3 Star Crete Holidays

Emily

All i can say is take me back right now! Absolutely amazing hotel staff, this absolutely made our stay a million times better.The staff made us all feel so so welcomed at all times and just so comfortable and we all felt so safe in the hotel. Massive thanks to Georgia (the owner) she was an absolute jem, constantly putting a smile on all of our faces and she is the funniest women out there! Andy the bartender is such a lovely lovely guy and couldn’t thank him more for supplying our cocktails one after the other (bon appetite) , every drink he makes is amazing and yet again such a funny guy and you can tell he is just such a genuine guy. The hotel is very well kept and the food is to die for. 100% recommend their spring rolls. Everyone should experience a stay here as it was a holiday i will forever remember. It’s in an amazing location as it is not far from the club strip and not far from all of the lovely shops and places to see. The best of both worlds! Only thing i would say is when we stayed there it was more of a younger people’s place to stay as it mainly consisted off people around 18/19s at youngest. Hopefully we will be back soon to visit again can’t explain how much i miss it.

Galina Shevtsova

Good location, fairly new renovations. Cleaning isn't done every day. It's impossible to sleep at night because it's so noisy. Air conditioning isn't included in the room rate; you have to pay an extra 9 euros per day! Even though the booking page says it's all-inclusive. Wi-Fi is also an extra charge. There are small stovetops and cutlery. There are no screens on the windows, so insects fly in. There were ants in the bed several times. Upon check-in, they charged us 12 euros as a deposit for the keys, but upon check-out, they didn't give us anything back, explaining that it was already a tax.

Alvaro Costa

2 Years ago… it was horrible there. I’ve had never such horrible vacations. You can’t get stranger in your rooms. One day at 4am the security guide thought I have a strange girl in my room so he punched against the door. I had a big panic attack and thought someone of a mafia is gonna kill us for whatever, or me and my brother are going to be robbed. After few minutes with shit in my pants I opened the door. Then… it was him, the security guide. He couldn’t believe that there is anyone, so I invited him to check my room. As excuses I didn’t get anything, expect the panic attack and the warning that we would fly out of the hotel because the music was too loud in the evening or we accidentally hit the ball out of the pool once. Btw the pool was very chemically and stank like pee. And the Air conditioning costs extra 10€ per day. If you jump after 10pm in the pool… you have to pay 50€ If you want to have good holidays. Don’t do it in that small hotels.

Salvatore Pala

Got the room for a week and can't find them any faults. Rooms get cleaned every other day and your are in close proximity to your neighbours noise is there but it's not that loud. It's quite (April), first time ever I've got in a place where you have to pay for aircon and WiFi... but hey.... place's you visit custom you find and adapt. I had a lovely time here food and nature is great and if you love walking you can get to different sea sides and see the sun rise and set I definitely Recommend it! !! If you're here for the night life plenty to see too. Whatever you pick just get out of your room and see what Crete has to offer.

Craig Smart

Happy days studios just wow!!!! What a brilliant place were here now and loveing it its nice chilled relaxed and just amazeing atmostphere The rooms are great nice and clean the pool area and the staff are really freindly fun and have banter with the guest but there all very helpfull i threw my phone in the pool thinking it was water proof it wasnt!! But the staff had a laugh with me about it and advised me were i can get a phone to see me by,faye and georgia are brilliant owners who are proud of there establishment and rightly so its a gem and a shout out to the bare staff there brillant. Who ever comes will have a brillant time just like we are heres to another 3 days left

P. E.

For a low season price it's a very good place. Spacious room. If you take a room with the yard view, it's gonna be quiet at night. A few steps and you're at the sea. I'd definitely come again, it's a good, budget friendly place. 👍

Mike Dave

Basic rooms are in need of an update. The bathroom is the same needs a renovation . Everything you need is in walking distance. Beach very close, so are the shops. Owner always there till 5 pm for questions and directions. For breakfast and lunch , ood cheap food. Tip. Use the rrooftopterrace for sunbathing when it's windy.

