Famous types have been quick off the mark to flock to Abaton Island Resort & Spa, Crete’s newest five-star hotel.
TV stars including Towie’s Lucy Mecklenburgh and Made In Chelsea’s Ollie Proudlock plus footballers galore have stayed there. I jetted off and checked in to see what all the fuss was about. And I wasn’t disappointed. For starters, a Manchester United player was in the room next door!
Located on 360 metres (1,181 feet) of sun-dripped Crete coastline, the hotel is like an opulent movie set, with majestic views and a picture-perfect Instagram infinity pool.
TV stars including Towie’s Lucy Mecklenburgh and Made In Chelsea’s Ollie Proudlock plus footballers galore have stayed at Abaton Island Resort & Spa
I certainly felt like an A-list star, supping dry Champagne at the lavish Buddha-Bar in the early hours.
To accompany flowing fizz, the hotel offers all manner of food options across its restaurants – Bony Fish Seafood, Wow Steak & Sushi, F-Zin Ivy League, Elemes Cretan Cuisine and Buddha-Bar.
Buddha-Bar offers some decadent vegan-alternative sushi made with fresh strawberries and plump cherries instead of fish. After all, there are lots of vegan celebrities. Simon Cowell, for instance.
And for those of us who aren’t vegan? Guests are spoiled for choice.
The hotel – located on 360 metres (1,181 feet) of sun-drenched coastline – features a ‘picture-perfect Instagram infinity pool’
Reality star haven: Towie’s Lucy Mecklenburgh and Made In Chelsea’s Ollie Proudlock are among the reality stars who have flocked to Abaton Island Resort & Spa since it opened. Both are pictured here during their stays at the hotel
Lily’s neighbour at the hotel was Manchester United ace Angel Gomes and his girlfriend
Serene: The hotel – which features 152 luxurious rooms, suites and villas – was described by Lily as a ‘feast for the senses’
I tried an exquisite salmon pasta dish at Bony Fish Seafood for 16 euros and a mouth-watering steak at Wow.
And top contenders for dessert included coconut chocolate sticks, crème brûlée and melon sorbet, all at Buddha-Bar.
The hotel – which has 152 luxurious rooms, suites and villas – was a feast for the senses. The soft swooshing sound of the sea purring in my ears wherever I was on the resort was simply charming.
Fitness guru: Lucy Mecklenburg shared a slew of glamorous Instagram posts from the Abaton Island Resort & Spa. Above, she poses by the pool during sunset
She looks fantastic! Lucy showcased her abs-olutely amazing figure in a neon bikini as she made the most of her private pool at Abaton Island Resort & Spa
Terrace with a view! Lily found that the panoramic views of the sun setting were ‘flawless’
Panoramic views of the sun setting were flawless – and conveniently Ladies & Gentlemen Lobby Bar had a most enviable spot for admiring the idyllic backdrop.
Abaton’s eye-popping views, soothing poolside atmosphere and delicious food tempted me to leave the lavish comforts of the dreamiest of sea-view rooms where I resided for my stay.
Despite having a super-king-sized bed with a decorative headboard in the centre, the room was incredibly spacious, partly thanks to a stylish mezzanine.
The free-standing bath, complete with an extendable rack, meanwhile, was a delightful alternative to the separate shower room.
But the highlight for me was the private pool, which had a jaw-dropping backdrop – the beach and glistening sea beyond.
Majestic: Abaton’s ‘eye-popping views, soothing poolside atmosphere and delicious food’ tempted Lily to leave the lavish confines of her room and explore what was on offer
A little piece of heaven: Despite having a super king sized-bed, Lily said the sea-view room was incredibly spacious and even featured a stylish mezzanine level (pictured)
Little luxuries: The room featured a free-standing bath next to the bed, with views out to the sea
The hotel offers all manner of food options across its restaurants – Bony Fish Seafood, Wow Steak & Sushi, F-Zin Ivy League, Elemes Cretan Cuisine and Buddha-Bar
The neighbours were high calibre too. I shared adjoining private pools with Manchester United ace Angel Gomes and his girlfriend during my stay.
Another area of excellence is the spa, which has fantastic facilities and a whole menu of treatments.
Was there a downside? Well, while the hotel is only a 20-minute drive from Heraklion International Airport, it took a good hour to walk from the hotel to the local town, which made the resort feel cut off from Crete’s offerings — something that was a drawback for me because I love to explore the local area when I’m on holiday.
However, this seclusion makes the glamorous beachfront hotel a haven for the stars.
And if you’re not famous? Book anyway, because you’ll feel like a star.
Delight: Lily said the highlight for her was the private pool (pictured) that came with her room. She said the swimming spot had a ‘jaw-dropping’ vista looking out over the fringes of the beach
Utterly divine: A rendering showing the hotel’s spotless spa area, where guests can choose from a menu of treatments
Secluded: The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Heraklion International Airport but Lily found it took a good hour to walk to the nearest town
So glam: If you want to feel like a star, Lily says Abaton Island Resort & Spa will help get you on your way
TRAVEL FACTS
Lily was a guest of Abaton Island Resort & Spa. The luxury guestroom with a private pool, where Lily stayed, starts from £343 a night.
Rating: 
Rating key: one star – poor; two stars – ok; three stars – good; four stars – very good; five stars – exceptional.