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Hannah O
Oxford, United Kingdom
11
Beautiful hotel and brilliant staff
4.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed 25 July 2014
We've had an amazing fortnight at this hotel. Stayed half board and the range and quality of the food was incredible. Everywhere is beautifully clean and the staff were all very friendly and very professional and genuinely keen for us to have a good stay. The hotel is in an excellent position for the beach, harbour and the local town. The freely available wifi was a highlight for us and our children. The only area where there is room for improvement is the entertainment programme. The team were very good and worked very hard but the level of evening entertainment although fun was very amateurish and short. We would definitely recommend this hotel.
Date of stay: July 2014
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All reviews hermes bar animation team inclusive bar half board greek night reception staff sea view roof terrace pool bar the main hotel restaurant staff bars and restaurants lots of shops table tennis sun loungers overlooking the beach village resort
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Reviewed 24 July 2014

Super service from the reception all the way to the kitchen! All the staff very good, animation team dedicated, good sandy beach, just need more sports facilities. Great location with family. Kids enjoyed animation team events and mini disco.

Date of stay: June 2014
    • Value
    • Location
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
3  Thank Paulius G
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofia K, Γενικός Διευθυντής at Porto Platanias Beach Resort and Spa, responded to this reviewResponded 19 October 2014

Dear Mr. / Mrs. Paulius G,
First of all, I would like to express how much I appreciate your generous feedback posted on Tripadvisor some days ago.
As hotel’s Manager, it makes me feel extremely proud to learn that you received great services from all of our employees. It is lovely to know that our Mini Club was really productive and interesting for your kids, so you could spend some relaxing time by your own.
Thank you once more for your kind words! We hope to a next visit of you in our hotel soon.
Sincerely,
Kapaki Sofia.
General Manager.

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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 22 July 2014

Had an amazing time in our week here. Having read hundreds of tripadvisor reviews trying to find a good place to go, I'm going to try and write this in as useful a way as possible so that people might find it helpful in making their decision!

To start off with, yes, I would absolutely 100% recommend this hotel. The gripes that we had were small and paled in comparison to how lovely the place was and what a great time we had. It was just over an hour's transfer from the airport.

My partner and I went All Inclusive for 7 days in the second week of July. The only downside to going AI was that you didn't have access to all of the bars, however, you did get 15% off everywhere that wasn't a designated AI bar if you fancied a change and didn't mind spending a bit of money.

Hotel and rooms:
- We were impressed with the hotel from the second we got off our transfer bus. It is beautifully kept, decorated with fountains outside, has a large, spacious entrance with giant chandeliers, and all in all looks very luxurious.
- The hotel was kept spotlessly clean. The maids came every day and what I really liked was that they came around twice - so, if you decided to have a lie in and your room didn't get cleaned in the morning, it would be done in the afternoon. I never saw a single piece of litter, even in the pools where, in most places, there's usually a rogue plastic cup or dead wasp to be found!
- The rooms are lovely - we had a side sea view room with a lovely balcony, a table and chairs and sun loungers, and gorgeous views of the ocean. Our bath was a jacuzzi bath which was a nice surprise. Beds were really comfy. We has a small separate area with a couch, though we didn't really use it. Disappointingly, there are no tea and coffee facilities - this was the only let-down where the rooms were concerned.
- There were 3 outdoor pools as well as one indoor one in the spa (which we didn't use). One of the pools is 'adults only' which is fantastic if you don't like being splashed and disturbed by noisy children! We went in early July and never had trouble getting a sun lounger around the adult pool (though from the looks of the other pools, we'd have struggled there.)
- The 'atlantis' bar is the AI bar next to the biggest pool, and it's a nice area to sit in especially in the evening. The drinks were nice, but the bar service left a little to be desired - in some hotels, you'll get bar staff who are cheerful and very chatty and always share a joke, which is nice. The bar staff here were not unpleasant but weren't particularly friendly, though they got the job done and knew how to pour a cocktail so I guess that's what's important.
- The hotel is right on a beach and there are sun loungers available from the hotel, or further down the beach for hire. The beach is not the best I've been to - it's nice enough, but is a real mix of sand and shingle, eventually turning into flat, slippery rock as you get to the water. I actually quite liked this, though, as there were lots of little rock pools and it also meant that I could paddle without getting sand between my toes, which I hate! There are plenty of beach cafes if you get peckish.
- As well as the pools on site, there's a mini market, pool table, and table tennis.
- There is a gym onsite and I have to say I was very impressed. Lots of hotels have a pretty half-baked attempt at a gym with a few old weights, tatty benches and broken exercise bikes in a small, stuffy room. This gym was air conditioned, had a really good range of equipment, all of which looked relatively new and well-kept. A couple of treadmills were out of order, but there were 4 or 5 in there so it didn't matter hugely!
- I can't comment on the spa as we didn't go in. I'd have liked to but I was so hot that the thought of someone rubbing me down with oil or sitting in a sauna / turkish bath was more than I could stomach!
- There did seem to be entertainment for children but as we spent most of our time on the beach or round the adult only pool then we didn't really see or hear it. Seemed like some sort of pool games and water aerobics.

