Elounda Bay Palace

On paper this looks a great resort, but unfortunately, unless you are spending big money, you don’t get value for it. Many of the staff are very polite and friendly and will go out of their way to help you. In my experience, it was mainly the ladies. Food is good but very expensive for what is offered. If you are unfortunate like I was to end up in the furthest building in the complex, the wi-fi and cell service is awful. The showers are useless, the linen very thin and everything just feels dated, especially compared to other parts of the building. I wouldn’t recommend for families with teenagers as there’s not a lot to do in the day. Little splash pool for toddlers. I just found it very underwhelming. For the cost, there are far better places giving you much better service and facilities.

The hotel itself was pretty, set in nice surroundings and within convenient walking distance of Elounda. The staff were also very friendly snd helpful… However, the hotel does not offer value for money and cannot be compared with the impeccable standards and offering of other 5 star hotels in Europe, let alone the Leading Hotels of the World group. €11.50 for 2 diet cokes served in blue plastic beakers on the beach, €31 for 2 G&T’s at a buffet dinner…daylight robbery! I fully appreciate keeping prices high to maintain exclusivity but this is ridiculous for the setting. You’ll notice most guests drink water (€5), even at dinner. I saw a number of guests barked at during breakfast as they tried to fill up water bottles at the water dispenser. The bars are empty, as are all the restaurants, except the buffet which is included in the halfboard rate (but not 1 drink included). Even the buffet is tight on its hot food offering…more school canteen rather than an offering for paying guests. Surely it would make business sense to drop the F&B prices a little to encourage guests to spend their money and create the much needed atmosphere this sleepy hotel needs.

