Atlantica Caldera Creta Paradise

Mixed feelings about this hotel. Spent a week at this hotel end of October. It was their last week of the season so we expected that it would be fairly quiet and some services and activities would not be in full swing, however, that was an understatement! On check in we were not given very much information and as it was late at night we didn't think to ask certain things. In our Jet2 welcome meeting on the first morning we were told that we needed to go to reception to get our wristbands changed - the ones we had only been given the evening before. We were told they would explain why. When we went to do this the receptionist was quite short with us and explained very quickly that for the last few days of the holiday we would need to use the restaurant at the hotel next door as ours would be closing. There was some confusion as to when this would be in effect and if this included bars etc also. On the first morning there was aqua aerobics in the pool and we heard that this was going to be the last one. After that there was absolutely no daytime activities for the rest of the holiday. Evening entertainment was also lacking except for some Greek dancers at dinner one night. We spoke to a male receptionist regarding the lack of information that we had been given and he pointed out an A4 leaflet on a table that showed the evening entertainment and he said that this was at the hotel next door. The entertainment that was on the sheet was very hit and miss and didn't always take place. When researching the holiday I had seen that there were 2 restaurants at the hotel other than the buffet restaurant and you could visit the Greek one once per holiday if AI. The info on the holiday website also stated that this was open until 31st October - turns out it wasn't and it closed the second night we were there so we didn't get to go. We were instead offered a visit to the Italian restaurant at the hotel next door. We didn't go to a Greek island to eat Italian though, my partner is Italian and the pizza's on offer were terrible. So halfway through the holiday the buffet restaurant closed, then the snack bar closed and then the only bar that was open at the hotel closed! We had to use everything at the hotel next door and even the pool bar there closed for the last couple of days so only the lobby bar at Creta Paradise left! We did not book to go to that hotel and so the holiday that we booked was not the holiday that we got! It became a bit of a running joke between the guests that it was the end of season and nothing was open! We really felt like the staff just wanted rid of us and that we were a nuisance. One day the end of season staff party was going on in the buffet restaurant-they were having a great time, much better than the bored paying guests! Whilst most of the staff were polite, no one went out of their way to make us feel welcome and to enjoy our holiday. My son cut his stomach whilst playing in the pool one day. He cut it on the side

Good points : excellent cleanliness, nice location, friendly staff,good facilities. Bad points : rooms in Olympus were at the very far end of resort a good 200 meters from restaurant on a hill with lots of steps not suitable for anyone with any walking difficulties or a buggy. Food plenty of selection however all the food was cold all the time only hot if you got off live cooking, children’s food chips and fishfingers or nuggets. If b&b there is nowhere to eat . Children’s club not open to English. Disappointed and came home early

We were looked after well by all the staff & our room was always clean & tidy when we came back in the evening. The food was varied & very tasty although you sometimes had to search out what you wanted. The beach was our happy place although the sea was quite rough at times making it difficult to get out. I regularly walked the length of the beach & in some places the stones made it a bit difficult. Gogo in the orange bar was most pleasant. We visited Chania twice & took the little train to the olive groves, the scenery is amazing.