Staff / service
- The reception staff were absolutely faultless - helpful, informative, friendly, and very welcoming. I was particularly impressed with their grasp of English, which I think we can take for granted, and I have definitely been to places where communication is much more of a struggle. They were able to give us lots of detail abut the hotel and facilities, as well as the excursions that were run from there (more about those later).
- The waiting staff in the restaurant were not as great. We had one unpleasant experience one day where we were told after we'd been to the breakfast buffet that we could go and sit on the roof terrace (rather than in the main restaurant, which was very busy). When we got up there there was nobody around to seat us and so we waited for a bit then, as our breakfast was going cold, took a seat... we were then pretty much told off by a waitress up there for sitting on a reserved table (which wasn't, by the way, reserved - it seemed like she just didn't like that we'd seated ourselves instead of waiting, so she moved us anyway. We were there until the end of breakfast, and nobody took the other table... and there were loads of spares anyway!!) The rest of the waiting staff weren't unpleasant, but, much like the bar staff I mentioned earlier, weren't particularly friendly. This is one thing I'd definitely advise the hotel to change - a smile and a 'how are you' and a bit of friendly chatter costs nothing, but we only got that off one waiter during our whole stay. Certainly, if your guests are left without service and are forced to seat themselves, they should not be treated rudely - if anything, she should have apologised for leaving us waiting. It's not made clear in any of the restaurants what you're meant to do - whether you wait to be seated, get your food first or your table, and so on, so all in all the whole experience could be made more straightforward and certainly more friendly. (FYI - if you're AI, you still have to wait to be seated and order your drinks, before you can go to the buffet.)

Food.
- We were all-inclusive, and I have to say that lunch and dinner couldn't really be faulted. Of course, you are never going to get 5 star cuisine from an AI buffet, but we didn't expect to (I think that people who complain about this when they've gone all inclusive really just need to take a look at themselves and fork out for their individual meals next time. You'll never get piping hot, freshly-cooked-to-order cuisine from an all inclusive buffet and you're wrong to expect it.) There was an incredibly impressive amount of choice. Every day there were chicken, lamb, beef, pork, fish and pasta dishes as well as pies, loads of salads, cheeses, and vegetarian options. Occasionally, there'd be veal, venison, or goat. The desserts were less great, but I've found that to be the case with a lot of AI places - there were jellies, pastries and pretty-but-odd looking cakes (couldn't quite work out what they were but they all tasted like whipped cream and sponge), and lots of ice cream.
- Breakfast, however, was a huge let down and definitely the low point of our stay. We only, in fact, went to breakfast thee times. I should say from the outset that if you're after fruit, Greek yoghurt and croissants, you'll be fine. They also offer vitamin shakes which is a nice idea, though I didn't try them. However, if you're excited about the all-American breakfasts that they advertise, then you're in for a bit of a let down. The bacon was wet, the eggs were either badly undercooked (fried and scrambled) or seriously overcooked (poached). As for sausages - they were just mini cocktail sausages, like the ones you get on sticks at kids' parties! I didn't see any waffles, and I saw pancakes once - they were very dry and there wasn't anything to put on them. Oddly, if you wanted coffee the waiters would bring it to your table but if you wanted tea you had to serve yourself. I've been to 3* AI hotels that served superb breakfasts so there's nothing to say this shouldn't be possible in a 5* hotel. All in all, very disappointing.
- The AI snack bar during the day is OK - again, I've seen better in lower rated hotels, but there's enough to stave off your hunger if you need to. The morning snack bar is better than the afternoon, as it offers pizza and sausage rolls as well as fruit, ice cream, sandwiches and cake, but honestly if you're not quick then the best bits are gone and it all goes hard and cold (it didn't seem to get replenished). The afternoon snack bar is just fruit, cake, and ice cream and again, if you're not there as soon as it opens you're not left with much - though I have to say the watermelon was amazing and a really nice snack to have in the heat, so if you can get some of the fresh fruit then make sure you do. It's definitely something that is really good there.

