Family-run Greek hotel group Giannoulis Hotels & Resorts has opened 11 additional guestrooms at its Grand Bay Beach Resort in Kolymbari, western Crete, lifting the adults-only property to 89 rooms in time for the peak summer season.
For UK business travellers eyeing a bleisure extension after meetings in Athens, or SME owners planning a working break with reliable sunshine, the timing is useful. Western Crete is well served by direct seasonal flights from UK airports into Chania, and the resort sits roughly 23km west of the city’s lively centre, a two-minute drive from Kolymbari village itself.
What the expansion delivers
The new inventory comprises four Seaview Double Rooms with Balcony and seven Double Rooms with Direct Pool Access, all housed in a new beach-facing wing. Rates start from €116 (£97) per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis for two sharing, when booked directly through Giannoulis Hotels & Resorts.
At under £50 per person a night with breakfast included, that pricing compares favourably with the island’s five-star newcomers. Crete’s upmarket pipeline has been busy of late, with JW Marriott making its Greek debut on the island, so a boutique, family-owned alternative at this price point gives cost-conscious SME travellers a credible option.
The resort fronts Kolymbari’s Blue Flag pebble beach, which is just a few steps from the main swimming pool. On site there are three dining options, the a la carte Azzuro restaurant, the SeaLine a la carte taverna and a buffet restaurant, plus a pool bar. A small but well-equipped fitness centre, a sauna and a wellness area offering massage and beauty treatments round out the facilities, enough to keep a routine going between calls without pretending to be a conference hotel.
Why Kolymbari suits the bleisure brief
The adults-only positioning makes the property a natural fit for couples and solo travellers looking to decompress after a client trip, rather than families. Kolymbari itself is a relaxed Greek village suited to an evening stroll and a taverna dinner, while the nearby Mother of God Odigitria Gonia Monastery offers a dose of history. Guests wanting something more energetic can book cycling, hiking, sailing and diving excursions through the hotel.
There is a cultural pull too. A weekly Cretan Night in the main restaurant showcases local dishes, traditional dances and live music, part of the authentic, family-run hospitality the Giannoulis brand trades on.
Getting there and practicalities
Airlines and tour operators have been steadily expanding their Greece programmes in response to strong UK demand, and Chania’s airport puts Kolymbari within easy reach of a morning departure from Britain. Those with flexible diaries should note that western Crete’s season runs long, and an October getaway to Crete can mean warm seas, thinner crowds and softer rates once the summer rush subsides.
UK passport holders can visit Greece visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Passports must have been issued less than 10 years before arrival and remain valid for at least three months after the planned departure from the Schengen area. Full details are on the Foreign Office’s Greece travel advice pages.
