Iolida Beach by Smile Hotels

The pools had visible dirt sitting in them for days; adding cleaning fluid in the evening didn't seem to involve any actual scrubbing. At the beach, sunbeds cost extra, while the free pool loungers were usually claimed with towels by 7 a.m. and nobody kept an eye on it. The room's bathroom was in poor shape too. Mold in the shower and bad drainage left water across the floor, the door wouldn't lock, and housekeeping left dirty towels as if they were clean. The glasses were only rinsed in the bathroom sink instead of properly washed or replaced. Water was the biggest problem. There were no bottles in the room, not even on arrival or as daily replacements, and neither the restaurant nor snack area served bottled or table water. Everyone had to touch the same visibly dirty, heavily used 5-liter dispenser. When those areas closed, often in the afternoon or evening, there was no drinking water unless we paid to buy bottles. In temperatures of 35°C or more, that felt unacceptable and potentially dangerous, especially for an all-inclusive hotel. Meals were repetitive, with little choice and mostly generic European food instead of the local Greek cooking you'd hope to find on Crete. Drinks came in plastic cups for supposed safety, but paying extra got you glass or porcelain. Machine coffee was available only at breakfast; outside those hours it was poor instant coffee unless we paid more. We found the whole stay a major disappointment, with too many maintenance, hygiene, and service problems, plus constant charges for things that should be standard at a 5-star place. It felt like a 3-star resort, or a very poor 4-star at best. I can't understand its rating, wouldn't recommend it, and we won't return.

The beach is right beside the hotel, and the water is very shallow, which is handy with children. We also liked how quiet the place was. The rooms are roomy and clean, the beds and pillows are comfortable, though some updates are due and the towels are a bit worn. Food was basic, but we didn't go hungry. We've had better all-inclusive meals. Table service could be slow when staff were resetting, and finding cutlery was sometimes a problem. Still, it's a nice hotel, and the calm atmosphere suited us.

We went to Cactus, a lovely restaurant close to the hotel, and had good food, strong cocktails and cold pints. There were parrots, fish, a tortoise, and a kids' play area too. The local road train tour was another nice day out, with different places to see depending on your schedule and what you like. Chania is a great town to visit, about a 10-minute taxi ride away for €17. The bus costs much less, though it tends to be very crowded. Some nearby shops are very expensive, so shopping around can save you a few euros. At the hotel, the staff were friendly and the food was fresh and good, with a wide enough choice even for fussy eaters. The menu had a different theme each night. There was light entertainment in one of the bars every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The rooms looked a little dated, but nothing too bad. We visited in October. The weather was good, the sea was warm, and the locals were friendly. There were guests from all over Europe. The pools, though, were freezing.

We stayed for a week as a couple and had a large, clean room with a lovely beach view. The staff were friendly, and the hotel was well looked after. Nearby there are plenty of good restaurants and bars, and the beach itself was clean. Breakfast was only average, especially the artificial orange juice from the dispenser. We booked breakfast only, so can't comment on the rest of the food. We liked the location and would recommend staying here. We may well come back.