Cretan Dream Resort and Spa

Firstly, thank you to Peter and every member of staff at Cretan Dream for giving us one of the most memorable holidays we've ever had. You didn't just provide a beautiful place to stay – you created an atmosphere that was warm, relaxed and genuinely welcoming from the moment we arrived until the moment we reluctantly left.

Apologies in advance if I've misspelled anyone's name and, if you're looking for a quick review, this probably isn't it! Put the kettle on first...

We stayed for ten nights in two inland-view rooms.

This holiday meant far more to us than simply escaping the British weather. Exactly one year before arriving in Crete, my husband and I were travelling from North Wales to London for his life-saving surgery following a Stage 3 cancer diagnosis. After an incredibly difficult year for all four of us, we wanted somewhere we could finally switch off, relax and make happy family memories again.

Choosing Cretan Dream turned out to be one of the best decisions we could have made.

Arrival Although we didn't arrive until shortly after midnight, we were greeted with a genuine smile by Costas in the bright, stylish reception area. Even at that hour, nothing felt rushed. The reception itself immediately gives you a sense of the hotel's character, with contemporary artwork, elegant décor and the most beautiful fragrance gently filling the air.

After checking in, we were whisked to our rooms in one of the hotel's golf buggies – a lovely touch after a long day of travelling.

The Rooms Our rooms were spacious, immaculately clean and beautifully designed with a contemporary feel, softened by a stunning natural stone feature wall behind the bed.

Everything felt thoughtfully planned. The beds were incredibly comfortable, the air conditioning worked perfectly (very welcome during a Cretan summer!), there was excellent storage, a well-equipped kitchenette hidden neatly behind wooden doors, plenty of sockets including USB and USB-C charging points, and a lovely seating area both inside and out.

Our terrace overlooked a small garden with flowering shrubs and a beautiful hibiscus, making it a peaceful place to enjoy a morning coffee before heading out.

The bathroom was modern, spotlessly clean and well equipped, with fluffy towels, slippers, excellent lighting and everything you'd expect from a quality hotel.

Everywhere you looked there was evidence that someone had really thought about guest comfort.

Breakfast Every morning began with a warm smile from the wonderful Toula, who deserves a medal for patiently listening to our increasingly ambitious (and probably dreadful!) attempts at speaking Greek.

Breakfast itself was exceptional. Whether you wanted fresh fruit, pastries, cheeses, cold meats, yoghurt, cooked breakfast, tea, coffee or fruit juice, there was something for everyone. Everything was beautifully presented, constantly replenished and extremely fresh.

The breakfast staff worked incredibly hard while somehow always remaining cheerful, friendly and attentive.

Pool & Grounds The pool area was absolutely immaculate.

The pool itself was inviting and beautifully maintained, surrounded by comfortable wooden sun loungers, parasols and small tables.

There were outdoor showers, spotless toilet facilities and beautifully landscaped gardens which gave the whole area a peaceful, luxurious feel.

The hotel politely asks guests not to reserve sunbeds. Sadly, not everyone respected this, but that's certainly no reflection on the hotel. Fortunately, we're not dedicated sun worshippers. We'd much rather spend our days exploring Crete before returning later in the afternoon when the pool was quieter and the temperature a little kinder!

Evening Meals Although we'd originally planned to eat in different tavernas most evenings, we found ourselves returning to the hotel restaurant time and again.

Quite simply, the food was outstanding.

Everything we ordered was beautifully cooked, wonderfully fresh and extremely reasonably priced. The menu offered enough variety that we never became bored despite eating there most evenings.

The service made the experience even better.

Yanna looked after us for much of our stay and was absolutely lovely.

Christina deserves special recognition. As a trained sommelier, her knowledge of Cretan and Greek wines was exceptional, but what impressed us most was her enthusiasm. She didn't simply recommend wines; she explained grape varieties, wine-making traditions and why she thought we'd enjoy each bottle. Her passion was infectious, and thanks to her we discovered some truly wonderful Greek wines we'd never have tried otherwise.

The hotel also hosts themed evenings.

We enjoyed an incredible Tomahawk Steak Night where the steaks were cooked on a Kamado barbecue while the talented Eleni entertained everyone with live music.

The Cretan Night was equally unforgettable, with fantastic traditional food, live musicians, dancers and, of course, everyone joining in with the famous Sirtaki (yes... even our two teenage boys!). Seeing them throwing themselves into it without a second thought is a memory we'll treasure forever and perfectly sums up the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere this hotel creates.

Pool Bar The pool bar quickly became another favourite place.

Whether ordering cocktails, beers, soft drinks or coffees, the service was always excellent.

A special mention goes to Manolis, whose warmth, humour and friendly personality never failed to brighten our day. Every conversation was met with a smile and nothing ever seemed too much trouble.

Housekeeping The housekeeping team were simply outstanding.

Our rooms were cleaned every day to an exceptionally high standard, towels and linen were regularly changed and the whole hotel was kept absolutely immaculate.

We also loved returning each afternoon to discover what creative towel display had been left waiting for us!

Reception Every member of the reception team was knowledgeable, approachable and genuinely helpful.

When we decided to hire a car to explore western Crete, everything was arranged quickly and efficiently through reception, removing all the usual stress of comparing companies, insurance and prices ourselves.

Nothing ever seemed too much trouble.

Peter It's impossible to finish this review without mentioning Peter.

So often you see hotel owners from a distance.

Peter was different.

Rather than simply overseeing everything, he was constantly chatting with guests, helping staff, carrying plates, clearing tables, offering recommendations and making sure everyone was enjoying themselves.

That says everything about the culture of this hotel.

When the owner leads by example, it's hardly surprising that every member of staff works with such pride and warmth.

Overall Great hotels can provide beautiful rooms, delicious food and excellent facilities.

Truly memorable hotels make you feel as though you've been welcomed into something much more personal.

That's exactly what Cretan Dream gave us.

We arrived hoping for a relaxing holiday after one of the hardest years our family has ever experienced.

We left with wonderful memories, new friendships, a love of Crete, and already talking about when we can come back.

To Peter, Costas, Toula, Yanna, Christina, Manolis, the reception team, the housekeeping team and everyone else who made our stay so special...

Thank you.

You gave our family far more than a holiday, and we'll never forget it.

First the positives - Great location with a good view of the beach (across a fairly busy road) and within walking distance of local tavernas. These tavernas offer great, good value for money, tasty meals. Fantastic breakfast with lots of choice. Pool area really good, although lots of mosaic tiles missing from the pool itself. Exceptionally clean with fresh towels everyday. Prices in the bar & on-site shop compare favourably with others in the area. Excellent air conditioning in the bedroom. Staff are great, always friendly. Negatives - Sunbeds around the pool - many are broken & need replacing. If you arrive at breakfast later than 8.30 - good luck finding one. The hotel doesn't enforce it's stated policy of not allowing beds to be reserved without using them. There is a large area where many more beds could be placed. Quite a big negative this one. Glass bottles and glasses are used from the bar around the pool areas. Much of this is grassed and a breakage could cause a major safety issue, particularly for children. Really surprised this is allowed. The buses to Chania are quite often full when they reach the bus stop outside the hotel. Walking to the centre isn't really an option, so choose a less busy time to go there or get a taxi. Although there is a coffee machine in the room, the hotel doesn't offer complimentary coffee pods. They can be purchased from the shop - €1.50 each. The hotel also doesn't provide complimentary water, unusual in this class of hotel.