Nikolaos

Not true! Greece has, in general, higher speed (and cheaper) internet, at least compared to the US!!

Unfortunately, the internet speed at the hotel was rather slow last week (couldn't stream the news) and it keep asking to log in every time a device connected (hassle)!!

Phipps

We just finished up a stay here as well. Overall a pleasant stay, but not without its quirks.

Physical property:
- A number of very nice pools, and a large rock beach. We had a bungalow with lounge chairs and a heated pool, so we tended to use that instead, but the other areas looked very nice
- Very pretty lounge areas outside of the lobby - great place to have a drink, look out at Spinalonga, etc.
- The funicular is rather annoying, but not terrible. On average, it took us about 5 minutes from the time we called for it. It was generally crowded, but not packed. This is needed to get down to the beach, the restaurant Flame, and some other areas. Not a deal-breaker, but a little annoying
- Property says Elounda, but it's really Plaka. Plaka is about a 5 minute walk (very easy), whereas Elounda is about a 45-60 minute walk (very pretty, but the sun is hot!). Cabs to Elounda are 7 Eur each way

Dining:
- We were split on the buffet - I didn't love it but my wife really did. Has all of the standard items you expect to see, and is extremely crowded. In my view, this felt like more of a cafeteria, and we had much nicer breakfasts at the Grand Bretagne and Mystique
- Restaurants at the hotel are really average, and far more expensive than nearby choices. We ate at Isola, Flame and Asia Blue (if that's the right name). Isola was really average Italian (stuff you'd never look for at home), and very expensive for the quality / portion sizes. Flame was much higher quality, and everything we ate except for the steaks we enjoyed. Our steaks were cooked in a fashion that left one half very gray, and the other half very red. Asia Blue was fine - I would characterize the quality as a PF Changs. Beware, the sushi rolls are tiny - three pieces. At all three reservations were very easy to get, even on nights they said they were fully booked (the restaurants were never full)
- We found restaurants in Plaka / Elounda to be plentiful but fairly average. In general you can get the same food there as in touristy parts of Athens - for about 10 Euros you get a piece of fish and fries, a chicken breast and fries, etc. Nothing was great, but it was fine, and the locations in Plaka were much prettier. Given that, I think the value here is much higher than eating at the hotel - the food is less fancy, but of similar quality and much less expensive. As well, others may have found more to do but I'd generally avoid Elounda - it's a long strip of tourist shops and other storefronts without much to do / much charm. Plaka doesn't offer a lot more, but feels friendlier / physically more pretty.

Transfers:
- We took a cab from the airport to the hotel - 95 Euro on the meter. We took the hotel shuttle back - 90 Euro. Would recommend the hotel option, and it can be charged to the room. Timing for us was about 45-60 minutes each way.
- Crete airport is very small - took almost no time to check in, get through security, etc. There are limited seating areas once you're past security.

Rooms:
- We really enjoyed our room. Having the lounge chairs and pool was great, and things were in the shade by early afternoon which we appreciated. (though pool was in the sun)
- We found the pool warm enough to use, though it does not feel especially private - your neighbors to the left and right will be able to see you, and you them
- Bed was comfortable, AC worked great, internet was really slow
- Bathroom was nice, though it had those pocket doors which don't do anything to limit the sounds from the bathroom (a pet peeve of mine)

Overall we'd definitely recommend the hotel for anyone staying in Crete. It's a beautiful property with very nice rooms. Dining options are pretty bad, but otherwise makes for a fine stay.

Thunderroad

Useful, informative report, Phipps. Thanks! Pretty consistent with what I'd read here at FT and elsewhere in preparing for our own visit next month.

A bit disappointed to read that you found the Plaka restaurants only so-so, but they still sound like a better value and in some respects better quality than the hotel food. Given that we generally like to dine off-site when staying at hotels, the easily walkable access to Plaka is appealing.

david55

I guess it is all relative. I found the food pretty good in Plaka...but my guess is sitting on the Aegean, waves gently lapping below your feet with sun and turquoise waters adds to the good flavor of any meal.