Jennifer A KresseRodriguez

Manolis was amazing and so was his team. He told us about a beautiful rustic beach where we snorkeled in crystalline waters right off the shore. There were lots of gorgeous fish. The place was just what we were looking for. The price was incredibly good. It was super quiet. I love Hersonissos- I'm referring to the quiet part where Klery is. I highly recommend the self service restaurant called DAVID. They serve Cretan food and it is so good I'm still dreaming about it.

Celeste Settembre

Very close to the beach and the restaurants. Dirty rooms from the first to the last day of my holiday. Old furniture. I refused to have breakfast in there. A real nightmare.

Zuza W

Very nice hotel, clean rooms with air-co, talkative staff, good prices in the small restaurant (food was not so bad and well-sized portions; I had really cool iced cappuccino) and very close from beach, restaurants and small shops (lidl 10 minutes far by walk).

Roxu Moxu

Nope. Booked this as price was great and rooms looked fine online. Very different in person. We got a room in the annex, AC was extremely old and barely worked, we reported it but didn't hear back. The bathroom was very old and not in a good state. No curtain for the shower so it meant it would kinda flood every time we used it. The shower hook was broken so had to hold it the entire time, it wasn.t dirty but it looked like it wasn't painted and grout on the floor and walls was black. It did the job but Would not visit again.

Samuel Grinsell

When we booked this Hotel it was one of the cheaper options in the area, so we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the rooms and the facilities at the hotel. The staff were lovely and vert attentive. We had food included and were happy with the quality. The rooms had air conditioning included! which was a big plus as most of the time we found this was an extra fee. Rooms were very clean and comfortable. The location is also perfect. As the name suggests you are central to Hersonissos town and also a short uphill walk brings you to the very nice old town! Definitely recommend!

Vladyslav Khmelnyk

We stayed here last year and it was amazing. Great service, wonderful people – especially the bearded man at the reception, the older gentleman from the service team, and the Albanian bartender – greetings to all of you! We wanted to come back this year but unfortunately couldn’t make it. Breakfasts were excellent, the atmosphere during Euro 2024 was fantastic. We really enjoyed the billiards, the bar, the good food, and the perfect location close to everything.

Wahrheit Kommt

Dear Sir or Madam, I would like to share my honest feedback regarding my recent stay at your hotel. We arrived at 11:00 a.m., but unfortunately had to wait until 3:00 p.m. to check in. After a long journey, this was quite inconvenient. When we finally entered the room, we were extremely disappointed. The condition of the room was unacceptable – to the extent that I wouldn't even let my dog in Germany sleep there, and I say that without exaggeration. One of the most concerning issues was the shower. Due to the extremely thin shower curtain, water flowed directly into the room while showering, causing significant mess. In addition, there was visible mold in the shower area. As a result, I felt physically unwell – in fact, I was sick to my stomach, something that has never happened to me in a hotel before. The dining experience was also far from what we expected. Although we had booked half board, we were charged extra for drinks in the evening – a practice I have never encountered in over 25 years of traveling. The quality of the food was disappointing as well; it was neither visually appealing nor appetizing. Even the birds I tried to feed some of it to refused to eat it. I am not someone who complains easily, but in this case, the conditions were so distressing that I felt compelled to speak up. Unfortunately, under these circumstances, I cannot recommend the hotel. I sincerely hope that you take this feedback seriously and take the necessary steps to improve the experience for future guests.

Aleksandar Tasev

Overall experience is like 5 out of 10 because of the stuff who works there.

