3 Star Crete Holidays

Craig Smart

Happy days studios just wow!!!! What a brilliant place were here now and loveing it its nice chilled relaxed and just amazeing atmostphere The rooms are great nice and clean the pool area and the staff are really freindly fun and have banter with the guest but there all very helpfull i threw my phone in the pool thinking it was water proof it wasnt!! But the staff had a laugh with me about it and advised me were i can get a phone to see me by,faye and georgia are brilliant owners who are proud of there establishment and rightly so its a gem and a shout out to the bare staff there brillant. Who ever comes will have a brillant time just like we are heres to another 3 days left

Garry Jones

Where do I start. My mrs and I booked here as a last minute getaway. Bed, Breakfast and evening meal. The room was dirty and I asked for it to be cleaned to which they dud next day. The breakfast was really nice if you just like toast. Evening meal consisted of potatoes with slimy juice. At the end of the holiday they charged us €20 to clean tue sheet and as I said what do you expect when you've not changed them all week. Avoid Avoid Avoid there again you get what you pay for.

Salvatore Pala

Got the room for a week and can't find them any faults. Rooms get cleaned every other day and your are in close proximity to your neighbours noise is there but it's not that loud. It's quite (April), first time ever I've got in a place where you have to pay for aircon and WiFi... but hey.... place's you visit custom you find and adapt. I had a lovely time here food and nature is great and if you love walking you can get to different sea sides and see the sun rise and set I definitely Recommend it! !! If you're here for the night life plenty to see too. Whatever you pick just get out of your room and see what Crete has to offer.

Glenn Surname

AVOID AT ALL COSTS! 1 CRAPPY DAYS lived up to its name as the owners dog CRAPPED by the sun beds every day. 2 The owner would not let me lock a bike that I hired where the mopeds where parked and banged on my door angry to get it moved even though another member of staff had said it was OK, she would not let me keep the bike in my ROOM EITHER she said nobody steals there. 3 The bike I hired was stolen after staff moved it without telling me. 4 The TV didn't work. 5 The fridge didn't work. 6 loads of crap under the bed. 7 could not sleep any night because when people come in late it sounds like they are in your room, same when people talked on the balcony it sounded like they where next to you in bed the way the balconys are channeled TOGETHER LIKE AN ECHO CHAMBER. 8 Sun never got on my balcony morning or evening. 9 All the balconys are crushed up against each other, absolutely no privacy you could have eaten from there plates. 10 View from balcony was a wall and tractors. 11 It cost 3 euros extra every day for the room, (room tax) although I heard they charged 2 euros sometimes. 12 Air conditioning is an extra 63 euros a week. 13 WiFi is an extra 10 Euros a week. 14 The maid who I called ADOLF would not let me in my room and became aggressive because she'd washed the stairs. 15 The beach is a 45 minute walk from CRAPPY DAYS. 16 it costs an extra 25 euros to stay after 11 on the last day. 17 ADOLF the maid let herself in my room before 11 on the last day and told me to leave. Other than the above malia is beautiful I was cycling up to Rosa Gorge before the staff messed with my bike. Thanks to: Tom Mike Zane Who also contributed to the facts here.

Emily Nicholls

Very nice hotel. Rooms are clean. Pool is lovely. However when booking through booking dot com even though it tells you that you will get aircon and wifi the hotel will not give it to you unless you pay extra charges. They were not accommodating even tho I showed proof of what I had payed for. So just be aware so you’re not at a loss when you get here like I was.

P. E.

For a low season price it's a very good place. Spacious room. If you take a room with the yard view, it's gonna be quiet at night. A few steps and you're at the sea. I'd definitely come again, it's a good, budget friendly place. 👍

Mike Dave

Basic rooms are in need of an update. The bathroom is the same needs a renovation . Everything you need is in walking distance. Beach very close, so are the shops. Owner always there till 5 pm for questions and directions. For breakfast and lunch , ood cheap food. Tip. Use the rrooftopterrace for sunbathing when it's windy.

