St Nicholas Bay Resort Hotel and Villas

This is our most favorite hotel and we come here for several years. A luxury hotel situated on a hillside above a private bay. The accommodation is in two floor appartement buildings on a beautiful landscape.

There is an extensive breakfast buffet with freshly prepared egg dishes (and other freshly prepared dishes, e.g. salmon, avocado toast, etc.), Greek specialities, and a continental breakfast. In addition, there is plenty of fresh fruit, a large selection of coffees, muesli, warm dishes, etc. The breakfast terrace is situated under olive trees by the pool with a view over the sea — a dream.

In the evening, there is a buffet restaurant with salad, warm and cold starters, delicious desserts, and a children's buffet. There is also a daily changing menu with three main courses each (meat, fish, vegan), a starter, and pizza. We often ate only from the buffet because there was so much and it was so delicious. In addition, there are several à la carte restaurants (at extra charge), which we did not visit.

During the day, there is a bar by the pool with snacks and warm meals (at extra charge).

Overall, the food is delicious and varied. There is always a vegan option available. The staff are extremely friendly, always helpful, and quick.

The staff are extremely friendly, quick, and helpful. Every morning, countless employees are busy preparing the grounds for the day. In the restaurants, bars, and by the pool, there are plenty of service staff everywhere — you hardly have to wait. Everyone speaks good English.

There are three pools: the main pool (saltwater), a children's pool, and, more recently, a sports pool (25-metre lanes). Around the pool, there are plenty of sun loungers situated in the shade of the olive trees.

At the private bay, there are plenty of sun loungers on the beach and on a promontory, although they are in high demand. Various water activities are offered. The bay mostly has very calm, clear water — perfect for swimming.

The journey from Heraklion Airport takes about one hour by taxi. The hotel is happy to arrange transport (at extra charge). The nearest town is Agios Nikolaos, approximately 2 km away, easily reachable on foot or by taxi.

Spent a LOT of money for myself and partner to de stress after a rubbish year and treated us to a garden view suite. We arrived late as our flight was delayed and the staff were brilliant! On arrival we had two pods of coffee (not enough) dead flowers (which have now been replaced) and ants over the floor by the coffee machine side which i sorted myself because at 3am I couldnt be bothered with the faff. The online photos and reality are different. I can hear the people upstairs scraping and moving their chairs about and slamming/closing their balcony door which i know cannot be helped but when we just wanted quiet and chilled its just stressful. It is a beautiful place but for the money it cost us and what is promised online I think next time we will be happy with just a room/balcony as expectation vs reality are completely different,

The place is stunning and the staff are amazing however, so I dont want to knock it and would recommend it to anybody. It is absolutely gorgeous just wish it was peace and quiet at night for the few days we are here but I didn’t do enough research so it’s on me not the hotel

So I arrived late on holiday as I do most trips - tired and stressed with an exhausted younger child attached to me and 2 teens. I had the added stress of my eldest being ill before we travelled so I was concerned whether I could even take the trip in the first place. I requested a seperate room for my eldest before we left to give her time to rest and recuperate without being disturbed and they kindly agreed. I was in a terrible mood and decided everything was bad and woke up wanting to leave.

Cut to having a meeting with the manager who showed extraordinary kindness (that I was undeserving of) as was out of kilter to my grumpiness. We moved rooms and he announced to me 'Now go be with your family and enjoy paradise.' In his wisdom he was not wrong. The place is heavenly. The sea is a dreamy blue. You can either recline by the chic pool or lie by the beach and wade into the sea that's welcoming, warm, soothing and a delight. The cliffs that hug the other side of the resort are speckles with sun loungers. Enough of them to find a quiet spot where all you can hear are the waves hypnotically swaying below.

On to the staff. Divine. Totally wonderful, kind, gentle, accommodating. Faultless. Tiny little things - I'll just give you a few examples:

My daughter asked for tacos without cheese - the waiter said a little cheese was mixed into the meat. The next day at lunch the waiter mentioned the chef had prepared it without cheese in case she wanted to order it.

My daughter lost the key to her room and the cleaning lady kindly gave her hers and went to reception herself to get herself a new key.

My daughter was ill before we came away. They gave her a room free of charge to rest. I let them know when she was better and they allowed her to keep the room for another day until they needed it for a guest. It showed huge generosity to allow her to do that and enabled her to get better quicker by not being woken by her other 2 siblings.

They would bend over backwards, always gentle, kind and thoughtful. I think the staff truely care about the place and enjoy working there. That's how it felt. In fact it was service unaparrall to any other 5 star resort we have stayed at.

Loved our room. The view was spectacular, it was luxurious and kept spotless.

On to the food. Breakfast was a delight. Buffet had local gems and you can order off the menu. Orange juice was always fresh and coffee was delicious. All food ordered on the menu if you wanted something separate from the copious choice from the buffet was 5 star.

Onto the buffet at night. I disagree with the previous review saying there was no variety. We ate there 7 days out of 8. No day was the same. From the delicious salads to lamb koftas to shredded duck. The waiters had patiences of saints - literally - how they dealt with all the adaptation to the mains - my family are fussy eaters. They went above and beyond and were ridiculously accommodating. High class, top end service. However busy it was the waiters made sure our wine glass was topped up. They were overly generous too, offering my son more than one main - zero extra cost. Desserts, again, huge variety, never the same and delightful. My youngest moaned so much the one night we went out - we didn't think it was worth leaving the hotel again for dinner.

What can I say? My husband read an entire book during our week away. He's never once unwound enough to read a book on holiday in the 20 years I've known him. That about sums it up.

It's impossible not to lean into the beauty of the place and find a slice of paradise, carved out onto hills in the exiquitness that is St Nicolas Bay Hotel.