Elounda Bay Palace & Hotel Review When you choose a five-star hotel, particularly one that promotes itself as luxurious, expectations are naturally very high. Small details you might happily overlook in a four-star property become far more noticeable when you are paying and expecting a five-star experience. Below is my account of our stay at the Elounda Bay Palace. Arrival & First Impressions We booked a 10-night half-board stay beginning on 10th September 2025. Unfortunately, our TUI flight departed the UK late in the evening, meaning that even with a private transfer we didn’t reach the hotel until 2:30 on Sunday 11th September. After a stressful journey, not helped by an overly enthusiastic taxi driver, we arrived exhausted. The night porter welcomed us warmly and directed us to reception, where everything was calm and quiet. The night receptionist, noticing our tiredness, handed us an envelope marked express check-in and explained that we could raise further questions in the morning. This was thoughtful, but my attention was immediately drawn to the room card, which stated 10th–17th September instead of 10th–20th. I raised this straight away and was assured it was simply a clerical error. Unfortunately, on the 17th our key card stopped working, and we found ourselves locked out of the room at lunchtime. Reception apologised sincerely and fixed the issue immediately, though it was frustrating given that I had already highlighted the error earlier in the week. Our suitcases were delivered promptly, and by the time we settled in, it was close to 3:00 Rating: 3.5 stars – Smooth arrival, but the key card issue soured things slightly. The Room – 256 To be frank, our first impression of the room was underwhelming. It bore little resemblance to the photographs on the hotel’s website or the various booking platforms. The décor looked tired, dated, and in need of investment. The hotel may describe this as “traditional Cretan style”, but to us it felt more neglected than authentic. Sadly, even after a few hours of much-needed sleep, our opinion hadn’t improved. A basic Premier Inn room is far more modern and inviting. Normally we would take photos or a short video to share our hotel room with family. On this occasion, I didn’t take a single photo of the room—only of the balcony view. That said, there were positives. The bed was comfortable, with crisp white linen and decent pillows. The bathroom was spacious compared with the size of the room, featuring double sinks, a separate toilet, and a generous shower with excellent water pressure. Like the room, it was dated, but the toiletries were replenished daily, the towels were fluffy and fresh, and we appreciated the regular clean supply of clean bathroom and pool towels. There was far too much furniture crammed into a relatively small space, leaving little room for luggage. Wardrobe storage was inadequate; the doors didn’t close properly, and the interior light remained stubbornly on as the switches didn’t work. It wasn’t a huge issue, but it should have been picked up and rectified. The balcony did offer the sea view we had paid for, which certainly lifted the room. In the room on arrival, there was a bottle of wine, two small bottles of water, fresh fruit, and a sandwich & Greek salad. This was a thoughtful touch, though the food had clearly been left out for some time. The air conditioning was perhaps our biggest gripe. Noisy, inefficient, and dated, it made sleeping with it on impossible. Thankfully, the evenings were cool enough to switch it off, but in hotter weather this would have been a real problem. Housekeeping deserves praise. Our room was cleaned thoroughly every day, and they were unfailingly polite and hardworking. In all honesty, judged in isolation this room would sit closer to a two-star rating. The view elevated it slightly, but it certainly didn’t live up to five-star standards we’ve experienced elsewhere. Rating: 3 stars – Clean, with a good view, but outdated and not five-star standard. Dining We usually book hotels with breakfast only, but as this was a TUI package, half board was the only option. Breakfast Breakfast is served buffet-style in the main restaurant. The choice is excellent – from full English options and freshly made omelettes to cheeses, pastries, breads, fruit, yoghurts, and nuts. Whatever your preference, there was plenty, and everything was replenished quickly. The restaurant staff worked tirelessly to keep up with demand, always smiling and eager to bring fresh coffee or cappuccino when asked. The décor, however, is dated, and the furniture has seen better days, which detracts from the overall experience. At peak times the number of guests overwhelmed the small team, so going earlier proved best. Rating: 4 stars – Varied, fresh, and well-managed, though dated surroundings. Dinner The evening buffet, also included in our package, was generally very good, though busy at times. Only on our penultimate day did we discover that buffet meals could be swapped for credit at the à la carte restaurants – useful information that was never shared at check-in. Themes were supposedly different each night, but apart from the two Asian evenings, the variety wasn’t always obvious. The selection of starters, mains, and desserts was broad, though cooking could be inconsistent – the entrecôte, for example, was overdone one evening. Still, the joy of a buffet is the chance to try new dishes and replace anything that doesn’t suit. Rating: 4 stars – Good choice, though not always five-star execution. Drinks Here is where the hotel really lets itself down. Prices are eye-wateringly high. Apart from breakfast and the gym, water was not available free of charge, and signage actively discouraged guests from refilling bottles at these stations. A bottle of water at dinner cost €5, and wine prices felt excessive. Considering we were charged a €15 per night Climate Crisis Resilience Fee, the reliance on single-use plastic bottles was disappointing. Each day, the number of these bottles around the pool and beach was striking. On our first night we had drinks in the Sail Bar, and the cost was frankly shocking. The night we visited the Sail Bar for a drink, the staff outnumbered the guests. After that, we chose to walk into Elounda village most evenings, where drinks were half the price and the atmosphere far better. Many other guests appeared to do the same. Rating: 2 stars – A major weak point. Pools, Beach & Grounds The hotel grounds are beautiful – lush, peaceful, and clearly well maintained. In this respect, the setting truly deserves its five-star status. In many ways we forgave the hotel’s shortcomings simply because of the setting, especially as the weather was outstanding. That said, the three-star Elounda Krini next door would have enjoyed the same sunshine! Poolside loungers are decent, with wooden frames and padded cushions, but those across the gardens and beach are basic and uncomfortable. Cushions for these beds are limited, and parasols are old and fragile – so much so that even a slight breeze renders them unusable, leaving guests scrambling for shade under trees. Some parasols had buzzers to request drinks service. We tried three different buttons over three days, and no one ever came. We assume they simply didn’t work. The saltwater pool is pleasant for swimming lengths, though bracingly cold despite the long summer season. The sea was warmer! We didn’t use the indoor pool, but overall the outdoor facilities would merit no more than three stars. Rating: 3 stars – Gorgeous 5 star setting let down by ageing facilities. Gym, Sauna & Steam Room Sadly, the sauna and steam room were closed throughout our stay. We did use the gym, but the equipment felt more suited to an ’80s film set than a luxury resort. Machines were outdated and partly broken, and free weights had to be assembled yourself. Staff were aware, but it didn’t appear to concern them. Rating: 1 star – Outdated, neglected, and not fit for purpose. Late Check-Out We requested late check-out before arrival and followed up during our stay. After being told to come back several times, we were eventually offered a complimentary courtesy room until 16:00, which was helpful, though our transfer didn’t collect us until nearly 18:00. The courtesy room itself wasn’t as nice as our sea view room, but the air conditioning was far superior. I had offered to pay to extend our own room, but this was refused as “not possible”. Better coordination between TUI and the hotel around arrival & departure times would improve the experience for guests requesting a late departure. Rating: 3 stars – Helpful in the end, but disorganised. Staff Here is where Elounda Bay Palace truly shines. Every member of staff we encountered was professional, friendly, and genuinely eager to help if they could. From housekeeping to waiting staff, their warmth and politeness never wavered, even when visibly stretched. They are undoubtedly the hotel’s greatest asset. Rating: 5 stars – Exceptional service throughout. Overall Opinion Taking everything into account – the dated room, the high drink prices, the patchy facilities – it is difficult to see how the hotel maintains its five-star rating. The grounds and private bungalows may well elevate the classification, but for standard rooms the overall experience is closer to four stars. That said, we had a wonderfully relaxing holiday. We adapted to the quirks – the noisy air conditioning, the worn décor. We did spend most of our time outdoors, where the beauty of the setting does soften some of the negatives. Would We Return? Elounda itself is a charming village with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. We haven’t entirely ruled out not returning to the hotel, as we did have a relaxing holiday, and we now have a clearer understanding of what aspects of the hotel work well and where it could improve. At the same time, we plan to explore other hotels in and around Elounda on future visits. In Summary The Elounda Bay Palace is set in a stunning location with friendly, attentive staff. While our room and some of the facilities may not meet five-star expectations, the location, grounds, charm and service make it a very enjoyable stay.

