- Greece Holidays
- Panormos
- The Royal Senses Resort and Spa
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The Royal Senses Resort and Spa
Greece, Europe
Panormos
Family-friendly resort on the coast of Crete. Overlooking the Sea of Crete, our resort sits along the north coast just 15 minutes from Rethymno City. Stroll through preserved medieval streets or visit nearby Melidoni Cave for incredible sights. Enjoy the sparkling private beach just across the road, revive your senses at our spa, and enjoy unique culinary workshops and pop-up dinners. Our seven restaurants and bars highlight the flavors of Crete, from grandmother’s recipes to pop-up concepts from local makers. Choose a wine from our expansive cellar, and enjoy a meal with a view at CRETAMOS.
Facilities
- Billiards*
- Luggage room*
- Multilingual staff*
- Babysitting service*
- Day-care centre*
- Wi-fi
- Late Check-out*
- Please note some facilities may incur an additional fee
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
The Local Area
Tripadvisor Reviews
4.5 Excellent960 reviews
Excellent
77%
Very Good
10%
Average
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Incredible stay
We had an amazing stay with our family of 5 (two 5 year old twin boys + a three month old baby). The hotel was immaculately clean, very well staffed and everyone seemed so happy to be there. It felt so luxurious, we’ve spent the last 4 years visiting the Curio Collection hotel in Rhodes (Lindian Village) but wanted something new. It was fabulous. Despite it being family oriented it was very peaceful and well catered for both couples, friends and families. A huge shout out to Athenis, who every day at breakfast made our stay so special. She was genuinely so happy to see us every morning.
Very good food and standout staff, but let down by poor upkeep and dirty beach
Because Curio is a soft franchise, brand standards can be inconsistent, and this property is a textbook example of that. Our stay was a mix of fantastic frontline service and food, contrasted heavily by noticeable cleanliness issues and management who don't care.
The Highs:
- The Food & Frontline Staff: The food was mostly excellent, and the coffee was super tasty. Special shoutouts to Eleni (who makes world-class omelettes), Marinos, and Alexandra. We also have to mention Maria at the cocktail station. She was so amazing with our child that he actually almost cried on her day off because he missed her so much.
- The Water Park: Genuinely great and a huge hit with our family.
- Kids Club Facilities: Very well-equipped, and the kids' lunch option is a fantastic logistical perk for parents.
The Missed Opportunities:
- Pool & Beach Cleanliness: Trash remained on the hotel beach for days without being cleared. Glasses and garbage were left on sunbeds for hours or even overnight, ultimately blowing into the sea and the pool (which also had a foam spill on one occasion). We specifically asked pool staff to clear the trash from loungers, but no immediate action was taken. We actually stopped ordering poolside food and cocktails because sitting next to dirty ashtrays and half-empty glasses was unappetizing. The hotel likely lost more in F&B revenue from us than it would cost to implement a consistent daily cleaning routine.
- Room Maintenance & A/C: We noticed bugs in our room and tracked them directly to the A/C vents, which did not appear to have been cleaned in a long time. My wife suffers from allergies and had a stuffy nose our entire stay until the last two days when we kept the A/C turned off, and her symptoms disappeared.
- Kids Club Staff: While the facility is great, the staff felt very disengaged and unenthusiastic. They did not seem particularly friendlyor welcoming toward the children, which was disappointing.
- Half-Board Policy: If you are a half-board guest and choose to eat à la carte, the hotel offers only a 15% discount. Given the premium paid for half-board, this felt quite insulting. At a bare minimum, the cost of the missed buffet dinner should be applied as a room credit toward the à la carte meal.
- Management Response: We reported these cleanliness and maintenance problems to the guest relations manager mid-stay, hoping for a resolution. Unfortunately, nothing really changed for the remainder of our trip.
a holiday to relax in luxe, we had a wonderful stay
From the moment we arrived at Royal Senses Resort in Crete, we received an incredibly warm welcome. Instead of waiting at the reception desk, we were invited to relax in comfortable sofas while enjoying delicious cookies and a refreshing welcome drink. We were also delighted to hear that we had been upgraded to a different room.
