Enjoying barefoot luxury vacations at brand new resort Numo Ierapetra in Crete
Numo Ierapetra: Not another new resort in Crete…
Do you know what tamarisk is? It is this kind of tree everyone wishes to find on a Greek island beach. It will also be the reason why this beach will become your favourite. There is nothing like tamarisk tree under the sun. It is the unbeatable rival of any umbrella; the epitome of barefoot luxury. There are not many of them but they are all extremely generous providing ample shade to happy people that want to relax by the sea. You see tamarisks can grow on saline soils.
This tree is definitely one of the staples of Greek summer. Also the trademark of Numo Hotel, the new resort that has just opened in Ierapetra Crete, the last city in the southern end of Europe that offers the most hours of sunshine and the lowest rainfall in all of Greece annually!
Αrmyriki or almyriki (the Greek word for tamarisk) is often considered as one of the most characteristic trees of the Cretan beaches. Hence, the coast of Numo Ierapetra boasts a large number of tamarisk trees. Their presence seems to send the right message to the guests. Yes, you came to the right place. Welcome to unpretentiously luxurious, naturally beautiful, relaxingly serene, Numo Ierapetra!
The Numo Ierapetra Experience
The first thing we noticed when we arrived at Numo was that the hotel’s heart obviously beats on its beach with the trees. Located in a sun-drenched landscape, typical of this part of Crete, Numo Ierapetra promises a precious, carefree kind of beach life. It is a clearly lesser-known part of Crete, compared with the northern area of the island packed with tourists all year round. Located in such an off-the-beaten-track area, Numo, with a name that comes from the words “New” and “Modern”, focuses on a new, modern philosophy of travel.
The 132 rooms and suites connect the inside with the outside seamlessly, regaling guests with the colors, scents, and sounds of the unparalleled locale. Private swimming pools, placed in cozy terraces, form pockets of serenity surrounded by mature gardens.
Arriving at Numo Ierapetra
We arrived at the hotel on the day of its opening. At the lobby the choreography of the staff dressed in loose ivory uniforms seems to roll quite effortlessly, given that these are the first hours of its function. A welcoming drink with red tea and mint is the refreshment we are offered next to a bookcase full of arty ceramics and Assouline edition books. This airy lounge area is decorated in a soothing earthy color palette inspired by the surrounding landscape. The room we are escorted to features the same palette and the loveliest modern details. The furniture is relaxed and versatile, with textured materials and soft fabrics ensuring all surfaces feel like a warm invitation to touch.
A bohemian sophistication inspired by nature was the main idea behind Numo’s design. “Creating a flagship property for this new understated hospitality brand was a thrilling experience. We crafted an escapist palette, fresh color schemes, and took a simple approach. Instead of going in with a preconceived rigid plan, we allowed nature and the landscape to speak to our souls first. We then worked closely with the client team around the existing buildings and made enhancements where needed, adding outdoor terraces or private pools where possible and capitalizing on every opportunity to create memorable experiences. The result is a resort that feels intimate and invites you to slow down and enjoy,” says Constantina Tsoutsikou of London-based Studio LOST, who oversaw the design of the resort.
The Numo Experience
Couples and solo travelers, explorers, aesthetic lovers, escapists are among those that the hotel wishes to attract. People that are willing to enjoy a complete break from what they’re used to at home. To that end, the concierge team has created an impressive list of authentic experiences, places and attractions known only to locals, small tavernas and spots with panoramic views a few mile drive away, monasteries and tiny villages, blue flag beaches and many, many more.
Aside from those, they have also planned a plethora of activities inside the resort. The open-air cinema by the sea plays a series of handpicked movies in a dreamy coastal setting. There is the “not another teenager room”, designed to host social media lovers equipped with all the necessary props and tools for a proper tik tok video. The restaurant has a special spot for pop-up degustation events. There is an area within the resort that simulates a Cretan village including a chapel and a traditional deli shop. And this is only the beginning. Having been given the chance to meet the owners, people with deep knowledge of hospitality as well as of the region, I realized that they have a vision of creating a truly unique resort that will leave its mark in the area.
Gastronomy at Numo Ierapetra
The main restaurant of the hotel is – obviously – called “Tamarisk and is located at the most blessed spot of the hotel, next to the sand and the sea. Imagine savouring a Cretan herb pie with a view to this breathtakingly raw landscape. It is an all-day restaurant so we enjoyed lunch and dinner too, constantly distracted by the mesmerizing view of the waves and the colours of the sky
One more fact that makes the restaurant stand out is the creativity of Konstantina Voulgari, its talented and awarded chef, also a San Pellegrino Young Chef of the Year finalist. Her training at the Michelin-starred Auberge de l’Ile comes through in the way she elevates traditional local dishes, served with a modern sensibility.
Paying homage to Cretan roots and the raw ingredients that come from this blessed place called Ierapetra, she and her team artfully mix the island’s recipes with Mediterranean elements to create a modern culinary language that will appeal to all senses. This careful consideration is apparent in the restaurant Menoa, which specializes in contemporary Cretan fare with an emphasis on fine meats, as well as in the traditional meze/deli Kafenè, where guests can savor and purchase delicacies from local producers.
Numo Ierapetra knows how to make its guest unwind in comfort in an awesome setting! If laid-back luxury beach holidays are what you have been dreaming of, you have to check out this new resort in Crete!