Iberostar Selection Creta Marine

Excellent stay at this hotel. All the staff were brilliant from reception, dining rooms and animation (entertainment). We had a lovely room albeit at the back of the hotel. It was cleaned and tidied every day. The food in the main buffet was excellent both for breakfast and evening meals. We ate at the poolside restaurant for lunch which was more than adequate with excellent service. The animation team are something else! Brilliant at involving everyone and very hard working - the best we have ever experienced. There was the normal challenge of getting a sun bed at the main pool. This is an unresolvable problem but they may as well take down the signs not to reserve beds before 10am. Possibly a few more beds with umbrellas in the grounds? Lovely small and private beaches. We used the al a carte restaurant once during our visit. The meal was excellent with great views over the beach and sea. We used the little train one afternoon to visit the nearby village which was worth it for the views and cafes.

We stayed at this hotel as a family of 3 adults on a half board basis for 14 nights. We arrived very late at 4am in the morning after a long 3 hour coach journey along with another 4 couples so the arrival process was long as only one staff member booking everyone in. It would of been nice to have a welcome drink as well maybe some water available. We found our own way to our room as they didn’t have anyone that could take us due to how late it was. The room was called a bungalow and was adequate enough. The first week was lovely lots of choice at breakfast and always replenished quickly. The 2nd week was busier and I was told it was at full capacity and I have to say it showed. At breakfast they ran out of juice and water on several occasions so we only had a choice of tea and coffee and one adult member doesn’t drink either so no drink at breakfast. A few evenings there was no meat available at dinner times they had simply run out and this was at 7:30pm we were told to come back in 30mins. The hotel just couldn’t cater or manage for the large numbers they had staying. We didn’t manage to get anywhere near the pool in the 14 nights we stayed even though our bungalow was positioned right by the main pool! My husband said he refuses to run the gauntlet of sunbed hoggers at 6am in the morning and when we went to breakfast at 8am to 8:30am all sun beds were reserved. The hotel really needs to get more sunbeds and these can then be positioned around the grass areas so there is room for everyone as they have plenty of space just not enough beds. We ended up hiring a car and going to the beach daily where the sunbeds were free and you could order drinks from your sunbed or take drinks with you. If you have a late flight the hotel does have a facility to store your luggage and a lovely shower room so you can go the beach all day come back and shower before your flight home so no need to ask for a late check out. A lovely hotel very attentive staff and gorgeous grounds, but I’m sorry we wouldn’t stay again.

Has the potential to be so much better! We booked a last minute 4 night break with easyjet holidays. We chose this hotel on the price and reviews and that it was all inclusive. Firstly if you are choosing this hotel I would recommend a private transfer. It’s 90 mins from Chania which easyjet mention but fail to mention you will probably be the last stop and your actual coach transfer will be 2.5-3hrs long. On arrival the hotel looked clean, it took a while to check in as they were insisting on a voucher which easyjet hadn’t given. Once another member of staff took over it was all quite quick. We were given cold glasses of water and a flower. We booked a garden bungalow and were told we had been upgraded to a vip waterfront which was a nice surprise. We were taken by golf buggy to our room. We were allocated room 704 which overlooks the ouzo pool and is ground floor. The room needs a little updating in terms of decor but was comfy. We had a kettle with tea / coffee provided, a mini bar which was full on arrival, safe. Bathrobes, slippers, bath with shower and good air con! The hotel grounds are absolutely stunning. They work really hard to make them beautiful and the staff are all fantastic - definitely plus points. The lobby bar was good to watch the sunset, cocktails were great and there was some form of entertainment most nights, this area was more of an adult vibe. Now onto the not so great. The pool doesn’t open until 10 and shuts at 6 even in height of summer. The ouzo bar which overlooks the beach also shuts at 6 and they stop serving at 545 - this would be a great area to watch the sunset - can’t understand why they don’t use it more. The food I’m afraid to say is not great. Breakfast is the best meal by far. For lunch you have the choice of the snack bar or main restaurant, the snack bar is the same daily - pizza, burger, hot dog. Fish fingers. They offer an a la carte menu for those on half board and the food on there looks epic. Dinner has been a disappoin**ent. They have theme nights but the theme is very loose - for example last night was Mexican and there was a ravel with some Mexican sauces and starters and that was pretty much it. There is a grill area where we have had raw chicken 3 times and beef so tough my pets would struggle to eat it. Everything is very bland. Even the pasta with chicken and curry sauce (yep) didn’t taste of anything. I was hoping being in Greece there would be lots of Greek food but aside from tzatziki and gyros there is nothing - you could be anywhere. The little train goes from the hotel to Panormos village which is beautiful and has a number of traditional tavernas - we visited there one night and that was the best food of the trip. Things the hotel could do - decide whether they are half board or all inc and stick to it. Offer more local cuisine, keep the ouzo bar open later, make the ouzo pool adults only. It’s not been a bad trip but I wouldn’t come back. Sorry!