Jennifer A KresseRodriguez

Manolis was amazing and so was his team. He told us about a beautiful rustic beach where we snorkeled in crystalline waters right off the shore. There were lots of gorgeous fish. The place was just what we were looking for. The price was incredibly good. It was super quiet. I love Hersonissos- I'm referring to the quiet part where Klery is. I highly recommend the self service restaurant called DAVID. They serve Cretan food and it is so good I'm still dreaming about it.

Celeste Settembre

Very close to the beach and the restaurants. Dirty rooms from the first to the last day of my holiday. Old furniture. I refused to have breakfast in there. A real nightmare.

Zuza W

Very nice hotel, clean rooms with air-co, talkative staff, good prices in the small restaurant (food was not so bad and well-sized portions; I had really cool iced cappuccino) and very close from beach, restaurants and small shops (lidl 10 minutes far by walk).

Samuel Grinsell

When we booked this Hotel it was one of the cheaper options in the area, so we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the rooms and the facilities at the hotel. The staff were lovely and vert attentive. We had food included and were happy with the quality. The rooms had air conditioning included! which was a big plus as most of the time we found this was an extra fee. Rooms were very clean and comfortable. The location is also perfect. As the name suggests you are central to Hersonissos town and also a short uphill walk brings you to the very nice old town! Definitely recommend!

Vladyslav Khmelnyk

We stayed here last year and it was amazing. Great service, wonderful people – especially the bearded man at the reception, the older gentleman from the service team, and the Albanian bartender – greetings to all of you! We wanted to come back this year but unfortunately couldn’t make it. Breakfasts were excellent, the atmosphere during Euro 2024 was fantastic. We really enjoyed the billiards, the bar, the good food, and the perfect location close to everything.

Wahrheit Kommt

Dear Sir or Madam, I would like to share my honest feedback regarding my recent stay at your hotel. We arrived at 11:00 a.m., but unfortunately had to wait until 3:00 p.m. to check in. After a long journey, this was quite inconvenient. When we finally entered the room, we were extremely disappointed. The condition of the room was unacceptable – to the extent that I wouldn't even let my dog in Germany sleep there, and I say that without exaggeration. One of the most concerning issues was the shower. Due to the extremely thin shower curtain, water flowed directly into the room while showering, causing significant mess. In addition, there was visible mold in the shower area. As a result, I felt physically unwell – in fact, I was sick to my stomach, something that has never happened to me in a hotel before. The dining experience was also far from what we expected. Although we had booked half board, we were charged extra for drinks in the evening – a practice I have never encountered in over 25 years of traveling. The quality of the food was disappointing as well; it was neither visually appealing nor appetizing. Even the birds I tried to feed some of it to refused to eat it. I am not someone who complains easily, but in this case, the conditions were so distressing that I felt compelled to speak up. Unfortunately, under these circumstances, I cannot recommend the hotel. I sincerely hope that you take this feedback seriously and take the necessary steps to improve the experience for future guests.

Sarah Mcleod

Terrible hotel, staff quite unhelpful. Rooms are basic, do have air-conditioning and a fridge, the shower has good pressure but beds are hard. The room appeared to be cleaned each day but all they really do is empty the bin and attempt to make the bed, twice the sheets were folded up and left on rge bed. Only received 2 new towels in a week. Continental breakfast was basic but reasonable, however the evening buffet was dreadful, cold, tasteless, and made up both feel quite ill, so half board was a waste as only ate the breakfast. Avoid the downstairs toilets as they are dirty, smelly and full of mosquitoes.

roxana nafei

I found the hotel to be affordable, but the room didn’t look good at all. The walls and such had mold that had just been painted over. The mattress was extremely hard, and there was no private parking—you had to park somewhere on the street. The only good thing was the breakfast buffet.

