Creta Maris Beach Resort

We arrived on the 3rd of July and we will spend two weeks in the wonderful Creta Maris. Despite the difficulties, the hotel provides the same quality of hospitality and comfort, as during the past years. This is our 7th holiday here. We feel very safe (safer than at home). All the staff members wear masks and gloves, we are not required to wear them, but the necessary circumstances for total social distance are provided in every part of the hotel. Even on the beach, the sunbeds are far enough from each other, and they are disinfected after each use. There is no free buffet, but you can walk around in the main restaurant and you jus point out the meals, the waiters behind the counters put them on a plate for you. Smaller salads and starters are wrapped (also bread and bakeries), jams and olive oils are offered in small bottles. In two restaurants (Cochlias and Almyra) you can choose among 4 a la carte dinners: Italian, barbecue, cretan and greek. The foods are amazing (as always)! Thanks for the amazingly helpful staff we can forget all the negative experiences of this year, meanwhile, our safety is provided continuously. However, we were thinking about whether to come or not, it was a perfect decision to spend our holiday here in our favourite hotel. Thank you for those who make these days even more memorable, for those who are working in the Creta Maris and who became our friends during the past years: Caterina, Tenia, Manolis and Manos from the reception group - we can't wait to hug you again! And we are thankful for the always smiling waiters, baristas and maids, and every member of the staff! You make our days beautiful <3

Last year, in 2018, I was very sceptic about going to a five star all inclusive hotel, as I did not really prefer this kind of Holiday before. As I wrote in my review, I was prepared to find every single reason to hate it, but I could not, we spent 11 beautiful days in the Creta Maris, which made me so relaxed I haven’t been a long time ago… It was not a surprise that we decided to return in 2019. After our late arrival (approx. 9.30 p.m.) we had our room, which was the one probably every guest would prefer: a nice room in Maris building, on the second floor, with a beautiful view over the main pool and the sea, close to everything, but far away enough to stay in silence. On the other hand, after our previous experience, we wanted to stay at the Terra Building – maybe it is far away from the sea, but more relaxed, we loved the Pithos and Terra pool, and Estia restaurant. So next morning I went to the reception, and the same Gentleman was in service as last year, when I went to the reception on the first morning, with the same request: room change. It is a shame on me, but I forgot his name, he is Manolos or Manos – I have visited dozens of Hotels around the world, but I have never met such a great welcoming man, who served the guests in the best meaning of this word. So, after the change, we had our great room in the Terra Building again, and another perfect holiday started. This is the point where I should start to explain why Creta Maris is so great, but these reviews will be quite useful for this year’s visitors… The Hotel is huge, but friendly, some kind of mixture of a peaceful older holiday house (Terra area), a Greek holiday village (bungalows), and a cosmopolitan modern hotel (Maris area). The sea is really nice, we always could find sunbeds, the access is through small stones, rocks which means that the water is extremely clean, my daughter spent 10-20 minutes with her head in the water (with that thing which is called scuba-pipe, or something). She was disappointed a little bit, as a few days before there were news saying that a Great White Shark was spotted around Mallorca, and she wanted to spot one in the sea, but could not. I did not miss great white sharks at all… Pools are great, very clean, good size, we always had sunbeds. There are plenty of bars, with a great staff everywhere, drinks are at good quality, ice creams and snacks as well – nothing to complain about, only the words of praise. Waterpark was a new facility, we really loved it, and it is a great place with smaller children as well. Restaurants are a special issue. The main Cosmos restaurant is on the level I can expect from a big all-inclusive hotel. Good selection, good quality, we always found what we wanted to eat, even if we did not know what we wanted to eat… Thematic restaurants are a different level, Almyra, Estia, Platia are really good, all of them are great quality with great staff. Cochlias is on a higher level, it is more than great with its great choice of starters, the wonderful grill selection, and the amazing view to the sea. Just a story which shows why we love Creta Maris: Cochlias was my wife’s favourite, as her favourite dish are grilled prawns. We (my daughter and I) used to try several kind of food, my wife eats grilled prawns. Only grilled prawns, but dozens (hundreds?) of them. After taking from the prawns three times, she was sitting there, next to the sea, and she was uncertain if it was unpolite to return once again. Then our waiter came, took the plates, and after a minute he returned with a plate full of prawns, saying that it is fresh from the grill and he saw that the lady likes it. These kind of “story” happened daily, proving that the people of Creta Maris are not just doing their work but they really do their best to make our holiday great. Pithos is another level, with the great hospitality, and great food. That is my favourite restaurant, restaurant on this level earns 15-16 BIB Gourmand points, or at least a Michelin recommendation. Eating at Pithos is amongst my most remarkable restaurant experiences, the point where the food, drinks, staff, kindness, mood, surroundings are at the perfect match. Anyway, it was quite easy to learn the reservation system, as we spent 11 days there, we could eat once at each thematic restaurant, and repeat at Cochlias and Pithos… One point for the cats. There are many of them (according to my daughter’s calculation, the number is 58, but surely between 55-65). And they are clean, really “polite” (what a stupid word for cats…), gentle cats. We liked them. My daughter forced me to donate almost every day for the cats… Another story which shows why we love Creta Maris: there were a cat with a big scar on his neck. She was really kind, but many people were afraid because of that scar – for us it was clear that it is not a sickness, but a result of a fight. A waitress from Almyra told us that the veterinarian saw the cat, cured her, but she took off the collar. We left Creta Maris, and hoped that Micio (the cat) will recover. And, after a few weeks, we read on the Facebook of the Hotel that they took Micio to a veterinarian, she spent there a few weeks and returned in Creta Maris in a good shape. For us, as we knew Micio, it was great to read, and it was also a reason to return. We booked our holiday for August in November, when everything seemed great… This time we decided to spend five days next to Kissamos, in a smaller apartment, so we can visit Balos, Elafonisi, and Chania, and after that having the “usual” 11 days in Creta Maris. The corona virus came, but we decided to give a chance. After reading the news on the Hotel’s Facebook site, we became a little bit uncertain: half of the facilities, including our favourites at the Terra Area will be closed and Cochlias will operate with a fixed menu so my wife will not have her prawn-overload. According to the statements of the Hotel’s website, probably the whole Terra Area will be closed, and the restaurants will not be the same as last year… We will miss the nights with the animation team as well, we liked the shows. We had a reservation which we could cancel easily with having on money back. In April we had the chance to reclaim the whole price with a small risk (e.g. in case of flight tickets at Austrian Airlines we would have vouchers for later trips). But we were uncertain, we did not want to change… Because the strongest point of Creta Maris are The People there, such a great people, more than simply call them “staff”. I do not know how the management collected and kept these great group of great people together, but they managed, and we had two flawless holidays. And I am sure that they will do their best to repeat it. I will miss the relaxation at the silent Pithos pool, the great, long (very long) dinners at Pithos restaurant, and the problem-solving talks with Ilias at the Idaia Bar, but it will be great, I am sure. And, on the other hand, I am not really sentimental, but this time we feel that we have to show to the People working at the Creta Maris, that we have a great trust in them. So, we are returning in August. Even if I have to find a restaurant where my wife can eat prawns until it hurts… Terra Building will be closed, so this is the time to try the bungalows. I am going to write a mail to reserve a room in the bungalows area. And if we will have another one in the main building, I will have the same conservation at the reception, and they will to their best for the thirds time. Things are changing, but I trust in Creta Maris, and I am sure that heir hospitality, kindness is the same. See you in August.