Just returned home after another great 3 weeks. This was our 12th year at the cretamarine so l no need to say how good this or that was as it is always excellent. As usual all the staff were extremely helpful and friendly and resolved any problems swiftly nothing was ever to much trouble for them. Earlier reviews had said people were queuing to get into the restaurant which l have never witnessed before. However by our 3rd week this changed after a new intake of guests who all seemed to want to have their meals at the same time causing a big queue for the restaurant. Also there was no problem with towels on sunbeds as this was also monitored for the first 2 weeks however this also went by the board on the 3rd week and you could not get a sunbeds after 08.30 as they all had towels on contrary to the signs on them. My only comment would be in future ensure the great standards of the hotel are across the board for everyone. We hope to see Julia and your great team again next year.

We had an enjoyable stay in the Creta Marine in mid-October. Hotel 4/5 - We found the hotel to be generally very nice, it's big and the grounds merge seamlessly with the next door Iberostar Panorama hotel, giving it an even bigger feel. There's a mixture of large apar**ent blocks and a really nice village feel to the various Bungalows, helped by the well manicured grounds throughout. That said although some of the hotel has been modernised, some areas feel a little tired, the main pool area, and the gym in particular were a let down. We arrived late (thanks EasyJet), so check-in was a breeze, but there weren't any refreshments available, which would have been nice given we'd missed dinner. Location 4/5 - situated in a remote part of the island, there's nothing nearby other than a small shop, and the transfer time (coach) was ~2 hours from Chania Airport. However, it's in a really beautiful spot with multiple private protected coves/beaches, ideal for swimming/snorkeling. Rooms 3/5 - we stayed in the Bungalows, which are situated in a great location, especially the Waterfront ones, although the decor and bathrooms are in need of a total refresh. You do get a free mini bar, with beer, water, soft drinks and a bottle of red wine, which was nice, but this isn't refreshed. Food/Drink 4/5 - We found the food to be generally very tasty with plenty of choices. The drinks were good too, mainly local brands although some international brands were available on All Inclusive, and others at a charge. That said, a major downside was even when you asked for an international brand (e.g. Bacardi), the bar staff would more often than not substitute it for a local brand, which was disappointing, as it felt like you had to argue for what you wanted every time! Entertainment 4/5 - The poolside team worked really hard, and although we didn't get too involved, everyone that did seemed to have fun. We mainly stayed in the Bar area in the evening, and there was some really good singers/bands, more of that please! Guests 3/5 - The guests on the whole were pleasant, with ~90% being German when we stayed, and the rest made up of English/French/Portuguese/Danish etc, which was fine for us, maybe not if you have kids? However, there were multiple occasions of rudeness, pushing in and generally selfish behaviour from some of the older German guests, which was a shame, clearly not the Hotels fault at all - but something to expect/be aware of if booking this hotel. Conclusion 4/5 - Would we go back? Absolutely, we loved our stay, and I expect most of the improvement areas I've highlighted can/will be addressed by the hotel.

Excellent hotel. Facilities and excellent. Food is of a good quality, and all of the staff are exceptionally friendly It is a little remote, but there is an excellent bus service from just outside the hotel The reception staff are extremely helpful and knowledgeable

Our best family holiday abroad yet, something for everyone- private beach for snorkelling, gym classes (Stacey is a fab yoga and aerobics teacher- she knows her stuff!) Fabulous animation team who clearly put their absolute heart and soul into making sure everyone has the best holiday!! Food was delicious and beautifully presented, bar star very kind and considerate, couldn’t fault the place, even the cleaner was so considerate to us and brought a cake and fizz from the hotel manager as part of a birthday celebration. Thank you for making the holiday amazing ⭐️

Check in was swift, we were given a free room upgrade ,it was a 2 bedroom,2 bathroom suite for 2 couples, a walk in wardrobe,a very large lounge area,dining room,a kitchen with fridge,and televisions in the bedrooms and lounge with stunning sea view. The room number was 653 also had large balcony. The suite was just great. The room was cleaned every day,clean towels. We were 4 adults,who are strict vegetarians and the choice of food in the restaurant was very good,plenty to choose from every morning and evening, the food was varied and of good quality. The gardens are a pure joy and stunning, it is maintained to a high standard. There is entertainment in the evening, mainly by the hotel staff it's OK. There is a supermarket about 100yards from the hotel, and the number 20 bus stop outside the hotel which takes you in to town. Sometimes we had to wait 10 or 15 minutes to go into the restaurant as it was busy,the restaurant staff are very friendly,the hotel could do with a second bread toaster in the restaurant as there was always a queue to use this facility. The bungalow style properties are very good,large outdoor swimming pool, a couple of small beach areas. The reception team are very friendly and helpful, although the hotel grounds are lovely there are no shop or bars around the hotel complex,you have to take the bus into town which takes about 40 minutes and costs €2 one way.