Adam Jarch

Food was nothing special – repetitive and without much creativity. Definitely don’t come here if you expect any kind of culinary experience. It’s warm, colorful, and there’s plenty of it, but that’s about it. With kids it’s not really a win either – the hotel doesn’t seem to count on families too much. We stayed in September and there were no animations or even basic kids’ facilities. The walk to the sea is quite far and crossing the main road from Heraklion with a stroller felt a bit like an adrenaline sport. The shuttle bus to the beach is fine, but you’re tied to fixed times (10:00, 12:30, 15:00). The beach in Gouves is great when the wind calms down, but after a windy day it was full of seaweed and the waves were rough (end of September). Walks around the hotel are basically impossible – best to rent a car and head somewhere else. For example, Stalis beach is fantastic with kids. On the positive side, the hotel staff were all really kind and friendly. But overall – we probably wouldn’t come back.

Bella

Visited for a week as a family trip, unfortunately it was not an enjoyable experience. The hotel lists a number of amenities which are not actually included such as 5 pools when in reality there are only 3, a spa which doesn't exist, entertainment where none was on at all that week, an arcade which is a few claw machines. Staff were rude and dismissive shrugging shoulders when notified about the broken air conditioning in our room. The manageress was hardly seen and her office was in a hidden spot hard to locate. the rooms were dirty, only one room in the apartment had air conditioning which then broke a few days in leaving all four of us to sleep in one room. Shower water ran yellow and a window handle fell off. Food was terrible with little selection, we ended up eating out for all 3 meals every day which cost us a few hundred a day. For an all inclusive hotel, only free drinks were local beer wine or off brand soft drinks, cocktails are €8 which was disappointing. Su beds also frequently broke and a parasols actually flew out as clearly broken and hit me in the face. This should not be 3/4 starts at all and was a terrible experience i would not recommend.

Oleksandra Chumak

I recently stayed at Lyda Hotel and I absolutely loved it! One of the best things about this place is the incredibly friendly and welcoming staff — they really make you feel at home from the moment you arrive. But the real star of the show is the DJ, Dali! He’s hands down the best staff member — so fun, energetic, and knows exactly how to keep the vibe going. He made every evening unforgettable! I 100% recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a great vacation in Crete. You won’t regret it!

Oleksandr Tishchenko

I stayed at this hotel, and I must say — it was absolutely wonderful! Despite its rating, the quality of service and experience exceeded all expectations. The food was delicious every single day, and the rooms were always clean and well-maintained. The pools were spotless, and even the outdoor tiles were washed daily — a small detail that really shows their commitment to cleanliness. But what truly made the stay special was the staff. Everyone was incredibly kind, always smiling and ready to help. Special thanks go to a man named Dali — the heart and soul of the evening entertainment. Every night, he hosted Showtime — whether it was a quiz, dance party, or karaoke, he brought great energy and fun to the event. What’s even more impressive is that he speaks (if I’m not mistaken) five languages — definitely French, Greek, English, and German — so conversations flow easily no matter where you’re from. He clearly gives his all to make sure guests are enjoying themselves, and his positive energy is contagious. I truly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a warm, clean, and fun place to stay. Don’t let the 3 stars fool you — this place shines bright!

karin

Starting this review, i want to say that the staff, especially the service, are very kind people. They are attentive and always listen to requests. The location is pretty okay, with a bus stop at a near walking distance. The beach is also not far ( about a 10 minute walk). This is just what you would expect from a 3-star hotel. Now to all the negatives: we arranged our trip mit TUI and booked a double room. We are a family of four and expected two rooms, but unfortunately we got one small room with four beds and one small bathroom. After bringing this to the attention of the receptionist there wasn’t anything she did or could do to help us but only told us to contact TUI. We did, they agreed with us and spoke to reception - we spoke to the manager, a bit intimidating but it was clear she was trying to help us understand that it wasn’t their mistake but TUIs. In the end we stopped trying, we weren’t willing to pay more money for another room and the discussion just stressed us. What was the cherry on top for us was definitely the food. I don’t want to criticize the cooking, since different people like different kinds of food, but it was a very disappointing experience for my family and me. It wasn’t very vegetarian friendly and the smell of pork was very overwhelming on some days. The most basic of foods just had a weird taste to it and even vegetables and fruits tasted old and flavorless. We all had to endure terrible stomach aches. Maybe its just that we are not used to the food but it was a singularly terrible experience. I lost my appetite because i didn’t look forward to eating and after spending so much money for the hotel, i wasn‘t willing to dine out to spend even more. Outside our room was a lingering smell of sewer and farts, that was extremely penetrant at night. So much so, I had to sleep with my hand covering my nose. The AC, which was above my little brothers bed, leaked water overnight, my brother sometimes waking up drenched in cold water. They fixed it, but it only worked for a couple of hours before it started leaking again. To sum all this up, there are definitely worse hotels and considering the kind service it was a decent experience. But when you are on vacation you shouldn’t have to get used to bad conditions in order to be able to enjoy it. I almost want go give it two stars but again you can’t choose who enjoys your food and who doesn’t. Wouldn’t visit again but i do not blame the workers! Management should definitely renovate their rooms, be more specific in their room descriptions and start investing in quality foods. Despite all this we thank you for welcoming us!

