THE CALDERA LIFE
Most people think that the word “tourism” is derived from the French words “tour, tourisme”. However, linguists know that these words are a product of borrowing from the ancient machine tool, the lathe, called “tornos” in Greek. The lathe was (and is) a machine for forming metal and wood by tightening, turning and rotating the material. So, this ancient word through Latin (tornus & tornare = turn the wheel, the lathe) gave the words tour & tourisme, no longer in the sense of rotation, but as “walk, ride” and finally “journey, tour”. So, a “tourist” is a person who visits an area for leisure and “turns” (like a lathe, torno) to get to know it.
Let us invite you to know us better.
Caldera Group of hotels and villas is one of the biggest hotel chains in Crete. Despite our constant growth and size, we still remain focused on the true essence of hospitality, as our ancestors have defined it. We embrace every guest as a singularity, as a true member of our family. What set us apart in Caldera is that we think as guests. It is our duty – nowadays more than ever – to offer an one-of-a-kind hospitality experience, which will be totally safe at the same time.
We love responsibility. As the world-famous Cretan writer Kazantzakis has said: “It is my duty, and mine alone, to save the earth. If it is not saved, then I alone am to blame. Love each man according to his contribution in struggle. Do not seek friends, seek comrades-in-arms”.
Apart from our philosophy, why choose Caldera?
Our hotels and villas are located in some of the top spots in the paradise-on-earth called Crete. Crete is the largest and most populous island in Greece, with splendid Mediterranean climate and highly developed infrastructure, suitable for year-round vacations. Being a crossroad between Europe, Africa and Asia, Crete has 3 airports with numerous flights from Athens and other cities of Greece and Europe, boat connections to other islands and Piraeus, the port of Athens, which makes it easy to get to our hotels and villas.
With units in both Chania & Heraklion, Caldera is the ideal hub from which you can explore Crete, and discover its outstanding natural beauty, culture, history, gastronomy, and, most important of all, heartfelt hospitality.
Apart from our location, what makes Caldera your ideal choice?
From the aesthetics of high architecture to the excellence of top hospitality services, we always aim to fulfill your expectations for one-of-a-kind vacations, full of unique experiences. The variety of the hotels and villas of our group covers every taste. From the peaceful sunsets on Caldera Village on the hills of Agia Marina, the sandy beach of Caldera Bay in Platanias, the XXL pool and kids facilities of Caldera Beach in Gerani, the classy 5* Caldera Creta Paradise also in Gerani, to the picturesque exclusive Caldera Theros Villas, you can rest assured you will find your ideal warm nest for perfect vacations.
The high standards of our accommodation in Caldera, and the wide range of amenities, will make your stay equally comfortable as your home – if not more. Each of our restaurants offers a piece of a unique gastronomic experience, including Cretan flavors with local ingredients and other dishes of the Mediterranean diet. Activities and facilities for kids, families and adults fulfill the puzzle of an everyday life that makes it hard to leave. In Caldera our highly trained staff will help you design and experience the vacation you always dreamed of.
This, after all, is the essence of your stay in Caldera, to create a long-remembered experience. When staying in a Caldera hotel or villa, the accommodation we offer to you is not just a service, but a total 360° experience.
For us, our guest, you, are at the center of everything we do. And our biggest challenge is to artfully adapt our services and accommodation to create a select experience that will fit each of our guests’ varied wants and needs – your personal needs.
Following our ancestors’ centuries-old hospitality values, we welcome you as a member of our family, the Cretan family, where everyone setting foot in Crete is included, no matter where she/he comes from.
Crete is a magical place. An amazing playground of the five sense. And in order to feel it with alloa your heart, you need a friend to show you around. Not only in places, but also in faces, in feelings, and in experiences. And we want to be this friend for you.
Many – if not most – visitors to Crete find it hard to forget all the good, carefree time they had in the island. And so they return, again and again, to feel the unique atmosphere of this one-of-a-kind island, of this true heaven on earth.
We at Caldera will be by your side to help you create these magical moments you will cherish for a lifetime. And because we are pretty sure you will want to experience them again, we do everything to make it easier for you.
This is the reason we give you certain incentives, free upgrades, etc. if you want to visit us again, and experience Crete again, this time with the knowing eye of the return visitor. Just ask us for the details.
This summer, we are waiting for you, to make together the first step for your personal and spiritual freedom, after the unfortunate recent health events that had a deep impact on almost everyone on earth. This is the time. This is the place. These are your people. We are the Caldera family. And we welcome you to Caldera life!