Graham Wright

⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fantastic three-star hotel that exceeded our expectations We stayed at the Club Lyda Hotel in Kato Gouves, Crete for our honeymoon after a big wedding spend, so we chose a budget-friendly three-star option and arrived with modest expectations. We were very pleasantly surprised. The hotel was clean, well maintained, and the staff were friendly and welcoming from the start. Overall, it offered excellent value for money, and we would happily return. Location The coach drops you on the main road, followed by a short 100-yard walk to the hotel, which wasn’t an issue. A shuttle bus also runs to the beach several times a day. The beach is one of the nicest in the area, around 20–25 minutes’ walk away (or 15 minutes to another section). We also hired a scooter, which made exploring beaches, bars and restaurants very easy. A highlight nearby was the Island Bar, which we visited often. Room We initially stayed in a bungalow-style room, but found it quite warm in the July heat. The hotel quickly moved us without hesitation to a room in the main building overlooking the pool, which made a big difference. The new room was clean, comfortable, and had excellent air conditioning (very welcome in 35°C heat). We also received a complimentary bottle of wine and fruit, a lovely honeymoon touch. Special thanks to Irena for her help with the room change. Pools and entertainment There are three pools (two main pools and a children’s pool), all clean, well maintained, and with plenty of space. Evening entertainment includes karaoke, quizzes and activities, usually finishing around 11:00–11:15pm, which felt like a good balance. Poolside music was present but never intrusive. Food and drinks We were impressed with the food. While there isn’t the huge variety of higher-star resorts, there was always plenty available and it was well cooked, tasty, and regularly replenished, with a grill chef adding variety each evening. Drinks are more limited, but perfectly acceptable for a three-star all-inclusive. Staff and atmosphere The staff were consistently friendly, helpful and professional, creating a relaxed atmosphere with genuine Greek hospitality. The hotel is well maintained, though there are no lifts, which may be worth noting for some guests. Would we return? Yes, absolutely. We chose a three-star hotel to keep costs down after our wedding and felt we made a great decision. The Club Lyda is not a luxury resort, but it delivers clean accommodation, good food, friendly staff, and excellent value for money. The beach distance wasn’t an issue thanks to the shuttle, and having a scooter made exploring easy. Overall, we’d rate it 4 out of 5 and would happily return. Thank you to all the staff for making our honeymoon such a great experience. We had a brilliant stay. 🇬🇷❤️

Adam Jarch

Food was nothing special – repetitive and without much creativity. Definitely don’t come here if you expect any kind of culinary experience. It’s warm, colorful, and there’s plenty of it, but that’s about it. With kids it’s not really a win either – the hotel doesn’t seem to count on families too much. We stayed in September and there were no animations or even basic kids’ facilities. The walk to the sea is quite far and crossing the main road from Heraklion with a stroller felt a bit like an adrenaline sport. The shuttle bus to the beach is fine, but you’re tied to fixed times (10:00, 12:30, 15:00). The beach in Gouves is great when the wind calms down, but after a windy day it was full of seaweed and the waves were rough (end of September). Walks around the hotel are basically impossible – best to rent a car and head somewhere else. For example, Stalis beach is fantastic with kids. On the positive side, the hotel staff were all really kind and friendly. But overall – we probably wouldn’t come back.

Kane Lucas

We had a lovely stay at Club Lyda Hotel and would definitely return. The staff were absolutely fantastic – incredibly friendly and always willing to do whatever they could to make our stay better. They really are the heart of the hotel. The hotel has two large pools with plenty of sunbeds, and best of all, there was no need to rush down in the morning to reserve one. No matter what time we went, beds were available, which made things much more relaxing. There could be a few more umbrellas, but you can easily pick one up from the mini market on site if needed. The food was the only real let-down. While there was variety, it would be nice to have some more simple options. It’s not terrible, but it is the one area where the hotel could really improve. The hotel itself is a little secluded from the main resorts and shops, but everything is still walkable, and there’s a free shuttle to the beach three times a day which is very handy. We also hired a car for a week (€315), and it was brilliant – hassle-free, no push for extra insurance, and a great way to see the island, which is huge. Highly recommend getting a car if you want to explore properly. Our first room was a bit too small, so we paid to upgrade to a one-bedroom apartment which was excellent. Air conditioning is free in the rooms too, which was a nice bonus. Entertainment was minimal, but we stayed at the end of the season, so that might explain it. Overall, ignore the harsh reviews – this is a lovely hotel with wonderful staff, great pools, and good value for money. The food could be improved, but apart from that, it’s well worth a stay.

