Grecotel Creta Palace

We've just come home from 8 amazing days here with our family and we're already talking about coming back.

From the minute we arrived, we felt so welcome. Every single member of staff was genuinely friendly and always had a smile on their face. They all seemed to take real pride in making sure everyone had a great holiday, nothing ever felt like too much trouble.

The food was some of the best we've had at an all-inclusive hotel. There was so much choice every day, everything was fresh and delicious, we never got bored. The a la carte restaurants were amazing, definitely book in advance on the app to secure a spot (the reception are also very helpful and can arrange bookings for you).

One of the things we loved most was how peaceful it was. Even around the pool and on the beach, it never felt overcrowded, there was always somewhere to relax. And if you fancy exploring, Rethymno is only about a 10–15 minute bus ride away (about 2 euros per adult) and it's such a lovely town to wander around. Lots of shops and restaurants and a real buzz about it. We did the little train tour and the pirate boat sunset trip - highly recommend!

There was also loads to do in the hotel. We went on the crazy ring ride in the sea, did some art at the Atelier (at the beach), spent a day at the new aqua park (which had only opened a few days before we left - the kids thoroughly enjoyed this!), had a massage at the spa, learned how to make Greek coffee, did an embroidery lesson with a nun from the local monastery, and visited Agrecofarm for a tour followed by a traditional Greek dinner. It was the perfect mix of relaxing and trying out new things.

Last but definitely not least, a special thank you to Paulos at the Kafeino. If you enjoy coffee, don't leave without trying his Greek coffee! And to Georgios, the Assistant Manager, who made us feel so at home throughout our stay.

We've stayed in quite a few five-star hotels over the years, and this one is right up there with the best. We honestly couldn't find a single thing to complain about. Beautiful hotel, fantastic staff, amazing food and a really relaxing atmosphere. We were so sad to leave but will definitely be booking again!

Thank you to everyone at Grecotel Creta Palace for the best family holiday we have ever had!

We spent a week at Grecotel Palace in Crete, as a family of four this summer - I chose this hotel because i read that it was newly renovated, and most of the hotel is.

Our room was in the main building (newly renovated) nice and modern. The rooms need drawers, there is only space to hang clothes. Room service forgot to come twice during our stay and the mini bar was also not restalked, but this was done relativly quickly after calling the reception.

Sofia, from the spa, gives excellent massages! The Spa is on the expensive side, but the Massages were worth it.

We ate at all the restaurants in the Resort, we enjoyed the Italian and Asian Restaurant a lot, as well as our fav - the Greek Restaurant (this one is not a part of the Lux All Inclusive). I think the best part of the hotel is the staff, they are all very friendly and are obviously trying their best. The food was very good. Some more healthy options would be good for the kids at the tasty corner. We also took a taxi into town, very easy, and had dinner there.

The unpleasant parts of our stay: You need to wake up early and reserve beds, which for us is an absolut NO GO! People reserve beds for hours and don't show up. There really needs to be someone taking care of this, and take away the reserved beds if people do not show up within one hour. Everyone is looking for beds at the main pool. This gives off cheap hotel vibes. We mentioned this several times, but noone seemed to be responsible. We were not even there at peak season, so i can only imagine what it will be like from mid july!

The pools were closed off three times during our 6 day stay for each one hour, due to pool cleaning in the middle of the day, because small kids are not wearing appropriate swim diapers!! Again NO GO! Noone felt responsible to enforce the rule of swim diapers. Several families complained about this. It is disrespectful to others, but the families don't seem to care that their kids are doing their business in the pool. Horrible.

It is a shame, that the Management is not providing enough support in these matters and really enforcing simple rules and Etiquette from their guests. The overall staff is very kind. But we will not be returning to this hotel.

We had a great vacation at Grecotel Creta Palace.

The hotel is beautiful, very clean and well maintained. Food was consistently good, the à la carte restaurants were excellent, and the drinks were better than expected. We also loved the beach service—having cocktails delivered straight to our sunbeds was a nice touch. Room service was fast and reliable.

The evening entertainment was another highlight. There was stylish live music every night and good-quality shows without feeling over the top.

We really enjoyed the complimentary Greek cooking class with Chef Niko and the Greek coffee workshop - both lead by charismatic Georgios Mavrangelidis🫶🏻. They were fun, well organized and a nice way to experience Greek culture. Thanks also to Nastia from Guest Relations for always being helpful. Our daughter enjoyed the Kids Club as well - the team there was very dedicated.

Our room - Double Superior Sea view - itself could be more functional. We had to ask for extra hangers, there was no proper place to store our suitcases, and we missed a drying rack on the balcony for swimsuits and towels.

The location is great—Rethymno is only a short drive away and definitely worth visiting for dinner or an evening walk. The hotel beach is nice, but if you’re renting a car, I’d definitely recommend exploring the island. Crete has more scenic beaches with calmer water and excellent spots for snorkeling and diving.

Overall, we’d definitely recommend the hotel and would happily come back.

Thank you, dear Creta Palace Team❤️