Cactus Royal Resort & Spa

The team is what really makes Cactus Royal Spa & Resort stand out. Everyone we met was super friendly and professional, and went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and cared for. The food was outstanding, with a great range of fresh, delicious dishes at every meal. The property’s elegant design caught our eye straight away. Every corner felt thoughtfully styled, giving the place a serene, luxurious atmosphere that put us in a relaxed holiday mood. A great combination of lovely surroundings, delicious food, and wonderful hospitality. We’d happily stay here again!

We spent 10 nights here in May 2026. It’s a nice, clean hotel, but it was missing some of the small touches I’d expect from a 5*. There are lots of tavernas, restaurants, and things to do nearby, plus a lovely little happy train that runs along the coast. The staff were friendly and professional. The restaurant manager was around a lot, keeping an eye on things and making himself available to guests. The hotel itself is beautiful, with lovely flowers and shrubs, and was kept very clean. The food was generally nice, with plenty of choice and desserts. We tried the a la carte restaurant too. It was nice, but nothing special in my opinion. The biggest letdown was the drinks service. This didn’t feel like a 5* experience: there’s no service at dinner, and guests have to pour their own drinks from pumps in the restaurants. The cocktail menu is limited, and lots of them use premade juice mixes that personally dried my mouth out. Quality also depends on who’s working at the bar. Shout out to Natalia, she works so hard, and her cocktails are presented spot on. Full credit to the hotel for her. The main bar felt soulless and lacked atmosphere. The room literature seemed very outdated and could use a review. The hotel also seems geared more toward German tourists. We’d booked the restaurant, but a booking system mistake meant they had to cancel our reservation. I understand mistakes happen, but they put the correspondence through our door in German, even though a look at the system or a photocopy of our passport would show we were from the UK. Little details like that should be right at a 5*. The TV was aimed more at German guests too, and I couldn’t find any English-language channels. The spa was lovely, though the indoor pool was freezing and the Jacuzzi area was never switched on, which seemed a shame in such a beautiful spot. The sauna and hammam were great, and a refreshing treat. I had a great massage from Yolanda, a friendly, professional girl with special hands.

Two stars, unfortunately. The terrace is nice, but I couldn’t sit there when a neighbour started smoking. You also have to pass smokers outside when entering the main restaurant. It has some nice outdoor tables, but they’re only a few metres from a smoking area. If you care about your lungs, go somewhere else. The TUI website says you need pants at dinner, which apparently matters a lot, but says nothing about smoking. Health seems less important.

The hotel was lovely, and I’d love to return when I’m holidaying in Crete. The rooms were very clean and tidy, with lovely decor and a coffee machine with capsules. There was lots of lovely food to choose from. Maria, who cleaned our room, did it perfectly. Oleannna (not sure of the spelling) in the restaurant was efficient and friendly, and so were chef Valentino and Andrea. They and a few others made our holiday more enjoyable. More than 80% of the guests spoke German or Dutch. There were a couple of small downsides. As a non-smoker, I kept getting smoke blown in my face at every corner. The chef frying eggs at breakfast was very grumpy. I said hello, but he didn’t acknowledge me, which I found a bit strange. My friend and I had full body massages at the hotel spa. Anjya and Stella were professional and friendly, and it was one of the best massages I’ve had in a long time. Many thanks to the management and staff for all their hard work.