy and even the cosmetics in the bathrooms contain local olive oil. Not to mention the fabulous Crete wines and cheeses.Fauvette_melanocephaleIf all this might make you think that you have arrived at a rather simple and rural hotel, you are mistaken, because every luxury and amenity you would expect in a 5 star hotel has been provided by this lovely family run residence. TV, WiFi, etc. in every room and villa and rain shower in the ample bathrooms. Family run also means that Marcos and Smero give everything a personal touch and will go out of their way to accommodate even the most outlandish wishes of their guests.

Talking about the guests, although they pay, they are treated like friends and as I found out soon enough, many come back regularly. They also hail from many countries, I met nationals from Russia, Belgium, France, and Italy and we soon felt totally en famille.

beach2This atmosphere is furthered by the salon and fireplace in the main building where guests gather to have their coffee or drinks and animated conversations about every topic under the sun. Breakfast and main meals are served in the communal dining room but, if you don´t feel like company, Smero will provide room service.

Apart from looking after your physical well being, Marcos also offers guided tours, on foot or horseback to the surrounding areas, will give lectures on history, flora and fauna and take you to one or two of the local cooperatives where wine and olive oil are made.

If you fancy Yoga or Shiatsu, no problem, classes and courses are on offer. The ample library for use by the guests will supply you with a plethora of interesting books in several languages.

The Mourtzanakis Residence is located in the countryside, not on the beach. If you want a beach day however, no problem either. They will take you to nearby Aghia Pelaia where you can enjoy white sands and balmy blue water.

I felt so relaxed and comfortable, that I could have stayed much longer than just two nights. But, Samos, Naxos, Mykonos and many more islands were waiting and I parted with the firm resolve to return.

For further information, consult their website: www.ecoturismgreece.com

 All photographs by Mourtzanakis Residence. Featured image courtesy of vizuan

To read the Luxe Beat Magazine version of this article click on the title Ecology meets Luxury at the Mourtzanakis Residence Crete.

About The Author

Inka Piegas-Quischotte

Born in Germany, Inka obtained law degrees in Germany, The UK and Spain, running her own international law firm for over 30 years in London and Marbella/Spain. A few years ago, she turned novelist, travel writer and photographer. Her novel ‘The Househusbands Club’ won Readers Favorite Award in the US in 2009. Her latest book, ‘Istanbul, city of the green-eyed beauty’ is a literary guide to Istanbul following the footsteps of authors Barbara Nadel, Orhan Pamuk and Pierre Loti. Her travel articles have been published in GoNomad, Europe Up Close, Off Beat Travel, Literary Traveler and many more. She is a regular contributor to Travel + Escape and TravelLuxury Europe. Her blog www.glamourgrannytravels focuses on her solo travel adventures around the world with the emphasis on luxury and comfort. Inka has lived in Switzerland, Miami, London, Beirut and Istanbul and has currently settled in the South of Spain.

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