Our stay at Creta Maris last summer in July was amazing! this is a great hotel, with amazing services - and incredible people, everything was simply perfect - when we arrived, I was first scarred by the size of the hotel -680 room!! too big ... impossible to have a 5* service.. i was completely wrong!: the room was great, there are several restaurants, there are many pools - there is space for everyone, and the space is so well managed, that even if the hotel is huge, it never feels busy, anywhere. This is the first great surprise. Then the second surprise: the food, simply divine. Whether the main restaurants, or the several ones with different specialities. We couldn't believe that you can have such good and high level quality dishes, for such a big place. From starters to deserts, the choice is amazing, and changing every day - and excellent .Even after 2 weeks stay, i don't believe we have tried it all. Several kind of fresh juices every morning, endless buffets with all sorts of food, hot, cold, instant made, including choice for people with food intolerance. Then different opening and closure time, that allows you to simply have real, stressless holidays, as you can access 1 restaurant with food from early morning to midnight. without speaking of all the snack points, that have all the food a kid can dream of, but also light and healthy dishes for the parents, who do not want to move back to restaurant - at lunch time. The chef, and his crew offer an incredible cuisine - and i did ask the recipe of one of the best lamb I've ever tasted in my life . and he did come back with it :). I'm also not at desert person, but i did have to hold back.. every day - as those where simply fantastic. The hotel is also applying ecology rules, to protect environment. For example, for the first time, I 've seen paper, pet and aluminum collectors by the pool / beach. They also take care of the cats by feeding them, in several food points in the hotel. Last but not least.. the service and the people... it is a 6*. wherever you go, there is a smile. be the reception, the restaurant entrance, where you are welcomed at every meal, the people working in the restaurant, by the beach, by the pool, when you walk the alleys, when they come for the room , the cooks, when you take a little car :) .. kindness, helpful, everything is there to make you feel welcome, happy and enjoying your stay - and provide you anything you need. They remember you, although there are hundreds of people in the hotel. I am sorry for not having all the names - to name few, but I will for next stay. the waterpark is great :) we had lot of fun as well - and the ice cream is lovely! if I have to say something negative about the hotel... it is close to the airport, so to air corridor. You can hear the planes - depends on wind. but given the amazing stay, we have already booked our next stay , We can't wait! THANK YOU Creta Maris, and see you.. soon again!