We have just returned from a 2 week stay in this hotel and it was absolutely fantastic! We traveled with out 5yr old and 2.5yr old boys. The grounds are sloped down a hillside so you get escorted from reception to your room by golf buggy (kids loved this). The rooms are gorgeously decorated (we had style envy!) all rooms have their own pool (some are more plunge size, some you can do a mini mini length. Next to your own pool there is loungers, a tap and a shade. The bedrooms are very spacious with a bed in the middle of the room, a very long sofa to the foot of it which can be converted into 2 separate single beds. The bathroom and shower are behind the master bed, toilet on one side, lovely double sink in the middle, and then shower. We did have a couple ants in our room during our stay, they were tiny and it didn’t bother us, we put this down to natural surroundings and didn’t feel the need to mention this. We did however mention on checkout that it wasn’t an issue for us (we don’t like hassle) but might be for other guests and they were apologetic and advised they would of sorted this if they’d of know (again we weren’t bothered enough to mention but we were there as a travel agent so suggested it to be looked into for future guests). The pool was very quiet for us, we travelled at the start of the season so it was almost too quiet and felt like you couldn’t make noise. We didn’t let this stop us as we know it’s a family friendly hotel, it might just be nicer going in peak season. My only issue at the pool was on our second to last day we got told by the lifeguard there was to be no JUMPING allowed in the pool however the signage only said no diving. I queried this with management and suggested if jumping was an issue they should have signage to state both jumping AND diving are not allowed as they are very different things. This seemed to be not understood well and the only reply was that this is a family friendly hotel and it was okay to have fun in the pool 🙃 The food in the restaurant was amazing. We were half board and you can easily choose when ordering food which meal you’re using that days half board on lunch or dinner. The menu each night was different and some of the best food we’ve tasted in a hotel! We only had lunch around the pool which was a varied menu but the same daily (I enjoyed it being the same). Overall this hotel is exquisite and I would absolutely recommend travelling here!!!

Last August my family and I spent a wonderful 7 nights at this resort and wanted to share our experience. As a Marriott Platinum member for many years, I have stayed in all brands of this chain and of course they are not all the same. Based on this experience, I have to say that Domes Zeen stands out not only in Europe but maybe even one of the nicest resorts we’ve stayed in worldwide (and we’ve spent a lot of time in SE Asia where standards are high). This overall assessment comes not only from the excellent standard of accommodation, but more for the extra-mile that all of the staff (from the guest relations manager to the pool attendants) were willing to go to make our stay so unforgettable. Actually, even before reaching the hotel the central reservations team (Sofia Pappa) had already surpassed our expectations trying to match dates/rooms/budget. Just a small mention of the fact that as you do reach the hotel by taxi, the surrounding area may be a little off-putting at first, but once you settle into the resort you’ll hardly notice it. So, as a family of 4 the 1 bedroom villa seemed the best option. It offers an impressive quality of accommodation from a deep sumptuous floor-standing bath, to the quality Nespresso machines, a speaker for listening to music, high speed internet, top quality furnishings everywhere and the Marriot bed that you look so much forward to (huge, deep, sumptuous), and of course the private infinity pool and terrace with amazing views out onto the Cretan coastline. I would only comment that the single beds for the children would have been better with thicker mattresses as they have only have a solid stone base beneath them – but the kids didn’t complain (the rest made up for it) so that was fine. The Haut Living (aka executive) lounge was in the main building and was always well stocked with delicious snacks and complimentary beverages. Highlight of the lounge for us was Ghara (I hope I spelled it right, the lounge manageress, lovely American accent). She fascinated our daughters with tales of history and interesting facts about the island. Fortunately our villa was just 100m away from the main building but if you were in the lower villas closer to the beach that could be a bit of a hike (or wait for the free buggy service). I’d definitely recommend the higher villas and take the walk down to the beach. The haut living package also offers half board, so it’s up to you to enjoy the breakfast either in the poolside restaurant or in your room (both are great ways to start the day), and then to choose from lunch or dinner. Menu choices were amazing, and live music in the evening made this our favourite choice. Only point to bear in mind here is that all beverages (even water) are chargeable at hotel bar prices, so just be aware of this. Other than that the service was excellent (especially George). The kids club was very well organized and gave us a bit of a rest during the day but was just along from the beach if our daughter needed us (which she never did). The private beach is quite stoney, which put us off at first, but once you walk past the first 10m of stones into the sea it’s perfect. Then. by the time you get back to your sunlounger the beach attendant has already refreshed your drink and brought fresh towels. Dimitris was absolutely brilliant. We became quite good friends during our stay. As with the restaurant, this is not an all-inclusive resort, so be prepared to pay for all of your refreshments (apart from in the Haut Living lounge), though water was complimentary on the beach. I was going to start my review by mentioning Sophia (Damavoliti), guest relations and hotel manager. Sophia really did everything to make sure our stay perfect but I wanted to save the best for last. This was the first time that I have every known a hotel manager to keep a regular WhatsApp chat open with its guests just to check in that everything was perfect. For example, at the beginning we were thinking maybe the 2 bedroom villa would have been nicer. We tried it, preferred our original villa and switched back with everything just happening by magic (with Sofia organizing it of course) whist we waited in the lounge. It was clear from the beginning of our stay that the staff looked up to Sophia and followed her example meticulously. Every detail you could image was taken care of. Nothing was too much trouble. Outside of the hotel a free shuttle service takes guests down to Chania Old town where you can experience the bustle of street markets, seaview restaurants, boat rides, live music, and at the end of the evening take a licensed cab (they are easy to find and reasonably priced) back to the hotel. To wrap up, the Domes Zeen resort is simply unique. You’ll feel special from the moment you check in, to the day you sadly have to say goodbye to the staff that have made your stay so memorable. The standard of accommodation far surpasses 5*, so whatever you spend you’ll feel it was worth it. True that it’s on the higher end of the price range, but the girls are still telling people about this resort 6 months later and we’ll probably go back next year (they would go this year if they could), so it's fair to say it was a big hit with the whole family !