The Town
- I loved the town. You turn out of the hotel and you're pretty much straight away in the hustle and bustle. It's obviously a very touristy place and so there are plenty of generic supermarkets selling alcohol, sun cream, beach supplies, sweets and snacks, souvenirs and so on. There are plenty of restaurants and tavernas to choose from if you fancy a break from the hotel, though don't expect authentic Greek cuisine - it's mostly attempts to replicate American food, or food that's popular in the UK (oddly, there's a lot of schnitzel available too!). There's a nice little Chinese called Red Dragon, and an Indian next door to that. There are LOADS of those little fish spa places - you know where you stick your feet in a tank and let them eat the dead skin off your feet. Seems like it's really the 'in' thing. Most of these places offer manicures and massage too. There are a good few clothes shops, and quite far down, a small shopping mall, and cocktail bars all the way. I have to say that it wasn't as cheap here as I thought it would be. Prices were similar to the UK.
- There's a little rock bar ('Rock House) next to the hotel that you should totally visit if you like rock music. They do great cocktails and play fab tunes.

Excursions
- The hotel arrange a good variety of excursions. We really wanted to go to Knossos Palace but were put off by the fact that it's a 2 and a half hour journey, but in hindsight we would definitely do it. We decided instead to go on the Elafonisi Beach trip, which was supposed to be a 1 and a half hour journey, but the coach driver and guide turned it into a sort of tour around the mountains on the way so it took just as long as Knossos would have, in fact longer, and on an air conditioned coach it really wasn't that bad. Definitely go to Elafonisi, though. It's 25 euros each, but for that we got taken to the most beautiful paradise beach I have ever seen, with pink sand and crystal clear lagoons. On the way, we stopped at an ancient cave in the mountains which is dedicated to St Sophia and has a little chapel in which was really quite breathtaking. We were also taken to an ancient monastery (Our Lady of the Golden Step) which was very quaint and beautiful. Both of these places, as a warning, required walking up a lot of steps which are quite old and stony so don't do what I did and wear flip-flops!
- The tour guide on the coach knew all about Crete and told us loads of interesting stuff about the nature that we went through and the sights we saw on the way. On the way back, we were taken to a little cafe in the mountains which was the one place during all of our stay that served authentic Greek cuisine! (Obviously you pay extra for that, though.) All in all it was a lovely, if quite a busy day.
- I can't remember everything else the hotel offered but off the top of my head there were boat trips, water park trips, and again Knossos palace which I will definitely do next time.

So yeah, all in all we loved Crete and we adored this hotel, with just a couple of quibbles about service and breakfast. I should stress, again, that the service was not bad (except the one narky waitress) - it was just not overly friendly; and the breakfast would have been fine if you're not bothered about sausage, bacon and eggs. We will absolutely 100% go back there - perhaps not AI, as we lost out on breakfasts and ate out a couple of lunch and dinner times anyway, though having said that it's probably worth it for the drinks.

Though we didn't do much, other than the one day trip and a whole lot of lazing around beach and pool, there is plenty more to do if that's your thing. It's well set up for families but keeps couples in mind too. Absolutely, definitely worth a visit.

Room tip: Get a sea view if you can. Private pool rooms sound like a great idea, and we were tempted, but when we saw them they seemed to be in the shade a lot of the time.
Date of stay: July 2014
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Rooms
    • Service
10  Thank BW5891
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofia K, Γενικός Διευθυντής at Porto Platanias Beach Resort and Spa, responded to this reviewResponded 19 October 2014

Dear Mr. / Mrs. BCW2013,
Firstly, I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your experience from your last visit in Platanias.
Further to your review, I am so glad we made such a good impression to you! Your detailed description gives the exact guidance of what someone could expect when visiting Porto Platanias Beach Resort & Spa. I noticed that you did not enjoy Breakfast and Light Snacks one hundred percent, but we will take into consideration your recommendation as regards the acquirement of variety.
Thank you once more, for your valuable words and thank you for recommending our Hotel to all Trip advisor readers and travelers! Hope to welcome you back soon.
Sincerely,
Despina Dimotaki
Guest Relations.

