The Out of the Blue Capsis Elite Resort is a five star hotel located in the village of Agia Pelagia near the town of Heraklion in Crete. It offers 465 bungalows, maisonettes and villas, a first-class wellness spa, 10 restaurants and excellent leisure facilities. My friend Celeste and I went for a three-day girl’s getaway to Crete and stayed at the Out of the Blue Capsis Resort. The resort’s location surrounded by beautiful gardens on its own private peninsula was just perfect for our weekend holiday. Getting there was easy as it is just 20 minutes away from the International Airport of Heraklion.
Rooms at the Out of the Blue Capsis Resort
Out of the Blue has 465 rooms divided into three different categories. Each group is set apart from the other allowing this resort to feel much smaller than it actually is. It also has 13 meeting rooms with space for up to 900 delegates.
Classic Collection
The most basic rooms are part of the classic collection. These cute bungalows grouped along landscaped pathways are perfect for families. Guests staying in these rooms are just steps away from the spacious private beach and Capsis Minoan Amusement Park. Some rooms have lovely views of the garden while others have fantastic views of the pools. Some rooms even offers guests direct access to the pool. Rooms are equipped with twin or queen beds with some having sofa beds in their living rooms. A mini-bar is restocked daily. Each room comes with a private shower or a jet tub. Bungalows vary in size with the largest sleeping four adults and two children under the age of 14. Those looking for a couple’s getaway need to consider the Presidential Suites with their marble bathtubs and private showers.
Lifestyle Collection
This modern boutique hotel is located in the center of the resort and offers 1 to 3 bedroom suites with garden or sea views. Room amenities include queen size or twin beds, satellite TV, bathrobes and slippers, coffee and tea facilities, private balcony or terrace and more. Guests staying at the Lifestyle Collection Room enjoy their breakfast at the resort’s private area.
Exclusive Collection
The Exclusive Collection offers luxury suites with sea view, maisonettes and villas with private jacuzzis, shared or private pools. Your stay at the exclusive collection has some extra privileges as well; breakfast is served in a private area, a private gazebo is reserved for you either on the beach or the deck, you have complimentary access to the spa and gym and free Wi-Fi.
Celeste and I stayed at the Exclusive Collection. As soon as our taxi left us at the private reception of the Exclusive Collection we were greeted by the reception staff with a refreshing towel and iced drinks perfect for the hot summer day. Check in was very quick, and in no time our luggage was taken to our rooms.
I was allocated with a luxury junior suite with private jacuzzi on the second floor of the main building. As soon as I entered the room, I was drawn to its size and the floor to ceiling windows leading to a private balcony. The room was tastefully decorated in warm tones with Italian Boffi collection furniture. The queen size bed was more than comfortable. The white linen was soft and luxurious, and I happily discovered that there was a choice of pillows as well.
Other room amenities included a writing desk, a sitting area, coffee and tea facilities, cable TV and a safe. Also, a house wine and a fruit basket along with a selection of desserts and traditional raki were waiting for me in the room. Every day I would find another delicacy.
The luxurious bathroom had a big closet for my clothes, a Jacuzzi bathtub, a walk in shower and a separate toilet. It was also equipped with fluffy bathrobes, slippers, the most fabulous Bulgari toiletries and pool towels.
The highlight of my room was undeniably the big private balcony with the jacuzzi. There were also two sunbeds available and a sitting area. The room enjoyed a beautiful view of the Aegean sea and the bay of Agia Pelagia.
Cladissos Private Beach
There was so much to do at this resort that one could stay here all the time and never get bored. Since we stayed in a room that was part of the Exclusive Collection, we got to enjoy using a complimentary gazebo on the private beach. Guests staying in other parts of this resort enjoy complimentary umbrellas and sunbeds. This private beach offers well organized water games. Amarando Beach Bar & Restaurant with its Bohemian summer atmosphere makes a great place to get a drink and have lunch.
Public Beach of Agia Pelagia
Located right next door to the private beach is a public beach. This beach offers a variety of water sport activities. Guests can choose to take a ride on the pleasure boat allowing them to see the great scenic beauty surrounding this resort from the water. They can also enjoy using the water pedal boats. Some of these boats even have water slides making them an excellent way to combine boating and swimming. This public beach also offers single and double kayaks. Guests can also rent a variety of tubes and rings allowing them to float in the quiet water. More adventurous guests will want to try riding the jet skis. This beach even offers the equipment needed for fly fishing.
The Pools at the Out of the Blue
The resort boasts 8 swimming pools. After treatments at the spa, you can relax in the “Euphoria” Rejuvenating Spa Indoor Pool with its water jets. Guests can also choose to visit the Safran Outdoor Pool while enjoying the beautiful views of the Aegean Sea. The Ruby Red Regal Outdoor Pool tucked away in a lush garden setting is available for guests staying at the Classical Collection. The unique H2O pool with its private internal decks are a wonderful place to relax. Kid’s will love the swimming pool at the Minoan Club, the Laguna Rossa with the awesome water features and the the Azure outdoor pool with the waterslides. All pools were exceptionally well maintained.
Dining in Out of the Blue
Food at the Out of the Blue Capsis Resort was marvelous. We would start our day with a breakfast buffet served at the Precieux Gourmet Restaurant especially for guests staying at the Exclusive Collection. Apart from the wide variety of fresh food available at the buffet, there was also an a la carte menu available which both tasted. Celeste had an amazing omelet, and I had pan cakes and crepes.
