Sep 21, 2014, 10:38 am
[LEFT Marriott; to become Rosewood] Blue Palace, Crete, Greece [Master Thread]
Sep 7, 2015, 1:27 am
#332
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: BCT. Formerly known as attorney28
Programs: LH HON,BA GGL GfL,Hyatt LT Glob,Mrtt LT P,Hilt LT D,IC Amb,Acc P,GHA Tit,LHW Strlg,Sixt/Av/Hz D/Pres
Posts: 6,826
Am currently at the resort. Overall, a nice and relaxing place. Because of the wooden deck around the pebble beach, I would not regard the lack of a sandy beach as a drawback, on the contrary - it's very convenient to get into the water and the water is very clear (and still warm at this time of the year).
Got upgraded to a maisonette duplex w. small pool - very nice. Not 100 % private, but fine.
Had dinner in the Asian restaurant. Food was okay, the waitresses seemed overworked and stressed, at least some of them. Most of the staff is friendly, though.
The one thing I don't understand is that they are making me move out of the room at 12 p.m. when I told them that I am leaving the resort at 2:30 p.m. (my flight leaves at 5, I already have a boarding pass, a rental car and no luggage to check). The same room category is still bookable online, so I don't understand why they are kicking me out of the room at 12. They did offer a courtesy room, but I don't see the point of making me go through that hassle for a couple of hours. I just want to stay on the little deck by the little pool and then leave.
Got upgraded to a maisonette duplex w. small pool - very nice. Not 100 % private, but fine.
Had dinner in the Asian restaurant. Food was okay, the waitresses seemed overworked and stressed, at least some of them. Most of the staff is friendly, though.
The one thing I don't understand is that they are making me move out of the room at 12 p.m. when I told them that I am leaving the resort at 2:30 p.m. (my flight leaves at 5, I already have a boarding pass, a rental car and no luggage to check). The same room category is still bookable online, so I don't understand why they are kicking me out of the room at 12. They did offer a courtesy room, but I don't see the point of making me go through that hassle for a couple of hours. I just want to stay on the little deck by the little pool and then leave.
Sep 7, 2015, 6:35 am
#333
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Programs: Bonvoy Gold, AA Plat, Volare Premier, VS Silver, National Emerald Elite, Hertz President Circle
Posts: 2,526
Sorry to state the obvious, but are you sure they know you're platinum? Did you mention it when you asked? In some properties the front desk repeats the book answer without checking the status of the guest.
Last edited by wobbly wings; Sep 7, 2015 at 7:17 am
Sep 12, 2015, 6:30 am
#336
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,657
Why would you post this in the Luxury Hotels Forum when you seem to know about this master thread on the property?
Sep 12, 2015, 7:27 am
#337
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,520
Sep 12, 2015, 9:18 am
#338
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,964
Sep 21, 2015, 4:02 am
#340
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Here there everywhere
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, BA Silver, Aegean Gold, Aeroplan 25k, AA EXP
Posts: 2,825
On top of all previous comments about this property, I'll just add that they have serious service delivery problems which add to the fact that this property is one I probably will not return to.
There is really little of Greece that comes out of the staff here. Go outside from the hotel and you will meet wonderfully nice and hospitable people, however once back at the hotel none of this is really seen, or if it is it is in limited amounts.
The staff at breakfast really are some of the most disgruntled people I have seen. Either they are sloppy and do not care or they have attitude. In any case you start to feel sorry that you speak to them and disturb them.
The rest of the staff do not care much either. Walking at night with a bag, three golf carts went by, none of them offered to give me a lift (not a big deal, but still was quite loaded with baggage).
My gripe with this property was on the final night though, there was a deafening noise (sounded like an alarm) coming from the hallway. I call reception to tell them about it and expressing that I think it is either an alarm or a bird that might be stuck. Their reply "well you should have thought that you are staying at the countryside if you come here". They promised to send someone to have a look but nobody ever came and the sound continued all night (heard the neighbours were woken up also).
At checkout, by some miracle managed to get a late checkout after much haggling. Unfortunately the card had not been validated to that late checkout time, which meant I lost 25 minutes going back and forth to reception to get the card back up and running, which put me a bit late compared to that checkout time. Well starting a minute after that checkout time had gone by, the phone rang every 30 seconds, with the hotel asking why we hadn't left and telling us to leave (quite counter productive to call so many times).
The settings of this hotel are very nice, but the staff ruin the experience. It's a pity as the service delivery is so far off what you experience in Greece in general.
There is really little of Greece that comes out of the staff here. Go outside from the hotel and you will meet wonderfully nice and hospitable people, however once back at the hotel none of this is really seen, or if it is it is in limited amounts.
The staff at breakfast really are some of the most disgruntled people I have seen. Either they are sloppy and do not care or they have attitude. In any case you start to feel sorry that you speak to them and disturb them.
The rest of the staff do not care much either. Walking at night with a bag, three golf carts went by, none of them offered to give me a lift (not a big deal, but still was quite loaded with baggage).
