Pilot Beach Resort

Stunning location. Lovely views. We stayed in a ground floor beach front sea view bungalow (2031) which was very comfortable, spacious and had all we needed. Lovely welcoming touch of fruit, macaroons and wine in our room. We had a large deck area from which we could step down directly on to the beach. Couldn’t ask for a nicer spot. The deck itself didn’t get much sun after about 10 am but having shade wasn’t a bad thing and we just left our sun beds on the sand in front of our room where the sun was all day. For food we tended to stay beach side (complex is split by a road but there is a tunnel between sides so it really isn’t an issue) and we ate at the beach restaurant for most evening meals or lunches. Super staff looked after us very well. Lots of choice and hot! We had the all inclusive package. We did visit another restaurant on site during our stay - Kronos which was ok. We attended two Cretan Nights during our stay and had a great time learning the dances. The roses were a lovely touch 🌹. We visited several local local Tavernas in Georgipoulis too. A walk along the beach to get to the village and then a taxi back. Super! Minor niggles - our bathroom shower drain smelt very unpleasant when we arrived - reported and it was cleared straight away. Our bathroom tap was wobbly and the sink drain leaked and it wasn’t properly fixed (fitting design issue not the maintenance guys fault) so we just kept a towel to catch the drips. There were some other minor maintenance issues during our stay which were addressed once reported although it took a long time for our beach brolly to be replaced with one in good condition (it was very battered and bruised and very difficult to open). I am particularly picky because I work in Facilities Management mind you! Really was not keen on wooden teaspoons rather than metal spoons given to you for your room refreshments. We found that the replenishment of our room refreshments was a bit hit and miss but loved that fact that we could WhatsApp to request what our fridge was topped up with (soft drinks, beers and wine etc). If you caught the lovely house keepers they happily left what you asked for. Last niggle was the height of our deck gave a high drop down to the sand (and meant a tricky climb back up) which was quite difficult to navigate (probably caused by the sands naturally shifting). The other rooms in our block didn’t have the same issue we were just unlucky with that. Our package included bottled water but weirdly I got told off when I collected one from the beach bar fridge before 10am? I found it irritating that some drinks were not included in the all inclusive package and of course, typically, the cocktails I wanted to try weren’t on the list! This is area the hotel could change that would really make a difference to how the hotel is perceived. We received a small gift when we checked out too which was a nice touch (won’t spoil the surprise by saying what it was). I’ve given you a very honest appraisal of our two week stay. Would we go back? Absolutely we would - in a heartbeat. Midway through our stay, friends arrived and they have returned to Pilot Beach more times than I can remember! Georgios and his team made us very welcome - thank you. Enjoy your stay!

Firstly this is not a 5 star hotel - I would rate it a 3/4 star The resort was built approx 30 years ago so very dated in the main reception , felt like walking into an episode of sopranos! The beach bar and beach pool area felt more modern with nice areas to sit. We had a beach view room and the view was amazing however the hotel room blocks needed a lot of TLC I felt like I was going into a Butlins chalet! Food was defiantly not 5 star I thought it was very basic and felt like I was in a canteen! Don’t be fooled by full board plus drinks! You still had to pay for food at the beach restaurants. Drinks were only included with eating in the canteen! The staff however were very friendly and probably the staff saved me from rating this a 1. Majority of the staff were friendly , warm and extremely helpful so this saved the holiday!

Excellent location especially for vacations with kids. The resort offers many amenities for families. The clean and well maintained beach, the various pools, the kids club and the free snack offers for kids during the afternoons are welcome for parents with the young kids. Our bungalow was clean and fully equipped with towels, robes, slippers, beach towels, shower gel and soap. Obviously, it had been renovated recently. The food was tasty, the variety was large and different from day to day. The only bit to improve were the coffee machines. Due to the queues, one had to resort to ready-made coffee which was served at the tables.

Great Location with wonderful sandy beach, clean rooms, excellent food! We loved it very much and are already planning our next stay.

We recently stayed at the Pilot Beach Hotel in Crete for 10 nights and overall found it to be a mixed experience. Starting with the positives, the location of the hotel is excellent and the public areas of the resort are very impressive. The pools, bars, reception areas, and general grounds are all well maintained and create a lovely atmosphere. The majority of the staff we encountered were incredibly friendly, polite, and helpful throughout our stay. However, there were several issues that impacted our experience. The rooms are quite basic for a hotel of this standard. I personally found the bed comfortable, but my wife did not. During our stay we also experienced a full day without hot water, which was disappointing. The biggest concern for us was the food, particularly regarding coeliac safety. Before booking, we contacted the hotel to confirm they could cater safely for my wife who has coeliac disease. While there is a large variety of food available, the overall quality was generally average and the buffet setup creates significant cross-contamination risks. Gluten free food is not separated into its own dedicated area, and food is often prepared or served in ways that make it unsafe for someone with coeliac disease. We were booked on a half-board basis but only had the evening meal in the hotel once during the entire stay due to the safety issues. We spoke to restaurant staff twice and were simply told that what was on display was what was available. It was only on day six, after speaking with another staff member, that we were informed separate meals could actually be prepared safely for my wife. This information should really have been made clear from the start. Another issue occurred when the elevators stopped working. My wife has a disability and struggles greatly with stairs, so this made getting around the resort extremely difficult. Overall, the hotel has many positives, particularly the setting, facilities, and friendly staff, but there are some important accessibility and dietary safety issues that need significant improvement.