The resort also has 10 restaurants, 4 of them used only for private events. There are two buffet restaurants available the Red Pepper Mediterranean Restaurant with a modern decor overlooking the Cladissos Private beach and the Green Pepper, an adults only restaurant with panoramic views of the Aegean Sea.
We also had the chance to taste the four a la carte restaurants. The Seasalt and Rosemary is located on the seafront on an outdoor patio under pine and olive trees. Nearby rosemary bushes accent the wonderful aroma coming from the food. It serves Cretan and Greek Cuisine.
Guests should not leave this resort without eating at the H20 Aqua Fusion Restaurant located next to the Crystal Pool with its unique water-light-music show. The restaurant serves mostly Asian Cuisine and one of the best sushi.
Another great option was the Safran Pool Restaurant & Bar serving Italian cuisine on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. The restaurant has also won an award for its creative cuisine by the Greek Newspaper Eleftherotypia. Here we tried a mouthwatering pizza that its dough was black from the cuttlefish’s ink, handmade mushroom ravioli, gnocchi and a delicious tiramisu.
The Amarando beach bar & restaurant is located in the Cladissos beach, and it is the perfect place to enjoy your lunch or early dinner after spending a day at the beach. It is a grill restaurant with an open kitchen and serves the famous antikristo, which is meat (chicken, lamp or pork) cooked in a special way around the fire.
Wellness & Spa
The Out of the Blue Resort is home to the beautiful Euphoria Rejuvenating Spa offering holistic treatments and therapies. The emphasis at this spa is on treating the physical, nutritional, medical and environmental causes of stress in guest’s lives. A special emphasis is placed on the Dukan Diet. This resort is the only location in Greece where ul-therapy is offered allowing guests to experience new levels of firmness in their bodies without surgery. If you are looking for something special there are massage tables right on a small beach where you can enjoy a treatment with a sea view.While nothing could compare to the beautiful views along of the Aegean Sea at this resort, the inside of the spa was extremely attractive with its spiral staircase, marble columns, beautiful artwork and relaxing red and cream hues. Celeste and I had a wonderful spa experience that you will learn about it in a future post.
Baby -Friendly Resort
The Out of the Blue Resort is ideal for families with babies. An in-suite baby concept including a changing table, microwave and other essentials makes taking care of babies easy. Families with babies can also use the crèche facilities located in the Capsis Minoan Amusement Park so that they could enjoy some alone time. A special area in the back of the amusement park is set aside as a dedicated place for babies to rest during long days of playing. The resort will also arrange reliable babysitters for those staying with them.
Children’s Activities
Families with children find many different activities at Out of the Blue Resort. Many children enjoy playing at the Minoan Mythological Park which is the only Minoan mythological park in Greece. Children will be introduced to the Greek Mythology while playing. There is also a pottery room where kids can learn how to make their own pots. They can get lost in the Labyrinth that has more than 20 connecting rooms, they can play in the garden with the beautiful treehouses or swim in the pool.
Other facilities include a balls room, trampolines, a play room , an indoor and outdoor theatre and a restaurant where their meals are served. The Minoan park is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 till 18:00. Children will also enjoy the waterslides in the Azure outdoor pool and the many watersports on the beach.
Teens at the Out of the Blue
While many teens protest going on vacation with their families, that should never be a problem when families choose the Out of the Blue Resort. There is a dedicated staff who design activities just to keep teens busy including;
- Chess competitions
- Fashion shows
- Football
- Football lessons
- Greek cookery
- Jogging
- Mini soccer
- Pastry lessons
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Tennis lessons
The Escape Rooms
There are 3 escape rooms available at the resort, one of which is perfect for children over 12 years old. My friend and I managed to escape the Circus. We spent an hour solving puzzles and having a fantastic time.
The wide range of activities at this resort is simply amazing. Challenge a friend or family member to a game of tennis on the tennis courts. Everyone can enjoy a game of billiards or spend time in the video game room. Playing table tennis is also a popular way to relax at this luxurious resort. This resort also has an area for playing football and volleyball. Of course, many guests take advantage of the beautiful beaches featuring water sports activities.
Explore the Area around the Resort
This resort is set in a fantastic area to explore. Staff at the hotel help arrange tours or rental cars. Everyone can find an activity that interests them including hiking, mountain bike riding, sailing, bowling or playing golf. Many people coming to this resort look forward to the opportunity to go scuba diving which can easily be arranged at the scuba diving center located just outside the resort’s main gate. The archaeological site of Knossos and the archeological museum of Heraklion that features the best collection of Minoan artifacts in Europe are 30 minute away by car. Those who want to venture a little further will enjoy exploring the town of Rethymno which is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Greece and the seaside town of Chania with its maritime museum, old lighthouse and harbor.
If you are looking for a slice of laid back luxury in Greece, then the Out of the Blue Capsis Elite Resort is for you. From the location to the food and the staff to the incredible suite, my expectations were exceeded with every element of this hotel stay. The Out of the Blue is the perfect resort for a family holiday or a romantic getaway.
For more information:
Out of the Blue Capsis Elite Resort
Agia Pelagia
71500 Heraklion Crete – GREECE
Tel: +30 2810 811 112
http://capsis.com/en/index.html
I was a guest of the Out of the Blue Capsis Elite Resort, but as always opinions are my own.
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