ALAI CRETE

Giorgio is the sweetest and helped with absolutely everything. For my birthday, the room was beautifully decorated, and we got a complimentary upgrade. I hadn’t expected it and was so pleasantly surprised. We loved Alai Tribute Portfolio so much that we stayed twice in October, at the start of our trip and again at the end. The service was excellent, the staff incredibly kind, and breakfast delicious. Even at the end of the season, lots of staff were still working, which gave us the sense that the hotel really cares about keeping service consistently high. We’ll definitely be back.

The main drawback for us was the lack of sunbeds around the pool. We like to relax there during the day, but there were very few, and towels claimed them extremely early despite the hotel rule against doing that. We saw towels stay on beds all day with nobody using them. A handrail to get into the pool would also help guests with mobility issues. The hotel has been beautifully refurbished, with many impressive features. Staff were very polite and helpful, and the food was excellent. Dinner had a fairly limited menu, but it was served at the table, which was a nice touch. There are plenty of nearby hotels and bars, and the location is hard to beat, especially with the hotel’s own private beach.

Breakfast was the best part for me: you’re seated and offered juice, coffee, and tea, then there’s a big selection to help yourself to. I’d recommend the delicious smoothie. The mini apple pastries were a favorite, though the sausages were more like little hot dogs than proper sausages. They give you a small bottle of olive oil when you check out, which was a lovely extra. We arrived after a delayed flight and were welcomed right away with refreshments before being shown to room 424. It was clean and immaculate, with plenty of clothes storage, a separate toilet and shower room, and a sink in the bedroom. The view wasn’t the best, facing another building, but we could still see the sea and watch people on the main road. Free bottled water was left each day. There’s a private section of beach with plenty of sunbeds, plus two pool areas with loungers. In October it wasn’t very busy, so choosing a spot was easy. The whole staff were friendly and courteous. I’d seriously love to come back.

Several good restaurants are close by, and we had a wonderful stay. The staff were so welcoming and friendly. George, the manager, and his team took great care of me and my family, thank you! When I visited, the pool wasn’t overcrowded with people barely using it, unlike what I’d read in other posts.