Why stay at Creta Maris Beach resort?
As professionals who have been working long hours from home since March, my group of friends/frequent travel buddies and I were keen for a holiday/vacation to truly feel as though we were getting away and relaxing. Plus we had lots of paid time off/annual leave to use with most of our 2020 trips cancelled. But with everything going on in the world, we still had concerns about how we could travel, but still feel socially distanced and safe.
After lots of research and getting a really good deal via Voyage Prive we decided a resort holiday was perfect for our needs. Although we are typically a group who usually explores all over towns for local food and activities, we thought this was our safest alternative as a resort would have (1) limit the number of people on site and (2) would decrease our risk of exposure from others by keeping us in one location.
We chose the Creta Maris Beach Resort because it had all of the offerings we wanted in one location:
- Safety – They had a clear health and safety policy that was both on their website and social media
- Dining – With six onsite dining locations and seven bars we were sure to have the variety of food we usually would want on a holiday. Plus it was all inclusive so we already paid for it
- On-site Entertainment options – With pool & beach facilities, a series of day and evening events, a waterpark and an open-air cinema on site.
- “Grammable architectural design” with the onsite rooms and buildings designed to mimic traditional Cretan villages that give you that local feel even though you’re in a high end resort.
THE ROOM
When I first arrived at the property, I was greeted by the staff who were all equipped with face shields and helped us with the check in process. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a deluxe sea front room with a balcony overlooking one of the properties pools and of the beaches. The room itself is decked in white wooden and wicker furniture that gives homey coastal beach vibes. The best part of our mornings though is waking up to the sunrise purple and pink sky views over the property.
THE AMENITIES
- Fitness Center (upon reservation)
- Open air cinema “Cine Creta Maris” (2 free tickets/person)
- Late Departure Room
- Creta Maris Waterpark
- 5 outdoor swimming pools & 4 children swimming pools
- Umbrellas & Sun beds
- Tennis (2 Courts)
- Table Tennis
- Mini Golf
- Boccia
- Spa
- Water Sports Center
- Pool Tables
- Arcade Games
THE DINING OPTIONS
The all inclusive dining includes 6 dining locations, the following four are the main restaurants that we dined at during our stay – all of which were well spaced for socially distant meals amongst the other guests.
- Cosmos – The main restaurant, serving local, Mediterranean and International cuisine buffet style
- Cochlias – An atmospheric seafront restaurant serving either BBQ or Italian Menus
- Pithos – A real traditional Cretan tavern, certified for using products of organic farming
- Almyra – An outdoor poolside restaurant serving Creative Greek Cuisine.
- 2 snack points serving snacks nearby pools
At the time of our stay Cochlias, Pithos, and Almyra were only available for dinner by reservation once per week during your stay in order to manage the numbers of individuals at the restaurants and allow all guests an opportunity to try. Conveniently we were able to book our dinner reservations all through the Creta Maris app.
THE PRIVATE DINING EXPERIENCE
When I think about private dining experiences I imagine sharing intimate moments with loved ones in total privacy or in unique indoor or outdoor venues such as under the stars overlooking the ocean.
Recently my boyfriend and I just passed the milestone of 3 years as a couple and our trip to Crete already booked, I reached out to the accommodating guest services at the Creta Maris Beach Resort to see about setting up a romantic private candlelight dinner experience where we could eat delicious food in a beautiful location with peace of mind for absolute safety while at it.
We were welcomed with a glass of Moët et Chandon to a beautiful scene of our table surrounded by candle light under the purple and pink sunset sky overlooking the Hersonissos Bay. Such a gorgeous setting and a perfect for celebrating special moments and memories. The General Manager, Nikos Vlassiadis, also arrived to say hello and to welcome us to the resort and to our dinner experience. We thought this to be such a wonderful gesture since my boyfriend and I have worked with hospitality clients before and found this to be rarity even when we used to be on hotel sites for work.
The food, the food, the food; where does one begin? There is the option of five menus to choose from and with each course, you are surrounded by a wealth of colourful plates and bowls filled with captivating textures, flavours and smells. We opted for the Exotic Sea Menu filled with fresh and flavorful food that was both delicious and incredibly filling.
The beetroot soup was similar to gazpacho consistency and was so refreshing after spending a day out in the enjoying the sun at the pool.
I will say we were impressed with the size of the meal. Typical for higher end dining experiences we expect decently sized but not huge portions and the whole grilled lobster each kept us full throughout the evening. The local Diamantopetra Diamantakis white wine served with the dinner was wonderfully dry and made for the perfect pairing for this seafood dinner.
Service was discreet when we were in deep conversation, but open and friendly when we were distracted. At the end of the meal Dimitri from Guest Services stopped by to ask for any feedback and we truly did not have any constructive feedback to give. This is one of my best meals I’ve had so far this year and I can see how experiences like these are really worth the price.
The Creta Maris Beach Resort is located in Hersonissos, Crete, Greece. For more information and bookings please visit the website.
Disclaimer: The private dining experience was complimentary but all views and photos of the hotel and its services are my own.