Mitsis Royal Mare

The hotel offers impressively large rooms with plenty of space to relax, and the overall facilities are quite extensive, making it easy to find something to do during your stay. One highlight is the presence of a gym, which is a nice addition for those looking to stay active while on vacation. The layout of the hotel is expansive, and it gives the impression of a place that was once very luxurious and accommodating for a large number of guests.

Much of the hotel feels outdated and in need of a thorough renovation. The decor and amenities appear worn, and the gym equipment is old. Despite the size of the property, there isn’t enough space by the pool or at the beach for all guests, which makes it hard to find a comfortable spot. The restaurants were a disappointment, as they prioritize guests staying for a week or longer, leaving others with limited options. This significantly detracted from the overall experience, since we were completely surprised by that rule - it was nowhere mentioned on booking.com: Guests staying fewer than 7 nights are restricted from booking tables at the à la carte dinner restaurants. For breakfast and lunch at the specialty restaurant, access is limited to just once per stay. This wouldn’t have been such an issue if the hotel had been upfront about these limitations during the booking process. Unfortunately, we only learned about them upon check-in. When we raised the concern at reception, the staff member firmly reiterated the policy without offering any alternative or solution.We did manage to dine at all the restaurants eventually by checking frequently for last-minute availability — but that’s not how anyone wants to spend their vacation. To make matters worse, the food in the Main Restaurant was mediocre at best and lacked variety or standout dishes.

Village feel, well laid out, good size, comfortable rooms

Food was great throughout, drinks and service very good, shout out to Maria at the pool bar and the entire staff at the main bar (fab cocktails) Grounds and gardens very nice but a bit dated/tired in places. Had a junior suite with mini pool and garden view villa for adult lads, v comfy beds, nice shower, plenty of room. Minibar restocked on request. Entertainment pretty good all week.

Hard to book the specialist restaurants as folks pre-book them weeks/months before arriving for their stay. Would be fairer to book on arrival imo. Did manage to get 2 lunches and a dinner booked which were all very nice. Occasionally rude/dismissive staff in the buffet restaurant. Sunbeds not comfortable really for a 5* and bit of a scramble to get beds after 11am. No conditioner in bathroom. No late checkout option available. You literally have to phone reception to get minibar refilled every day.

Giorgio’s and Maria at the Kalypso pool bar were fantastic and attended to our every need. The food served at the buffet (especially lunch and dinner) was incredible - freshly grilled prawns, mussels, paella - could not fault it. The room was spacious, bathroom amenities were plentiful and good storage. The pools were lovely with plenty of sun loungers. The pan-Asian a la carte was phenomenal as was the brunch restaurant. All inclusive drinks lasted until 2am, could get pretty much any cocktails as well as other drinks (and lots of options of iced coffees etc). It was also great to see they had milk alternatives available even at the pool bars. The restaurants seemed very well versed on allergens too which was good to see.

Upon arrival our room had not been thoroughly cleaned - the soles of my feet were black with dirt having walked around the room for approx 5 minutes to get changed. Our minibar was also empty. I spoke to reception who fixed these things quickly but these are not issues you expect at a 5* resort. A few staff were cheerful but the vast majority clearly did not want to be there. The only snacks available outside of mealtime hours are hot dogs or the Crepe place. The food served at most of the a la cartes were sub-par, and I would even go as far as to say the food served at the main buffet restaurant was 10x better than most of the a a la cartes! It was so strange. We did not have great food at the beach restaurant (Calamari overcooked), the South American (braised beef was very chewy) or the Mediterranean (lobster overcooked). I also found it incredibly odd that there was no omelette ‘station’ at breakfast - every other 5* all inclusive I have visited has had the option of fresh omelettes cooked to order. The room only had 2 plug sockets, both were miles away from the bed. The A/C was also quite weak, and we would often wake up in the night rather warm. Our mini fridge was also never restocked - on one occasion I called reception to ask them to please restock it, they said they would, and 3 hours later they still hadn’t! Overall it wasn’t a terrible stay, and the negatives were generally only minor inconveniences, however it was a shame these appeared when you’re staying at a supposedly 5* ‘luxurious’ resort.

a la carte restaurants excellent. buffet ok. pool great.

could do with more evening entertainment, and more 24/7 snacks, cocktails etc. disappointed with the spa. expensive and not very welcoming

excellent sports facilities, for those who don't just want to sit on the beach all day.The food is so good (and all inclusive) that you will need to do some exercise during your stay.Tennis courts, squash courts, gym, organised pilates/yoga/circuit sessions.Air conditioned gym was nice and big.Staff very helpful and friendly

Some of the gym equipment was dated, and had to pay 12 euro for squash and 15 euro for tennis, which perhaps should be included in the all-inclusive price.

