ELOUNDA BAY PALACE

We've been coming back to this hotel with our family for many years, and every time we've tried to find somewhere new with similar qualities, we've always ended up missing something this hotel offers. That's why it has become our number one vacation home. The biggest difference is the people. From the management to the entire Guest Relations team, you genuinely feel looked after. The care is warm, personal, and never intrusive. A special thank you to Anna Maria, who always welcomes us with a smile and makes every stay feel effortless. The family room we use is another reason we keep returning. It is spacious, affordable, with two twin beds and one double bed. Having a small private garden and being able to step straight from the room to the pool—or walk just a few steps to the beach—is incredibly convenient. The location is stunning. ˇin one of the most beautiful bays, with crystal-clear, calm water that is perfect for both adults and children. The food is excellent, especially for families. The buffet offers plenty of choice, with many dishes freshly prepared in front of you. And the fish restaurant is an absolute gem—having dinner almost with your feet in the sea is an unforgettable experience. The spa also deserves a special mention. It is peaceful, beautifully designed, and one of the best we've experienced. One thing we particularly appreciate is that even when the hotel is fully booked, it never feels overcrowded. There are always quiet corners where you can relax, and the fact that guests can also use the facilities of the neighboring sister hotel makes the whole resort feel even more spacious. Coming back here feels less like checking into a hotel and more like returning to a place where you're genuinely welcomed and cared for like part of the family.

If you want to experience the real paradise with a nicest touch of family attitude, Elounda Bay Palace is the right option. Cannot imagine different place to spend the holidays❤️

An absolutely beautiful setting however a very frustrating lack of umbrellas and sun beds. Each morning these are bagged early with towels and buckets and spades and abandoned for hours. Regardless of beach staff saying they remove stuff at mid day. They do not. On occasion we were fortunate. We did also go to reception and one of the mangers came and helped us get beds. we witnessed several people not returning until about 4 pm from 11 in the morning. The bigger beach is very noisy and not at all peaceful. We had to endure smoking. Vaping and everyone’s loud conversations on their phones and one day endure a guest loudly farting all day. Not the hotel’s fault. But just felt no where near peaceful 5 star. As people have said drinks are very expensive. Even water in room is charged. The reception staff are excellent helpful and friendly. Nothing is a problem. I have an allergy and the restaurant staff struggled to understand this. Puddings are also poorly labelled and not all were labelled. Management did address my concerns though so it’s always worth going to them. Easy reach of town. 8 euros for taxi back. Our room was lovely and kept clean and dining staff were really friendly.

We have just returned from an 11 night stay at Elounda Bay. It was our second visit following our initial stay at the same time in 2025. That alone demonstrates how much we love the place; having never previously returned to the same resort twice. So this is our second review. Firstly, we definitely were not disappointed we decided to return. The return visit was equally magical and we didn’t want to leave! To avoid repeating my first review I will summarise our highlights:- 1. The situation and landscaping is stunning. All walks within the complex are a joy. The gardeners obviously work very hard in a hot environment. The little “village square” by the church is utterly charming, and they have a delightful Greek night there which is not really advertised but check it out. 2. Sunbathing; the pool staff are incredible, particularly the more senior chap (sorry dont know his name) who couldn’t be more helpful always greeting us with a wonderful smile. We never had an issue locating a lovely place to relax. The pool at the sister hotel (beach) was much quieter than the one in bay and very serene. 3. Cleanliness; the grounds are spotless and our rooms were cleaned frequently and well. I noted another reviewer commented on plastic in the sea. I’m afraid that’s a worldwide society issue and no fault of the hotel. I spotted staff dealing with that promptly, and generally the hotel beaches were immaculate. As for potential room for improvement these are minor but nevertheless:- 1. Buffet; the quality of the food is very good. I mentioned this in my last review - the buffet area has a layout that is basic and a bit canteeny. It does not mirror the hard work the cooks obviously invest in the food. It would in my view be so easy to make the area more appealing with simple decorative items. 2. Entertainment; we don’t expect loud tacky entertainment but they do have a rather odd approach. There is a wonderful piano player who sometimes plays in the restaurant area but was often placed in the bar area outside the restaurant (where nobody drinks) so she was playing to herself. 3. Some of the additional restaurants have occasional singers (nice and low key) but only dinners (often very few) get to enjoy that - you are not encouraged to join for a late drink. I say this because the bars are often incredibly quiet so can lack atmosphere which is frustrating because the situation of both bars is out of this world - particularly the one by the jetty. In summary this is a truly wonderful hotel, we have been to others in Greece which are more expensive but this is a very very special place and we adore it.