P.S. As you walk into Plaka after exiting the hotel and just past it towards Plaka ..look into the scarf of the hillside (west side) close to the road's edge. There are some amazing small quartz crystal formations. And many quartz crystals just lying about.

360guy

I am at the BP now. Excellent report "Phipps". I am also enjoying the restaurants in Plaka.

BostonFlyer1624

Just finished a stay at the resort.

I'll add more details when I get home, but a few overall impressions below:

Overall, the resort is "nice". However, I wouldn't go out of my way to seek out to come to this property. I'm not sure why Conde Nast has included this on their Gold List - makes me think twice about their ratings

The "king" bed is really just two twin beds pushed together - very uncomfortable to have that crack in the middle of the bed.

Restaurants in the resort are fine - noting to write home about, but serve good food - note that the prices are horrifically overpriced - $7 for water, $14 for a glass of cheap Greek wine, $15-20 for very small appetizer places and $30-40 for entrees.

The town of Plaka next door is cute. Food quality there is very very average. There is a very nice wine/coffee bar at the beginning of the town called Nautilus (cash only).

I'll add more later.

stimpy

You know this is common in Europe, right? You can ring down anytime and ask them to place a King mattress on top of the two beds and voila, no crack down the middle.

BostonFlyer1624

Well aware this is common in Europe - never have seen it at any Marriott property I've stayed at, and I've been to over 50 of them.

hoteltraum

This is seems to be permanent problem. I had the same problems in June 2014. Quite annoying. But in all fairness, the resort is huge and not so easy to cover.

EuropeanPete

Marriott's are perhaps not your typical European hotel

Phipps

I agree with you - Plaka is a better choice than the hotel for dining. The water views are better, prices more reasonable, etc. With that said, we didn't think the food was super-exciting.

UA-NYC

Have a Bungalow booked for next summer - no SNA option despite showing Junior Suites, Deluxe Suites, and higher showing. Anyone with the same issue?

Same w/the Vedema a few days later.

Starwood Lurker III

Hi UA-NYC,

I have asked our technical department to look into the reason why Suite Night Award can not be used in Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Elounda.

As for Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini, since it is an All-Suite property, Suite Night Award can not be used.

Best Regards,

Christina Zhou
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

UA-NYC

Thanks much Christina, I appreciate the help.

Was confused why I couldn't use them to get into a better suite (as it doesn't seem to be prohibited by the T&Cs https://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefe....html?view=faq) but I guess those better rooms aren't classified as Standard Suites anyways so there you go.

banzani

Dealing with this hotel for an upcoming family trip in October. I am planning to take the family which includes 2 children (under 12).

Website says kids under 12 stay free in existing bedding - hotel says this does not work in Bungalows. OK. Hotel also confirms per email that rollaway beds in suites are complimentary for children.

I've booked a BRG (not a dramatic discount...about 15% below SPG) and SNAs. Now the hotel comes back and says since I've booked a 'special rate' the complimentary rollaway policy in the suite will not apply and it's EUR 65 per night. even though the SNA in fact means a confirmed suite booking. In addition, they say the SNAs are for the Maisonette Suite, and that's the only suite type that apparently does not take 2 children - while the Junior Suite (lower category) would do so. They have offered me to 'buy-down' from Maisonette to Junior Suite !

They've also proposed some steep upgrade charges to other room types, and basically say otherwise they may not be able to accommodate us.

Since it's absolute low season I would be confident that SNAs will go through, but I feel they are not happy about the combination of BRG and SNAs and have decided to make me pay for it. I don't like the vibe of it and would be curious if others have stayed here with children.

I am not sure whether how they play this is consistent with SPG policy, but I do know that in October we can rent fantastic houses in Crete for less than EUR 100 a night...I'll probably give them another call but if this does not resolve at a reasonable rate (and I do think EUR 200-250 per night plus SNA is reasonable in absolute low season) then we'll go elsewhere.