The Royal Blue

"If they say ‘Home is where the heart is’ then The Royal Blue has certainly become our second home as it steals a small piece of our hearts every time we leave . This was our 4th visit in two years and people ask us why we keep returning to the same place . I guess these are the reasons .. 1) Location : The Royal Blue is just an oasis of calm , tucked away in an unspoilt area of Crete. There are no tavernas nearby or rowdy bars so this is not for you if you are looking for a party hotel . Instead you’ll find peace, tranquility , sea views and sunsets to die for and restaurants offering amazing fresh food . From our point of view we hope that this calm atmosphere never changes as even when the hotel is full to capacity it never feels so - in fact the hotel just seems to absorb the crowds and remains therapeutically relaxing and laid back . 2) The staff : from the moment you walk through the front doors you just feel as if your troubles melt away . You are met by smiling reception staff who genuinely are pleased to welcome you . These smiles are on all the staff throughout the hotel despite it being the end of the season . The restaurant staff are always attentive at breakfast- special mention to Rokas and Katarina who looked after us every morning, remembering our drinks orders without us having to say a word. Another mention to Dinitris who always seemed to be around at check in and check out to move our luggage with a smile and a joke . Every slick operation has a powerhouse behind the scenes and, in this case, that is the Guest Relations Manager , Anastasia . She works tirelessly to ensure the face of the hotel is always warm and professional. If you are fortunate enough to meet her then you will encounter a smile and an attitude that is wonderfully warm and friendly. You know that she will do her utmost to ensure your stay is as perfect as possible. 3) The beach : this is one of the best assets as it’s sheltered from the sea and so is accessible even when the winds are high and other beaches are red-flagged. The major beach attraction is the beach manager, Vasillis. Nothing is too much trouble and he provides a true 5 star service whether you’re relaxing in a cabana or sitting on the sand. This year he was joined by his young protégé, Grigoris who was doing a season after completing his national service. The two of them were the perfect double act and we couldn’t have felt more looked after. In summary The Royal Blue is the perfect destination for a truly relaxing holiday but what truly makes it is the staff and there are two individuals who need singling out because they truly understand what five star service means - Anastasia and Vasillis , thank you once again for treating us like royalty for the week . We are both incredibly grateful to you both and I hope The Royal Blue realises what gems it has amongst its staff . See you next year for visit 5 !!"

"ALERT! ⚠️ There is a serious risk that you will NOT want to go back home after staying at The Royal Blue Resort & Spa! From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel truly welcome and at home. Everyone was incredibly kind and helpful, and when our child got sick during the stay, they went above and beyond to support us and accommodate our needs — something we will never forget. The buffet was excellent, with great variety and quality, and the resort itself had everything we could possibly wish for. It is the kind of place where you can just relax, enjoy the sunshine, the good food, and the wonderful service without feeling the need to go anywhere else. We would love to come back again one day — thank you to the whole team for making our stay so special! 💙"

"Our second time at this beautiful hotel. Staff were excellent, very friendly and helpful and some remembered us from last year which was very sweet. We stayed half board which suits us fine as we are not big eaters. A very good choice of breakfast and evening meals, to sort all tastes. There was plenty for all! Even it being the end of the season everywhere was very clean and tidy. Rooms very nicely kitted out with everything you need, with really comfortable beds and pillows in our opinion. Having places to walk around what is like a village setting there are 3 main areas you can move around and take in different settings during your stay and according to weather which was by the way just the right temperature for us. There is a quiet fresh water adult only pool, a large sea water pool which looks out over the sea that has excellent staff and good food and a beach area where as you can imagine parents like to take their children to, but there are quieter areas to the beach also. The beach is a well protected private area. Great beach bar here too. There is evening entertainment and activities if you want to join in. The cocktail bar overlooking the beach is a lovely venue too. Altogether once again a delightful stay we would recommend."