Fly Me To The Moon sounds like a strange name for a luxury travel company, but once you understand what sits behind it and the vision of its founder, Elena Papanicolaou, it could not be more fitting. More on that in a moment. This is not the company you call to book a hotel on a beach. It is the company for the sophisticated and curious traveller seeking a bespoke travel experience that stays with you long after you unpack your bags at home.
We all know life is short. This company creates travel in Greece that becomes a high point in your life journey rather than another trip you forget within a week. On a recent visit to Crete I saw it for myself. The service, the care, and most important, the intention behind every part of the journey. From family run wineries producing some of the island’s finest Vidiano and Kotsifali wines for generations, to finding the perfect taverna where the owner ensures you get the best table and serves the freshest grilled octopus caught just hours before it is served on your plate. Fly Me to the Moon allows its clients to see Crete and all of Greece on a completely different level.
Why Greece is One of My Favorite Places
There are thousands of places you could spend your limited and precious time and money, but Greece stands out. The culture is built on thousands of years of tradition. The landscapes range from surreal mountain regions like Meteora to ancient sites that stretch back more than five thousand years. There is the antiquities and cosmopolitan energy of Athens and some of the most famed islands in the world, from Santorini and Mykonos to smaller gems like Paros and Paxos.
But the place I return to again and again is Crete. It is the largest island in Greece and one of the largest in the Mediterranean, with experiences that shift from the Venetian harbor of Chania to inland mountains and villages that feel untouched by the usual travel crowd. After four visits I assumed I had a full picture. I was wrong. When I booked my most recent trip with Fly Me To The Moon, I discovered another side of Crete entirely. Not the trampled guidebook recommendations. Not the top ten lists. This was something deeper and far more meaningful.
Fly Me To The Moon, What’s behind the name and vision
Elena Papanicolaou, Founder
Fly Me To The Moon began as a jazz standard titled In Other Words in 1954, written by Bart Howard. It became a global icon once Frank Sinatra recorded it with the Count Basie Orchestra in 1964, forever linking the song to the Apollo moon missions. The song was never really about space in a literal sense. It used spaceflight as a metaphor for possibility and for the feeling of being lifted out of the ordinary.
The moon becomes a symbol for elevation, delight, and emotional escape. Its significance lies in the ambition it carries. It is the belief that the right moment or the right person can take you further than expected. It has long been associated with sophistication and with the idea of reaching beyond the usual horizon.
For a luxury travel company, the name works as a concept rather than a slogan. It expresses what high level travel should accomplish. No gimmicks and no exaggerated promises. Instead, it offers the sense that your journey can take you out of routine and into something rare and well considered. This is travel that changes the atmosphere around you. Travel shaped with intention and ambition.
That aligns exactly with the ethos of Fly Me To The Moon. Don’t call them if you just want one of Greece’s fancy hotels on a beach. Their work is about more than reservations and basic itineraries. It is about creating a story that stays with you.
Elena Papanicolaou
This is the vision of the founder, Elena Papanicolaou. She left a successful corporate career to build something different. She had travelled widely and stayed in remarkable places, yet she always felt something was missing. Too much travel had become fast and shallow. Snap a photo, step away, move on. She wanted the opposite. She wanted depth. She wanted to feel a destination, not race through it.
With nothing more than a clear idea and a great deal of determination, she created a company built on meaningful travel. This is slow travel with purpose, built for the intellectually curious traveler. This is not for people who chase quick photos. It is for travellers who want substance and a deeper understanding of Greece.
Exploring Crete with Fly Me to The Moon
This introduction is the first of a three part series exploring Crete with Fly Me to The Moon. In part two, we delve into Greece’s rich history with a visit to Knossos, the ceremonial and political heart of the Minoan civilization. Often described as Europe’s oldest city, this sprawling Bronze Age complex features vibrant frescoes and sophisticated engineering that bring the legend of King Minos and the Labyrinth to life.
Our journey continues to Spinalonga, the island that served as a Roman fort before becoming the last leper colony in Europe. While exploring central Crete, we will stay at the first luxury resort built on the island. Established in 1963, Minos Beach Art Hotel remains one of its most prestigious destinations. During our stay, we will explore the historic and charming port town of Agios Nikolaos.
In part three, we immerse ourselves in the Cretan traditions of food and wine. Viticulture began here thousands of years ago, and local family run wineries carry those legacies into the modern era. We will visit these estates and explore the authentic food culture of Crete, dining at seaside tavernas and hidden gems in mountain villages that remain absent from standard guidebooks.
To balance our indulgences, we will take a stunning hike through the Cretan mountains and valleys to experience the island’s rugged nature. Our base for this portion of the journey will be the island’s newest five star retreat, the JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa.