I Resort Hotel and Spa. Stalis, Crete
Last year Mark and I made the decision to holiday in the UK, I have to say we had a mixed response, we had one week of good weather and one week of bad; the downside of holidaying in the UK, so this year we decided to go abroad.
We often go to Lanzarote which we love but we decided it was time for a change and having done extensive research we decided to book an all-inclusive package via Jet2 to I resort Beach Hotel and Spa in Stallis, Crete. We have been to Crete once before on a family holiday to Chania which we enjoyed and this time we decided to go to the other side of the island, just the two of us.
We flew from Bristol as it is so close to us and had a great flight of around four hours. We paid for extra legroom which although I don’t need as those who know me know I am quite short but it meant Mark could stretch his legs.
Hello Crete
At Heraklion airport the rep was waiting to direct us to our coach and we were soon off. The coach was comfortable and air conditioned so a good start to the holiday.
Our transfer took around an hour and a half as we were dropping others at hotels. I found it quite interesting as you get a chance to see some other areas but you could easily get a taxi from the airport or even a local bus as they were excellent and they run until late evening and early morning very regularly.
On arrival at I resort Beach Hotel and Spa, we were greeted warmly by reception staff and were seated in the ultra-modern reception area while they processed us. We were bought very nice cocktails as a welcome drink.
Looking at the online brochure the hotel looked super modern and it certainly didn’t disappoint, the aesthetic was very trendy with clean lines and funky furniture.
Feeling Like VIP’s
We were shown to our room by a porter and we were absolutely thrilled to receive an upgrade to a Gold Suite Sea view with private pool. Wow what a room.
We had arrived late in the evening after food service had finished but a veritable banquet of salads, meats, cheeses, canapes and fruits were waiting for us. The food was all cling filmed and very fresh. A bottle of red wine was also waiting for us. The hotel had ascertained before we arrived our preference for red or white. Our mini bar was well stocked with a selection of soft drinks and there was a Nespresso machine with herbal teas and a selection of coffees. This was refreshed daily.
I have to say our suite was one of the best rooms we have stayed in. It was large (61 sq metres) and beautifully laid out. The décor was very pleasing shades of blue, continuing the theme from the hotel. As you walked in there was a large, futuristic sofa and a 55 inch flat screen tv.
There was a useful table with extra seating. There were five wardrobes so plenty of storage and a safe.
In the middle of the room was the toilet, and a state of the art, walk in body Jet shower system. There was also a large bath tub. The shower and toilet were a tinted glass. I did have concerns over privacy in the toilet. As a couple this might not be so bad but for friends this could have been a bit too intimate. Some strategic timing may be necessary.
The bathroom had a large double sink and plenty of space for toiletries. The hotel products were all good quality branded and some extras such as toothbrushes, shaving kit and bath body brush were a great addition.
The bed was at least king sized and the mattress was one of the most comfortable we have slept on, we wished we could bring it home. There were two types of pillows and great quality bedding. We had excellent quality sleep. Well done I resort Beach hotel and Spa for not scrimping on the bed quality.
Large windows from floor to ceiling made up the far wall, you could open these completely so you could have indoor/outdoor living if you wanted too. I loved the electric switch to open and close the nets and curtain. A real luxury touch.
The four suites all have their own pools, they are fabulous. We haven’t stayed at a hotel with private pool before but we would definitely book this another time. The pool was warm and clean. There was a private sun deck with chairs, sunbeds and a table. We felt it was so luxurious and we really made the most of enjoying this fabulous asset throughout the holiday.
Sunbed Wars
During our stay there was constant sun bed hogging form other holiday makers, who would go out early to reserve sun beds. The hotel tried to combat this by putting notes on sun beds and occasionally removing towels and property but as in most hotels they were fighting a losing battle so having our own pool meant for us this really wasn’t an issue.
Total Luxury
We were in room W002 and felt that our suite was the most private. The suites have their own corridor so if you are needing privacy, you can have it by booking one of these incredible rooms.
Room W001 had the largest sofa I have ever seen and a full-sized private pool. If you are a group of hens booking for a holiday it would be the perfect party room or place to hang out.
The room was serviced daily by a maid who was fantastic, the room, and if fact the whole hotel was spotless. I loved having a button to press to either not disturb or to call the maid to say the room was ready to be serviced.
Each day in the afternoon we were given a complimentary plate, which was normally fruit, and some times canapés or desserts and a bottle of wine. We felt very special.
The Suite had a great partial view of the beach which we loved and at night you could sleep listening to the waves lapping on the shore.
The suites are situated at ground level and really easily access the main infinity pool on the West side. This pool is stunning. You can swim and look out at the beach and it never felt overly busy in the pool. Around the pool were sun beds and bean bag loungers. There was a great pool bar that’s served drinks and snacks throughout the day (10-5pm) Hard working staff continually went round the sun loungers at the pool and beach bringing drinks and even at times ice cubes filled with aloe to cool down your skin. The bar men worked hard but always had a smile.
Beach Fun
To access the beach, you walked through a funky tunnel. On part of the beach is slightly rocky but there is a also a large sandy area. Sun loungers and umbrellas are free for hotel guests. If you want to be further on the main beach the bars all have sun beds which are free, they just ask that you buy the occasional drink, which were very reasonable.
There is a life guard on duty on the beach from 10am until 5pm who was very vigilant. At times the waves were quite strong, which was great fun for jumping over. Mark didn’t get to snorkel because of the waves but we enjoyed the beach a lot.
An early morning walk often meant we were the only ones on the beach and we loved watching people getting in the water until about 9pm. The water was lovely and warm, being the Mediterranean Sea.
There are two other pools on the East side of the hotel, including a child pool and an activity area. This looked a little tired and were told would be undergoing some refurbishment at a later date. There was an activities crew who do aqua aerobics, water polo, ping pong etc but we didn’t take part in these so cant comment. There was plenty on offer all day for those who want it.
Foodie Heaven
I have to say the food in the hotel was excellent.
On arrival at the main restaurant a friendly server asks which area you would like to sit at and shows you to your table. Christina was particularly friendly and helpful.
A waiter asks what drinks you would like and then you are free to go to the buffet. We never had to wait long to be seated or served and even during very busy service the staff were all very pleasant and helpful. The food is buffet style with a huge selection to choose from.
For breakfast there was a vast array to choose from, what I particularly liked was that there was a Greek section if you wanted to try a Greek breakfast or coffee. There was a big selection of hot and cold, savoury and sweet.
At lunch and dinner there was a large choice from soups, salads, seafood, pasta, several meats, several fish dishes, vegan and vegetarian options. Freshly baked bread was available. Cheeses, fruits and a host of desserts.
I have seen reviews that say the food is repetitive and I have to say I disagree. Whilst some dishes ie salad and pasta were on offer every day the chef did try to change up selection and there were Chinese style nights, Mexican themed, Greek themed etc. I feel we just become used to having too much choice or because people had a bit of everything they get a bit fed up but you could have made a different choice every day for the 14 days we were there. The food was plentiful, well cooked and good quality.
Once during your stay you can eat at the Salty restaurant. Salty is a drinks bar and snack restaurant during the day and an outside fabulous restaurant at night. You need to prebook your space and your meal but I would recommend you go as we had a really super meal and it made a change to be served rather than buffet style. I had prawns that were slightly spicy, Mark had seafood ravioli. We both really enjoyed pork for our main and then Mark tried the Katafi, almond and honey pastries and I had the chocolate bomb. Hearing the waves splash on the rocks and watching the sun go down made a really romantic setting.
A hidden gem was the Bliss restaurant, which is situated on the roof of the suites, so very private. This is not included in the all-inclusive package but you do get a 20 percent discount. Please make sure you go; it was a culinary delight. Mark said the squid he ate was the best he has ever tasted. We had delicious lamb which fell off the bone and we finished with a chocolate, caramel pudding. The food was superb and we felt that we were dining in the stars due to the out-door setting. Only a few couples are at the restaurant at any one time so it felt like a very exclusive, special dining experience. Please don’t miss out if you go to this hotel, make sure you book it.
Whilst on the topic of food, we also ordered burgers on room service a couple of times, they arrived within fifteen minutes, piping hot and very yummy. You do pay for this but at ten euros a burger it was well worth it.