This is one of the nicest and best hotels I’ve ever stayed at. The staff were super friendly and helpful and knowledgeable about the guests. When I checked in late, the night bellman (whose name I forget- he is an electrical engineering student by day and the night bellman to pay for school) was thorough in describing the property and showing my room. They offered a platter of local delights upon my arrival. Kristina, the supervisor, was fantastic- she knew my room number just from my name and arranged for a private tour of Chania old city. Breakfast is Included and and is a bountiful buffet of hot and cold dishes including breads, fruits, salads, egg dishes, and tasty fresh squeezed orange juice eaten poolside (or inside). There is a small outdoor gym with some light weights and a couple cardio machines. The beach is certainly rocky- you should wear sandals until you enter the water. But the water- so clear- no cloud no matter how far out you swim. Among the clearest water I’ve seen in my life being able to see the bottom. And, at least in October, the water was in the mid-70s and easy to swim in. The resort was so quiet. No noise from the road. My room was a 2BR, and the second BR only had one thin window, so with the shade, you could keep the room completely dark. And you can walk along the sea to town- about a mile and a half.

Despite the five star reviews this complex receives, we did not enjoy this expensive experience. Chania was such a beautiful place but this accommodation was definitely overrated. We are still recovering from our disappointing holiday. Every day, we left the complex due to the lack of atmosphere and expensive bar prices. We enjoyed ourselves at the local tavernas in Chania. We have travelled all over the world and enjoyed many holidays in Greece but this was not what we expected. Accommodation below par, dark and uninviting. Even at the breakfast buffet, swarms of fruit flies around the fresh fruit, so much so I decided not to eat anything! Also, don’t expect your water at meal times to be free as the cheapest wine is 40 euros per bottle so water is six euros a bottle in a champagne bucket! This place is somewhere you need to decide for yourself as the reviews could persuade you otherwise. Take care booking!

The staff at this resort are so genuine and kind and the service really made the whole holiday amazing. It is a beautiful hotel, very very comfortable beds. The other guest’s were all just really nice families and no lager louts! The food was literally superb. Not a single fault to mention.