TUI BLUE Elounda Breeze

Elounda Breeze Spend two weeks at Elounda Breeze, 3 adults with a room with a private pool. My reviews a little mixed- in summary we had an okay time but we wouldn’t rush back. I’ll start with the best and most positive thing… Welcome- When we arrived at the hotel we were greeted with a smile and checked in very quickly. We were also given a form for a complementary birthday cake for my dads birthday (which was delivered to the room on his birthday and was very nice). We were quickly taken to our room on the golf cart with all of our luggage. THE FOOD! Honestly shoutout to the restaurants team because the food was my favourite part. Important note- I can be a fussy eater. But I ALWAYS found something to eat. I particularly liked the kids selection- firstly although there were no kids in our group, I thought the little kids counter was an adorable touch where kids could help themselves. I would often go to the kids section for the plain rice, vegetables and potato letters (they stayed hotter than the chips). And I loved that this option was there as at other hotels I have to pick the sweetcorn and stuff out of the rice. My FAVOURITE was the desserts- particularly the little red strawberry tarts (if you’re like me&don’t like strawberry just take them off because the rest isn’t strawberry flavoured). I’m missing them already. 10/10 My only complaint is that sometimes the restaurant staff would all be stood in one corner talking whilst waiting for work to do, It’s not that they weren’t working, they were very quick at clearing away plates, it’s just a little overwhelming having them all stood there like that. Staff Friendliness Everyone we encountered was really friendly- from the restaurant, to the spa staff, to the reception. We didn’t interact much with the entertainment team as we had our own pool so kept to ourselves but anytime a member of the team walked past us anywhere else in the hotel they were friendly and always said hello with a smile. Also can’t comment on entertainment- purely because it’s on too late for us (we may be considered boring but we prefer to play cards on our terrace and be in bed by 9:30pm, even on holiday). Big shoutout to the tui rep Stacey as she was so friendly and helpful! Rooms The room its self was lovely- nice and big, plenty of storage and the main bed was really comfy. We had a double booked for 3 adults- which meant 1 adult slept on a sofa bed. Which we knew- not a problem. It was okay, but a lot less comfy than the actual bed. We had a broken chair which we reported to stacey- twice, she notified the hotel but nothing was done about it. Aircon…. Now it worked, but it wasn’t the best. We did mention this to Stacey and again she reported it to the hotel on our behalf twice, said someone was going to take a look but no one did. It was only when we paid for late checkout and had to move to another room that we realised how bad our aircon was because the aircon in the second room was fantastic, we were actually cold and turned it down. The shower in the second room was also a lot more powerful. We also asked Stacey why there was no drying racks for swimwear outside the rooms- she said they were removed during a refurbishment and the hotel decided not to put them back up because it looked better without? It might look better but it’s definitely not very practical as we had nowhere to put swimwear to dry. The Pool Area…. The private pools were checked and cleaned everyday by the team. However- idk if it was just the location of ours but there were always little flies in it. Not the end of the world, not the hotels fault, they can’t control nature. BUT there should have been a net provided so we could remove the bugs ourselves. I had to buy one (again only €3 so not the end of the world), I was clearing the flies out 3 or 4 times even after the pool cleaner had been. The pool it’s self was a good size- the terrace area was huge, but because of the sun position we had to cram our sunbeds up the thin side of the pool to be in the sun. This could be easily fixed as there was a empty grass area infront of our pool which is in full sun all day. Partition it off from the room next door- put some slabs down and that would solve the problem. Cleanliness This is where it started to go downhill. Now the room was generally okay- don’t get me wrong. The cleaner came every day, we saw her mop but the standards were not the best. I know it’s a big hotel, the staff are busy but This is a 5 star hotel- You expect the highest standards. I have stayed in 3 star&4 star hotels in other areas of greece and seen much higher standards. Firstly- The towels- now these were changed everyday, so it’s not a problem, amazing. I’m just confused by the sign on the mirror- because it said put them on the bathroom floor if you require clean towels. To save water/energy you don’t change them unless needed. But even though we didn’t put them on the floor everyday they were changed. Not an issue just confusing. The beds Now look, i’m an adult I can make my own bed, I don’t need it doing for me. BUT housekeeping would just pull the sheets up and say it’s done. No effort whatsoever, it definitely didn’t look made. Like I said, not needed. But in a 3 star it’s been made everyday properly so for a 5 star you kinda expect a better standard. The floor- Like I said we would see her mop- BUT if you walked around the room with no shoes on your feet would end up black with dirt. So she must have been using dirty water or something idk. Finally the shower never seemed to be cleaned, there was a build up of like product around the drain that wasn’t cleaned. Overall it was okay- but definitely not 5 star