Mitsis Royal Mare Hotel is an unparalleled oasis of luxury and relaxation. From the moment you step into its elegant foyer, you're greeted with impeccable service and a warm ambiance that sets the tone for an unforgettable stay. The meticulously landscaped grounds, complete with lush gardens and glistening pools, create a serene atmosphere perfect for unwinding. The rooms are spacious, tastefully decorated, and equipped with all the modern amenities one could desire. The culinary experience is equally impressive, with a diverse range of dining options offering exquisite flavors from around the world. Whether you're indulging in a rejuvenating spa treatment, lounging on the pristine beach, or partaking in the numerous recreational activities, every moment at Mitsis Royal Mare Hotel is a true delight. Without a doubt, this gem along the Cretan coast exceeds all expectations, making it the ultimate destination for discerning travelers seeking luxury, comfort, and unparalleled hospitality.

What a Beautiful complex so clean and tidy Food was wonderful all the time And the staff were exceptional especially Maria in the main restaurant

Too many cats in the main restaurant and bars and pool areas

it was very silent and chill and the wifi was good for us to work

you can only book the alacarte restaurants once per week and they were always fully booked... the internal swimming pool and the outside jacuzzi could be warm

The resort is quite big, but that's all from positive things. you have to walk a lot up and down hill. Sundays is very difficult to get - you have to wake up very early to get it. noone is overlooking for people who left their towels and left the beach. and the luck of sunbeds is around beach area and all pools.Staff is very slow: on breakfast, you can wait a lot to get cutlery and coffee. often ask twice if you need water. you cann't get a water bottle anywhere there - only by glass. during two nights we had 4 cocktails only. two tasted like soap - we couldn't drink it at all. And btw there was NO space in the bar in the evening so we had to sit next to the bar and still had to wait for a waitress (who was very slow bc too many ppl she had to serve).

Food is horrible. they are using not very quality products to prepare even greek salan (green tomatos in Greece! - shame on you!!!). we ordered room service and they bought raw salmon and uncooked french fries (had to pay 10 EUR to room service). The cleanness wasn't great: my partner got a pillow that smelled smoke.

Staff were professional and friendly. Very clean and well maintained resort.

The members of the team were the nicest of any hotel I have ever stayed at.

Given a room that we didn’t book, offered to move but pointless on a 2 night stay. Housekeeping rang the room telephone at 9am and entered waking us up. Paid guest tax twice. Treated differently in terms of restaurant reservations as we were only on a short stay.

Very clean

Terrible food and definitely not worthy or 5stars . Booking system for restaurants is terrible

The rooms and grounds are lovely and well maintained.

The main restaurant buffet wasn't as good as I expected and as a solo traveller, eating in the A la carte wasn't the ideal solution( if you could get a table)The buffet wasn't good enough for the rest of the hotel.

The Spa

No room service, queuing for a drink behind 10 people at the bar. The bin in my room was not emptied leaving part eaten pizzaThe website is misleading and probably a 3*/4* rating is correct. Guests are being charged 5* prices for amenities and servicesl that do not exist

Great location on the beach, with only a short 25 min drive from Heraklion airport. Very friendly and attentive staff, good selection of drinks and food at the various buffets. Housekeeping very good, regularly cleaning rooms and changing mini-bar and towels for you. Very large resort with enough to occupy, and good access to excursions if wanted. Spa area and gym also very good.

Slightly lacking in sun bed availability, and occasionally long ish queues for drinks. Only minor things.

Right on the beach! Royal Mare was a beautiful, quiet resort with lots of pools, shops and restaurants. The staff was exceptionally kind and helpful. Food was plentiful and high quality.

Too much American/English pop music throughout the resort. Resort is rather isolated if you don’t have a car. It was a 10 euro cab ride to the nearest bus stop. (but a bus to Heraklion does stop outside the main gate once a day)

Well maintained rooms and Territory, good food selection, and excellent staff

There was a lot of mosquitos in May

I like as a lone traveller, I felt very welcome and comfortable. I thank Royal Mare for putting me in the most beautiful room with my own pool. Thank you

Some of the food was quite repetitive, and I have to say the lady nearest to the entrance downstairs in the shop was awful and very unwelcoming. Complete disappointment to my expectations.Also the deep massage was not very deep.

The hotel has great well-organized area with lots of palms, trees, flower gardens, so it feels very cozy and comfortable. The territory is constantly taken care of so everything is clean. Staff is polite and friendly, managers always ask you about any issues or concerns and try to resolve those in a best way if any. I was also very happy with a room service - rooms get cleaned every day. Perfect location to stay for families, also great for couples or solo travellers.Regarding the food, there was a great variety of dishes (including vegetarian options). The main restaurant serves simple but tasty food, the menu differs from day to day. In addition to the main restaurants there are a la carte restaurants serving different cuisines (e.g. Asian, Italian, American etc.). Mediterranean restaurant was one of the best I‘ve ever visited. You can try each restaurant once per week of your stay without additional costs.

I stayed in Mitsis Royal Mare in the middle of April. At this time of the year the sea is obviously cold, so I hoped to at least swim in the swimming pools which are all over the hotel’s territory. Unfortunately, the water in the pools was as cold as in the sea which made it impossible to swim.