Blue Aegean Hotel & Suites

The food was what really spoiled this holiday for us. On the second day, my husband got food poisoning and spent the first few days unable to get off the toilet. We can’t be sure what caused it. He’d eaten the pork with vegetables and the beef with tomatoes, while the children and I hadn’t had either. Those dishes, along with many others, were repeated daily. After that, we stuck to pizza and chips. On the one evening there was no pizza, we all just ate chips. We’d paid for half board, but after losing confidence in the food, we ate at local taverns on two nights and absolutely loved them. Breakfast was very basic, and the coffee was awful. There were some good points. When we arrived around 10:30pm, a helpful receptionist checked us in quickly and offered food for us and our three children. It was basic, but a very kind gesture. Our room was clean, with good air conditioning and a nice shower. The kitchen area was dated but did the job, and the fridge was a good size for our water. The room was cleaned regularly, with fresh towels every other day. The pool was clean, with plenty of loungers and umbrellas, and the children were allowed inflatables. The evening pizzas were freshly made in their woodfired oven and delicious. We pretty much lived on those. The beach was close by, which was handy with three kids. There was entertainment on a few nights, though it wasn’t our thing, which is just personal preference. A warning for families: the pool area gets slippery when wet, and my youngest fell several times and came away with some pretty decent bruises. Guests also reserved sunbeds all day despite signs saying not to, and staff didn’t remove their belongings, which was frustrating. The pool was extremely cold, though that’s to be expected with a fresh water pool at that time of year. The games room was very run down, with chairs falling apart, and didn’t appeal to the children. There are positives here, but the food situation let the hotel down badly. You don’t expect to get food poisoning on holiday.

It’s a small, family-run hotel with a friendly welcome, a good restaurant, and a handy base for trips around Crete. We felt it offered good value and a nice middle ground: there’s enough to do for people who want an active all-inclusive holiday, but it’s also a calm place to relax. Being a smaller hotel gave us peace of mind with our room and kids. About the insect complaints in other reviews: those weren’t cockroaches, they were cicadas. The rooms are open to the air, so leaving the windows open at night might let insects in. To me, the plants and garden around the rooms and pools were a nice feature.

The one incident that kept this from being a five-star stay was a strange €85 charge raised at reception. On the evening of September 9, 2025, our third day, I went to confirm the airport transfer included in our hotel package. An older woman on reception, with a round figure, short dark wavy hair, and glasses, suddenly said she’d realized we hadn’t paid some kind of “additional tax.” I told her we’d paid the full amount when booking. She got flustered and started working something out on her phone, but couldn’t explain what the €85 was for and just kept repeating the amount. I offered to bring our printed booking documents, and she told me to come back when the manager was available. After that, nobody mentioned the supposed extra fee again. I don’t want to call it an attempted scam, but my boyfriend had spoken to her earlier and doesn’t speak very good English, and I wondered if that played a part. Just ask for payment details if something seems off. We also had trouble confirming the airport taxi that was included in our price. I went to reception four times for an answer, and even the day before departure we still didn’t know whether a driver had been arranged. The morning reception staff were polite and helpful. The evening receptionist was unpleasant and unprofessional with guests, and I don’t think she’s suited to the role. Otherwise, the hotel was neat, clean, and quiet in a charming area. The rooms and service were a high standard for the price, and the varied meals were very tasty. The restaurant team were especially good: drinks came to the table, and the staff showed real care and willingness to help. Pizza fresh from the oven was delicious, the pita gyros was amazing, and the chef did a great job. Most waiters were cheerful and pleasant. Special mention to an older gentleman, possibly the manager, who even tried speaking our language. It was cozy and enjoyable, and there were enough sunbeds for everyone. Most guests respected the request not to reserve them. For a four-star hotel, I think it meets expectations, and it’s really worth the price.

The food was excellent, and the hotel’s in a great spot near restaurants, bars, and shops. Our apartment was clean, the pool lovely, and there was good entertainment. The staff were friendly too. I got back a few days ago and already miss it so much 🥹🥰. I’m sure I’ll return next year, and I’d absolutely recommend it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️