always the best time here, staff are wonderful and friendly, food is amazing and the overall experience is just the best. always recommend this hotel, and the surrounding area. cannot wait to come back next year

I hate to leave a review like this, especially as my heart truely belongs in Elounda. As a family of 4 including one toddler, we were looking so forward to returning once again. This time we arrived mid day, and our room was ready. We had newly refurbished Mountain View adjoining 2 rooms, which although were newly renovated, it has been done to tradition Greek style aka light switches don’t work, no sealant around the bath, wires still exposed down the corridor of floor 3 etc. the room itself was nice, air con is beautiful, and the key to the TV is retune it to see more channels. Food this year was better than last year. The service was very quick and efficient, and although they didn’t have as many choices, the food was a lot better quality. My little one especially loved the ice cream fridge. Beach issue = there is so, so much plastic on the beaches washing up every part of the day. It’s that bad Frankie had to get a net and keep sweeping to the side. It’s truely heartbreaking that this is happening to Elounda. My main issue with our trip unfortunately was the staff . 1. Cleaning has really gone downhill since last year. Our room was only mopped twice in a 2 week stay. Flies/mosquitos are a massive issue this year so we noticed a few already dead squashed ones on the balcony door, but in the 2 weeks we were there no one cleaned them. My main issue was that morning cleaners seem to not care. I have absolutely nothing wrong to say about the lovely woman who cleans the 3rd floor in the evening, she set up a beautiful rose celebration and when I personally thanked her she nearly cried. She is a gem! The morning cleaners one morning after cleaning left our balcony door fully wide open. I reported it to reception, which something must have been said as they then refused to even look at me for the rest of the stay. It’s a 5* resort but cleaning was 3* at best . 2. Beach staff didn’t seem to be as bothered this year. With the exception of Frankie as he is absolutely fantastic, he makes everyone look bad! It was just a shame to see such an older gentleman having to run about with everyone’s towels rather than the younger staff stood under the trees with the female bar staff. 3. When we were checking out, we made sure to check our bill and we’d been overcharged €21 due to another customer signing for a drink. It was the tone of the reception staff that annoyed me as we denied the drink, then she tutted and went through every receipt we’d signed for. It was only then when she believed us when the signature didn’t match. Overall yeah, it’s a beautiful hotel but it’s left a sour note. The swimming pools are fantastic, especially when u have little ones and they make friends with others in the kiddy pool.

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday at Elounda Bay Palace Hotel. This is our 5th time at this lovely Hotel in the last couple of years, and I can honestly say that the Hotel just gets better every time we return. The two beaches are lovely and clean with comfortable sun beds and clean towels. The chaps who look after the beach are just so helpful, especially Francesca, and the Sale bar by the beach is so perfect for a break away from the beach for a cold drink or a Frappe, and a big thank you to Maria for looking after us and for always remembering our order every day. Our room was absolutely great, and big thank you to Maria Papadomihelaki who managed to upgrade us to a suite, we always book a sea view, which is a must, as the view is just so worth it. The restaurant food was much better than last year, although they still have a problem keeping the food hot, but there is a large selection of meat and fish dishes, salads, pasta, etc. .and the presentation and selection of desserts were mouthwatering. My thanks go to Sofia the maitre d’, who was so helpful in getting the breakfast cereal for me that could eat due to health issues. We would also like to thank the staff on reception and customer relations, all of them were so friendly and very helpful, especially Anna Maria. We look forward to returning again soon.

If I could give this hotel 11 out of 10 I would Hotel has the most amazing staff Is on the most beautiful beaches Stunning bar area The most beautiful villa style category with private pool If you are 2 couples or a family ,you have to give this hotel a try So many room categories and we had a stunning villa experience ,room 75 Out of this world As a Travel Agency Manager I have been so privileged to stay in lovely places but this one was exceptional on so many levels The attention to detail The staff all genuinely could not do enough The food quality was very good The whole hotel was spotless If you are considering Elounda this is the hotel to stay Stunning location Only 8 euro in a taxi to a Elounda or a leisurely stroll into town I honestly loved every minute Was my birthday and the staff sang happy birthday in Thalasso restaurant with a cake and champagne This is a stunning hotel on every level

