Aulus Chania by Domes Resorts

"We had one of the best trips ever. Before we started the trip, we were a bit skeptical at first, because due to a change of ownership there were few reviews and ratings available on the internet and this was our first all-inclusive vacation in Europe. The hotel is magnificently situated in a quiet location on a cliff and away from the hustle and bustle. In any case, you should, provided you want to explore the area, try to get a rental car, as there is nothing within walking distance in the immediate vicinity. About the hotel: Location: magnificent quiet cliffside location with an incredibly beautiful view of the sea. We had an Infinite Sea View room (No. 911) which is highly recommended, as it is very, very quiet and yet central in the main building. The complex itself makes a very high-quality impression, which is clearly designed for peace and quiet. Room: very tidy, stylish, and chic. Not too much and not too little in terms of amenities, such as a Nespresso machine (and also Nespresso capsules) etc. Facilities: There are three pools, a 24/7 fitness room, a souvenir shop, a total of 4 restaurants (three of which are a la carte), and two bars. Everything very, very well-maintained. The restrooms are also magnificently maintained (as they are all over Crete). A spa is of course also available (though we did not use it). You still have to know that the options are somewhat limited if, for example, you expect to be able to play tennis on-site at the facility, etc. But you know that in advance, after all. Staff / Hosts: that makes the hotel sensational and truly unforgettable for me: the staff is not "just" trying to fulfill all wishes, but they give you the feeling of being something very special and really take care of all wishes. Be it organizing a nearby tennis court, or giving tips and recommendations for one of the world's best and, above all, most authentic Greek restaurants on Crete. The entire staff, starting from the lady who is responsible for cleaning the rooms, as well as the Head of Concierge Vassili, as well as the Operations Manager (unfortunately I do not know her name), the incredibly lovely service employees in the Yellow Sea (whose names I unfortunately also do not know), as well as without exception ALL people in the restaurant areas and also the guys at the bar, are so incredibly authentically lovely and nice that this, and this is no joke, was one of our best vacations ever. Food & Drink: We also had the fear before we started that an all-inclusive hotel might have the character of a "feeding trough." But far from it; the food was extremely delicious, varied, super fresh, and really good in both the buffet and the a la carte restaurants. There is something for absolutely every taste. And it never felt to us as if everything was repeating itself (we were there for 14 nights). What blew us away, and we have not experienced this at any luxury resort we have visited: there was (almost) every morning liters of freshly squeezed orange juice. So not a bar where you order your juice, it gets squeezed and served. Fresh OJ was laid out by the carafe, which I have never experienced like that before. Guests: Since it is an adults-only resort, you naturally do not encounter any children. However, there will always be guests who, due to the all-inclusive offer, also take advantage of alcoholic beverages accordingly and then behave accordingly, although fortunately this was very rarely the case. Activities / Theme nights: There were live musicians there several times who were excellent and additionally positively influenced the ambiance. All in all, it was an incredibly great experience for me as a Greek and my German wife, and I would like to thank and bow to the entire team and all the people who work there, as they contributed to making it one of my / our best vacations ever (and we have already traveled around the world a bit). Sure, there will always be little things that can be optimized, but everything is being done to ensure that you feel comfortable right away. For me, the people who work there made the big difference, and at no time did I have the impression that they had to be lovable and friendly, but rather that this is their attitude toward the guests. We will definitely be back, Jo (author) and Steffi"

"Great stay Very warm and professional welcome from all the staff Incredible massage by Shikha Devi et the spa. Hope to be back soon for more"

"We've just returned from a lovely holiday at Aulūs Chania Resort and really enjoyed our time there. There's so much to like about this hotel, although a few things could definitely be improved to make the experience even better. The positives Firstly, the staff are fantastic. Friendly, welcoming and hardworking, they are undoubtedly one of the hotel's biggest assets. The drinks were excellent, the views are stunning and the overall atmosphere is relaxed, which is exactly what we wanted from our holiday. The location is quite remote, but we knew this before booking and actually enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. We also managed to secure a very good price, so from a value-for-money perspective, we were happy with our stay. Areas for improvement The biggest issue is the lack of sunbeds. There simply aren't enough for the number of guests, and the early morning rush to reserve them is unnecessary at a resort of this standard. This is clearly a recurring complaint and something management really needs to address. To be fair, management did mention that renovations are planned over the winter to create additional space for sunbeds, which is encouraging and hopefully will help resolve the problem. Cleaning and general maintenance around the pool areas and terraces could also be improved. These are relatively small details, but they make a difference when staying at a five-star property. The à la carte dining experience could be better, particularly regarding availability and choice. Greater attention to these areas would significantly improve the overall experience. Overall We understand the resort is now under new ownership, and hopefully this presents an opportunity to address some of the issues. This really is a beautiful resort with enormous potential. The setting is fantastic, the atmosphere is lovely and, most importantly, the staff are excellent. If the new management listens to guest feedback, makes a few practical improvements and, above all, looks after and retains its current staff, this could easily become an outstanding resort."