Grand Blue Beach Hotel

"Just returned from a one week family holiday with friends. 5 adults and 3 teenagers. The resort is extremely clean and well laid out. The gardens and facilities are immaculate, with housekeeping every 2 days. We had a mix of superior double rooms, and a 2 bed apartment. Looking at the sofa beds, I’m glad we made sure everyone had a proper bed. They were single pullouts and didn’t look very big or comfy so might be worth bearing in mind if you have teenagers. I’d say they are only suitable for small children. The food is as you would expect for an all inclusive - buffet style with plenty of choice. The grilled meat offering wasn’t as plentiful as other hotels we’ve stayed in, but there was always something that we all enjoyed. Our stay also included 1 visit to the à la carte restaurant. Mid day snacks were limited but to be honest, none of us were ever hungry. The soft drinks are branded (Fanta, Coke, Schweppes etc) but the spirits and beer are local (apart from canned Amstel). The cocktails are also well made and included spritz’s which we haven’t had before in an all inclusive package. The resort is set in a sloped position with steps up to the main reception area (which is beautiful) and a big long sloped driveway down to the bottom pools/bar and beach. There is a golf buggy service though which is easy to access for those who have mobility issues. There are 3 pools all with sun beds. It was easy to get a sunbed but not sure if there would be enough in peak season. Pool towels provided and can be changed daily. The beach is across the road, but is quite stony. Worth a 5 minute walk to the sandy area. Water is very clear. The in house entrainment was as to be expected and the team worked hard. All staff were friendly and polite and couldn’t do enough to help. Always happy to help and smiling. There is a small mini market onsite and plenty of shops in town. There is a short walk (maybe 10 mins or so) into the village/town of Kardamena. We took a boat trip across to Nisyros from the harbour. All in all, we had a lovely and relaxing stay and was pleased with our choice. Is this a 5* hotel resort by UK standards? - probably not, but you won’t be disappointed if you stay here. Thank you for a lovely holiday Grand Blue Beach team"

"I am writing to express my serious disappointment with our two-night stay at the Grand Blue Beach Hotel, which is advertised as a five-star property. Unfortunately, our experience fell well below the standards we would reasonably expect from a hotel of this rating. Overall, the property appeared far more comparable to a three-star holiday village than to a luxury hotel. Housekeeping and Room Facilities I would like to begin by acknowledging that the staff were exceptionally friendly, obliging and helpful throughout our stay. The grounds were immaculate and the pools were of a high standard. The bedding in our room was also very good. However, the towels were of poor quality. At check-in, we were informed that the room would only be serviced every two days. This level of housekeeping falls well short of the service we would expect from a five-star hotel. Bathroom Safety The shower is located inside the bath, meaning that guests must climb into the bath to use it. This creates an unnecessary slipping hazard, particularly for older guests and those with limited mobility. I question whether this arrangement is appropriate for a hotel presenting itself as a five-star establishment. Balcony View and Beach Facilities The view from our balcony consisted solely of a brick wall. This was extremely disappointing and certainly did not reflect the standard we would expect from a hotel of this advertised rating. I have photographs documenting this issue. The beach facilities were similarly disappointing. Despite the hotel’s name, the area presented as a beach fell well short of our reasonable expectations. I have also taken photographs to illustrate this concern. Breakfast Breakfast was particularly disappointing. The dining experience resembled that of a school canteen, with a chaotic and overcrowded atmosphere that made it difficult to enjoy the meal. Although the food selection was plentiful, the food was lukewarm at best, and the quality of the items provided was very poor. This was significantly below the standard we would expect from a five-star hotel. Conclusion We are extremely relieved to be leaving after just two nights. Our stay has been a considerable disappointment, and we feel that the overall experience falls significantly short of what is implied by the hotel’s five-star rating. I must reiterate that the staff themselves were exceptionally helpful and went out of their way to assist us. They deserve recognition for their friendliness and professionalism. Unfortunately, their excellent attitude cannot compensate for the shortcomings in the hotel’s facilities, housekeeping and food service. Our luggage while being transported to the reception also fell the buggy off twice I would appreciate a formal response from management addressing the concerns raised in this letter and explaining how the hotel believes its current standards meet the expectations of a five-star establishment. Given the significant gap between the advertised standard and our actual experience, I also believe that appropriate compensation should be considered."

"We liked the hotel, the staff were very attentive and always helpful, especially the staff member Stavroula. There is still room for improvement with the buffet. The grounds and the rooms were very clean."