Blue Marine Resort & Spa

The hotel felt far too expensive for what it offered. There were cockroaches, and the minibar had only two bottles of water and two cheap fake colas that gave my family and me stomach aches. The à la carte restaurants disappointed too: the chicken, salmon and pork we tried were all overcooked. Room service was just as disappointing, and cleanliness was practically nonexistent. Even a teaspoon was missing, so I had no way to stir sugar into my coffee. There were several other serious problems during my stay. The ham served at breakfast was spoiled, and the food was the same every day and tasteless. The toilets leaked whenever they were flushed. The hair dryer caught fire while I was using it. It was replaced, but the situation could have ended much worse. There was only one elevator for the number of guests, so I usually had to take the stairs to the fourth floor.

The staff were the best part for us. They were always cheerful and genuinely kind, and clearly put in a huge effort to help guests feel comfortable. We loved them. The food and service were high quality too, and the location was really nice. Our room was nice and good value, though it wasn’t the most luxurious five-star room we’ve seen. The bathroom setup was far from ideal, with the shower cabin right beside the bed.

MARIA, a young waitress at the pool bar, made our stay memorable with her warm attention, smiles and excellent service. The SPA was professional and enjoyable too. We had mixed feelings about the all-inclusive setup. It can simplify things, but with so much food, so many flavors and unlimited portions, the dining experience felt lower-standard and a bit gluttonous. The coffee in the dining room from 7am until 10am, when the pool bar opens, was terrible.

We had a really nice meal at one of the optional restaurants. You choose from a menu, and they prepare it for you, which made for a much better dining experience than the buffet. The buffet was decent, with some variety and interesting choices like hot cocoa, a beer tap and desserts, though after a week we were getting a little bored. It was okay, with enough options to find something we wanted, but not always the tastiest. The worst part was the drinks. The cups were poorly washed and often had bits and contaminants in them. After the first day I just put up with it, though it wasn’t appetizing. Some buffet dishes weren’t properly cleaned either. The local Cretan beer tasted more like water, and it was hard to find cocktails or other drinks we actually liked. We stayed for a week on all inclusive. The hotel is five minutes outside Agios Nikolaos, which suited us better than the cluttered city for a relaxing holiday rather than sightseeing or shopping. There’s a nice view from the top floor and a decent beach across the road, with medium-coarse sand. It’s a bit short and used exclusively by the hotel. Some days were windy enough to send cups and drinks flying and spilling, though the breeze also kept things pleasantly cool. The staff were nice and helpful, and there were activities like yoga with a smooth-talking zen instructor.