Divine Thalassa

The food was probably the best I’ve had at an all-inclusive, with plenty of choice, outdoor BBQ chefs, and a very good Italian restaurant that you book in advance. The private beach is all small stones, no sand, so walking on it with wet feet can leave you covered in pebbles, though it’s great for snorkeling. Shops, bars, restaurants, and supermarkets are a short walk away. There’s a bus to Heraklion outside, but it wasn’t reliable, and getting back by taxi cost €45. The resort is spread out over steep hills, so it may not suit older guests or people with disabilities. We booked a cottage but got an “upgraded room”; I’d hate to see the standard one. The rooms felt shabby and poorly maintained: loose door handles, patio doors that wouldn’t close properly and let in draughts, and skirting boards coming away. The bathrooms looked unfinished, with missing silicone around the basement and tiled edges. Showers soaked the floor and made it slippery, so we used all our towels to mop up each day. Maintenance tried to fix it but couldn’t. The entertainment was some of the worst I’ve seen. There were a couple of better acts, but no proper place to watch, just outdoor setups where people dragged over plastic chairs. For me, this felt more like a 3 or 4 star hotel than a 5 star one.

We’d go back in a heartbeat. The scenery is lovely both around the grounds and beyond, and the whole place has such a relaxed feel. We spent two amazing weeks there for my 60th birthday, and everything from arrival to departure went perfectly. The staff were friendly and helpful, and we loved the food. The Italian and Greek specialty restaurants are well worth visiting; we enjoyed them enough to go back to both a second time.

My wife and I had the basic all-inclusive package, and the staff were wonderful throughout. Christina at reception was especially helpful, as were Jenny and Caterina at the spa, where we had an amazing Cretan massage. Giorgos drove the buggy, and Demetrius, a local taxi driver of 35 years, helped us find our lost luggage at the airport. The team from PhotoHotel also took great photos during our tailored shoot, giving us memories for life. There are different packages to choose from, and I’d definitely recommend staying here and trying the spa. Everyone went above and beyond. Thank you all.

The food and restaurant team were wonderful. The chefs were outstanding, and the staff were kind and attentive, always willing to prepare special meals for our child, who has lactose and gluten intolerance. The beach had amazing views, lots of greenery, and was very clean. Housekeeping were also sweet and helpful. We paid €2160 for the holiday at this 5-star resort, but arriving late, around 10 PM, was a rough start. The first room smelled strongly of dust and mold and felt more like a 1-star room. With our baby, who was 1 year and 3 months old, spending the night there was very difficult. In the morning we asked reception to move us. They first said to wait until 11 AM, then said no other rooms would be available until the following day. There were three families with small children, and that wasn’t acceptable. After we insisted, we finally got different rooms. The receptionist was unprofessional, raised his voice, and said we had booked the cheapest rooms, which wasn’t what we expected from a 5-star hotel. The accommodation feels old and needs renovation. The resort has a lot going for it with its location, food, and restaurant staff, but the rooms and reception service need major improvement.