DOMES AULUS ELOUNDA, CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON

I already posted a review today after my disappointing arrival experience. A short while later, after spending a pleasant morning at the beach, I decided that perhaps my first impression had been influenced by arriving very late at night, so I deleted the review before I even saw the email from Guest Relations. I then noticed an email explaining that the team had been trying to reach me regarding my review. I appreciated the effort, replied politely, and considered the matter closed. However, I then sent another email asking exactly the same question I had asked at reception this morning: What is included in my all-inclusive package? First time I asked today 8:15 at the reception and I was dismissed that I should come at 9 where there is some other person. Sorry, at 9 am I already wish to enjoy my day. Again, I HAD A BASIC SIMPLE QUESTION. I DIDN'T COME WITH 10 QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS. Every hotel has its own all-inclusive concept, different guest categories, and different rules. I simply wanted a clear overview of what my package includes. Unfortunately, after waiting for a reply, I still had no answer. Instead, I had to ask other hotel guests on the beach if that fruit and drinks are free for both tiers. For example, I still don’t know where all the bars are located. The resort is large, and there is no clear map or guide. A simple resort map together with a brochure explaining the facilities and inclusions would make a huge difference. At check-in I received three sheets of paper: * a fitness and activity schedule, * restaurant opening hours, * and the evening entertainment program. None of them clearly explained what my all-inclusive package includes or where the facilities are located. After asking the same basic question three times, I have simply lost interest in chasing information. Please don’t spend time looking for me around the resort anymore. I will either discover things myself or ask other guests. The location is beautiful, and I wish to relax now. Case closed. But I believe the arrival experience and guest orientation could be significantly improved. A guest should not have to spend the first day trying to figure out what they have already paid for and where is everything located.

Like most of the reviews I have seen on Tripadvisor, I agree with the disappointing fact that sun beds are allowed to be reserved as early as 6:30am with no one coming back to them for several hours! Honestly dont expect not to get a sun bed when you are staying at a 5* hotel, although there is room to put out more so not sure why that wasnt an option. Food now - although there was plenty of choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it became very repetitive each day, grilled chicken, grilled pork, grilled fish and lots of grilled veg! Was disappointed not to have even seen Moussaka or other traditional Greek dishes. All the food was always luke warm unfortunately. Did manage to book other restaurants no bother but they were also very disappointing unfortunately. Room was too small but clean, maids did a great service in keeping towels changed and cleaning the room every day. The AirCon worked well and we had no trouble keeping the room cool. Like many other reviews, I do agree with the complains regarding the shower. Shower itself was great but with half wall glass, it just fired out the door and completely soaked the floor every time. Not sure who designed the shower tray and cubicle but it is very poor. A full glass, slideable door is needed to keep the tsunami in! There can be no complaint about the staff who would always go out of their way to be helpful to you and the buggies taking you around seemed frequent and plentiful. I did enjoy Elounda, Plaka and Spinalonga. I would not go back to Domes Aulus but only because I would not expect any different to be happening and having been there once, feel that is enough. Entertainment was a let down too, not much happening really! But I did come away feeling relaxed although for a 5* hotel/holiday it did not quite live up to expectation - say 4*+ at most.

The stay was perfect! We came for a few days and we could relaxed so much. The food is delicious, the service was perfect. everyone was so kind and helpful. We had notice to complain. Many thanks!

The only thing 5* about this hotel is the view. Our private pool room was in need of some TLC, especially on the balcony. The private pool was not used as the room faced North east (as majority of rooms do here) so we only got the sun between 6 and 7.20am. You can’t just walk out of your rooms and head up or down on foot, not without good footwear and a lot of puff and muscles so you either have to time yourself for the mini bus, which isn’t running at breakfast time or call reception each time for a lift up or down. Not carefree and unscheduled. Our housekeeping lady was excellent and did a great job. The full free minibar only consisted of lager, fizzy drinks, water and a chocolate bar with a bottle of local red. This is by no definition a full mini bar which wasn’t replenished each day either as stated. Told restaurants didn’t have availability yet lots of empty tables. The dinner in the Greco Levante was good with lovely service but the wine choice/quality was poor - same bottles of wine €5/8 in local shop. Buffet dinner was awful, substandard of a 3* hotel and the other two restaurants were ok but all menus were very limited. The drinks were not premium, majority of cocktails were all pre mixed and poured from containers and made with very little spirit and lots of ice. Your only chance of getting a decent cocktail was in the main bar when it was quiet. The hotel states on their website that if you would like an upgrade in drink ie a bottle of champagne, you could order one at an extra cost. We tried to order a bottle and were told, the hotel doesn’t have any champagne to purchase or indeed any other wines. How very 5*. No egg station just a choice of powdered scrambled eggs, hard poached eggs or cold fried eggs. Not enough sun loungers around the main pool or the beach and to get a bed, you need to be out laying your towels by 6am. The cool living pool area did, however, always have spare beds but the pools were unusable in my opinion as the temperature was Baltic. Apparently the pool doesn’t warm up until August time! You pay extra to use the cool living area and they are the only pools not heated. No waiter service at the poolside either, which is unusual in a 5* hotel. We were very disappointed with this hotel to say the least and unfortunately its amazing views do not make up for it. The photos used on their website do not reflect how the areas look in reality. To save you wasting your money, calf muscles - avoid this hotel. It’s simply just rubbish.

