Trip Report: Blue Palace Crete

I wanted to do a short trip to some warm beach-Destination but my wife sat me on a strict budget as she wasnt ready to spend much money. I decided to try Crete. First I wanted to stay at the Gulf Villas, but they had relative high priced during the days I wanted to stay and my wife wanted a beach on site. So I ended up to book the Blue Palace (Luxury Collection) with a best rate Claim.

We arrived at the gate of the Blue Palace. The guard asked for our name and wasnt ble to find it on the list. As usual she gave me the list and I pointed it out. It may be practical, but of course not perfect privacy. Only for the records we were asked every time for our room-number when we entered, I would have expected they knew us after a few days...
Entrance with lobby-building:


We drove to the main entrance and were immediately greated by the bellboy. A member of staff brought us to the lobby and told us we should sit down as the front desk was busy. I thought they would told us when they are ready to check us in, but nothing happened. So I went to the reception myself to check in. All not very luxury, a very underwhelming check in. Also they noticed my birthday during the stay, but nothing happened on my „special day“. OK, I can live with it...
After another wait we were escorted to our Bungalow. I booked a Bungalow with private pool with a best rate claim, no upgrade was granted as a gold-member. They claimed I got an especially nice room, but I doubt it.

We got „Bungalow“ 327, in fact it was a normal room with one room, a small terrace and a pool. The bathroom was OK with only 1 sink, a sparly separated toilet, a shower (which often flooded the toilet) and a bathtub. Not the nice freestanding tub they show on their website and also without television, but it wasnt too bad.
The room itself was not really small with a small flatscreen, a kingsize bed and a sofa. The terrace had a table with 2 chairs, 2 chaises and a kind of (totally uncomfy) daybed. We also had a private pool which was not only really cold (at 35 degrees, wont see it at coldr times!!!), it was also connected with the other „private“ pools. You could see in the neighbors terraces and Bungalows from it, so absolutely not private. I would call it useless, not the place to be. We had a nice view to Spinalonga (see separate post later). Over all not bad but the last time I booked a budget room!
The room:



Bathroom:




Terrace with pool:


View at night:


Bungalows from the path:


The resort is build on a hillside and separated by a road. You can use a kind of lift to come from the lobby to the beach.
Resort from the water:

 

The hotel hat 2 outdoor-pools. The first (fresh-water) is on lobby-level near the bar and was more or less always empty. It was also not very warm. To be fair it was nicely done.
Upper pool from the bar:


View from pool-terrace/ bar:


The second pool (saltwater) was on beach-level and had a good temperature. One part were only 0,77m deep for children and the other part was 1,35m deep.




They also had an indoor pool, but I didnt used it.


We also used the fitnesscenter which was OK. The equipment was so-so, my crosstrainer crashed 2 times during different sessions, the bike once didnt work.
 

The beach is relative big and was always relative crowded. Its a pebbled beach, you best enter the water from a jetty. The water was relative warm but very salty. You can also snorkel, but you cant compare it with real snorkel-destinations. At the beach it was often very windy, so one time our drinks turned. Drinks were good.


 

First evening we ate at the Blue Door restaurant, their „traditional greek tavern“. I was nothing special. The food was prepared mediocre, we had better meals in taverns at Plaka. My wife coudnt eat her main course, the bread was old. While quality was mediocre prices were fairly high. Service was OK at best but far away from luxury level. If you pay 30,00 € for a main course you may expect much more. After the first evening we decided not to eat at the hotel again.
Main course (30 € and not so good):


Desserts (good):



We had 2 times drinks at the bar, whick were OK, but nothing really special.
Breakfast was served in a big room with terrace. It was always loud (many silverware clatter) and not my cup of tea. They had many choices on the buffet, but quality was mediocre. For example the fruits (peaches, melons) were mostly unripe while you get very good ripe fruits all over the island. I doubt its even possible to get such fruits on Crete, so I guess they import cheap good – really a shame!To be fair they had good pancakes, waffles and some nice delights. Bread was not high quality.
Last day we had breakfast via roomservice which was OK.

The Blue Palace is not a bad resort, but some steps under what Im normally used to. You cant compare it with real luxury resorts in any way. Perhaps I would return as Crete is really nice, but surely not in a Bungalow. While hardware lacks privacy, service could be improoved (but not really a problem, they are trying) and food must be improoved. In the end with the best rate claim it was at least good value (300 per night).

You find a Review of the trip (not ready)at the trip-report forum.