La Mer Deluxe Hotel and Spa

"Certainly not 5* boutique more like 3* Arrived by taxi and given a welcome drink and explained about breakfast times and local restaurants etc (room wasn’t ready) but only a short wait) given room B03 which was upstairs with a balcony. Plate of fruit and bottle of wine waiting as explained however this alongside a large plate with 4 wine glasses a Nespresso coffee maker and a tea tray with kettle took up all the dressing table hence nowhere to put toiletries etc. Bathroom was dark (no window) and you needed a wooden step to step over the jacuzzi bath (which didn’t have a tap to fill it) to use either the hand held or rain shower. Water pressure was not brilliant particularly the hand held. It was also very difficult to pull out the ‘stopper’ for the rain shower to work once showered you have to negotiate the bath side onto the step then floor with nothing to hold onto and wet feet. Spare toilet roll holder is the opposite end of the bathroom to the toilet!!! All pools are cold beyond words including the spa inside pool and jacuzzi despite the fact the hotel has solar panels which could be used to heat the pools this doesn’t happen hence no one uses the pools the sea was warmer. There are towels placed on each Sun-bed and there is no scramble for beds early morning because most beds are in the shade except 4 from the higher of the pools and these where grabbed by the same people. The hot breakfast items were always cold maybe due to being put out at 7.15am and breakfast not opening till 8am. Some ‘hot’ items weren’t even put under ‘hot’ lamps. The wait for coffee was ridiculous then on arrival was cold. Ate in the restaurant on our first evening and food was poor hence we didn’t again. We did use the bar at night on occasion but not much atmosphere, however the music could be heard when in bed after 11pm. The Jet2 website states the rooms have a pillow menu and the hotel provide a turndown service saw no evidence of either. Everyday at varying times the smell of sewer was overwhelming. If you want to use the spa there is a charge and an appointment made because sauna (which is tiny) has to be turned on, pool and jacuzzi are unheated hence not a relaxing experience. We got a taxi from the airport took 10 mins at most but cost €30 coach back but need to walk to pick up point -no mention of this on Jet2 website."

"Excellent hotel, great location, tea and coffee making facilities in your room as well as a fridge stocked with a chargeable mini bar if you required it. The beach and countless restaurants are two minutes to the left and the supermarket 2 minutes to the right as you leave the hotel. Breakfast covers most hot and cold options (to be fair the hot options could be hotter) We didn’t use the gym or the spa but they are there if you want them Maia is the hostess with amazing customer skills and served us late evening drinks every evening, beware the measures are very generous. In our experience the beach beds we used were free but you are expected to either eat and or drink in the restaurant that they are attached to, some have a minimum €30 spend . Beware that the beach sand is black and you need sea shoes as it’s very pebbly. It’s not easy getting in and out of the sea as the sea bed is quite uneven and rocky until you are a way out so be careful. Pool towels are left for you on the beds by the pool and beach towels are left on a table in reception. We traveled with TUI and our transfers did not drop us at the hotel, they stopped at the Supermarket but check where they will pick you up from, our didn’t pick us up at all. You can get the bus into Fira and Oia easily, both of which have great views. The Beach House has the best rose wine and the Hook Bar at the far right end of the strip has a great roof terrace. The sun rise from the beach is amazing."

"Great location but the standard of food and accommodation was poor. Always choose 5* hotels and this one was Definitely not 5 * deluxe more like 2*. Room was pokey and tired. Also hotel on main flight path so noisy. Staff were amazing especially the young lady on reception and the evening bar lady."