Creta Palm

The location is spot on, about 20 minutes by bus from Chania and close to the motorway for day trips by rental car. We stayed at the end of October and would happily come again next year. The hotel was very clean, and the staff were lovely. Drinks and food at the pool bars were reasonably priced, and the included breakfast was very nice.

We spent a week here in mid-September and I really liked the hotel. It didn’t seem fully booked, so there were always sun loungers by the pools. The pools were fantastically clean, though the water was a bit cold. Parking is limited, but you can leave the car on nearby streets or behind the hotel. We chose all-inclusive. The food was delicious with plenty to pick from, including Italian and Greek themed days, but the cocktails were scandalous. Some staff were super friendly and smiling, while others seemed worn out by the end of the season and fed up with tourists. At a hotel of this standard, I don’t think that’s acceptable. Wi-Fi dropped out often, though signing in again fixed it. The power supply also had issues: sometimes the room’s distribution box literally hummed, and once the power went off when cleaners started vacuuming next door. I’m not sure that’s a safe setup. The surroundings are beautiful, and the cleanliness really is outstanding in both the shared spaces and rooms. Our room was tidy, and we liked the kitchen hidden in the built-in cupboard, though it felt more like a 3-star than a 4-star room. The mattress in room 413 was terribly soft and saggy, but somehow we still got up without back pain every day. There are lots of cats begging around the ground-floor tables at meals, while breakfast and dinner are served upstairs. I wouldn’t have minded except they looked very skinny, and many seemed sick. It would be good if the hotel did more than tolerate them and looked after their health, especially with families and small children around who might come into contact with them. I’d gladly recommend the hotel.

There’s a great choice of tavernas a short walk away, and the local food was impeccable. We stayed bed and breakfast; the selection was decent, though as a fussy eater I’d have liked more fresh fruit prepared. The hotel is spotless, well placed, peaceful, and the staff are friendly. There were guests from lots of nationalities, with only a scattering of English speakers, which made a refreshing change. You cross a busy road to reach the beach, though there’s a bridge that lets you avoid the road. The two pools are decent and there are lots of sunbeds. My main gripe is the towel-on-sunbed routine, though that isn’t Creta Palm’s fault. If you haven’t claimed a bed by 8am, it’s hard to get four together with an umbrella. I had to get up early and do the walk of shame to reserve them, or we’d miss out. We booked through Jet2 and paid about £2,600 for a family of four for a week in August. For that price, it was amazing value. Highly recommended.

We just got back from 10 days in Crete, our first trip to the island, and loved it. The beaches, especially Kedrodassos and Preveli, the sunny weather, the delicious food, and above all the wonderful people made it a great holiday. Creta Palm was just as lovely. The staff were exceptionally friendly and professional, and the rooms and hotel were spotless. The food and restaurant service were among the best we’ve had. As a vegetarian, I always found plenty of tasty options, and there was a wide range of dishes for people who eat meat as well. A special thanks to the hotel for letting guests feed the lovely group of cats living there. They feel like a little family and add so much charm. I hope they stay one of the nicest symbols of the place. We wholeheartedly recommend Creta Palm and its wonderful team!