Grecotel Creta Palace

Our 9 days in Crete started badly and ended badly, but everything else was great, First they lost my son's luggage on the way to Crete. We waited two hours in the awful Heraklion airport for it to arrive, before they told us it was still in Birmingham. We got into the hotel around 3 am. The hotel had some snacks for us and the luggage arrived 24 h later. The hotel is gorgeous, rooms are nice, bit small for 3 of us, but perfectly adequate. I'd say 4*. bathroom OK, shower in the bath so a bit old fashioned. No lock on toilet door!!. Plenty of wardrobe space for 2 but not quite enough for 3 with a small balcony overlooking the pool. Food was great, 5*. Staff were wonderful 5**** from the room cleaners to the desk staff. Could not do enough for you. Obviously have been trained very well - always greet you with a smile. Entertainment every night was fun. Drinks very expensive, so we went to the bar at the campsite next door. Beach is lovely but water was rough for the whole week so impossible to swim. Plenty of beach loungers and there is also beach gym, table-tennis, darts, volleyball and football on offer. One infrastructure problem I noticed that did not affect us was that the pool is too small for the number of people who want to use it. An area for children is roped off, but it's very crowded. They really need another big pool for adults only. However we are beach, not pool people so didn't bother us. There is also an internal gym which is well equipped and a spa in the same building (which we did not use) , plus a nice indoor pool. there are shops on site, and you are a 10E taxi ride to Rethymno. We had a lovely time - one of the best places we have stayed. The way back was awful - coach driver drove too fast on windy roads and my wife threw up but luckily only when we got to the airport. I feel sorry for the cleaner who had to empty the bin !!!!! But that is a Tui, not a hotel problem. Overall a great 5* experience and thoroughly recommend the place.

I had the pleasure of staying at Grecotel Creta Palace from August 14th to 18th, and it was an unforgettable experience. The staff were exceptionally friendly, helpful, and always made me feel welcome. The hotel’s gardens are beautifully maintained, creating a relaxing and refreshing atmosphere. The beach is simply stunning – clean, golden sand and crystal-clear waters, perfect for swimming and relaxing. I truly enjoyed every moment of my stay and I highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Crete. —

Wow. What an incredible experience. Trust me read on. Cards on the table, we love Crete it’s where we have our family holidays and we prefer Grecotel. Bearing that in mind, we have stayed at other Grecotel before as well as independent hotels. Creta Palace in Rethymnon is bar far the best for us as adults and as a family with a discerning 9 year old boy. First and foremost the staff here are fantastic. Antigoni, Charis and Ioanna go above and beyond in care and hospitality. We were genuinely welcomed and cared for. Everyone we have met or spoken to have been polite and genuine. The hotel itself is a marvel with spacing and design such that at no point do you feel crowded. When we stayed at the hotel it was at capacity, and yet, there was no hunt for sun loungers or space and a drink was a look and a nod away from the staff who worked non stop. The main pool has enough space and separate premium loungers if you so choose, the pool has direct line of sight to the sea so there is a constant breeze. The child pool is waist deep and has two slides big enough for kids to tire themselves out. The discerning 9 year old enjoyed the kids club and staff who were friendly and engaging with all the kids. The food. Again this excelled above the usual, there are 3 restaurants that you can book for and the main restaurant. Everything is fresh and replenished constantly with great variety. Huge king prawns for lunch ? Why not, beef wellington or fresh grilled red mullet for dinner? Of course. The restaurant and dining area again is laid out in a very clever way, there was always space, always shade if you wanted it. Staff always attentive. My wife and I don’t drink but drinks are plentiful and the bar well stocked, pages and pages of cocktails and spirits are available, if you are on the “comfort package” (all inclusive) 90% is included unless you wanted Yamazaki or Blue label for example. The accommodation is clean bright and spacious. Everything is well maintained and looked after, we went for the superior bungalow so the boy could have his own separate room adjacent to ours and we were all very happy. So, how can I sum this up ?as I said we love Crete but try different places looking for the one. We are so taken with this place as a whole that we have immediately booked the same hotel again for next year. No hesitation. It’s always an important decision, it’s a massive expense to go on holiday. But to book again felt like an investment in good memories.

This salon is a hidden gem inside the hotel. Super clean, beautifully designed, and the staff couldn’t be more polite. Anna did my hair and she’s just the best. My hair looked flawless and stayed perfect for days. You can tell they use premium products. Loved every minute!