Out of the Blue Resort

Relaxing facial and massage from Lefteris, if staying longer woukd definitely book a sports massage with him The daily yoga, Pilates and stretch sessions were great, fabulous teacher in most beautiful setting All inclusive food is varied and good quality, loved the Italian restaurant on the cliff side (2 special restaurants per 1 week break) Decor in rooms is glitz ?80s so dated but clean and comfortable. Private beach with sunbed included and buffet there too Half hour from Heraklion airport

We have recently returned from Out of the Blue Resort and wanted to leave an honest and balanced review.

Firstly, I would like to say that the staff throughout the resort are exceptional. Every member of the team we encountered was welcoming, hardworking and professional. A special mention goes to Olga on Reception, Christos, and the staff in the main restaurant, who were always attentive and friendly.

The person who truly deserves recognition is Marina from Customer Relations. She is an absolute credit to the hotel. Her communication, professionalism and genuine care for guests were exceptional. She did everything she possibly could within the options available to her and consistently went above and beyond. Thank you, Marina.

The hotel is advertised as a five-star resort; however, in our opinion, it currently falls short of that standard, more like a low 4* It has so much potential, but it is desperately in need of refurbishment and attention to detail. Many areas feel very dated, and some investment would make a huge difference.

The grounds and gardens are absolutely beautiful, with an abundance of blossoms, mature trees and greenery. They are exceptionally well maintained and create a lovely setting. The resort is built into the mountainside, however, so there are many steep slopes and steps throughout. Guests with walking or mobility difficulties may find this challenging.

The main pool area could also be improved. There are three decorative fountains that look as though they would be a fantastic feature, but throughout our stay they were never switched on. It would really enhance the atmosphere if they were operating.

The shortage of sunbeds is another issue. If you want any choice, you need to be reserving one before 7am. Around the pool bar in the late afternoon it becomes extremely busy, with very few seats available, and the amount of cigarette smoke can make it uncomfortable to sit there.

The entertainment seemed to be aimed predominantly at the French clientele, despite the hotel welcoming guests from many different countries. A more inclusive entertainment programme would make the evenings more enjoyable for everyone.

Food was certainly one of the highlights. The main restaurant offers an excellent variety of dishes, all beautifully presented. The desserts are particularly outstanding, both in presentation and taste. We also dined at the Italian restaurant, which is worth visiting for its stunning sunset views alone, and the Greek restaurant, where the food was delicious. Unfortunately, we found the Burger House disappointing, both in terms of the food and the overall décor and ambience.

Our accommodation was a mixed experience. Our first room was in one of the older blocks and was extremely dated, with décor that felt straight out of the 1980s. It was also constantly covered with woodlice, which led us to believe there may have been a damp issue within the building. We were later moved to a much more modern and very clean room, which was a significant improvement. Although several things in the new room weren’t working properly, we chose not to report them as they didn’t impact our holiday enough to warrant another room move. NB- The rooms are not as the advertised on different travel platforms.

Aghia Pelagia itself is a peaceful village with a small selection of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. You can comfortably walk around the entire village in around ten minutes, making it ideal for those looking for a quieter destination.

Overall, we had a lovely holiday, thanks largely to the exceptional staff, beautiful gardens and excellent food. However, if the owners invested in updating the accommodation, improving the pool area, increasing the number of sunbeds and providing entertainment that reflects the international mix of guests, this resort could genuinely live up to its five-star rating.

Finally, thank you to all the staff who worked so hard throughout our stay. Your warmth, kindness and dedication did not go unnoticed and are what made our holiday so enjoyable.