Mat Hanszke
We stayed at Domes Aulūs Zante in August as a family of four and overall had a very positive experience.
From arrival, everything was smooth. The hotel arranged our private transfer, our luggage was taken care of straight away, and check-in was easy. The reception team were genuinely helpful throughout the stay.
Our daughter became unwell during the holiday and when we called reception at 4am, they contacted a local medical centre and arranged transport for us. Afterwards, staff kept asking how she was doing, and one day while she was resting in the room with her mum, they even brought up colouring books, donuts and orange juice. That was a really thoughtful touch and something we appreciated a lot.
The biggest strengths of the hotel are definitely the staff, food and service. Staff were friendly and attentive even during a very busy August week. At the buffet we were always greeted, shown to a table and offered water straight away. The food was varied, fresh and consistently very good.
We also ate in several of the à la carte restaurants and the food there was excellent. They can be difficult to reserve through the QR system, particularly in peak season, but reception were very helpful in finding availability for us where possible. Even without the à la carte restaurants, we were very happy with the buffet.
I had read some comments about cups and glasses being left around the beach, but that wasn’t our experience at all. There were staff regularly walking around clearing tables and collecting empty glasses throughout the day.
The pool area was also well managed. Towels were available from around the time the pool opened (10:00) and were restocked throughout the day. We never felt there was a real shortage.
The only frustration for us was the behaviour of some guests around the pool. Despite the hotel having a no-reservation policy, some people were out early leaving towels on cabanas and prime poolside loungers. That said, we still found plenty of places to sit later in the morning, particularly away from the most popular poolside spots, so it never became a serious problem.
The hotel itself is an older property and some areas do show their age slightly. Our room was clean, serviced every day and the minibar was restocked daily. The overall feel is perhaps more of a four-star property in terms of the physical buildings and facilities, but the service, staff and food were five-star.
Overall, Domes Aulūs Zante is a very good family resort with excellent food, genuinely caring staff and very good service. The people working there made the biggest difference to our holiday, and we would absolutely recommend it.
Glen White
Domes Zakynthos is a nice resort style hotel on a lovely property and it’s probably one of the nicer places to stay on the island.
It’s close to 5 star as the rooms are great, it’s got all the facilities inc a great spa, the massage team are brilliant.
But there are a few bits that could be significantly improved - the main pool, the food and overall the service.
The main pool is nice but the sun-beds are old and the umbrella’s are not sunblocks. The bar service is non existent, guys that show zero interest in any quality service, the spirits are cheap and the food is non existent, probably the worst part of the hotel, more 3 star.
The booking system isn’t easy so book your restaurants well in advance or you won’t get in and that then means the dreaded buffet.
Breakfast offers huge choice but again no service, get you own everything. Food quality is poor and nearer the end of the session, everything is cold as it’s been out hours, they done seem to replenish well at all.
Dinner (6-10pm) was worse, a huge choice but if you eat later the food is like warm, and it all looks like slop.
I enjoyed the hotel, the beach is great, probably best for families but I wouldn’t go back given how poor the service was.
Note to Management & Marriott - you promote this as an Autograph property and 5 star - it really wasn’t 5 star so much improvement needed.
Karine Vermeulen
Our stay at Domes Aulūs Zante was overall a wonderful experience. The resort is beautifully located right on the beach, famous for the protected Caretta caretta sea turtles, which made the setting feel truly unique and special. Waking up to the sea view and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere around the bay was unforgettable.
The food was excellent as well, with plenty of variety, fresh dishes, and something delicious for everyone. In addition, the staff was friendly, and the entire resort was clean and well-maintained. The rooms were clean and comfortable. The bathroom in the room was quite small, which was sometimes a bit inconvenient. The water pressure in the shower could also have been better, and the water temperature was not always stable. Despite these minor issues, we genuinely enjoyed our stay. The stunning beachfront location, the beautiful surroundings, and the excellent service more than made up for them. We would definitely recommend Domes Aulūs Zante to anyone looking for a luxurious and peaceful getaway on Zakynthos, especially with the unique experience of staying near the Caretta caretta turtles.
Feel 100%
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Aulūs Chania is the kind of place that makes you slow down the moment you arrive. The architecture is stunning, earthy tones, natural textures, beautiful landscaping and sea views throughout. I genuinely came home with photos for house inspiration.
My room was spacious, beautifully designed, and those pillows deserve their own five-star review. The whole resort has a calm, peaceful energy that makes you want to put your phone down and just breathe.
I visited shortly after opening, and while the team are still finding their rhythm, everyone was warm, friendly and genuinely trying their best, which honestly matters more to me than perfection.
Would I return? Without question. If you're looking for a luxury wellness reset in Crete with stunning design and a truly relaxing atmosphere, Aulūs Chania is a beautiful choice.
Chris
My partner and I had such a wonderful stay at this hotel from start to finish. We were warmly greeted on arrival and incredibly well looked after by Dimitri, who made us feel so welcome throughout our trip. Our room was absolutely lovely — very spacious, comfortable, and perfect for relaxing after long days in the sun.
The real highlight of the stay was definitely the food. The hotel offers four à la carte restaurants — Italian, Asian, Maze, and Greek street-style — alongside the main buffet restaurant, so there was always plenty of variety. Every meal felt like a great experience because the staff were so attentive and everything was always taken care of so well. We especially want to mention Leon for his exceptional customer service — he truly went above and beyond!
The daily buffet, available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, always felt fresh and varied, with lots of delicious Greek specialties to try. The themed Italian and Greek nights at the buffet were a particular highlight for us.
The hotel is also located on a private part of the beach, which made it so peaceful and beautiful to relax by the sea. There’s also an amazing spa, a very modern gym, and a lovely pool area. During our stay, the hotel never felt overcrowded, and there was always enough space for everyone to enjoy themselves comfortably.
Another thing we loved was the selection of bars around the hotel — especially the slushies from the beach bar! The cocktails at the evening bar were also excellent: strong, generous in size, and very enjoyable.
Overall, we had such a wonderful trip and would happily return. The atmosphere throughout the hotel was lovely, with a nice mix of couples, young families, and solo travellers, which created a really relaxed and welcoming vibe.
