Iberostar Waves Creta Panorama and Mare

"We’ve been half board for a week here. It’s been a super week. We’ve used it as a base to visit the island (we booked direct and booked flights and car hire separately), most of the guests here are on AI package breaks. Yes the main hotel is ready for renovation, but it’s been absolutely fine for us. The bathroom has already been upgraded, and everything was super clean and functional. Lots of toiletries provided and fresh towels daily. The sofa bed had an issue as the cushions separated at night, and we needed to move it to avoid drips from the air con. We loved having a fridge in our room to keep drinks cool when we got back from our trips. Half board doesn’t include drinks at dinner, only at breakfast. Staff seemed happy to provide water though, and the hot drinks machine was OK to use, they had a good selection of teas. The food itself has been fabulous - we tried lots of Greek and Cretan dishes, and loved the variety of fish and grilled meats, as well as the salad bar and fruits / cheese. We ate differently every night, and for the more fussy eaters, the pizza oven was on every night! Our favourite was a Chinese night whilst here (Weds I think). We ate at both the Greek and Italian restaurants too (booked via the app). The Greek served amazing langoustines and grilled pork. Starters and desserts were buffet (the moussaka was amazing!), but they were lacking apple fritters, fried banana and Turkish delight from the pudding bar (favourites from Greek night in the buffet restaurant). I’ve eaten a lot of freshly baked sourdough this week! Really amazing fresh breads at all meals. The pools were fab, although we only swam in the freshwater one, but everywhere was clean, towels changed daily, and little shop on site for water / snacks for the day we stayed on site. The mini land train runs to the next village which was a novel afternoon out. It does mornings excursions too, although we’ve been out and about by car most days. If you’re here without a car, go early on in your stay to the village at Panamos (by land train) and book your trips from the offices there. Overall great value for money, and the staff have been absolutely magnificent. Nothing has been too much trouble all week, just been such a delightful stay ♥️"

"Beautiful clean hotel, with great amenities and food! We stayed for 7 days - half board, and had a wonderful time. Hotel staff are super friendly and accommodating. The animation team are extremely hard working, providing entertainment during the day and also nightly shows in the theatre. Our stay was topped off with a very well organised Halloween party/disco hosted at the hotel. Highly recommended for all ages!"

"We visited the Iberostar Waves Resort in Crete as a couple for a relaxing two-week autumn getaway. The booking and flights with Jet2 were smooth and easy from start to finish. The October weather was a little unpredictable — we had a few cloudy and rainy days — but most of the time it was pleasantly sunny and around 22°C, perfect for relaxing outdoors. ✈️ Arrival & Check-In Our flight was as expected for a budget airline: a little cramped but comfortable enough. The transfer to the resort took longer than anticipated (around two hours) as our hotel was the last drop-off on the route. However, our arrival experience at the hotel more than made up for it. We received a warm and genuine welcome from Olga, complete with a glass of prosecco and a rose — a lovely gesture. We appreciated being invited to sit and relax on the sofa while checking in rather than standing at reception. Our luggage was delivered promptly to our room, and the process was smooth and efficient. 🏖️ The Resort & Facilities We chose Half Board, as we’re not big drinkers. The difference between Half Board and All Inclusive was about €40 per person per day, which we felt wasn’t necessary for us. The resort itself is beautifully designed with plenty of different areas to enjoy — several pools, grassy sunbathing areas, and small beach coves. For those who like to stay active, there are paddle courts, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, and even crazy golf. The daily aqua exercise classes in the main pool were led by enthusiastic, energetic instructors, and there were also games like water polo for those who enjoy a bit of fun competition. We preferred to seek out quieter spots and use the smaller pools, which were perfect for relaxing. Every evening, the animation team put on a show at the outdoor theatre. Their enthusiasm, energy, and talent were truly incredible — a perfect way to end the day with great entertainment and atmosphere. There’s not a lot within walking distance of the hotel apart from a supermarket, car hire, and excursion offices, but we enjoyed taking the road train into Panormos village, where prices were much lower than the hotel shop. The village has lovely restaurants, clothing and souvenir shops, and even a proper pharmacy. We also joined a road train excursion to an olive oil factory, some caves, and an old Cretan village — a fun day out with delicious traditional Greek food and drink. 🍽️ Food & Dining The food at Iberostar Waves was outstanding. Both breakfast and dinner offered excellent variety and quality, with themed dinners on a seven-day rotation. Every dietary need was catered for, with clear allergen labeling, a gluten-free area, and plenty of vegetarian and plant-based options. For simpler tastes, there were pasta, sauces, pizza, and chips available nightly. Meat, fish, and vegetable dishes were consistently well cooked and flavorful, and the desserts were truly incredible — from traditional Greek sweets to a chocolate fountain with fruit kebabs, cakes, and marshmallows. The resort also has three à la carte restaurants — a Greek taverna, a Grill, and an Italian. We tried the Italian one evening and while the Melanzane Parmigiana was excellent, overall we felt the food and service didn’t add much beyond what was already offered in the main restaurant. We mentioned our feedback to the guest relations manager, though she didn’t seem particularly empathetic. ☕️ Breakfast Highlights & Exceptional Staff Breakfast was a highlight: a full English, porridge, yogurts, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, seeds, breads, pastries, pancakes, cold meats, cheeses, juices, tea, and excellent Greek coffee — everything you could want to start the day. What truly made our holiday special, though, were the wonderful staff. Everyone we met was friendly, helpful, and hard-working, including those behind the scenes in the kitchen. A few people really stood out: Manolia at breakfast — always warm, cheerful, and attentive. She noticed every detail, even bringing toothpicks unprompted when needed! Dilli at dinner — professional, kind, and thoughtful. When I was unwell with a brief flu, he made me a ginger and honey infusion, which was just what I needed. These small gestures made a big difference, and we hope the management recognizes what valuable team members they are. 🌅 Overall Impression Despite a couple of small issues, this was a wonderful and relaxing holiday. The resort is spotless, the food is exceptional, the entertainment is top-class, and the staff are outstanding. We would definitely stay at another Iberostar hotel in the future"