When we arrived at our accommodation, we were amazed to discover that we had been upgraded to a stunning villa. It featured a spacious living room, dining area, a private terrace with a swimming pool, sun loungers, and an outdoor dining table. The villa also had two bathrooms, and upstairs there was a beautiful bedroom with an exceptionally comfortable bed, a walk-in dressing room, and a private terrace.
The restaurant exceeded all our expectations. The food was refined, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious. Every evening there was a wonderful selection of appetizers and an extensive variety of dishes to choose from. The waiters were attentive and gave us excellent wine recommendations that perfectly complemented our meals.
Breakfast was equally impressive, offering a wide and delicious selection of fresh products. We were able to enjoy every meal outdoors, and each evening we were treated to a breathtaking sunset.
What truly made our stay unforgettable was the outstanding hospitality of the entire team. Every member of staff was exceptionally friendly, attentive, and always willing to help.
Royal Senses Resort is a wonderful place to unwind and enjoy luxury in a beautiful setting. We highly recommend it and would love to return.
Great experience
Great hotel Friendly and professional staff , kudos to Marinos and Katherina for amazing experience and treatment , team A
Myself and the family enjoyed any moment
A honeymoon we'll never forget!
Our stay was nothing short of wonderful, and we left with memories that we will cherish for a lifetime.
This trip was incredibly special for us. It was our honeymoon, and also only our 2nd visit to Greece after taking a three-year break from travelling. We had been looking forward to this holiday for such a long time, and we're so happy we chose this hotel to celebrate such an important milestone in our lives.
We stayed in one of the villas with a private pool, and it was everything we had hoped for. The villa was spacious, beautifully designed, peaceful, and offered incredible views. Having our own private pool made the experience even more relaxing, and it quickly became our favourite place to unwind after a day exploring Crete.
The resort itself is absolutely beautiful and exceptionally well maintained. Everywhere was spotless, and we were particularly impressed by the housekeeping team. Our villa was cleaned impeccably every day, with great attention to detail, making it feel like we were checking into a fresh room every afternoon.
The food exceeded our expectations. The buffet restaurant offered a fantastic selection of fresh dishes every day, with plenty of variety and delicious local specialties. Every meal felt different, and we genuinely looked forward to breakfast and dinner each day. We would also like to compliment Alexandra, the restaurant hostess, who did an outstanding job throughout our stay.
The cocktails at Zino were great as well, and we thought the prices were very fair for a luxury resort. Sitting with a cocktail while watching the sunset became one of our favourite parts of each evening.
Cretamos deserves a special mention. It was, without question, one of the highlights of our stay. Every course was beautifully presented, full of flavour, and thoughtfully prepared. If you're visiting The Royal Senses, don't miss it.
The biggest reason this holiday was so memorable, however, was the people. In every interaction, the staff was attentive, happy to greet us and make us feel like at home.
A special mention for the reception and guest services team. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by the team in such a heartwarming way. The team was always willing to help with everything we required like nothing was a trouble for them. A very special thank you goes to Myrto, Guest Services Manager. Always smiling and incredibly kind, she was genuinely interested in making sure our honeymoon was as special as it could be - even before we arrive we felt valued and cared for. She is, without exaggeration, one of the most genuine hospitality professionals we've ever met!
Such hospitality is becoming increasingly rare those days, and it truly made all the difference to our stay. Luxury hotels can offer beautiful rooms and impressive facilities, but what makes guests return is the way they are made to feel. The Royal Senses achieved exactly that.
Thank you to everyone who made our honeymoon so unforgettable. After three years away from travelling, this was exactly the experience we had hoped for—and even more.
We are already looking forward to returning to Greece, and when we do, The Royal Senses will undoubtedly be at the top of our list xx!
Review by Roam05967827490 Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