standard. To add in terms of cleanliness- when the gardener came to cut the grass area by our pool, he left a trail of grassy footprints from the area to the exit. Not the best standards? The general hotel area- The hotel is beautiful- hilly yes but you know that when you book and didn’t bother us. The beautiful hotel however is slightly ruined by the bags of rubbish&towels dotted around. These are left by the cleaners and someone with the golf cart would come round and collect them all as its a long way for cleaners to carry them otherwise. BUT- they would be left there for ages… i’m talking hours. And okay it’s not hurting anyone- but it’s definitely not giving 5 star, beautiful vibes or standards. The hotel also has nothing around it- again knew this before we booked. Not the hotels fault, it’s the location. You can get a taxi into Elounda just book at reception. I will add- unless you like boat trips there isn’t many excursions to do. Just something to consider. Overall… The hotel was okay. Not great, not bad. Staff were really friendly, food was great but this is just not a 5 star hotel in my opinion. I’be stayed at other fantastic 5 star hotels and I’ve also stayed at much better 3 star hotels. It’s a shame because it could be great but standards need to be raised. When you book a 5 star you hope to feel relaxed and have an elevated experience, I can’t really say we had that.

The first thing to acknowledge is that my wife and are on the senior side of ‘senior citizens’ and overall would describe our experience of the Elounda Breeze as ‘mixed’. The second point to make is that if you are wanting to experience a real Greek Island experience, this isn’t the place for you. However there are a lot of things to like about the Elounda Breeze, in particular the excellent staff running it. Our room was one of the best we've had in Greece or elsewhere and astonishingly we could find BBC 1 and other British channels on the TV. The food is good and the white wine on offer to all inclusive customers is very acceptable. There are plenty of loungers available at the various pools, bars and snack bars dotted around the place. The Elounda Breeze also has an interesting initiative whereby they don’t supply water in small bottles but instead provide free water at outlets throughout the Resort. The main disadvantage is that the Resort is on a hill which means that a decent level of fitness is a definite requirement. Anyone with mobility issues should probably avoid the place as getting round requires using hundreds of steps and stairs, often without rails for support. The only ramp I saw was leading into the main restaurant. In the UK it would face a number of Health and Safety issues. The main restaurant is near the top of the hill and us elderly or with mobility issues would have a problem were it not for the fact that there is an electric buggy that can take you to your meal. Management haven’t yet realised that getting down a steep hill can be equally challenging as the buggy rarely seems to offer this service. The various pools cater to all needs, including one ominously labelled ‘Activity’ pool. We avoided that one and instead used the ‘Quiet’ pool which was infact quiet. We used the pool more than we intended as there don’t seem to be any beaches in the Elounda area which are sandy, have sun loungers and sea free of rocks and shingle that allow people of advancing years to stroll safely into the sea for their afternoon dip. The Elounda Breeze is described as a ‘Family Hotel’ and children are well catered for in terms of entertainment throughout the day. We visited outside of the school holidays so school age kids were mostly, not entirely, absent. There were plenty of under 5s around who often made themselves heard as at that age they don’t have any volume control. Really surprising was the number of babies obviously 6 months or under. A couple of those I saw must have come straight from the maternity ward! The entertainment itself is pretty poor, definitely inferior to similar establishments we have visited where each evening skilled musicians / bands would perform. The entertainment at the Elounda Breeze mainly caters to children and the post millennial generation, perhaps even younger although I did hear a couple of Tina Turner and Lionel Richie songs attempted. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and even Oasis are passe at the Elounda Breeze. On our one brief visit to the ‘amphitheatre’ we were rewarded by the sight of a bemused, inebriated male trying to dance with two scantily dressed ladies. It seemed to please the somewhat thin crowd but Strictly Come Dancing it wasn’t. We were told that there is a beach which apparently belongs to the resort offering free sunbeds We went there via a long and tortuous downhill walk to find that the ‘beach’ isn’t in fact a beach, it’s a small harbour surrounded by stone and concrete upon which an assortment of aged sun loungers are available to Elounda Breeze customers. The sunshades are generally in need of urgent repair and many are simply absent. On a positive note the cafe at the ‘beach’ is very good but unfortunately, its offerings are not part of the all inclusive package – although the water is free. If you want to escape from the Elounda Breeze a trip to Elounda itself (taxi 13 euros) and to Plaka (taxi 18 euros) are both worthwhile. A visit to Spinalonga is a must and it helps if you’ve read Victoria Hislop’s ‘The Island’ before you go. To sum up the Elounda Breeze is somewhere for families, the fully mobile, those who feel young enough and those without high expectations concerning the entertainment offered (unless you are under 5 years of age).

