Royal Marmin Bay Boutique and Art Hotel

We recently stayed at this hotel for a relaxing holiday and, overall, had a very enjoyable stay. The resort itself is exceptionally peaceful, making it an excellent choice if you’re looking for a quiet escape.

The highlights were definitely the tranquillity of the hotel (we witnessed a 10%-20% maximum occupancy rate on pool beds throughout our week stay), the spacious and comfortable rooms, the quality of the food, and the lovely pool areas, which were always clean and calm. There was also a pleasant breeze throughout the resort, making it comfortable even during the hotter parts of the day. We were particularly impressed that our request to change rooms was handled quickly and with very little fuss.

We unfortunately stayed in two different rooms. Room 77 is classed as a "glass fronted pool room", which was very large, with a double sink, excellent digital air conditioning and a great location close to the pool. However, it lacked privacy (room 77 is flanked by two other rooms and the dividing walls were not sufficient enough to prevent you seeing into the balcony's next door) and sunshine (there was zero sun until midday, and then that only covered a small part of the outdoor space), which were two specific requests before we arrived. So to be assigned this room upon arrival was disappointing. Also there wasn’t enough shelving or hanging space for clothes and the pool.

We then moved to Room 501, which was at the top of the resort higher up, quieter, enjoyed sunshine until 1/2pm every day (we were staying in early July) and had the lovely private pool our booking expected. It was also at the end of the row so we had no one to our left. Although it was smaller and only had a single sink, we preferred it overall and it was more inline with our request.

One unexpected positive was that we experienced virtually no mosquitoes during our stay, possibly due to the consistent fresh breeze.

Unfortunately, there were several aspects that didn’t quite meet our expectations for a five-star hotel. The hotel applies a number of additional charges that felt unnecessarily petty, including €1.50 for a single coffee pod in your room, expensive bottled water (€3-€5 a litre depending on where you buy it from, which must be from the hotel as the nearest supermarket is 30 mins walk away) with no complimentary water provided, and there is even a sign on the room mini bar door, saving you cannot remove items from the fridge, and cool your own drinks otherwise you will be charged. This approach detracted from what should have been an all-round premium experience, and prices we felt were exactly that ie expensive.

Service was generally good but inconsistent. We had arranged for a BMW airport transfer which failed to arrive (apparently it broke down that morning), which was disappointing, as were charged the same for a Mercedes minibus, and were not told of the issue before arriving. On the way back, our BMW did not appear (we did not see it all week so cannot confirm if it serves the hotel or not) and although it was a nice Mercedes mini bus, it was not what we ordered and we did not consider it the upgrade the hotel suggested it was. Breakfast was another area where improvements could be made. There was no sparkling wine available, and there was no à la carte option at either breakfast (excluding the ommlette station) or dinner, just a buffet. If you do want to choose from a menu, there is a sushi & fine dining restaurant on site, but at extra cost. We ate at the fine dining restaurant, and although the chef apparently has 2 Michelin stars, the food is good restaurant food at best so don't expect an exciting gastronomic journey however the view and service was very good. Returning to service, on one morning it took three requests before we received our coffee, and on another occasion the wrong wine was served at dinner. We also noticed there was no evening turndown service.

Overall, this is a beautiful, peaceful resort with excellent facilities and comfortable accommodation. However, the occasional inconsistent service and especially the numerous additional charges prevent it from delivering the polished five-star luxury experience we were expecting. With a little more attention to detail and a more generous approach to guest amenities, it could easily become an outstanding hotel.

PS the resort has a small beach at the front but we didn’t stay on it. The sunbeds looked crowded/closer together, compared to the pool beds.

We have just returned from a fantastic stay at Royal Marmin Bay Boutique & Art Hotel and wanted to thank the entire team for making our holiday so memorable.

The hotel itself is beautifully positioned overlooking Mirabello Bay, with stunning views from almost every corner. The location is ideal, peaceful and relaxing, yet close enough to explore Elounda, Plaka and Spinalonga. The adults-only atmosphere creates a calm and luxurious environment that is perfect for unwinding.

Our room, patio and private pool were excellent, spacious, spotlessly clean, comfortable, and with wonderful sea views. The housekeeping team did an outstanding job throughout our stay and consistently maintained the room to a very high standard.

The food was also excellent, with plenty of variety and high-quality ingredients. We particularly appreciated the freshness of everything and the friendliness and professionalism of the restaurant staff, who always greeted us with a smile and made every meal enjoyable.

What really sets this hotel apart, however, is its people.

From the reception team who were always welcoming and helpful, to the housekeeping staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, every member of staff genuinely seemed to care about ensuring guests had a great experience.

A special mention must go to Marios from Guest Relations. During our stay my partner experienced some medical issues, and Marios went above and beyond to help us. His flexibility, kindness, responsiveness and genuine concern made a difficult situation far easier to manage. Nothing was too much trouble, and he consistently found solutions whenever we needed assistance. It is rare to meet someone so dedicated to ensuring guests enjoy their stay, and he is a real credit to the hotel.

Luxury hotels can have beautiful rooms, great food and stunning views, but it is the people who create lasting memories. The entire team at Royal Marmin Bay succeeded in doing exactly that.

Thank you all for a wonderful holiday. We would not hesitate to return and would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a relaxing and high-quality stay in Crete.