3 Star Crete Holidays

Karrell

If you know what’s good for you, avoid this place at all costs. Having to pay €60 for something as basic as air conditioning upon arrival, €10 to use their very shoddy internet and having to replace the toilet paper and shower gel yourself when it’s finished. Not accommodating at all! Absolutely ridiculous! In my room the TV was not working, the shower was not working and there my room was only cleaned once even though I stayed for a week! The staff were very rude too, we felt unwelcome and uncomfortable. Paid extra for the breakfast not knowing that it is only turkey and cheese slices. Only woke up for breakfast for one day and never again. The only good thing about the hotel is that it was so bad it encouraged us to stay out and enjoy the beautiful city of Malia. Avoid at all costs!!!

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.

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.

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

Garry Jones

Where do I start. My mrs and I booked here as a last minute getaway. Bed, Breakfast and evening meal. The room was dirty and I asked for it to be cleaned to which they dud next day. The breakfast was really nice if you just like toast. Evening meal consisted of potatoes with slimy juice. At the end of the holiday they charged us €20 to clean tue sheet and as I said what do you expect when you've not changed them all week. Avoid Avoid Avoid there again you get what you pay for.

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. 👍

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.

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.

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).

Kiras Rož

We were put in the building opposite the reception, the rooms were bad. I could not put it in a lighter way. The shower would get clogged a lot, it was small and water would get everywhere, the floor would basically be a pool no matter how careful you were. The rooms looked 10 times better online than in person. It just looks old and not taken care of properly, I expected more from the pictures the travel agency showed. Some staff were pretty dry and unbothered, one time we asked for a breakfast box because we had leave at 6 for a trip and they did not even put us on the list (however one of the nicer staff was very apologetic about this). The only good thing about the food was the vegetables as they are very fresh and some days they had good chicken, other than that the food was mediocre at best. No drinks are included in the dinner which was also disappointing, what is the trend with hotels not including drinks in the dinner plan? The location is good though since it is close to the beach, bars, souvenir stores and supermarkets. So really the only good part is the location. If you don't care much about the hotel then it will work for you, but if you want something cleaner look for some place else.

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.

Justyna Brożonowicz

We just got back from a really nice family vacation at Club Lyda Hotel in Greece. To be honest, we didn't expect much since it’s a budget-friendly 3-star hotel, but we were pleasantly surprised! The hotel isn’t brand new, but it’s clean, well-kept, and gave us exactly what we needed for a good price. Our room was surprisingly spacious, had working AC, and a terrace where we could see the sea. Everyone was really nice, and the cleaning team worked incredibly fast. There are 3 pools (including a tiny one for toddlers). Plus, there's a mini-market right on-site and two more shops just across the road. There is a bus stop and a car rental place right nearby. We also skipped the hotel's beach shuttle and walked about 15 minutes to a quieter, slightly wilder beach. The loungers by the pools were almost always taken, though we managed to snap a few a couple of times. We didn't really check out the entertainment/animation program, but overall, we had a blast. If you don't expect 5-star luxury for a 3-star price, Club Lyda is a wonderful choice for a budget family holiday. Definitely recommended!

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. 🇬🇷❤️

Paul Cheers

Lyda in Gouves Creek looks lovely from the outside, but we didn’t stay there, we were across the road at Rena Apartments, where we regularly met guests from Lyda who came over in the evenings for food and drinks. Almost every night, people would mention how disappointing their experience at Lyda had been. The feedback was consistent: poor food offerings, limited drink choices on the all‑inclusive package, and an atmosphere that didn’t feel welcoming. In contrast, Rena Apartments offered a much better selection of food, a friendlier and authentic Greek atmosphere, and guests genuinely seemed happier with their stay. After hearing so many similar comments, we actually felt quite lucky that we ended up at Rena instead. The cost of staying at Lyda seems excessive for the level of service people described, and the experiences shared by guests simply didn’t match the appearance of the hotel. A beautiful‑looking place, but based on what we heard night after night, the overall experience doesn’t live up to expectations. I think other people’s recommendations speaks for itself.

