Grecotel Creta Palace

This is the second time we have stayed here having booked the second stay whilst we were enjoying the first, it’s that good! If we can manage it we will be back for a third time.

So where do we start? The hotel is immaculate and very impressive, from the fountains in the front to the breezy open and delicately perfumed foyer.

On arrival we were greeted with cool refreshments whilst the porter disappeared with all luggage. We were shown to our room located in the main building, room 219, these rooms have recently been refurbished.

Our room consisted of essentially two rooms with two separate balconies both overlooking gardens with a sea view with a double sized sliding privacy door, the room itself is magnificent. Double height ceilings with herring bone wood floors, two bathroom suites with walk in showers. New coffee machines, fridges stocked with water, wine and more if required

The rooms are new and maintained to a high standard by the cleaning service.

Honestly, the room is 5* and spectacular.

The rooms aren’t the only thing that have been renovated and renewed into 2026 with a new pool layout and separate water slide area ! We had a look online and knew they were changing the main pool but what they have designed and created is genius.

The main pool sits a little further away and is separated by two shallower infinity style pools, around the edge but set back a couple of metres are shady cabanas. Traditional sun lounge areas line both pools with umbrellas. All these are clean and well maintained. Nothing looks shabby.

Set further away from the main building by a 5 min walk nestled in near the larger family rooms and outdoor amphitheater is the family pool and adjoining water slides. This too has been completely redesigned from last year. Previously, the family pool was very shallow and had two very small slides that we not very entertaining. This year there is practically a small water park next to a larger family pool. I’m going to test my memory now, but remember there being 7 slides of various sizes and nerve. By the end of the holiday all of us had plucked up courage to go down the bigger slides.

In respect of the slide and child area, there was a life guard at slide exit and at each of the levels on the staircase where you choose your slide. They are professional and engaged. Kids are made to queue safely and not run up the stairs or push. It’s fun, but as a parent I can honestly it’s safe too, after seeing it and using it myself a few times, and watching my child use it from a nearby lounger, I was happy for my child to just go and use the slides whenever they wanted.

Which brings me back to the pools and the new layout. By designing it in this way, there are distinct areas, this is a family hotel, but me and my partner were able to sit down and enjoy our books pool side and the kids were off screaming and having fun together, my child made good friends and for the first time didn’t need to the Greco animation team.

Focusing on sun loungers there is a new policy that is actually enforced and it was good to see, it made a positive impact in accessibility around the main pool. We would eat breakfast as a family then go and sit in our little area. People were seen to drop towels and immediately disappear, 45mins later staff WILL clear that area so other families can make use of it. Honestly you’d have those same people come back over 3 hours later and be indignant that their stuff had been moved.

I am all for this new policy and it was good to see the hotel enforce it. Claiming 5 beds and leaving for half a day is selfish.

The beach bar had moved all the way down to the other end of the beach and you can no longer order food from there, but this is not a big deal as there are two main daytime areas to get food.

The first is located in the main building close to the beach so you can have your freshly cooked meal looking out over the ocean with a lovely warm breeze, the other is closer to the family pool and slides and has all the crepes, ice cream and lunch items you could need.

Breakfast and dinner is in the main building and is buffet style dining. The choices and quality are second to none.

Fresh honey comb and pancakes? Fresh fruit, cereals and cooked breakfast items ? It’s all there and is always fresh. The same for the main meal, fresh prawns, beef wellington, mussles, octopus, souvla everything you can think of, you’ll find it, and if it not there as an option that day it will likely be the next, there is always variety and at no point did it feel routine.

Finally, I would like to talk about the staff, the front of house, concierge and staff, the restaurant staff and the cleaning crew, all of the staff, they are the ones that make it possible and elevate everything I have mentioned to a truly 5* experience.

Every single person we encountered was professional and polite. Antigoni and her team make it all possible.

We have stayed at other Grecotel before Creta Palace is the one that feels like home and special in all the ways that matter.

Like I said right at the beginning, if we can we’ll be back next year. Fantastic memories from a fantastic place and people.

Our stay at Creta Palace was absolutely wonderful! The hotel is beautiful, with excellent facilities, delicious food, ane amazing pools. What truly made our experience special was the incredible staff – everyone was so friendly, professional, welcoming, and always ready to help.

A very special thank you to Georgios, who went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable. His kindness, professionalism, and warm personality truly stood out. It is people like him who make a great hotel experience even more special.

We highly recommend Creta Palace and would love to come back again!

The hotel is beautiful, the lobby screams serenity and the view from here and the Sky bar across the pool towards the sea is sublime. Last night we ate in the Sky bar and it was pure class and in all my years of travelling, the view, ambience and quality of food was wonderful, you would be hard pushed to beat it. This was topped off by an orange moon, never seen it before, apparently common in August. The staff were naturally lovely and when I asked for recommendations, they were keen to help. I was also convinced I would never find a cocktail to rival the old classic pina colada. However, I could not stop myself on some delicious cocktail with possibly rum and butterscotch, whatever, it was addictive. I just need the recipe for back in the UK and needless to say, I feel slightly jaded today. Myself and son, also discovered our own private oasis in the spa, which is huge, with 3 jacuzzi s for sure, not entirely sure whether there are anymore. No-one else was using these areas including massive indoor pool. I wasn't entirely sure about using these areas in warmer climates, but the refreshing cool temperature was great and clearly everyone else thinks the same, hence, we had our own exclusive spa! The hotels beach is massive, largest I've known and it has more than enough parasols and cabanas, as many are empty, even these scream luxury. The sea temp was great, but I do recommend surf shoes in the sea. Apparently more refurbishment is planned for when the hotel shuts over the winter, so it will be interesting to see what else is in store for 2027. I cannot believe Im going home tomorrow, after 7 days. It feels like my holiday has only just started, I know I have been day dreaming, as I caught myself and remembered I hadn't done this for a very long time, as well as dreaming a lot. It took me back to my younger years when I was care free, before all the stress of the last few years. Perhaps this trip is a reset, a catalyst for enjoying life a little more and ignoring the constant noise.