Annabelle Beach Resort

This hotel is one of the most misleadingly marketed properties I have encountered. I booked this resort because it presented itself as a luxury 5-star destination and because the photographs on its website portrayed a high-end experience. The reality bears little resemblance to the marketing. Having travelled extensively and stayed in many genuine 5-star hotels, I can state confidently that this property does not meet 5-star standards in any meaningful sense. At best, it delivers an average 3-star experience while charging premium prices through deceptive branding and carefully curated photography. The only consistently positive aspect was the cleanliness. Housekeeping staff maintained the rooms and communal areas well, and the grounds were tidy and maintained. Beyond that, the experience was deeply disappointing. The rooms are extremely dated, worn, and devoid of any sense of luxury. Although clean, they lacked even basic amenities expected from a legitimate 5-star hotel. Our room had no working fridge, no tea or coffee facilities, and no iron or ironing board. More concerning was the air conditioning, which barely functioned. During our stay in early May, temperatures reached around 30°C and the rooms became unbearably hot, humid, and uncomfortable. If conditions are this poor in May, peak summer temperatures must be intolerable. The so-called “all-inclusive” package is also highly misleading. Despite paying for all-inclusive services, the two bars beside the main pool remained closed every day. Guests wanting drinks or snacks had to walk approximately 600 metres to the beach bar. When challenged, reception openly admitted that “the owner does not want to open the bars because the weather is not hot enough.” Reception also falsely claimed this was disclosed on the hotel website. It is not. The website clearly states these bars operate daily from 10:00–18:00. Equally unacceptable was the lack of access to drinking water during large parts of the day because the bars remained closed outside lunch hours. In a hot climate, restricting access to water at a supposed luxury resort is indefensible. The hotel also advertises that late-arriving guests receive food and drinks upon arrival. We arrived late in the evening and were offered absolutely nothing. Evenings were equally poor. Guests gathered in the large main bar area after dinner, yet there was no entertainment, atmosphere, or meaningful attempt to create an enjoyable environment. The area felt lifeless, hot, and uncomfortable due to the lack of air conditioning. The spa pricing was absurd. We were quoted €207 for a one-hour spa and massage package, per person, only for the price to suddenly be reduced by 20%, then another 10% the following day. This demonstrates that the original pricing was grossly inflated and designed to exploit guests under the illusion of luxury. Perhaps most offensively, because the hotel claims “5-star” status, guests are charged the maximum tourist tax of €15 per person per night. There is absolutely nothing about this property that justifies either the classification or the additional charges. This hotel relies heavily on misleading marketing, selective photography, and an undeserved star rating. The disparity between expectation and reality is substantial. The hotel will likely respond with a generic statement suggesting the property simply “did not meet expectations.” That would be disingenuous. My expectations were based entirely on the hotel’s own marketing, advertised facilities, and claimed 5-star status. I am leaving this review solely so future guests can make an informed decision, avoid the disappointment and book elsewhere.

I’ve been here for 8 days with my brother and its amazing, Not only the hotel but staff/service is very good and nice, especialy Thomas he is a great bar tender and always friendly and social he have a good vibe and recommend nice places to go out ;) The food is also okay but for an muslim there is less options like much pork and little chicken or fish option, But still a nice place to book for your holiday!

Exelent Hotel , Great location

Thomas is a great bar tender very friendly made me feel very welcome very nice guy

This hotel is advertised as a 5-star, but in reality it feels more like a 3-star, possibly a 4 at best. The rooms are quite basic and the furniture is dated. Facilities were disappointing — although there are three pools, only one was open during our stay, and the so-called “fine dining” restaurant wasn’t open at all. The food was acceptable but very repetitive. The beach is small and stony, and the hotel itself is quite isolated. There was construction work next door, and noise from a nearby hotel most evenings, which took away from the overall experience. Bar service was poor, with long queues and often only one staff member serving. At one point, staff were repeatedly cleaning the same table while guests were left waiting in line, which was frustrating. The hotel doesn’t cater particularly well to English-speaking guests. Most visitors were French and German, and the entertainment was primarily in French. Getting around without a car is difficult. A taxi to Heraklion costs around €85 return. We took the bus, but the nearest stop is about a 40-minute walk from the hotel, followed by a 25-minute journey. In all honesty, Heraklion itself wasn’t particularly impressive — mainly shops, although the castle was nice, and there were quite a few beggars. If you do stay here, I’d strongly recommend renting a car. We visited Spinalonga, which was beautiful and definitely worth the trip (around an hour’s drive). The route does involve high mountains with steep drops and narrow roads, so it’s not for nervous drivers. We also stopped at Amazonas Park on the way back, which is high up in the mountains and well worth a visit. Overall, it was decent value for what we paid (£850 + £115 extra), but I wouldn’t pay more than £1,000 per week for two people. I also wouldn’t recommend this hotel for couples with young children or for elderly guests. There’s a lot of walking involved, with hilly and uneven surfaces throughout the resort. You need to be reasonably fit to get around comfortably, unless you’re prepared to rely on taxis.