Andreea Gurita
Disappointing Experience – Not Worthy of 5 Stars
I recently stayed at this hotel in Crete and, unfortunately, my experience did not meet the expectations of a 5-star resort.
Starting from the first day, I encountered something completely unacceptable: in the minibar fridge of my room, there were a few bottles of water – one of which was filled with seawater. Whether this was a prank by previous guests or not, it is the hotel’s responsibility to ensure the room is properly checked and everything is safe and appropriate for new arrivals. This was a serious oversight and a very poor first impression.
The food was consistently below the standard one would expect from a 5-star establishment. Often of very low quality and not fresh, it simply didn’t match the setting or the promises made. Even basic details, such as serving cold water at breakfast during the hot summer season, were overlooked – the water was always warm.
As for the staff, my experience was mixed. The older staff members were often unpleasant and, at times, irrational in their approach. Thankfully, the younger team members showed more kindness and professionalism, which was appreciated.
It’s truly a shame, because the hotel is in a beautiful location with great potential. Sadly, the poor service and lack of attention to detail ruined what should have been a relaxing holiday. I found myself counting down the days until I could return home – just to enjoy a simple, good coffee.
I’m not sure if this reflects the general standard in Greece, or if I was simply unlucky with this stay. But for a hotel that claims to be five-star, this experience was deeply disappointing.
Jim Marshall
We stayed at the Athena palace well here we go !!!
They definitely don’t like the Brit’s rude staff the food I’ve seen better meat served up at London zoo for the animals hygiene what hygiene they had a magic cloth that cleans every table that they keep in there pocket no multi surface cleaner in sight tables always sticky the wine like vinegar everything was the cheapest they could buy
5 star no way 2.5 and that’s being generous all animations are in French so we are not included and cannot join in adult quite pool well again rules very slack children in pool there’s a sign to say no smoking around the pool but the French just left dirty ashtrays under sun beds the sun beds where never cleaned they where dirty I’m surprised people where not ill with Covid room was cleaned every day and the rooms are a long way from dinner hall all up steep hills I must just say the food was the same every day chicken I think and maybe pork what don’t get eaten one day will return the next it could be made into something else or even be served up dry as a bone honestly the food was **** please don’t put yourself through this remember it’s ment to be a enjoyable holiday this place is punishment
!!!!!!
Ligia Cano
The only positive thing I can say about this hotel is that the view is absolutely stunning. It's a real shame that everything else falls so short.
Of all the all-inclusive resorts I've ever stayed at (and they are many), this was by far the worst experience. The activities are only is French. The afternoon snacks are incredibly limited, usually consisting of sad, reheated pizza that's been sitting out all day and stale cookies.
The lack of pool chairs and umbrellas is a major problem. There are nowhere near enough for the number of guests, which leads to a daily battle for a spot. For our first two days, we had to sit on regular dining chairs with our 2-year-old because there were no lounge chairs available. On the third day, we finally got one by going to the pool very early. But then, in an attempt to "solve" the problem of guests reserving chairs, the hotel took a ridiculous approach. We were at the pool for just an hour, and when we returned, our belongings had been thrown aside and other people were sitting in our spot. The staff told us that reserving chairs wasn't allowed, which is an absurd way to treat paying guests, specially considering we were in the pool!!!
To top it all off, the hotel has lots of stairs and is definitely not child-friendly. There isn't even a playground, making it a very difficult place to be with a toddler. The transfer to and from the hotel to the beach is also extremely unsafe. It's done in an improvised truck with no doors, and it's so overcrowded that people are forced to stand while the vehicle is in motion.
jan valjent
Stayed: August 2025
Athina Palace is a resort you’ll fall in love with from the moment you arrive. The complex of charming, stand-alone apartments is set on a breathtaking cliff, offering panoramic views of both sunrise and sunset. Every view from the resort feels like a postcard.
We were warmly welcomed at reception by smiling, lovely ladies — a greeting that instantly made us feel like VIP guests. Our room overlooked both the main pool and the sea, was well equipped, and featured an absolutely superb bed — a 30 cm thick foam mattress, medium firmness, measuring 200×200 cm. Honestly, that bed deserves a review of its own!
During check-in, the staff noticed that my wife’s birthday was the very next day. They offered us a reservation at the almost fully booked à la carte restaurant. After a wonderful dinner, the entire team came to our table with a cake and sang “Happy Birthday” to her. It was a touching and beautiful moment that we will always remember.
Pools & Beach:
Two quiet, adults-only pools near the main building, with a bar and a friendly bartender who can cater to almost any request.
A larger, livelier pool with a children’s section is located in the center of the complex, alongside another bar and a dining area for lunch, with a genuine Greek à la carte taverna upstairs.
The beach with blue flag is about a 15-minute walk downhill, but for those who prefer not to walk, a free shuttle service runs throughout the resort. The small, picturesque bay has crystal-clear water, a gentle entrance to the sea, and plenty of sun loungers. Thanks to the location of the beach, there was never a red flag during our stay — even on windy days when swimming was not possible elsewhere in Crete.
Food: The food was excellent. Breakfast was generous and varied — everything you could possibly want was on offer. We mostly enjoyed the traditional Greek dishes, which were outstanding. The à la carte restaurant was of a very good standard, with a menu that pleasantly surprised us.
Staff: The team worked like a well-oiled machine, yet never in a mechanical way — there was genuine warmth and care in their approach. From the first to the last day, we felt truly valued as guests. There is also a car rental office in the lobby of the main building, with prices starting at €60 per day.
Summary: Athina Palace is a place I highly recommend. I rarely return to the same destination twice, but this is one resort I would be delighted to visit again.
Saszet Szilárd
This place is amazing, its a hotel built on an entire hill, which can be sometimes steep, espcially if you dont take the bus up to the top :), and yes there are 2 ways of reaching the front desk and the restaurant area from the beach, my favourite, on foot giing up a lot of stairs(did that several times a day) or by bus. The beach is small and a hidden gem, the water is clear and nice, its all in a small gulf. The rooms in the hotel are very lovely, the beds are super comfy and the food at the restaurant is super delicious, best all inclusive i had till now, recommending this one to all.Also ita worth renting a car and visiting the beautiful island of crete
My Booking