Oleksandr Tishchenko

I stayed at this hotel, and I must say — it was absolutely wonderful! Despite its rating, the quality of service and experience exceeded all expectations. The food was delicious every single day, and the rooms were always clean and well-maintained. The pools were spotless, and even the outdoor tiles were washed daily — a small detail that really shows their commitment to cleanliness. But what truly made the stay special was the staff. Everyone was incredibly kind, always smiling and ready to help. Special thanks go to a man named Dali — the heart and soul of the evening entertainment. Every night, he hosted Showtime — whether it was a quiz, dance party, or karaoke, he brought great energy and fun to the event. What’s even more impressive is that he speaks (if I’m not mistaken) five languages — definitely French, Greek, English, and German — so conversations flow easily no matter where you’re from. He clearly gives his all to make sure guests are enjoying themselves, and his positive energy is contagious. I truly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a warm, clean, and fun place to stay. Don’t let the 3 stars fool you — this place shines bright!

Adonis dagiadas

Had an amazing stay at Lyda Hotel! The service was excellent, especially Mr. George, who went above and beyond. The space is really big with beautiful pools and plenty of activities to enjoy. The food was delicious and overall, we had a fantastic experience. Highly recommend!

Darja Cigridova

Excellent location, breathtaking views, and very friendly staff. I would especially like to mention Irene. We were initially accommodated in a room above the main building, where it was quite noisy, but Irene kindly arranged for us to move to a quieter building, which made our stay much more comfortable. The food was delicious, with a wide variety of choices and everything prepared to a high standard. The beach is not as far away as some guides suggest. After such generous and tasty meals, the walk to the beach is actually quite pleasant. Car rental is also very affordable. I would highly recommend trying a quad bike tour — the routes and scenery are incredible, unlike anything I have experienced before. The reception staff can help arrange it for you. Overall, we had a wonderful stay and would gladly return in the future.

Patrycja

Absolutely amazing stay ❤️ stunning views and surprisingly delicious food. Fresh and varied every day! Desserts one of the best we ever had at all inclusive stay! 🧁Very clean facilities ( pool, bathrooms by the pool, restaurant). Staff very helpful and friendly! The hotel was quiet, perfect for relaxing and chilling (may). Definitely worth paying little extra for the sea view (we stayed in room 743). Stunning beach nearby( hotel bus will take you there)Things to improve: mattress hard and uncomfortable, bathroom cleanliness( quite dirty on arrival). We will definitely come back ❤️

libaan sharif

We had an amazing stay at Hotel & Village Panorama. The hotel was excellent, with great rooms, good facilities, and a welcoming atmosphere throughout our holiday. What really made the experience special was the incredible staff, who were always friendly, hardworking, and happy to help. A special thank you to the entertainment team, who brought so much energy and fun every day. They worked tirelessly to make sure guests were having a great time, and their enthusiasm was contagious. Eddy, who led the team, was especially outstanding. He was always approachable, professional, and incredibly helpful, making everyone feel welcome and included. The service from all departments was excellent, and the staff genuinely cared about making our stay memorable. We would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a relaxing and enjoyable holiday, and we would happily return in the future. Thank you to Eddy and the entire team for making our stay so special! 😊

Sergej M

Very nice hotel , only 20 minutes by taxi from Heraclion airport. Very friendly staff. Nice and clean. Good food. Literally home made. Still looks like new speaking about the buildings and rooms. Free buses to the beach and Heraclion (return) Worth an attention 💯

Turtle

The place is beautiful and the staff are lovely and very helpful. Came across a small problem and they where solved instantly with extras added (free meal in the restuarant in the hotel). I would certainly recommend coming here. There is a shop for any needs in the hotel. The food every day is lovely with lots to choose from. Just down the road there are 2 scenic beaches and the water is clear and full of fish life ( you will have to go up and down hills but it isnt all bad. You get great views along the way) The hotel itself has 3 public pools to choose from, each offering a different vibe. Thank you very much to Irene and the other lovely lady behind reception

Denis Gündes

Wonderful stay! Very friendly staff, a delicious breakfast buffet, and a great pool. I stayed for two nights and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended!

