Blue Marine Resort & Spa

Following a serious incident in our original room, when a ceiling panel near the air-conditioning ventilation system fell onto us, the hotel eventually moved us to a junior suite. While this was a welcome gesture, the new room still fell short of what we would expect from a 5-star resort. The housekeeping was noticeably better in the junior suite, which we appreciated. However, there were still several issues that should not occur in a hotel of this category. The suite had a large shower that appeared to be designed to accommodate two people. Unfortunately, the drainage system was clearly inadequate for this purpose. After just a couple of minutes showering together, the water overflowed because the drain could not cope with the volume of water. It is difficult to understand why a shower designed for two people would have a drainage system that cannot handle two people using it at the same time. Once again, there were no tissues provided in the room, and the bathroom taps and fittings still showed visible signs of rust. Even after being moved to a higher room category following the incident, we were still confronted with basic maintenance issues that should have been addressed long before guests arrived. The spa: the only real luxury, but at an unreasonable additional cost The spa was one of the facilities we were most interested in experiencing during our stay. Unfortunately, although it is arguably one of the hotel’s most luxurious features, the pricing policy was a major disappointment. Despite staying for more than seven days at a resort advertised as 5-star accommodation, no spa access was included in our stay. Not even a single complimentary session to enjoy the facilities. Instead, we were expected to pay approximately €25 per person for just one hour of access to the swimming pool. And to be clear, this price was for the swimming pool alone, without access to the sauna or hammam. We find this particularly difficult to understand at a resort of this category. We fully understand that massages and specialised spa treatments should come at an additional cost. However, charging guests separately simply to access the swimming pool within the spa, even after an extended stay, feels excessive. At other hotels and resorts we have visited, access to certain wellness facilities is often included in the stay or at least offered as a complimentary benefit during a longer visit. We would reasonably expect a 5-star resort to offer guests staying for seven nights or more at least one spa access session as part of their overall experience. Instead, the spa feels like an entirely separate business, with guests having to pay substantial additional fees to enjoy facilities that one might reasonably expect to be accessible as part of a luxury resort experience. The issue is not that everything should be free. We understand the economics of operating a spa. The problem is the lack of added value for guests who have already paid a premium price for their accommodation, particularly when even basic access to the pool comes at such a high additional cost. Our conclusion Moving to the junior suite improved the housekeeping, and we appreciated the additional space and jacuzzi. However, the inadequate shower drainage, the persistent rust on the bathroom fittings and the continued absence of basic amenities such as tissues were disappointing. The spa could have been one of the highlights of our stay, but its pricing policy made it difficult to enjoy without paying considerably more on top of the already expensive accommodation. For a resort presenting itself as a 5-star property, we expected better maintenance, more attention to detail and a more guest-friendly approach to its wellness facilities. We are happy to pay for premium services when the quality and value justify the price, but charging approximately €25 per person for one hour of swimming pool access alone, without even including the sauna or hammam, feels excessive. Ultimately, even after being moved to a junior suite, we were left wondering whether this hotel truly delivers the luxury experience its pricing and star rating suggest.

