"We had a really enjoyable stay and overall, would definitely recommend the hotel for families. There are a few things worth knowing before you go, so I’ve tried to include the positives as well as the areas that could be improved.
Staff
The staff are lovely, friendly and accommodating. It’s clearly a relatively small team doing a lot of different roles, and they work hard.
The main downside is that there are quite a few dining areas and not a huge number of dining staff. This can sometimes mean a wait if you want additional drinks, particularly at busy times. I didn’t see this as a lack of effort from the staff – they simply have a lot to manage.
Rooms
I didn’t find the rooms dated at all. Ours was clean, fresh and had a lovely Greek feel. The local products provided in the bathroom were a particularly nice touch.
Towels are replaced in the evening if you require it. Mini bars are chargeable, apart from bottled water, which is replenished daily. Coffee pods are €2.50 each.
We stayed in a family room with a shared pool and in my opinion, it was definitely worth paying extra for. The shared pools are available from 07:30–22:00. Smaller semi personal pools are also available depending on the room.
Room service is available at an additional cost. There is also an ‘Ultra All Inclusive ‘ option, which includes full access to the mini bar.
There were a couple of things I would change. Our room had two TVs, but the one in the living area didn’t work and had become something of a dust collector, so I think it would be better removed. The TV in the main bedroom also doesn’t connect to the internet, and most of the available channels are foreign.
Bring Ant Spray - there are lots around the rooms but mostly outside.
If having your own entertainment is important, I would recommend bringing a NOW TV stick or HDMI cable. You could also bring your own 5G mobile Wi-Fi dongle and SIM.
The Wi-Fi was actually more reliable than I expected based on some previous reviews. However, I would be cautious about using it for anything sensitive. It didn’t appear particularly secure, and we found that it was possible to get considerably further into the network than you would normally expect. I would therefore avoid accessing banking or other sensitive accounts through it without using a VPN .
Kids’ Play Room
The kids’ play room is run by Katriana, who is lovely. It’s open every day apart from Sunday and is a great place for children to make friends.
The activities are mainly Lego and drawing, so it’s more of a relaxed creative space rather than somewhere offering lots of organised activities.
It is located near the spa and can get quite warm inside, although water is provided for the children.
Spa
We didn’t personally use the spa because it is mainly for guests aged 16 and over.
It didn’t appear particularly busy when we walked past, including for treatments. I’ve attached some photographs to the review for anyone interested in seeing the facilities.
With All Inclusive, you get one hour of free spa use and you don’t need to book.
Pool towels can be collected here. There is a €10 towel deposit, but you keep your receipt and receive the money back at the end of your holiday. Towels can be changed daily for fresh pool towels.
There is also a small shop selling things such as wine, ice cream, pool inflatables and other essentials.
The Hotel Generally
There is a €15 per night environment tax!! This is for ALL guests . Our 10 night stay amounts to €150 extra which is a bit steep for families already struggling, but is same across Greece .
I particularly liked that the manager is regularly visible around the hotel and comes across as approachable.
We were celebrating our anniversary during our stay and were greeted with a beautiful cake and a bottle of bubbly in our room, which was a lovely touch.
We also arrived late at night and a selection of food had been provided for us in our room, which was very welcome after travelling.
The pools are beautifully clean ( chlorine) The main pool is relatively shallow, reaching a maximum depth of around 1.10m, which is particularly reassuring for families with younger children.
There is a covered area, facing the sea- where yoga takes place daily.
There is plenty to do around the resort, including paddle boarding, children’s swings, table tennis, tennis, an outdoor assault course, sprint tracks, a substantial outdoor weights area and, of course, the gym.
The pool bar is great, although the floor can be extremely slippery! There are ice-cold water stations where you can refill your bottles, and queues are rarely an issue. The Bloody Marys are particularly good.
Outdoor toilets are located behind the self-service area.
There are ‘wild’ cats but they are approachable and love a cuddle . Only 4 that I saw , although one is pregnant. You can get cat food at local small shops and I tried to put water and food out daily .
There is very limited evening entertainment. What was provided , if I am honest , was not the greatest given the high standards of the hotel . There was a saxophone night , mini disco ( kids did enjoy this ) and a singer one night. There is NOT something every night . Greek themed events such as local storyteller talking about Cretan myths, legends and island history , a Greek themed quiz or turning part of the hotel into a little Cretan village market with local producers, crafts, food stalls and music could rectify this without making it all too loud and crass.