My gripe with this property was on the final night though, there was a deafening noise (sounded like an alarm) coming from the hallway. I call reception to tell them about it and expressing that I think it is either an alarm or a bird that might be stuck. Their reply "well you should have thought that you are staying at the countryside if you come here". They promised to send someone to have a look but nobody ever came and the sound continued all night (heard the neighbours were woken up also).
At checkout, by some miracle managed to get a late checkout after much haggling. Unfortunately the card had not been validated to that late checkout time, which meant I lost 25 minutes going back and forth to reception to get the card back up and running, which put me a bit late compared to that checkout time. Well starting a minute after that checkout time had gone by, the phone rang every 30 seconds, with the hotel asking why we hadn't left and telling us to leave (quite counter productive to call so many times).
The settings of this hotel are very nice, but the staff ruin the experience. It's a pity as the service delivery is so far off what you experience in Greece in general.
Sep 21, 2015, 4:54 am
#341
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,520
On top of all previous comments about this property, I'll just add that they have serious service delivery problems which add to the fact that this property is one I probably will not return to.
There is really little of Greece that comes out of the staff here. Go outside from the hotel and you will meet wonderfully nice and hospitable people, however once back at the hotel none of this is really seen, or if it is it is in limited amounts.
The staff at breakfast really are some of the most disgruntled people I have seen. Either they are sloppy and do not care or they have attitude. In any case you start to feel sorry that you speak to them and disturb them.
The rest of the staff do not care much either. Walking at night with a bag, three golf carts went by, none of them offered to give me a lift (not a big deal, but still was quite loaded with baggage).
My gripe with this property was on the final night though, there was a deafening noise (sounded like an alarm) coming from the hallway. I call reception to tell them about it and expressing that I think it is either an alarm or a bird that might be stuck. Their reply "well you should have thought that you are staying at the countryside if you come here". They promised to send someone to have a look but nobody ever came and the sound continued all night (heard the neighbours were woken up also).
At checkout, by some miracle managed to get a late checkout after much haggling. Unfortunately the card had not been validated to that late checkout time, which meant I lost 25 minutes going back and forth to reception to get the card back up and running, which put me a bit late compared to that checkout time. Well starting a minute after that checkout time had gone by, the phone rang every 30 seconds, with the hotel asking why we hadn't left and telling us to leave (quite counter productive to call so many times).
The settings of this hotel are very nice, but the staff ruin the experience. It's a pity as the service delivery is so far off what you experience in Greece in general.
There is really little of Greece that comes out of the staff here. Go outside from the hotel and you will meet wonderfully nice and hospitable people, however once back at the hotel none of this is really seen, or if it is it is in limited amounts.
The staff at breakfast really are some of the most disgruntled people I have seen. Either they are sloppy and do not care or they have attitude. In any case you start to feel sorry that you speak to them and disturb them.
The rest of the staff do not care much either. Walking at night with a bag, three golf carts went by, none of them offered to give me a lift (not a big deal, but still was quite loaded with baggage).
My gripe with this property was on the final night though, there was a deafening noise (sounded like an alarm) coming from the hallway. I call reception to tell them about it and expressing that I think it is either an alarm or a bird that might be stuck. Their reply "well you should have thought that you are staying at the countryside if you come here". They promised to send someone to have a look but nobody ever came and the sound continued all night (heard the neighbours were woken up also).
At checkout, by some miracle managed to get a late checkout after much haggling. Unfortunately the card had not been validated to that late checkout time, which meant I lost 25 minutes going back and forth to reception to get the card back up and running, which put me a bit late compared to that checkout time. Well starting a minute after that checkout time had gone by, the phone rang every 30 seconds, with the hotel asking why we hadn't left and telling us to leave (quite counter productive to call so many times).
The settings of this hotel are very nice, but the staff ruin the experience. It's a pity as the service delivery is so far off what you experience in Greece in general.
Sep 21, 2015, 5:38 am
#342
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,964
Are we going there just because it is a Starwood resort hoping for status upgrades?
That area of eastern Crete, especially in the Elounda area, has some amazing small luxury resorts and hotels and in the " best of " lists the Blue Palace is never listed among them.
That area of eastern Crete, especially in the Elounda area, has some amazing small luxury resorts and hotels and in the " best of " lists the Blue Palace is never listed among them.
Sep 21, 2015, 8:34 am
#343
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,657
I was just recently on Mallorca and decided to go outside of any awards program and pay to stay at the wonderful Can Simoneta Hotel. I could have stayed at 3 different SPG properties but they didn't provide what I wanted or I thought the Euro cost or an award stay was to expensive (the StR).
Oh....there is a forthcoming Marriott Autograph Collection hotel in Elounda that is joining the program shortly so at least for hotel awards there will be another alternative to the BP in the area. (that is if you have MR points)
Sep 21, 2015, 9:05 am
#344
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,964
The Domes of Elounda ( the soon to be a Marriot Autograph Collection Hotel) is one of those small boutique resorts that has been consistently rated very high and on everyone's "best of" lists....I have always wanted to stay there.