We stayed at this resort in Crete for a week and, unfortunately, left feeling very disappointed. Given the price we paid and the hotel’s advertised 5-star rating, we expected a much higher standard of accommodation, service, comfort, dining and facilities. Having travelled regularly and stayed at numerous 4- and 5-star hotels and resorts, we can honestly say that this property fell well below our expectations. Overall, we would rate the experience closer to a 3-star hotel than a genuine 5-star resort. 1. Poor room maintenance and a serious safety issue Our first room was disappointing from the moment we arrived. A table had been dismantled and left on an armchair, and there were visible hairs on the beds, as well as hair and body hair in the bathroom sinks. This immediately raised concerns about the quality of the housekeeping. Despite reporting these problems on our first day, nothing was done to address them. Two days later, a ceiling panel near the air-conditioning ventilation system actually fell onto us. This was a genuinely shocking and unacceptable incident that should never happen in a hotel of this supposed standard. Only after this incident did the hotel finally take action and move us to a junior suite. We appreciated the upgrade, and the jacuzzi was certainly a nice feature. However, the fact that we had to experience such an incident before our concerns were taken seriously was extremely disappointing. The staff also promised us a complimentary spa massage following the incident, but this was never provided. This was another example of a promise made to guests that was simply not followed through. 2. Rooms and bathrooms far below 5-star standards Unfortunately, moving to the junior suite did not resolve all our concerns. First of all, all the taps and bathroom fittings in both rooms showed visible signs of rust. This is completely unacceptable for a hotel claiming to offer a 5-star experience. It reflects a clear lack of maintenance and attention to detail and is certainly not what guests should expect when paying premium prices for a luxury resort. Both rooms also had significant plumbing noise, particularly in the showers. More generally, the soundproofing was practically non-existent. We could hear our neighbours’ alarm clocks, showers, toilet flushes and even the sounds of them spitting while brushing their teeth. The sound insulation between rooms was so poor that even ordinary activities in neighbouring rooms became impossible to ignore. The noise was not limited to the rooms themselves. The corridors were also extremely noisy, both at night and early in the morning. We could hear doors slamming, children shouting and guests moving around the corridors, with every sound echoing throughout the building. The overall acoustics were so poor that it sometimes felt as though we were staying in a hospital corridor, where every noise reverberates and travels throughout the building. Rather than providing a peaceful, relaxing environment, the hotel felt noisy and echoey, making it difficult to rest properly at any time of day. For a resort that is supposed to offer a relaxing 5-star holiday, this lack of sound insulation is a major issue. A good night’s sleep should be a basic expectation, not a luxury. We were also disappointed that both rooms had two single beds pushed together rather than one proper double bed. For a couple booking a resort holiday, this is far from ideal and does not contribute to a comfortable or premium experience. The junior suite’s terrace was another disappointment. Despite having a jacuzzi, there was only a small table and no sun loungers. A larger terrace equipped with sun loungers would have been much more appropriate for a suite of this category, allowing guests to enjoy the outdoor space properly. There were also no tissues provided in either room. We find this surprising for a hotel of this supposed standard, as it is a basic amenity that should be available in 5-star accommodation. Finally, the televisions were not Smart TVs, meaning there was no convenient way to access streaming services. In a modern resort charging 5-star prices, the absence of Smart TVs feels outdated. We expect a contemporary hotel of this category to provide guests with the option of streaming their own content. Taken together, the rusty bathroom fittings, inadequate soundproofing, noisy plumbing, basic room amenities and outdated technology demonstrate a significant gap between the hotel’s 5-star positioning and the actual quality of the accommodation. 3. Food quality: far from a gastronomic experience As we stayed on an all-inclusive package, we experienced the daily buffet restaurant as well as the two à la carte restaurants included in our package. The main buffet was fairly basic, both in terms of the variety of dishes offered and the overall quality of the food. While we did not expect Michelin-starred cuisine at every meal, we certainly expected something more impressive from a resort of this category. We were particularly disappointed by the two restaurants advertised as speciality dining experiences: the Cretan restaurant and the Italian restaurant. Neither experience came close to what we would consider gastronomic dining. The dishes lacked flavour, creativity and refinement. The presentation was unremarkable, and even the table setting felt basic, with paper napkins bearing the hotel’s logo rather than proper cloth napkins. These restaurants felt more like ordinary hotel dining rooms than the premium culinary experiences their positioning suggests. Calling them gastronomic restaurants creates expectations that the actual experience simply does not meet. We have experienced all-inclusive resorts and 5-star hotels in the past, and these dining experiences were clearly not up to the standard we would expect at this price level. 4. An undersized and poorly equipped gym We also tried the hotel’s gym, which was another disappointment. The gym is ridiculously small for a resort accommodating so many guests, with very limited equipment. With only two treadmills and two exercise bikes, the facilities are clearly inadequate for the number of people staying at the hotel. It is difficult to imagine how guests are supposed to use the gym comfortably during busy periods without having to wait for equipment. The environment itself was also unpleasant. The temperature rises very quickly, making the room uncomfortably hot during exercise. On top of that, the music is played at an excessive volume, with speakers positioned just centimetres from your ears when using the treadmill. The music selection was also particularly unusual, and having it played so close to your head at such a volume made the experience even less enjoyable. A 5-star resort should offer a properly equipped, comfortable and well-designed fitness area where guests can exercise without feeling cramped, overheated or overwhelmed by noise. Unfortunately, this gym feels more like a tiny afterthought than a facility designed to meet the needs of a luxury resort. 5. The spa: expensive packages with poor value for money We also wanted to experience the spa, but we were disappointed by the packages and prices on offer. The spa packages seemed unnecessarily restrictive and poorly designed. For example, one package cost approximately €60 for just one hour to use the different facilities, including the hammam, sauna and jacuzzi. In practice, this means having to divide a very limited amount of time between several facilities, leaving little opportunity to enjoy any of them properly. One hour is simply not enough time to relax and make meaningful use of all these spaces, especially when the package costs around €60 per person. The massage prices were also extremely high compared with the value for money we have experienced at other spas on the island and at other hotels we regularly visit. We understand that spa treatments at a 5-star resort come at a premium. However, premium pricing should come with a premium experience. Here, the combination of high prices, restrictive packages and limited time makes it difficult to justify the cost. Overall, the spa felt overpriced rather than luxurious, and we did not feel that the packages offered particularly good value for money. It is also worth mentioning that the hotel promised us a complimentary spa massage after the ceiling panel fell in our first room, but we never received it. This made the situation even more disappointing, particularly given the high prices charged for the spa services. 6. Poor maintenance of the hotel’s facilities Another issue we noticed during our stay was that one of the hotel’s lifts was completely out of service for part of our holiday. What was particularly disappointing was that the lift remained out of order, with no apparent effort to resolve the problem during that period. In a large resort accommodating so many guests, lifts are essential facilities, particularly for guests who need to access different floors or travel between the hotel and its amenities. Having one lift completely out of service for an extended part of our stay, without any apparent action being taken, added to our impression of poor maintenance and a lack of attention to the overall guest experience. Combined with the condition of the rooms, the rusty bathroom fittings and the ceiling panel falling in our first room, this reinforced our concerns about the hotel’s maintenance standards. 7. Service that lacks warmth and attention to detail The service was another weak point. The welcome and reception experience generally lacked the warmth, friendliness and attentiveness we would expect from a 5-star resort. We would, however, like to specifically thank Stella, the French-speaking member of staff, who was particularly helpful and attentive, especially when we encountered the problem with our room. She was a real positive in an otherwise disappointing experience. Unfortunately, this level of helpfulness was not consistently reflected throughout the hotel. The way our initial complaints were handled, together with the failure to provide the promised complimentary massage, left us with the impression that guest satisfaction was not always a priority. Other facilities also felt underwhelming. The children’s play areas were rather small, and the little shop selling crêpes and similar treats was not particularly impressive in terms of quality. Even the beach towels and other amenities did not reflect the premium standard we associate with a 5-star resort. These may seem like minor details individually, but they contribute to the overall experience and reinforce the impression that the hotel does not consistently deliver the quality it advertises. 8. The one genuinely positive feature: direct access to the beach To be fair, there is one significant advantage to this hotel: its direct access to the private beach, which can be reached conveniently via the hotel’s lift. The beach area also has a bar and a small food stand, making it a pleasant place to spend time during the day without having to return to the main hotel facilities. This was undoubtedly the highlight of our stay and one of the few aspects that genuinely lived up to our expectations. Our overall verdict We came to Crete hoping for a relaxing week in a quality resort, but instead we encountered poor room maintenance, a serious safety incident, rusty bathroom fittings, inadequate soundproofing, constant noise in the corridors, outdated facilities, disappointing food, an undersized gym, an overpriced spa, a lift that remained out of service and inconsistent service. The junior suite and its jacuzzi were welcome after the incident in our first room, but they did not compensate for the broader shortcomings of the hotel. Nor did the upgrade erase the fact that our initial complaints were ignored until a ceiling panel fell onto us. Our main issue is not that the hotel lacks a few luxury touches. It is that the overall experience does not justify the price charged or the 5-star positioning. From the condition of the rooms and bathrooms to the noise levels, dining experience, fitness facilities, spa packages and general maintenance, too many basic standards were not met. A luxury resort should provide comfortable rooms, a peaceful environment, well-maintained facilities, good food and attentive service. Unfortunately, these are precisely the areas in which this hotel disappointed us. The direct beach access is a real advantage, and Stella deserves recognition for her helpfulness. However, these positives were not enough to make this a truly enjoyable or restorative holiday. We left Crete disappointed, not impressed, and certainly not feeling that we had received value for money. Based on our experience, this resort has a considerable amount of work to do before it can genuinely deliver the 5-star experience it advertises.