I arrived at this hotel with no real preconceptions. As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, I expected a comfortable stay, but I had never visited this particular property before. Although I’d been to Greece previously, this was my first time staying at the Hilton Domes Aulus in Crete, and from the moment I arrived, I was captivated. Perched on the mountainside overlooking the stunning Cretan coastline, the views alone were absolutely breathtaking. I should start by saying that I’m not usually an all-inclusive holiday person. I normally prefer exploring the local area, experiencing the culture, and eating in different places rather than staying in one resort. However, on this occasion, I decided to spend ten days here, and I can honestly say it completely exceeded my expectations. The food was consistently fresh and of an excellent standard across all the restaurants and bars. As Hilton isn’t traditionally known for all-inclusive resorts, I was slightly concerned that the dining might feel average, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. There was plenty of variety, the à la carte restaurants were outstanding, and even the lunch menus were impressive. The hotel itself is built across different levels of the hillside, which gives it a unique feel. You can either enjoy the walk between the restaurants, bars, gym, and pools or make use of the resort transport if you prefer. The setting is spectacular, with incredible views at almost every turn. The only minor downside was the familiar sunbed situation. If you wanted to secure one in a prime location, you really did need to be up around 6 a.m. However, as I’m naturally an early riser, this wasn’t a problem for me, although I appreciate it may not suit everyone. The evening entertainment was another highlight. There were talented live musicians and performers, and thankfully it never felt overly loud or overly focused on children. The atmosphere throughout the resort remained relaxed, sophisticated, and enjoyable. My room was beautiful and located near the top of the resort. Having my own jacuzzi on the balcony overlooking the mountains and coastline was simply incredible. Sitting there in the evenings with those panoramic views became one of my favourite parts of the holiday. I rarely return to the same hotel because I enjoy discovering new places, but this is one of the few exceptions. The combination of the breathtaking setting, exceptional food, high-quality facilities, and warm service made this one of the best holidays I’ve had. It was genuinely an unforgettable ten days, and I have no doubt that I’ll be returning in the future. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a relaxing, luxurious all-inclusive stay in Crete.

As our stay comes to an end, it’s time to say goodbye once again. This was our third visit, and once again, everything exceeded our expectations. The suite was beautiful, spotless, and perfectly prepared for our arrival. Every request we made had already been taken care of before we even arrived, making us feel genuinely welcomed from the very first moment. The entire team is exceptional professional, friendly, and always ready to help with a smile. It is this consistency that keeps bringing us back year after year. A very special thank you goes to George, the Operations Manager, who once again made sure that absolutely everything was flawless. From the room preparation and our arrival to our departure, every detail was perfectly organized. Your dedication, professionalism, and genuine care make all the difference. You are simply the best. Thank you to everyone at Domes for another unforgettable stay. We are already looking forward to returning for our fourth visit. Until next time!

We have just returned from the most amazing holiday in Crete, where we celebrated both my husband’s birthday and our wedding anniversary, which happened to fall on the same day. From the moment we arrived until the day we left, everything was absolutely perfect. A very special thank you to Christina, who welcomed us on arrival. We’ve never experienced such a warm, informative and genuinely caring check-in at any hotel before. She made us feel incredibly special from the very start, and nothing was ever too much trouble. Her customer service was simply first-class. We would also like to thank the Guest Relations Manager, Chrisa, who went above and beyond to make our celebrations unforgettable. She kindly upgraded our room on our special day, and it was absolutely stunning, with beautiful views and a fantastic infinity pool. Her thoughtfulness and attention to detail made our stay even more memorable, and we are truly grateful. The restaurant-quality food was exceptional, especially for an all-inclusive hotel, and every meal was something to look forward to. A huge thank you as well to Via and Banos at the bar – without a doubt the best cocktail makers we’ve ever come across! Not only were the drinks incredible, but they were also such lovely, friendly people who made every evening special. Thanks also to Jason, our buggy driver, who always made us laugh while being brilliant at his job. And finally, thank you to Mica, the restaurant manager. She always greeted everyone with a smile, and it was wonderful to see how professionally and respectfully she led her team. If you’re thinking about booking this hotel, don’t hesitate – if you don’t visit, you’re truly missing out! We loved every single second of our stay and cannot wait to return. Thank you to everyone for making our birthday and anniversary celebration so unforgettable. Louise & David