Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas

I wanted to love this hotel - the location and view is stunning - but it’s a bit ‘tired’ and the service was generally poor. Our room was a bungalow with an absolutely stunning view, but it was very dated and the beds were uncomfortable. Some of the equipment didn’t work (sauna in shower) and there was a lack of sockets. It just felt like it needed an overhaul. The Italian restaurant was excellent (although incredibly expensive with no prices on the menu) but the Greek restaurant was awful - we had to wait an hour before even placing our order and couldn’t get attention from any of the staff. The breakfast options were very good but all the staff seemed to be bustling around in a hurry and most (not all) of the staff were grumpy and unapproachable. I also wouldn’t bother ordering room service as they forgot we had ordered and had to wait 90 minutes for our snack meal to arrive. I had to demand that the additional 15 euros for delivery to the room was removed from our order (it wasn’t offered). The food was good but we were kind of past the point of hunger by then! One of the things we liked the sound of was knowing we had the same beds reserved at the beach every day. Unfortunately, every time we went, the people working there seemed confused with an unreliable system meaning that our beds had been given away. We weren’t all that bothered but it’s a service promoted to guests that doesn’t appear to be working successfully! Overall we had a good holiday but we were disappointed as had high hopes for this hotel. Worth heading into Elounda for an evening meal, using the buggy service to the entrance - these chaps were always cheery and willing to help at any moment.

Fabulous location with amazing views and ambience. The layout was wonderful and pretty much all the staff were outstanding. Two miserable ones (waiter and waitress) let the side down but otherwise first class and very friendly. Felt very welcome. The breakfasts wrte wonderful with an extraordinary array of choices to suit all tastes. Probably best we’ve ever enjoyed in many years of travel. The restaurants were excellent apart from the Greek which served dried and overcooked meat. Offered to replace but defended it as “normal”. My wife had an accident whilst we were there and three members of staff stood out in helping us. Bran from the dive school and two buggy drivers. George and Chris. Christiana in the bar also warrants special mention for great service. Very little contact from management about the accident on hotel property which surprised us quite a bit. Bit scared to address it maybe? All in all loved it and would definitely return. Highly recommend.

Best hotel wonderful people and a wonderful garden

For a hotel of this level, we expected a completely different experience. Unfortunately, the service has been extremely disappointing. Staff often seem uninterested and you can wait far too long just to be acknowledged. At the beach, getting a drink can be a challenge, and when you do, the prices are incredibly high. Breakfast has been equally frustrating. Tables are slow to be set, coffee takes forever to arrive, and there is very little warmth or friendliness from the staff. A smile and a simple acknowledgment of guests would go a long way. Our room also did not feel as well maintained or cared for as we would expect from a hotel in this category. The property itself may be beautiful, but good hospitality is about how you are made to feel, and unfortunately we never felt particularly welcomed here. For the price and reputation, I’m almost certain there are better hotels in Crete offering a much warmer, more attentive Greek hospitality experience. I would not choose to stay here again.

As a corporate couple, we have both stayed in many hotels and resorts over the years. Overall, this had to be one of the most enjoyable if not the most enjoyable we have experienced. Room: we stayed in a dreamline waterfront villa. As i booked it I thought the rate was expensive, but post stay, I actually thought it was excellent value. The view was indescribably gorgeous, the private pool amazing, the in room whirlpool, steam bath, treadmill, bluetooth music, etc. etc. just made the vacation incredible. Service: honestly, with every interaction we had with a staff member, it was clear the person was going above and beyond to be very accomodating, kind, and go above and beyond. Was the case for housekeeping, dining, bell , front desk staff, everyone. Clearly much cultural training goes on at this resort. Club cars to take you to/from places on the resort were very helpful. Amenities: beach experience was fantastic, having a reserved lounges and umbrella for length of your stay was so convenient, from someone having to fight and hunt for a chair at every other resort I have stayed in. Fitness center was fairly well equipped, with three treadmills, an elliptical, some machines and free weights. Could use some renovating. Watersports center was great, rented a jet ski, was very nice to ride around the bay. Food: Very good all around, best experience was italian restaurant, food was fantastic. Breakfast was expansive, although american food options could have been better. Verghera bar located well out on the water was an experience in itself.