This is our 2nd trip to the breeze. I asked for a quiet room and they were very accommodating even left us a bottle of fizz plus the red wine. The hotel offers variations for all ages even down to the buggies to take you up to the restaurant if you need it. The staff are hardworking and go above and beyond to help. Especially the bright and smiling philipino staff who work so hard in the bars and restaurants. Special shout out to daisy always smiling 😊...see you all soon

Just come back from Elounda Breeze with my partner. I had a very cold shower first day we arrived, also next to reception it was noisy at night. Asked to move rooms but none available. They fixed the shower but still lukewarm. It was only after having shower in courtesy room that was lovely and hot that I realised how awful the shower was and felt annoyed I just put up with it all week. The snack bar by quiet pool had exposed food and brownies covered in wasps, we did not eat there as put us off. The food in main restaurant was okay but not much for vegans/vegetarians and not marked correctly. A samosa had a sign for vegan but had meat in it. I saw them change sign. The labels need to be clearer and correct. The soup was nice and food could be hoter as went cold quick. I liked the family room we had apart from shower and noise at night. The road to Elounda could do with pavement as alot of cars so you need to keep stopping. Also a water jug in room would be nice as you need to keep filling up plastic bottle.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding for autistic and neurodiverse families – they genuinely go above and beyond We are currently staying at TUI BLUE Elounda Breeze in Crete, and I honestly felt I needed to write this review because of how exceptionally well we have been treated. Both myself and my son Dylan are autistic and have additional neurodiverse needs. Travelling and being away from our normal routines can sometimes be challenging, and there have been moments during this holiday when things have become overwhelming for us. From the moment we arrived, the hotel has done everything possible to make our stay comfortable. We originally paid for a double room, but after understanding our circumstances and needs, the hotel complimentary upgraded us to family accommodation, giving us the additional space we needed. They have provided extra towels and bedding whenever required and have even arranged a complimentary late checkout because they understood that our autism and the disruption of changing routines can make departure day particularly difficult. Because I have difficulty getting around, staff have also helped transport me around the resort using the golf buggy, which has made an enormous difference to my holiday. What has impressed me most, however, is how they have treated Dylan. There have been days when Dylan has struggled or become overwhelmed. On one occasion he was finding it difficult to wear his top when going into the restaurant. Instead of immediately turning the situation into a problem, staff were patient and understanding. They allowed him the opportunity to cool down, spoke to him kindly, reassured him and helped calm the situation. Staff have supported him on other difficult days too. That level of understanding means an incredible amount to a parent. There is a difference between a hotel saying it accommodates people with additional needs and a hotel whose staff actually understand that sometimes people need flexibility, patience and compassion. We have experienced the latter here. The service throughout the entire resort has been exceptional—from the TUI representatives and management team to customer services, restaurant staff, waiters, housekeeping and everyone working behind the scenes. We have consistently been treated with kindness, respect and dignity. And the hotel itself has been fantastic. Our room is kept clean, the resort is beautifully maintained, and the food has been amazing—fresh, plentiful and with different themes and choices throughout the week. The location and views are absolutely stunning too. 🇬🇷☀️🌊 For families travelling with SEN children, autistic children, neurodiverse young people or adults with additional needs, our personal experience here has been outstanding. Obviously everyone’s needs are different, but I can genuinely say that when we explained ours, the staff listened and responded rather than judging us. This holiday could have been considerably more difficult without that support. Instead, they have helped make it relaxing, comfortable and memorable for both me and Dylan. Five stars simply isn’t enough for the management and staff here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to everyone at TUI BLUE Elounda Breeze for going above and beyond and for understanding that inclusion isn’t just about having a policy—it’s about how you treat somebody when they actually need your help. We will leave Crete with some brilliant memories, and a huge part of that is down to the people who looked after us. From the top of the management team to every member of staff we have encountered: absolutely exceptional. We would happily return. ❤️🇬🇷 — Dylan & Dylan Jr