Geropotamos Hotels with Balcony

My stay at The Royal Senses Hotel in Crete was truly exceptional. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by the warm and friendly staff who made me feel right at home. The hotel itself is beautifully designed, combining modern luxury with traditional Cretan touches that create a tranquil and inviting atmosphere. The rooms are spacious, impeccably clean, and offer breathtaking views of the sea, especially during sunset. Every detail, from the comfortable beds to the high-end amenities, was thoughtfully curated for maximum comfort. I especially loved the private pool, which added an extra layer of relaxation to my stay. Dining at the hotel was a highlight, with a variety of restaurants offering fresh, delicious, and locally sourced dishes. The Cretan cuisine was outstanding, and the service was attentive and professional. There’s something for every palate, and I never had a meal that wasn’t top-notch. The resort’s amenities are equally impressive, with a spa that provides indulgent treatments, a well-equipped fitness center, and multiple pools perfect for lounging. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing retreat or a base to explore Crete, The Royal Senses delivers on every front. The hotel’s location is ideal for exploring the island, with easy access to nearby beaches, charming villages, and historical sites. The staff also went above and beyond to offer recommendations and assist with arranging excursions. Overall, The Royal Senses Hotel is a perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and authentic Cretan hospitality. I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a memorable stay in Crete. This review highlights the hotel’s luxury, location, and excellent service, appealing to travelers seeking a high-end experience.

Firstly, you can say a lot about this hotel, but not that this is a 5 star hotel, perhaps a 3-4. The problem with having a 5 star rating is the tourist tax is quite high, €10 per room per night. Probably the biggest downside is location. Hotel is very isolated. You can’t go for a walk outside the complex. Nothing around, Bali beach is around 3km away downhill. Our room was ok, but the bathroom was rather tired, the shower and the screen needed a good scrub or ideally a renovation. We had a room with a mountain view, it was spacious with a good sized balcony overlooking the pool area, so we were able to watch all the evening shows from the balcony. Wifi was quite weak, it only worked fine when in the bar / pool area or by the reception. It wasn’t working too well in the room or in the restaurant. All staff were wonderful. Friendly, helpful and hardworking. Great views from the restaurant. Good choice for meals (buffet only), we didn’t struggle finding something good to eat. The fresh orange juice machine was excellent for breakfast! More signage would be beneficial to indicate what all the dishes being offered actually were… BBQ nights with freshly prepared “souvlaki” were great and a pizza (which was only twice in our nearly 2 weeks stay) was very tasty. Also, great tzatziki which were our favourite side for lunch & dinner! The pool bar food during the day wasn’t too good.No music at the pool, sometimes they turn something on but for a moment only. If you like the quiet atmosphere – then you will be happy in this hotel as no animation during the day or anything, you can just read a book in silence. We’ve never had a problem with finding a sun-bed by the pool. Evening entertainment was mixed. Musicians were generally ok, with Greek songs, a magician and dancers who invited guests to join. Once a week there was an animator for kids. The hotel has 2 x shuttle minibuses (8 seats) service to the beach, unfortunately cannot cope with the volume of people – sometimes you need to wait an hour to get onto one. Buses don’t run every half hour in each direction - there's a gap of 1.5 hours after lunch and then they run hourly. If you ask the hotel to get a taxi, they will charge €20 each way. The local companies only charge €10 each way and we used them a few times as the last minibus to the hotel was going back around 5pm which was too early for us. We were told there are no taxis in Bali, however we called a local company which operates in the Bali / Rethymno area and we arranged a transport for us. At the small beach at the minibus drop-of point, Filion hotel guests had free beds & parasols to use all day. The beach was very nice, the sea was very warm & clean! We recommend going to the main Livadi beach area which is a half hour walk from the usual minibus drop off (however if you ask a driver, he can stop earlier and drop you off – we did this and had no issues) On the Livadi beach there are the main bars & restaurants on the promenade.