Darja Cigridova

Excellent location, breathtaking views, and very friendly staff. I would especially like to mention Irene. We were initially accommodated in a room above the main building, where it was quite noisy, but Irene kindly arranged for us to move to a quieter building, which made our stay much more comfortable. The food was delicious, with a wide variety of choices and everything prepared to a high standard. The beach is not as far away as some guides suggest. After such generous and tasty meals, the walk to the beach is actually quite pleasant. Car rental is also very affordable. I would highly recommend trying a quad bike tour — the routes and scenery are incredible, unlike anything I have experienced before. The reception staff can help arrange it for you. Overall, we had a wonderful stay and would gladly return in the future.

Aurelija Juodytė

We stayed at Panorama Village Hotel and were informed during check-in that we were entitled to one complimentary dinner at Marea Restaurant. On the last evening of our stay, we reserved a table through the hotel’s app using the QR code provided by reception. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed. We were wearing our hotel wristbands and had made the reservation through the official hotel system, so we had no reason to expect any issues. I was dining with my mother and child. Since we had already eaten dinner at the main Panorama Village Hotel restaurant earlier that evening, we were not particularly hungry and simply wanted to take advantage of the complimentary dining experience and enjoy a light meal. Unfortunately, every dish we were served was disappointing. The food was poor in quality, lacked flavor, and afterwards all of us felt unwell and experienced stomach discomfort. During our entire stay, we had eaten several times at the main hotel restaurant and never had any problems. In fact, the food there was excellent and deserving of a 5-star rating. Marea, however, was the complete opposite. The biggest shock came at the end of the evening when we were presented with a bill for €99. When we asked why we were being charged for a dinner that had been described as complimentary, we were told that we should have informed the staff upon arrival that we were guests of Panorama Village Hotel. This explanation was simply ridiculous. The reservation was made through the hotel’s own application, and we were clearly wearing hotel wristbands throughout the evening. If the restaurant is unable to identify guests who book through the hotel’s system, that should not become the customer’s problem. Paying €99 for such poor food and an unpleasant experience was probably the worst money we spent during our entire holiday. What made the situation even worse was the complete lack of response afterwards. We contacted the hotel by email to explain what had happened, yet received no reply, no apology, and no compensation of any kind. It felt as though our concerns were simply ignored. I cannot recommend Marea Restaurant to anyone. Our experience was extremely disappointing from start to finish: poor-quality food, questionable communication, an unexpected bill, and complete indifference when we raised the issue. What should have been a pleasant part of our holiday turned into a frustrating and expensive mistake. Avoid this place if you value good food, honest service, and basic customer care.

Patrycja

Absolutely amazing stay ❤️ stunning views and surprisingly delicious food. Fresh and varied every day! Desserts one of the best we ever had at all inclusive stay! 🧁Very clean facilities ( pool, bathrooms by the pool, restaurant). Staff very helpful and friendly! The hotel was quiet, perfect for relaxing and chilling (may). Definitely worth paying little extra for the sea view (we stayed in room 743). Stunning beach nearby( hotel bus will take you there)Things to improve: mattress hard and uncomfortable, bathroom cleanliness( quite dirty on arrival). We will definitely come back ❤️

ryan croft

Lovely situated hotel. Rooms are clean, spacious and modern.Amazing views and scenery around the hotel. Food and drinks are pretty reasonable as all inclusive goes. The only thing I would say is the location is a little bit in the middle of nowhere. Not much do do unless your willing to walk a little and it is very hilly!! You can get a bus in to Heraklion which has a bit more going on for 10 euros each, taxis are around 40-45 euros. Overall we enjoyed our stay and would be happy to visit again