My review would be 3.5 out of 5 if I could give it….4 is a little high, 3 a tiny bit harsh. We stayed for 3 nights in October. Bad first- Food selection quite small. Kids struggled more. Drinks for kids poor - no selection and watered down Restaurant lacked atmosphere - depressing lift music Staff very slow to clear tables- got fed up waiting once and cleared my own Staff generally grumpy especially the women in the Creperie! Jeez she hates her job! For an area that catered for kids a smile wouldn’t hurt! Scary lady! Sauna extra charge even on all inclusive package!? Good bits- Rooms really nice Quite a chilled hotel relaxed vibe Heated pool for October big bonus Reception staff very friendly great check in Nice beach bar Overall…..we enjoyed the area and had a nice enough time. Not a five star. 4 star really. Biggest let down restaurant staff and the grumpy lady in the creperie….she literally threw my Wife’s at her and I caught her under eyeing.lighten up! It’s not a bad hotel though. We would stay again if ever in this area. Bit remote you need a car really, but 5 min drive from Agios Nikolaus and 5 mins from the stunning voulisma Beach. I think you would struggle for 7 nights.

Beautiful and relaxing spa, very fresh, modern, quiet and clean. Vicky on reception was very relaxing and welcoming, very friendly and attentive. The spa pool area is amazing. Ariadni gave a very relaxing neck, shoulders and back massage which felt amazing. She was great and I would definitely come back.

✨ An Amazing Spa Experience at Blue Marine ✨ We visited the spa at Blue Marine on two occasions during our stay, and both experiences were absolutely amazing! 💆‍♀️💆‍♂️ We enjoyed the Candle Massage and the Exotic Massage, and on both occasions we left feeling completely relaxed, refreshed and thoroughly pampered. 🥰 A huge thank you to Vicky, Ariadni and Amalia, who were all absolutely wonderful and made our experiences so special. ❤️ The facilities are impeccably clean, beautifully welcoming, and the staff are so friendly and attentive. Nothing was too much trouble, and we felt truly looked after from start to finish. We would highly recommend the spa to anyone visiting Blue Marine. Thank you for making our treatments such a lovely part of our holiday! 🌿✨ Brian and Andrea