And Relax..
We decided to have a massage and both opted for the full body. The staff were all very professional. Our medical history was taken and we were asked what pressure we would like and what areas we wanted to focus on. Mark refused to go in the same room as me as he gets embarrassed when I fall asleep and snore which I hotly denied. I really appreciated the discretion of my masseuse afterwards who when mark asked if I had indeed fallen asleep declined to comment. Unfortunately, my snoring did jolt me awake a couple of times but full credit to the lady as she had made me very relaxed. Would recommend the spa treatments, our massages were around eighty euros and a full treatment list is available. One point to mention is that there is a sauna and steam room which you can use free of charge but you need to pre book twenty-four hours in advance.
Entertainment
During the day there was a full activities program and, on an evening, there was an hour of good quality entertainment from 9pm. This ranged from Greek dancing, singers, dancers, karaoke, a quiz, so a good selection for those who wanted it. It wasn’t too over powering or too loud for those who want a quiet drink. We enjoyed sitting outside having a cocktail. I highly recommend the I resort cocktail which was Champagne with mint, an intriguing combination. The drinks service was efficient and friendly.
Location
The hotel is in a great location, right on the beach and next to loads of shops, bars and restaurants. Perfect for a daytime or evening stroll. The shops sell normal tourist goods, lots of leather, pottery and Turkish delight. There is a great bakery opposite who do very tasty, very large doughnuts. I hope you understand I only had one so I could report back.
We had diner out a couple of evenings for a change and there are really good, low cost restaurants within a couple of minutes of the hotel.
Venturing out
At the end of the road opposite the hotel is the bus stop which can take you to a whole host of places. We went into Hersonissos a couple of times. The buses are air conditioned and clean. Don’t pre buy a ticket as the ticket machine next to the stop only covers one bus company and a bus from another company may turn up sooner. The cost of travel was only two euros per person so a bargain. Ten minutes from the hotel you are in a bustling town which has shops galore or head to the sea front for great restaurants and bars. A real fun night out. Taxis cost around 12 euro to get back to the hotel
The Happy Train
I begged Mark to go on the Happy Train, which we did on a slightly windy day. It was fun, an hour and a half round trip. We saw Malia and Hersonissos. There was another two-and-a-half-hour trip to the Greek villages which we heard was very good. We drove through some very barren areas which made us think about the poverty in Crete.
You can either stay aboard or get off at one of the sights of interest. The cost was 22 euros.
Returning To The Hotel
Having been out it was always a relief to get back to the hotel, the temperatures being a balmy 30 degrees plus, we really loved walking into the suite and having wonderful air conditioning to cool us down. Reception staff always greeted you with a warm smile and a hello which was endearing. Nothing is too much trouble for any of the staff and this certainly meant our stay went smoothly.
Wedded Bliss
If you are looking for an intimate wedding on a Greek Island, I would certainly take a look at the beautiful I Resort Beach Hotel and Spa. You can email Gasparis Michael the General Manager on manager@resortbeachhotel.com for more information. You could have a beach wedding or a private ceremony are either indoors or outdoors and the hotel can help with all the legalities that need to be arranged to make sure your wedding is legally recognised. You can have a bespoke wedding ceremony and wedding and honeymoon package.
I would highly recommend this hotel for a stunning honeymoon location, there are so many romantic moments to be had and if you can afford it I would 100% recommend upgrading to one of the suites. You will feel like absolute VIPs and have the most wonderful, special time. Please mention The Word on Weddings when you make contact or book to make sure you are especially well looked after.
We took a sneaky peak in the suite W001 and its HUGE, there was a sofa where you could probably sit 20 people and a full sized private pool and terrace. If you booked this hotel for a group of sophisticated hens you could have the most amazing time! Especially if you all make use of the spa.
If you are on holiday and decide to propose, please chat to the manager or front desk staff who can help to arrange a romantic proposal.
Our Opinion
We had an amazing, relaxing, special holiday in this lovely well-situated hotel. There was nothing not to like. Great staff, great location, delicious food, wide selection of drinks and cocktails (you could upgrade to premium but we didn’t feel there was any need)
We would highly recommend for a wonderful Cretan holiday or honeymoon.