We often played cards or returned to our room to use the pool .
Food
There is plenty of choice overall.
The outdoor restaurant can be booked twice during your stay and offers a mixture of food, including pizza and Greek dishes.
You are given a code to download an app on arrival . You can book dinner and special events via this app or at reception.
Behind the restaurant is a self-service snack area. Children can help themselves to ice cream throughout the day, and there are three hot meals available as well as cold salads and fruit. There is always a vegetarian option.
We didn’t try the evening restaurant, Azurro. You get one visit included with All Inclusive, but the menu didn’t really appeal to our children, so we opted not to use it. Maybe a pizza section would be a good addition for the kids.
Main Restaurant
The food in the main restaurant is very good. The chef can often be seen walking around checking that everything is running smoothly, which gives the impression that standards are being monitored closely.
For me, the main weakness is the atmosphere.
The lighting inside is quite bright making it feel a little like a work canteen. Some battery-operated candles on tables, over head solar lights , flowers or other small touches could make a big difference and make it feel more like a holiday dining experience.
There is also very little music, or if there is music playing it is extremely quiet. As a result, voices can echo and the sound of plates and cutlery becomes quite noticeable.
The menu works on a weekly rotation. It would be nice to see themed evenings introduced to create a little more variation and make dinner feel like more of an event.
There is a freshly prepared section, although in the evenings this is usually pasta that has already been prepared. I think this could be improved by having someone prepare a sauce to order, based on what guests like. It would add an element of entertainment and interaction. They already do this with omelettes at breakfast, and it is very popular.
There is always something available for vegans and gluten-free bread is provided, although I cannot comment on whether the gluten-free food is prepared separately.
The same staff generally work breakfast and dinner. They have an enormous amount to do – clearing plates, welcoming new guests, preparing tables and serving drinks – and this can mean you sometimes have to wait as for a top up of wine - as the bottle isn’t left on the table.
I think this is more a staffing issue than a service issue. The staff work hard, but there simply aren’t enough of them to provide table service at the level you might expect from a higher-end hotel.
Breakfast
Breakfast has a good range of options, including omelettes, eggs, local dishes, fresh fruit, yoghurt and plenty more.
Tea and coffee are offered when you arrive, but don’t be afraid to ask for something different. Hot chocolate, cappuccino and other options are available.
Beach & Sea
The beach and sea are stunning.
There is a lifeguard on duty and the beach is beautiful, with lovely clear water and plenty of fish to see.
You can buy snorkels and other equipment from the hotel shop, and cost around €24 for three sets.
The sea can become quite choppy, and beach shoes are useful because the shoreline is stony. The stones are actually great entertainment for children who enjoy searching for interesting ones – I even downloaded a stone-identification app!
You can walk along the beach to Kolymbari, which takes around 30 minutes.
Things to Do Nearby
Towards the end of the summer season, it is possible to see the conservation teams from ARCHELON – The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece – releasing turtles onto the beach. This is something I’d definitely recommend looking out for if your visit coincides with the releases.
There are also two water parks next to the hotel, although they are independently operated by neighbouring hotels. One can be booked through the Chrispy hotel website, but we found it quite expensive.
There is a bus service from the end of the hotel’s drive. It is approximately a six-minute walk to the bus stop. I’ve attached a photograph of the timetable to the review.
Trips can also be booked through reception.
We used a local company, Travel in Chania, to arrange a snorkelling trip. It cost approximately £140 for four hours for our group of 2 adults and 2 children. The main boat was quite busy, but the snorkelling itself was lovely, with plenty of fish and some interesting history along the route.
Overall
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay.
For us, the biggest positives were the location, beautiful beach and sea, exceptionally clean pools, family-friendly facilities, the room with a shared-pool and the genuinely lovely staff.
There are things that could be improved – particularly the atmosphere and service levels in the main restaurant, the Wi-Fi security and a few details within the rooms – but none of these stopped us from having a great holiday.
I would definitely consider returning, particularly for a family holiday. The hotel feels relaxed and welcoming, there is plenty to keep children occupied, and the location gives you the option of staying around the resort or getting out and exploring Crete.
We are currently still at the hotel as I like to give management the option of discussing points made.
Thank you for reading . Hope it helps you make your decisions and alleviate any questions or concerns you may have."
