Blue Bay Resort Hotel

Emma

It's been a great week at the Blue Bay resort. Cold refreshments upon arrival within the reception area. We arrived very late and we're shown to our room with a bag of sandwiches and snacks which was appreciated. The room was very basic, but clean and has been cleaned daily. There is a small fridge but no tea or coffee facility. It's approximately 100 steps up from our room to the pool area so if you have mobility difficulties you will need to be aware of this. The pool area is lovely, open from 10am to 6pm. Drinks served till 11pm. Pizza, cakes & ice cream also available. Its well attended to, with shower, coffee and water stations close by. Some nights they have a D.J till 11pm The main restaurant for AI is up another approx 40 stairs, then into a lift. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are set times. The food can be a little repetitive but there is enough variety to cater for all. There is indoors and outdoor seating, with smoking available. There is a shop located within the reception area which is good to stock up on your basics. You'll need water for your room. Monofalitis beach is 5 minutes walk down a steep, steep hill but there is a shuttle available. The beach is small but delightful. The sea is so clear and tranquil and there are a few restaurants and souvenir shops here too. Sunbeds are about 10 euros. The staff are all friendly and welcoming within Blue Bay. I would argue this is not a four star resort, but definitely a three star. The sea views are unreal and the location is perfect, 35 minute transfer from Heraklion. However some parts are a little outdated, and if you are not based it the main hotel then you'll have a lot of walking to do.

Kiesha T

I loved every bit of my holiday at this hotel, as suggested on the website if you have mobility issues your best using the shuttle bus to the beach. Staff very friendly and helpful. Went for the room with a private jacuzzi and it was lovely and clean! Food options changed daily and there was something for everyone in my opinion. would definitely reccomend and visit again! Wished we stayed longer! Lol

Name Witheld

One of the best hotels I have ever stayed in and I have stayed in some of the best 😎 Perched on a hillside over an idyllic cove this place is the nearest to heaven that I know. Food just right - mixed menu not overly fancy. Go out of their way to please - couldn't fault them. All the facilities you need and entertainment optional so you can enjoy the peace and quiet. They even have a free minibus to the beach if the walk down (and back up!) is too much. If it's available - book it you won't be disappointed.

Fullajtar Attila

We have spent a week here and I think if you come prepared and with the right mindset you can really enjoy your holiday here. Check their site for what the all inclusive package offers, bring mosquito repellents, drink beer and wine, and rent a car for a couple of days, the island is amazing. Pros: The view. The hotel is on a hillside, the views are absolutely incredible. The room: executive rooms with seaview are very nice, recently renovated, clean, spacious. The Food: the food was great, very close to the "home made" standard we like. The variety was good, both fish, meat based meals and the vegetarian options were very tasty. The Service: the staff is very friendly and helpful, my daughter especially liked how the room maides crafted different arrangements with her toys and sheets on her bed. Swimming pools: I saw alot of people complain about the size of these. For us it was pretty clear from all the pictures they have online about what size they are ruffly, and to be honest they were enough for our needs. After all, why would you come to Greece to spend your time at the pool and not at the sea. Shuttle to the nearest beach. This was very convenient as we didn't fancy climbing a hill after a swim. Entertainment: they have regular shows, on a very, very tiny stage, but we really enjoyed a few. Sustainability. I saw they do quite well at minimizing food waste, use reusable cups, have water refill stations and recycling bins. Rent a car: the hotel works with a company that you can rent cars from. We were pleased with their services as well. Cons: Drinks. It's the biggest letdown, we usually do 2 holidays with all inclusive a year, and by far from a drinks perspective it was the poorest package. We were fine on beer and wines, but missed some proper summer style cocktails. I understood from the manager that this is for safety reasons as the main road crosses between their estates, and they want to ensure the guests don't get involved in incidents, but still, at least the 3 summer cocktails like mojitos, hugo, gin and tonic should be included. They have the package listed on their website, check it before to not be dissapointed. We only found this out at the check-in. Schedules: very aggresive. We constantly felt pressure meeting them. Pools operate between 10-18, so by the time you come back fron the sea there's no chance for the kids to chill in the pools anymore. Lunch as well, very tight schedule. And all inclusive ends at 11pm which I've never seen before at other hotels. Snackbars: they have good chips, seem home made, but we would have expected some proper foods there, like proper pizzas, gyros and of course fruits. Coffee: it really needs to be better, get some proper machines that also grind the coffebeans. It will significantly increase the experience. Fruits: You are a greek hotel, the watermelon and the figs should be top tier and they were not. Source these locally, don't buy from the supermarkets. No towels for the swimming pool. I understood they only provide these for rooms that have a pool. Mosquitos: they absolutely killed us at night. We were promised a mosquito repellent device, but never got it. Had to buy my own fron the shop they have. Would have been nice if the manager keeps his promise and actually sends it to our room. Activities: kids zone wasn't open yet, you open the hotel, you have to open all facilities. And the pool tables aren't free, it costs 2 euros to play a game. As there are limitied activities to do on site, it would have been nice to get at least the pool tables included in the all inclusive package. Theatre: put some pillos on the seating area, it's not nice to sit on hot concrete for 1:30hrs. The beach. The hotel doesn't have a private beach, uses a public one, but they do offer a shuttle service. However both that one, and Psaramura beach which is 15 mins of walking from the hotel are quite small and tend to get crowded. I suggest renting a car and testing out the rest of the beaches, there are some quite amazing places around.

Rebecca Redford

This is a lovely hotel but I wouldn't class it as a 4 star hotel. It is in a beautiful location, stunning views and a quaint little beach in a bay with lots of water activities. The staff at the hotel are fabulous, friendly and happy to help. The outside area is small but well kept and lovely to sit around. There's a bus to and from Heraklion. The entertainment was fun and different each night. It's a great little place. My sister and I had a fabulous time. The downsides to this hotel, which in my mind would make is a 3 star hotel. It doesn't replenish your bottled water each day in your room and there's no tea/coffee making facilities in the room. We kept buying water but the fridge didn't work so we couldn't keep anything cool. There was also no little extra toiletries in the bathroom. There was a soap dispenser in the shower but no shampoo/conditioner, flannels, etc. The food, there's lots of beef and pork dishes, occasionally chicken, plenty of vegetarian dishes, great salad variety, but the hot food is so salty! It's a shame because there was so much to choose from but the flavours were overwhelmed by salt. Don't expect great quality, fancy cocktails either. But the beer is really good.