Pim G

We had an absolutely fantastic week at Villa Oliva! From start to finish, Dora and her team made us feel so welcome, we can’t praise them enough for being some of the warmest, friendliest, and most genuine people we’ve ever met. Breakfast was lovely, with a nice selection of eggs, coffee, and a small but tasty buffet. The pool area was also great — not too crowded, and there was no need to fight for sun loungers! The hotel is conveniently located close to shops and restaurants, and there’s a very good bakery nearby as well. If we could make one small suggestion, it would be to improve the soundproofing to help reduce road noise and perhaps add some relaxing lounge music in the common areas to enhance the atmosphere even more. Overall, we truly enjoyed our stay and would happily return. Thank you, Dora and the Villa Oliva team, for a wonderful holiday!

Eloise Jones

We had an amazing week long vacation at Grecotel Villa Olivia!! The rooms were lovely and have everything that you will need. The location was also perfect as it was walking distance to the beach, restaurants etc. The staff were also incredible, especially Anna who gave us so many recommendations of places to visit and eat! Looking forward to staying again!

matt percy

Stayed for a week here and loved it! Pool is secluded and at the back of the property unlike many others we walked past on the main road. The staff are exceptional, welcoming and knowledgeable about the local area. There are places to eat within immediate vicinity and a 1.5km walk towards Rethymno will bring you to a busier area with more places to eat. Access to the beach is just across the road. This place is an absolute gem with no overcrowding, as it’s part of the Grecotel chain it has high standards to uphold and does so! Staff to mention include: Dora, Anna, Manos and Dimo.

Stijn van Calker

A lovely place to stay! The staff was very kind and welcoming. They are interested in there guests and have great recommendation adapted to your holiday wishes. A great accommondation to stay, thank you for being our hosts!

Philippa Mander

Amazing hotel! Arrived around midnight & the guy on reception was so friendly & helpful, took us to our room. The room was lovely very clean & spacious. There was a large bottle of water and a plate of food...sandwiches etc in the fridge for us which was such a lovely gesture and welcomed. The hotel is on a hill away from the main road so nice & quiet but only a 5 min walk in to the town & to the beach. The food was really good, has themed nights including a crete night with dancing ! The hotel is very clean, quiet and the staff so friendly & helpful! Would definitely recommend and come again.

Andreas Lidén

Great place if you want a quite smaller hotel with all inclusive. The breakfast buffet stays pretty much the same but has great variety. Lunch and dinner is always something new and keeps a very good standard. Very clean hotel!

QAS

The hotel was very good. The room was spacious, nicely presented, and comfortable. The area was peaceful, and the food was excellent. The staff was exceptionally helpful and attentive. There were many friendly cats around the hotel, which was a lovely touch. The hotel wasn’t far from the beach, you could easily walk there in 5 to 7 minutes, and the beach was never overcrowded, with some spots even quite empty. There were also many supermarkets and plenty of activities nearby. The only minor drawbacks were that the pool was often crowded, and on one occasion, the room cleaning took longer than expected.

