Elounda Bay Palace

We had a really lovely week here. It has the most fabulous setting and views are gorgeous. Just a short walk along sea front into Elounda. It took an hour from airport to hotel in a private transfer. We thought the food in the buffet restaurant was fabulous and the staff in the restaurant were amazing, special shout out to Maria, always smiling and making everyone welcome. All the staff at beach bar and hotel bar were wonderful too. We will definitely return but probably upgrade our room, we had a classic room and it was a bit small for us, we would prefer walk in shower. Morning housekeeping was ok but didn’t renew things like loo rolls, no complimentary bottled water other than on arrival, also left door open (ensure you pull door until it clicks closed, not sure if all rooms were the same as ours) . Check your bill before checkout, we had entries that weren’t correct but reception sorted once queried. None of these are show stoppers and definitely wouldn’t stop us returning.

A lovely hotel with very a helpful staff team. Our room was a good size and was serviced regularly by the house keeping staff. Lovely grounds for relaxing by the sea or the pool. The fitness activities on site were fun. Nothing was too much trouble for the reception staff and concierges. The only thing that didn’t meet the Leading Hotel expectations was the buffet. As a vegetarian and having a partner with a nut allergy, the food labelling was haphazard and sometimes incorrect. It would have been so easy for the vegetarian/ vegan food to be labelled as such but this was not done meaning I had to ask every evening to ensure I selected vegetarian items - often the staff were unsure (surely they should have been briefed about the food they were serving?). On one occasion a dessert containing nuts was not labelled as such which could have been very dangerous. The staff were very relaxed about this which was a worry.

We've been coming back to this hotel with our family for many years, and every time we've tried to find somewhere new with similar qualities, we've always ended up missing something this hotel offers. That's why it has become our number one vacation home. The biggest difference is the people. From the management to the entire Guest Relations team, you genuinely feel looked after. The care is warm, personal, and never intrusive. A special thank you to Anna Maria, who always welcomes us with a smile and makes every stay feel effortless. The family room we use is another reason we keep returning. It is spacious, affordable, with two twin beds and one double bed. Having a small private garden and being able to step straight from the room to the pool—or walk just a few steps to the beach—is incredibly convenient. The location is stunning. ˇin one of the most beautiful bays, with crystal-clear, calm water that is perfect for both adults and children. The food is excellent, especially for families. The buffet offers plenty of choice, with many dishes freshly prepared in front of you. And the fish restaurant is an absolute gem—having dinner almost with your feet in the sea is an unforgettable experience. The spa also deserves a special mention. It is peaceful, beautifully designed, and one of the best we've experienced. One thing we particularly appreciate is that even when the hotel is fully booked, it never feels overcrowded. There are always quiet corners where you can relax, and the fact that guests can also use the facilities of the neighboring sister hotel makes the whole resort feel even more spacious. Coming back here feels less like checking into a hotel and more like returning to a place where you're genuinely welcomed and cared for like part of the family.

If you want to experience the real paradise with a nicest touch of family attitude, Elounda Bay Palace is the right option. Cannot imagine different place to spend the holidays❤️

An absolutely beautiful setting however a very frustrating lack of umbrellas and sun beds. Each morning these are bagged early with towels and buckets and spades and abandoned for hours. Regardless of beach staff saying they remove stuff at mid day. They do not. On occasion we were fortunate. We did also go to reception and one of the mangers came and helped us get beds. we witnessed several people not returning until about 4 pm from 11 in the morning. The bigger beach is very noisy and not at all peaceful. We had to endure smoking. Vaping and everyone’s loud conversations on their phones and one day endure a guest loudly farting all day. Not the hotel’s fault. But just felt no where near peaceful 5 star. As people have said drinks are very expensive. Even water in room is charged. The reception staff are excellent helpful and friendly. Nothing is a problem. I have an allergy and the restaurant staff struggled to understand this. Puddings are also poorly labelled and not all were labelled. Management did address my concerns though so it’s always worth going to them. Easy reach of town. 8 euros for taxi back. Our room was lovely and kept clean and dining staff were really friendly.