Lasma Lasenberga

As a family holiday perfect choice. Location is quite and good if you want to enjoy fun family time. If you want to attend the clubs and party all night then chose different places to stay. Staff always smiling and very helpful. Most of time we spent in the hotel and enjoyed the pool. Food and drinks very good and tasty, even my 9year old liked the food and she's a picky eater, but for the first time she enjoyed the food and was looking forward for meal times. The only thing what could make it better is let use pool at least for adults till 10pm. Rooms cleaned daily. If you want drinks afterwards there's a shop at the hotel so you can get anything from there. Definitely would recommend this hotel if you enjoy peace and quiet family relaxing holidays. Music played daily near pool and beer free of charge available. What else you need. Pharmacy is walking distance away from the hotel if needed, beach shuttle 3 times a day. What else you want. Mostly stayed at the poolside and enjoyed nice weather and music. Pool has a deeper end for adults and shallow end for the kids. Can buy a floaty aswell to use in the pool. Thank you to the staff. You are the best.🥰

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.

Deborah Porter

Just back from an amazing 2 week holiday with family. Beautiful location overlooking 2 bays which are a lovely walk down to but need a taxi to get back unless you are superfit. We had a sea view room which balcony which had amazing views . Hotel kept spotlessly clean in all areas and staff work so hard keeping it that way. Our room was kept pristine by Kristina with fresh bedding and towels, also very trustworthy as I always leave watches and jewellery around forgetting to put it away.The staff at the hotel are absolutely wonderful, it's like coming home to such a warm welcome. Irene, Maria , Angel and Yannis are an asset to the hotel as they speak a variety of languages and are very knowledgeable on the area and places to visit around Crete. A huge variety of delicious food, plenty of choice for vegetarians and meat eaters, always a fish option as well. Great salad and desert bars. A great team of waiters and waitresses who always have a smile when they greet you including Manos the maitre de who is a lovely man .Great choice of drinks and fab barstaff, Maria, Yohanna and Manos during the day and Aris and his great staff on a night. Young George who takes guests to the rooms and carries your cases speaks great English for such a young man and is very polite and cheerful. Greek nights with live bands and dancing which is great fun,also quiz and bingo nights. The a la carte restaurant has a great menu which is delicious with outstanding views and sometimes entertainment, depends on what night you dine. The shop in the hotel sells a variety of goods including drinks, sweets ,chocs , bags, clothing and toiletries . Olga and her staff are so friendly and always remember you . As returning guests we cannot wait for our next visit, roll on the good times.

Eliz Semenko

The food is delicious and the staff is super friendly, especially Maria, who always provided excellent service during our meals 🫰. She was always kind, attentive and made us feel very welcome. We really liked the hotel's location. The view is beautiful, and the atmosphere is very peaceful and relaxing. If you want to go down to the sea, it's only a couple of minutes by bus, so it's very convenient to enjoy both the beautiful surroundings and the beach. Overall, we had a really pleasant stay and enjoyed our time here. Everything was comfortable, the staff were lovely, and we felt very welcome throughout our stay. We would definitely be happy to come back again! ❤️

sarah henderson

My mum and I had a wonderful stay at the Panorama Hotel in Agia Pelagia. From the moment we arrived, everything was well organised, and the whole holiday ran smoothly. The catering was excellent, with plenty of delicious food and great service throughout. A very special mention must go to the amazing manager, Emmanuel, and his lovely team — Maria on the bar and Maria, Cleopatra and Eleni in the dinning room. They were all so welcoming, friendly and attentive, and truly went above and beyond to make our stay special and memorable. We had a fantastic, relaxing and enjoyable family holiday and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. A huge thank you to Emmanuel and the entire team for making our time at the Panorama Hotel so wonderful. We would absolutely love to return!

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! 😊

HelenWhite

Nice place. We had a family vacation. Good food and friendly staff. There is entertainment for children: Nino is very attentive and nice, the children had fun and were interested. Thank you for a great vacation.

Марина Чернова

Spacious and clean rooms, well-groomed area with pool and sunbeds, sunbeds were always available during the pool hours. Special thanks to Nino, great animation for children and aqua aerobics for adults. Diverse food and generally friendly staff.

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.

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.

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!

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!

יוסי מרגלית

Very nice hotel, very warm staff, not noisy, nice pool and garden, easy parking, good breakfast

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.

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.

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!

irene bond

This is a gem of a hotel! The staff are all amazing, the location is beautiful, right on the sea front. The place is so peaceful. It says 'arrive as a guest, leave as a friend ' which is so true, we now feel like family!!

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.