Lobster WRLD

AYYYYYYYY HOMIES! That place I went, to — sheeeeeshh. Everything about it was AMAZING, no cap! Let's start with the rooms, youre getting what you payed for absolutely, 100% worth it, bathroom was very clean and nice, everything was clean, the cleaning lady who comes every day is friendly fasho. The service? These guys are real friendly, nothing to complain about. Location? Lowkey goated. It's close to a beach, close to a shop (I'm gonna warn all yall tourists that boutta go to Greece, these small shops might look normal, but many of them sell some disgusting, inappropriate souvenirs and magnets where kids can see it all, so just a small warning if you're coming at this exact place in Crete, SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE!). Now let's focus on the positives, cause I can only talk about positive stuff in the sunrise village hotel. You basically get a big ahh swimming pool where your can spend time with the lil ones, beach bar is goated, everything you need. Now one of the best things about the place that 100% makes it worth it. The food dawgssss 😍😍😍😍. Like no cap, I loved the food whilst there, there was something for everyone, they got like unique stuff every day (when I came there was mexican food, then next day was Italian I guess and Asian, it was real unique) 😸 loved the breakfast options, truly amazing. I was once kicked out of the restaurant for being shirtless 😿 can't flex anymore bruv

Sharon Tyson

We enjoyed our stay here and we would go back but there are a couple of things that need to be improved open the bathroom is kept very clean but it's very dated and needs re grouting. In the evenings it's so quiet from 9pm on entertainment nights and all night on other evenings. We did very much enjoy the food especially on special nights and the bar staff were great especially the day bar man and the evening cocktail man his cocktails were the best. All the staff we encountered were all very polite and friendly.

Lucy Bird

We had a wonderful week staying at this lovely small hotel in Crete. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel so welcome by the amazing staff. A special thank you to Elena, Stavros and Sache, who were all incredibly friendly, attentive and always happy to help. The hotel is in a fantastic location, with a beautiful pebble beach just across the road. On the calmer days, the sea was easy to get into. Wearing a pair of Crocs made it simple to walk over the pebbles and reach the sandy part of the seabed, where swimming was lovely. One of our favourite things about the hotel was the incredibly comfortable sunbeds, making it easy to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The whole atmosphere was warm and friendly, and it really felt like a home away from home. The food was excellent throughout our stay, with plenty of variety at breakfast, lunch and dinner, so there was always something to suit everyone’s tastes. The hotel also provided entertainment on three evenings each week, which was a lovely way to spend the evenings without feeling overwhelming. One evening, we caught the bus into Chania, which was so easy as the bus stop is directly outside the hotel. The last return bus was at 11:45pm, giving us plenty of time to explore. Chania’s Old Town is absolutely beautiful, with its picturesque harbour, charming streets and lots of lovely tourist shops to wander around. Overall, we had a fantastic holiday and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a relaxing, friendly stay in Crete. We would happily return!

Rita S

We had a very pleasant stay at Maleme Mare Hotel. The property is very clean and recently renovated, which makes the overall atmosphere fresh and comfortable. It is more of a quiet, adults-oriented hotel, with very few children, making it ideal for a calm and relaxing holiday. The swimming pools are not heated, but this was not an issue for us. During the day, until around 6 p.m., the water temperature was very comfortable for swimming. The pools also have different depths, and there are inflatable rings available for guests, which is a nice touch. The food was varied and well-prepared, with different options every day. Additionally, snacks such as pizza and sandwiches are available throughout the day, so it is easy to stay satisfied at any time. A special mention goes to Elena, a staff member at the hotel, who was exceptionally kind and helpful. She truly listened to guests’ needs and made an effort to ensure everyone felt cared for. Her attitude made a noticeable positive difference in the stay.

Kellie Allan

Suvh a lovely family friendly hotel with the most amazing staff. Stone beach across the road with a few restaurants and shops close by. Everything you might need. Bus easy to take to chania one way or kolymbari the other. Very relaxing holiday.

Craig Allan

Here we go an update on the previous review. This has to be one of the best hotels in Crete!! The staff are as welcoming as always and work very hard to keep everyone happy, which is a task by itself considering the high heat temperature they get. The pool is absolutely amazing. No words can describe how much we loved it. So again to all the Maleme staff we will see you next year and thanks again.

Vasile Glagolevschi

Great hotel, tasty food, chill, sea across the road, pebble beach which is big plus for me, great staff and the owner of the hotel has a great heart and is a very good and humble man!