We have just returned from yet another great holiday at the EBP, there is not much I can say about this wonderful hotel, staff, and its location that I have not already said on past reviews other to say it never disappoints. My wife and I travelled with our son, his partner and our 22-month-old grandson Harry. it was the second time for Harry, and we hope to make this an annual visit for us all. The food in the two on site specialist restaurants that we dinned in was exceptional as was the service. The buffet dinning again was excellent although we were all prone to eating too much simple because it was there and to way to tempting. We stayed in two sea view rooms in the main building , which worked really well for us, the rooms were fully equipped and very comfortable, the sea views were exceptional, housekeeping was excellent although we were missed one day simply because our grandson had switched on the do not disturb indicator without us knowing !!! lesson learned. we used all of the pools and sea and enjoyed them all, my son was very impressed with the GYM and the guidence he receivied and I attended, once. As a first this year we used the Kids Club at both the Beech as well as the Bay hotel, both were staffed by well trained staff, the Kids club at the Beach hotel was equipped with an extremely wide range of toys that our grandson loved to explore and play with. The club at the Bay was not so well equipped with toys for a 22-month-old but was better suited for craft play, so perhaps next year.

The property of Elounda Bay Palace enjoys a magnificent location with panoramic views and countless beautiful spots perfect for photography. It’s a place where the scenery alone creates a memorable experience. The food was another highlight of our stay: It was delicious, and the patisserie selection in Aretoussa restaurant was simply amazing — beautifully made, fresh and impossible to resist. What truly set our stay apart, however, was the exceptional service. The entire staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and comfortable. We want to give a very special thank‑you to Sofia, the Aretoussa restaurant manager. Every day she deals with so many guests, yet she still manages to personalize every interaction with such grace and kindness. She made us feel truly special, and we are bringing home beautiful memories thanks to her. We hope to come back soon!

Stayed here with our son and his wife. Two double side view rooms which were very comfortable and did have lovely views. We loved the location with the hotel being right on its own private beach which is sandy and is kept spotlessly clean. Literally just a few steps into the crystal clear water. Nice sail bar also on the beach for drinks and snacks although these are a bit expensive. The staff are all friendly and efficient although we did find the service in the main dining room a bit hot and miss at times. However after a few days we settled on a table at the rear of the restaurant which was served by Petros who was absolutely wonderful. Such a nice gentleman, very friendly and super efficient. Huge credit to him. The rooms are comfortable but we did find them a little dated and the bathroom was dark and not very good lighting. Also it was a bath tub that you had to step into for a shower which wasn’t the easiest. The bed and pillows were super comfortable and the towels were changed twice a day!! Guest services staff were extremely helpful with all our queries which was great There isn’t much going in the evenings, just a pianist playing during dinner but we usually walked into town which was about 20 mins walk and got a taxi back for 8 euros. Elounda has lots of bars and tavernas and is a nice safe place at any time of day/night Overall we had a great holiday and wouldn’t hesitate to return. Thank you to all the staff for making our stay so good.

This was my second visit and we both love the hotel and beautiful views from the room overlooking the pool and the sea ! The staff are very hard working and make a huge effort to be friendly and helpful . A big shout out to Nicolas and his wife for their help and looking after us , both very charming and helpful/ professional , thank you ! . The cleaning staff are amazing and attend the room as much as 4 x a day if you require it , they even put the bed down at night ., felt very spoiled . The location is fantastic , right on its own private beach with lovely restaurants and bars the food in the buffet was excellent and varied and the waiting staff work so hard . A special shout out to the beach boys Dimitri ( sorry I couldn’t find you to say bye) but see you next year ! frankie who was so polite and helpful and all the boys who went out of their way to make us very comfortable at the beach which was a very special relaxing time for us all . The bar staff are also so nice . It’s 10 min taxi ride into ag nik if you want a bit more hustle and bustle with shops boats and a nice harbor . Elounda itself has a nice harbor, shops and bars restaurants etc we loved the hotel so much we stayed there most of the time . It’s a peaceful relaxing place but also there were families there with kids and there is a small separate pool area but the children clearly loved the beach 🏖️ it ticks all my boxes and if you fancy ala cart there is some beautiful restaurants in the complex ( which is massive ) so they get you buggies to take you around and very nice bars on the water definitely be going back as I’ve found my little bit of paradise 🏖️🙏missing the beach 🛫but I will be back thanks again to all the staff 🫶🙏

We chose this hotel for our babies first holiday (she is 5 months) and we are so thrilled we did. The hotel is spacious and perfectly laid out for ease of facilities. We were upgraded to a poolside villa which meant we could walk to the beach and main pool in steps which was so handy with the baby. All the staff are wonderfully friendly especially Sophia in the restaurant team, she really made us feel welcome and fussed over our daughter at every opportunity which was so heartwarming. The location is excellent, the hotel is based around 10 - 15 minutes walk to the main town and it felt safe at night to walk there and back. The only reason I have awarded 4 rather than 5 is because the hotel drinks and food is so so overpriced for example in town a litre of water is 80 cents in the hotel its 4 euros, a litre of local wine on 10 euro in town a glass is 11 euro in the hotel…we expect some kind of mark up but thought this was too extreme. We wouldn’t let that stop us returning though at all, we had a fantastic stay.

