Angela Stewart
Out second visit to the Grand Hotel our first being 7 years ago and then again sept 2025
We received such a warm welcome at reception even though our flight had been delayed and it was very late. We were also given a bottle of water each and a bag with a sandwich and snack seeing as everything was closed.
The place is very clean in all areas. It was lovely to go to the dining hall and see some staff were still there from a previous visit. Again such a welcome as if you are a friend they haven't seen in while. Every meal time there is plenty to choose from, always quickly replenished and always something being cooked to order at the chef station.
We dont have kids with us but we have walked past the kids club which is bright and fun looking. They even have a small pool for the babies/toddlers which has a snack bar serving great food if you want a change of dining at lunch or snacks through the day. The main pool is often busy with entertainment again the kids looked like they were enjoying the entertainer as were some of the adults. The adult pool was peaceful and when we were there we never had any problems with children trying to use it. But with 3 other pools they wouldn't have the need. Plenty of loungers available throughout the day. Water slide pool is always worth a visit and they have a good system of tracking who's in. Good safety in place with age and sunglasses, hats etc also another snack bar with smaller selection available.
We enjoyed some of the music in the evening at the bar and at the amphitheatre there is something different on most nights throughout the week.
Location for us is perfect, we enjoy the walk into hersonisis although there is a bus stop right outside. We also enjoy the walk into Stalis but again the hotel provides a bus service for this.
The rooms are clean and comfortable but probably a bit dated. If at a push we had acomplaint it would be that there is only one plug point and it's used for the fridge. In order to charge any electrical devices we have to take turns and unplug the fridge. I understand that is something that has changed over time that we are more reliant on needing power points that they just don't have.
We like the walk up to the rooms although all those years ago we were right at the top and always walked it. This time we were very grateful to be about half way up and it wasn't such a walk. However again there is call buttons to get your ride to your room area.
We didn't use the spa although the girls did come around the pool area offering demonstrations and they seemed very welcoming.
I would absolutely recommend the Grand Hotel. We are returning again in September now for the 3rd time and I hope to see some familiar faces.
Fiona Hewetson
This was my second time staying at the Grand Hotel in Crete, and once again, it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I arrived, I felt so welcomed. The management even surprised me with a complimentary bottle of wine and a beautiful bowl of fruit, which was such a lovely and thoughtful touch.
The food is absolutely amazing, with a great variety to suit everyone. There are even ice creams available for both children and adults, which is a nice extra treat during the day.
I love the choice of swimming pools – there are plenty to choose from, so you can always find somewhere to relax. The spa is absolutely lovely, and I would highly recommend the massages. The products they use smell incredible, making the whole experience even more relaxing and luxurious.
The staff truly make this hotel stand out. Maria is exceptional and goes above and beyond to help with anything you need. Every single member of staff is friendly, attentive, and genuinely cares about making your stay special.
The hotel also provides transport to and from the beach, which makes everything very convenient. There’s lots to do in the local area too, although having a car is helpful if you want to explore further.
Overall, I had another fantastic stay and would highly recommend staying here. I will definitely be returning again!
Reinz “Bunny” G
We recently returned from the Grand Hotel, and it was an excellent experience. It’s an affordable all-inclusive hotel with a friendly and polite staff. The room cleaners were always doing an excellent job, keeping the rooms very clean and tidy.
The food was good, as expected from an all-inclusive buffet. However, our favorite part of the hotel was the splash bar on the hill. The bartender there was incredibly polite and helpful.
The breakfast buffet was amazing, and it was our favorite meal of the trip. We also booked an el carte Italian and Greek meal, but we preferred the Greek el carte.
Most of the guests at the hotel were French, and the only entertainment options were the aqua gym and darts. The pool was a major downside, as the water temperature was almost unbearable. The wifi was also almost nonexistent, except for the premium wifi that I received at reception, which only provided about 1 Mbps. This made it difficult to watch anything with the wifi.
Overall, the Grand Hotel is a great place to stay, and we would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable and enjoyable all-inclusive vacation.
Food 9/10
Staff 10/10
Drinks 10/10
Entertainment 3/10
Wifi 1/10
Pool 4/10
Sonia Casaburi
Overall experience was disappointing in several aspects, despite the property being very beautiful and aesthetically well maintained.
Room cleanliness was unfortunately very poor throughout most of the stay. On many days we found the floor not properly cleaned, hair in the bathtub, and bed sheets not always changed. On one occasion the room was not cleaned at all and we simply found towels arranged in a decorative way without any real cleaning being done. Even the bathroom was not cleaned regularly.
In addition, in-room services were inconsistent: coffee, tea, and glasses were often not restocked, and we had to request them multiple times at reception.
Regarding the food, the overall quality was not bad for Italian guests, and every day there was something freshly prepared by the chef that was really good and well done. In general, it was always possible to find enjoyable and varied dishes, which made the experience less heavy.
The best part of the entire property was definitely the restaurant staff, especially at lunch. Maria, Kostas, and their entire team were exceptional: always kind, helpful, and professional, and they clearly do their job with passion and dedication, significantly improving our experience.
We stayed for two days feeling unwell, and in this situation Maria took great care of us, helping us directly and making sure we felt better.
On the other hand, part of the hotel staff, especially at the reception, showed poor attitude and a general lack of availability in assisting guests. In one specific situation, a receptionist was particularly rude and unprofessional, even laughing in our faces while we were asking for assistance, which we found unacceptable.
Parking was also a significant issue. Despite having rented a car through the hotel’s on-site rental desk, collected the same evening directly at the property, we constantly had difficulties finding a space in the two available parking areas. We were often told the parking was full, while in reality several spots were clearly available. On some occasions, the staff parking area was completely empty in the evening, yet we were still denied access.
A positive note goes to the pool staff and the internal bar staff, who were always kind and friendly. Also, special thanks to the spa massage therapists Giulia and Giorgia, who were very skilled and professional.
Overall, the 14-night stay was still made more pleasant thanks to the quality of the food and especially the kindness and professionalism of the restaurant staff, which partially compensated for the issues encountered. The property has great potential, but several organisational and management problems significantly affected the overall experience.
Joanna Budzynska
The staff is a big asset to this place - very friendly, professional and willing to help. Rooms are spotless, clean towels and sheets everyday. Good selection of food, although breakfast buffet quite repetitive. Close to shops and bus stop just outside the door. We had lovely, relaxing, carefree stay.