“You may have to call security to get me to leave” I only half jokingly said to Alice Eddé, the owner of the Eddé Sands resort and Joanne, the Marketing Manager.  I had just fallen in love with the Eddé Sands resort after a relaxing lunch and tour of the grounds and was thinking that I could live out the rest of my days on one of the roof-top beds overlooking the Mediterranean.   

This is not your typical Mom & Pop establishment

I’d have to say what is most amazing about the Eddé Sands, located along a beautiful stretch of beach just outside of Byblos, is the sheer size of the resort. When I think of a hotel owned by a husband and wife team, I tend to think small, cozy B&B with a few guest rooms and a restaurant that closes just after sunset. But as I walked down the hill from the guard gate I realized that my assumptions were way out of proportion.

This was not a small B&B. This was a full sized resort that I would expect to see from a major hotel conglomerate.  But with one added benefit: there was still the feel of personal ownership and pride that goes into every bit of the hotel.

What’s on offer at the Edde Sands Resort

It is hard to tell what was more interesting – learning about the resort or learning about the owner, Alice Eddé.   Born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, raised around the world where she learned to speak multiple languages, married to a successful Lebanese lawyer who she met while on vacation in Beirut, and now a successful resort owner, purse designer, business woman and health advocate.  I do hope one day a book will be written of her life story.

The afternoon of my visit, I arrived just in time join Ms. Eddé for lunch.  We enjoyed a light and delicious “spa” lunch of shrimp and rice and a fresh papaya salad at the sea-side restaurant La Peche du Jour, then began the tour of the resort’s grounds. 

Delicious and healthy papaya salad for lunch

Ms. Eddé explained how the original resort was opened in 2003 and now includes a luxury boutique hotel, a 3-star hotel, 8 restaurants, shops (both in the resort and also in the city of Byblos), meeting rooms, banquet/wedding facilities, a full-service spa, multiple pools and cabanas.  Given the size of the Eddé Sands resort, I have no doubt that I’ve either left something off the list or that something will have been added by the time I publish this post. 

The adult-only VIP Pool

Ms. Eddé noted that whenever possible, the amenities and materials used at the resort are locally sourced in Lebanon. She and her husband are very proud of this country, and especially of their city Byblos, and want to showcase all that it has to offer.  In fact, the signature color of the Eddé Sands Resort is Phoenician purple, tying back to a time when these proud traders and explorers ruled Byblos.  

The signature Phoenician Purple (photo courtesy of the Edde Sands resort)

Ms. Eddé showed me around the gorgeous three tiered pool area (fashioned after the traditional tiered Persian gardens), the Italian restaurant called eParadiso, the over the top Layali Zaman restaurant that serves up tradition Arabic dishes, and some of the picturesque locations where I will one day … I mean some lucky couple will one day get married.  The Eddé does 145 each year, so they have gotten quite good at it!

Brightly colored tables in the Layali Zaman r estaurant (photo courtesy of Edde Sands Resort)

One of many areas that can accomodate a wedding reception (photo courtesy of Edde Sands Resort)

The tour continued with the property’s Marketing Manager as she showed me around the éBoutique Hotel and the cabanas near the VIP pool.  The e Boutique is made up of 8 bungalows and 9 deluxe rooms, plus 3 additional “blue” bungalows that will be open in a few days time.  Each of the spacious bungalows has its own name, theme and color scheme and inside is decorated with soothing colors, plenty of seating areas and a modern bathroom that overlooks the rest of the room.   A sliding glass door leads out towards the sea.

Interior of the Crab Bungalow (photo courtesy of Edde Sands resort)

The true treat for me, though, was the roof top area.  After climbing a few stairs I was treated to a beautiful sea view. I found couches and a table set up where guests can have a quiet morning coffee and, my favorite, a full sized bed with a wispy mosquito net where I would happily spend a night under the stars.