This hotel is very traditional, very Greek feel. Very open, airy and spacious. We had 2 different room types. 1 Mountain View (my parents) and one pool view room. (Mine which was 2adults and 2 kids) The mountain room was very modern, standard size hotel room. The pool view room was on the pool level and right next to the pool which was great however the room was quite old fashioned and cold feeling. It was like an apt/villa room. The furnishing was very old fashioned and wasn’t modern at all to say this room was quite a lot more in price than the hotel room. It was very spacious which was great. The kids beds where a roll away bed that they bought in and a sofa which they made into a bed. (Not a pull out sofa bed) Both comfortable. The main bed was very comfortable and a good size. I feel with the space, they could have utilised it by having an actual pull out sofa bed which would have fitted both boys as a double bed instead of 2 single beds. There was a little kitchen, 2 big bathrooms which was handy. The shower and taps didn’t work great and the A/c only blew out cold even when I put the temp upto 28 degrees just to test it to warm the room up but it didn’t work. We had a large garden space which was great but the grass wasn’t looked after which isn’t a big deal but when it says luxury 5* you expect these things to be in prestige conditions. The main pool was a very good size and then another pool higher up which is is quieter and stunning views. Both beaches were right on the doorstep with amazing Mountain View’s. Always enough beds no matter what time you went down. The guys where so helpful with the beds and umbrellas. The sea was AMAZING. Clear blue and the sand was really soft not 1 pebble or dark sand in sight. The hotel grounds are lovely and gives a proper Greek feel with the taverna/restaurant and pathways to the restaurants. The staff are absolutely amazing so friendly and helpful. The bar staff Maria was outstanding. She needs a medal running around and serving everyone. The restaurant on the beach ariadne had Great food and the views from high up were stunning. If you didn’t want to go there in the day they did offer toasties on the beach. The shop was great to buy snacks and sweets for the kids to keep them going as the F restaurant wasn’t serving snacks at the time of our visit. (We were aware of this before we travelled) The breakfast was good had everything you needed however the buffet in the evening was poor. They had such a large space and it looked empty. They only had a few dishes out and unfortunately the guy in the meat section was definitely not a chef. He mixed the cooked meat with the raw meat and used the same utensil to touch the raw and cooked meat. The food they served was nice but not much option. The fruit was ok not a great massive selection. The desserts where great. A large selection. The entertainment was 1 lady on the piano. Lovely music but that was it. Again maybe because it was low season but it was very boring in the hotel in the evening. We did go out most nights as Crete is great to go out and explore but maybe they should put abit of entertainment. No entertainment by the pool for kids. I do like nice classy hotels I’m not asking for club 18-30 reps but a little bit of group activities would have been fun for the kids. We walked to the other hotel to play golf and it was a lovely short walk. The grounds of the other hotel were stunning and quite grand and larger than ours but very hilly. Not good for my dad with a bad knee however they do offer buggies to and from each hotel and again staff were lovely. The kids enjoyed the football and tennis courts. They also loved the table tennis, snooker and games that were available all day. The hotel is close to Plaka, elounda and ayios Nikolaos which is great. Close to spinaloga island which is a must. Overall the hotel is beautiful, stunning location, just these little niggly bits made it a 4* not a luxury 5* for me.

We have just returned from a 7 night stay at Elounda Bay Palace. We went with our 3 children aged 9, 8 and 3. We all absolutely loved it. The hotel is very clean and staff are so friendly. We had a double apartment which was 2 conjoining rooms. They we both very nice and were made up every day, sometimes twice a day with fresh towels. The two private beaches were lovely and relaxing, clear water with fish swimming around your feet. We never had any issues finding a bed and parasol, no matter what time we went to the beach or pool. We spoke to a few people who said that this is not their first visit, one couple told us they don't usually return to the same place but have been there 3 times because they like it so much. We will definitely be returning. The drinks are expensive but what you would expect at a hotel. The cocktails are very nice, especially at the bar near the beach. We went there most nights for a cocktail. The barman was very nice and he made the nicest strawberry daiquiri. Thank you so much for such a beautiful holiday. We will see you soon.