We had a warm welcome on arrival . Rooms were tired and not a 5 star in my opinion , but had everything we needed , but only one socket in lounge . Had to ask to have tea and coffee topped up and only had new supplies once despite this . Our family on another room had to move during their stay due to noise from neighbouring room during night . Beach was lovely and George was very efficient , always had a smile and worked hard . However I do not agree with the allowing of towels being put on beds from 7am and then not using beds until late afternoon . We would go down at 8am for an early swon and most bed la already reserved. Breakfast was nice and Maria was pleasant and looked after us well . However we ate twice in the evening and although food nice I felt like I was in a holiday camp as was kids screaming during dinner Borg nights , it was not a relaxing atmosphere . After this we walked into elounda each evening to eat desire paying for half board as I just couldn’t stand the noise . Also thought water should be free not charged . Elounda is a lovely ten minute walk with beautiful resteraunts and pretty waterfront , everyone was so welcoming . So I would return to Elounda but unfortunately not the the hotel . Next time it will be an adults only resort or private villa .

We would like firstly to thank everyone for making our stay memorable. It was our first experience of the hotel & it made such a good impression on us that we have already booked for next year . Thank you to the team in the restaurant especially Giannis for all of his wine & Food Knowledge .& his excellent team who served us and ensured we enjoyed our visits to the restaurant . Which served a wide variety of food that was amazing Thank you to Maria in reservations who looked after us and arranged a lovely welcome with rose petals on the bed and food & wine on our arrival . To the beach staff who were amazing and looked after all of our needs . The staff who looked after the rooms do an amazing job and we feel they should be recognised for making our rooms so beautiful and clean with fresh bedding ,towels and roses The spa was a wonderful treat with having been given a lovely voucher toward a treatment . All the staff are happy and excellent at their jobs .