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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 18 July 2014

We are very very happy with this hotel. It has access to its own beach for swimming without the need to drive. It also has pools, spa, games where travellers can spent their time. Moreover people working there were very helpfull and willing to help us. Rooms were very luxurious , clear and comfortable with an amazing view. Breakfast was very reach and well-organised with nice staff.

Date of stay: July 2014
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Service
Thank EleniYi
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofia K, Γενικός Διευθυντής at Porto Platanias Beach Resort and Spa, responded to this reviewResponded 19 October 2014

Dear Mrs. EleniYi,
It is great pleasure reading your review on Tripadvisor in relation to your recent visit to Porto Platanias Beach Resort & Spa.
It is so rewarding to read that the service, facilities, and menu you received from us matched your desires. I hope that we will have the opportunity to welcome you back to our Hotel in the near future.
Sincerely,
Despina Dimotaki
Guest Relations.

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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 16 July 2014

We were two couples that stayed at this hotel in June/July.

We were all very happy with our stay. The staff was very friendly, the buffettes was above average and we always got a spot by the pool.
We chose a All Inclusive package, and the only downside was the lack of bars were you could use the AI.
Another thing that was under standards of a AI-hotel was the snacks. It was hidden away in the old reception of the hotel, and the choices was very limited with only some fruit, some ice cream, sometimes sweet cakes, and pizzas (not very good pizza I might add...).
We also had a late flight, so we planned to use the hotel changing rooms after some final sunbathing, but this was a very limited offer as many other wanted to use the very few changing rooms. We ended up changing at some toilettes that was nearly hidden away from the pools, and thus not often visited.
The AC in the rooms was not possible to adjust, and I never figured out how long it would stay on, or when it would turn off. I woke up every morning at about 6 o´clock because the room was warm since the AC had turned itself off at some point. Not very funny.

Other than that it was a very nice stay. As mentioned before, the staff was very friendly, they remembered us, and was both helpfull and profesional.
The drinks in the poolbar was mixed perfectly, and we never noticed the difference between the local (and cheaper spirits) they used, and the expensive ones.
The buffet was really good, but the lunch was always the best.

I would recommend other to stay at this hotel without any doubt, but I would also warn them about the issues mentioned. But still, a nice hotel with very nice staff.

Room tip: Rooms on the higher floors are recommended.
Date of stay: June 2014
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Service
Thank luxurybeast
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofia K, Γενικός Διευθυντής at Porto Platanias Beach Resort and Spa, responded to this reviewResponded 18 October 2014

Dear Mr. / Mrs. Morten L,

Initially, I would like to thank you for your nice words and for taking the time to share your vacations’ moments in Trip Advisors’ site.
I am glad that as an overall you had a beautiful stay with us. On the other hand, I feel sorry that we could not provide you the room for longer time; but when our hotel’s capacity is full the only thing that we can do is providing the changing rooms which includes showers. If we had the room availability, I assure you that we would supply you the room for extended time.
Thank you once more for your kind words. We hope to welcome you again in our Resort.

Sincerely,

Despina Dimotaki
Guest Relations.

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Reviewed 8 July 2014

stayed here week commencing 3rd May 2014 reviews dont do this hotel justice loads of pools excellant all inclusive, where everything is all inclusive. clean ,great service ,nice staff ,lovely rooms,no real entertainment but just outside the front of hotel is the village of Platenais,it has any shops ,family run taverners restaurants you can want. fab Indian and chinese restaurnt 50 meters from front of hotel, lovely beach
you can walk if able or get a taxi up to top of resort to look at the scenery old church and some historical sites

Date of stay: May 2014
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
4  Thank LynetteE721
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofia K, Γενικός Διευθυντής at Porto Platanias Beach Resort and Spa, responded to this reviewResponded 18 October 2014

Dear Mrs. Lynette E,
To begin with, I would like to thank you for your positive feedback in Tripadvisor’s site.
It is a great satisfaction for us to know that we managed to completely fulfill your desires. We daily try to keep our hotel cleaned for our guests; not only their rooms but the common areas too, provide good services with a smile and kindness, and most important well cooked and high quality of food.
I would like to warmly thank you once more for your kind words and we hope to see you soon in Porto Platanias Beach Resort and Spa.
Sincerely,

Despina Dimotaki
Guest Relations

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