Yuqing Zhou

We stayed 7 nights in this hotel with all inclusive, the food is delicious and healthy (we didn't gain weight after vacation), the view is beautiful, we can see the sunrise from our bedroom, the only small problem we had is Wi-Fi but just for one night. They also have ping pong table, a gym and tennis, we are very happy with our stay

Denis Gündes

Wonderful stay! Very friendly staff, a delicious breakfast buffet, and a great pool. I stayed for two nights and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended!

Pim G

We had an absolutely fantastic week at Villa Oliva! From start to finish, Dora and her team made us feel so welcome, we can’t praise them enough for being some of the warmest, friendliest, and most genuine people we’ve ever met. Breakfast was lovely, with a nice selection of eggs, coffee, and a small but tasty buffet. The pool area was also great — not too crowded, and there was no need to fight for sun loungers! The hotel is conveniently located close to shops and restaurants, and there’s a very good bakery nearby as well. If we could make one small suggestion, it would be to improve the soundproofing to help reduce road noise and perhaps add some relaxing lounge music in the common areas to enhance the atmosphere even more. Overall, we truly enjoyed our stay and would happily return. Thank you, Dora and the Villa Oliva team, for a wonderful holiday!

Eloise Jones

We had an amazing week long vacation at Grecotel Villa Olivia!! The rooms were lovely and have everything that you will need. The location was also perfect as it was walking distance to the beach, restaurants etc. The staff were also incredible, especially Anna who gave us so many recommendations of places to visit and eat! Looking forward to staying again!

matt percy

Stayed for a week here and loved it! Pool is secluded and at the back of the property unlike many others we walked past on the main road. The staff are exceptional, welcoming and knowledgeable about the local area. There are places to eat within immediate vicinity and a 1.5km walk towards Rethymno will bring you to a busier area with more places to eat. Access to the beach is just across the road. This place is an absolute gem with no overcrowding, as it’s part of the Grecotel chain it has high standards to uphold and does so! Staff to mention include: Dora, Anna, Manos and Dimo.

Mariona Marquès

Thank you Grecotel for our nice stay! Beautiful bedrooms, nice swimmingpool and very king attention.

Philippa Mander

Amazing hotel! Arrived around midnight & the guy on reception was so friendly & helpful, took us to our room. The room was lovely very clean & spacious. There was a large bottle of water and a plate of food...sandwiches etc in the fridge for us which was such a lovely gesture and welcomed. The hotel is on a hill away from the main road so nice & quiet but only a 5 min walk in to the town & to the beach. The food was really good, has themed nights including a crete night with dancing ! The hotel is very clean, quiet and the staff so friendly & helpful! Would definitely recommend and come again.

Sharon Tyson

We enjoyed our stay here and we would go back but there are a couple of things that need to be improved open the bathroom is kept very clean but it's very dated and needs re grouting. In the evenings it's so quiet from 9pm on entertainment nights and all night on other evenings. We did very much enjoy the food especially on special nights and the bar staff were great especially the day bar man and the evening cocktail man his cocktails were the best. All the staff we encountered were all very polite and friendly.

QAS

The hotel was very good. The room was spacious, nicely presented, and comfortable. The area was peaceful, and the food was excellent. The staff was exceptionally helpful and attentive. There were many friendly cats around the hotel, which was a lovely touch. The hotel wasn’t far from the beach, you could easily walk there in 5 to 7 minutes, and the beach was never overcrowded, with some spots even quite empty. There were also many supermarkets and plenty of activities nearby. The only minor drawbacks were that the pool was often crowded, and on one occasion, the room cleaning took longer than expected.

Lobster WRLD

AYYYYYYYY HOMIES! That place I went, to — sheeeeeshh. Everything about it was AMAZING, no cap! Let's start with the rooms, youre getting what you payed for absolutely, 100% worth it, bathroom was very clean and nice, everything was clean, the cleaning lady who comes every day is friendly fasho. The service? These guys are real friendly, nothing to complain about. Location? Lowkey goated. It's close to a beach, close to a shop (I'm gonna warn all yall tourists that boutta go to Greece, these small shops might look normal, but many of them sell some disgusting, inappropriate souvenirs and magnets where kids can see it all, so just a small warning if you're coming at this exact place in Crete, SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE!). Now let's focus on the positives, cause I can only talk about positive stuff in the sunrise village hotel. You basically get a big ahh swimming pool where your can spend time with the lil ones, beach bar is goated, everything you need. Now one of the best things about the place that 100% makes it worth it. The food dawgssss 😍😍😍😍. Like no cap, I loved the food whilst there, there was something for everyone, they got like unique stuff every day (when I came there was mexican food, then next day was Italian I guess and Asian, it was real unique) 😸 loved the breakfast options, truly amazing. I was once kicked out of the restaurant for being shirtless 😿 can't flex anymore bruv

Little Al

Visited 1st week in June 2025. Was dubious at first due to being Scandinavian visitor area and hotel, but that was soon dismissed. Got to hotel early afternoon and had a speedy great check in and was taken to room by the lovely lady on reception. On the way to room was given all information on food and drink and hotel. Great room and view. Lovely balcony and free safe and air con. After a few days got to meet lovely Scandinavian visitors and everybody was friendly. All inclusive Food was great, great choice and staff very fast and efficient, tables always cleans and plates removed and very polite sans friendly and all inclusive drink was also great and the bar staff Dinos (Dino) and Maria where fab, had some fun at the bar, No complaints at all. Everybody speaks English and I leaned greek whilst here. Thank you to all the staff at reception and cleaners and restaurant and bars it is a 10 out of 10 hotel. Very clean and staff are always cleaning and tidying and lovely to visit, Local town is only 5 minutes walk to all shops and bars and restaurants. Met 2 ladies called Margaret and Rita as I named them due to drinking margaritas all the time, lol. And Met a lovely couple from Denmark Henrik and Henrietta who come a couple of times a year and great fun. Also met other couples from Wales and Scandinavia, Overall this hotel is a must to visit and it is clean and tidy. We are looking too come again next year if we can get find it available for next June.

Kellie Allan

Suvh a lovely family friendly hotel with the most amazing staff. Stone beach across the road with a few restaurants and shops close by. Everything you might need. Bus easy to take to chania one way or kolymbari the other. Very relaxing holiday.

Vasile Glagolevschi

Great hotel, tasty food, chill, sea across the road, pebble beach which is big plus for me, great staff and the owner of the hotel has a great heart and is a very good and humble man!

Mark Vickery

A very nice clean hotel rooms are spotless, two pools food and little above average staff are very friendly and helpful. The beach is a pebble beach with restricted sun beds set by the local government, also be aware of turtles 🐢 that nest on the beach. Elena on reception a lovely girl nothing to much trouble, and sasha the head barman a proper nice. I wouldn't hesitate recommending this hotel to anyone. Overall my stay with this hotel as been positive.

Elizabeth Sekela

We had an amazing stay at Maleme Mare. The resort is clean and spacious with two pools and and nice clean beach just across the road. Hotel is also very family friendly and doesn't feel overcrowded. Overall it has a very relaxed vibe and food was also amazing. Staff were fantastic, friendly and extremely helpful with everything we needed. Big shout out to Alex, Elena, Nikos, Stavros and everyone else that took such an amazing care of us. We enjoyed our girls trip so much and will definitely be coming back again!

Ted Teape

I'm currently here and an thoroughly enjoying the place, peaceful, great staff and service, rooms are great, and a small but pretty hotel with well tended gardens and pool, my only criticism would be the beach isn't great(not hotel's failing) and if you want a sunbed you get charged, but all in all a great hotel, ideal for families or the older person.