Ella Rocrita ★★★★

"We stayed in Ella Rocrita for 2 weeks mid June 2026. We had booked a Sea View Swimup room. We arrived around midnight and after check in (yes we had the tourist tax to pay but were aware of it) we were taken to our room on a golf cart. I was amazed by the size of the site. Our room unfortunately had an issue - the under floor heating was on and the entire room felt like a sauna, the thermostat showed the room to be 36.5c, we thought there was an issue and tried to suffer the first night adjusting the air conditioning, which over the next few hours reduced the room temperature to 27.5c by the morning. Over the next day or so we asked reception to send someone to look at the room, and eventually they did, but the workman said he could not fix it. Reception said they would move us, but not to a sea view, which we wanted, so we had to endure another night in the room. The room floor was like walking on concrete heated by the sun. The next day we were eventually moved rooms and I have to say it was a wonderful feeling. The food in the resort is excellent, the restaurants are fabulous and the staff and service is perfect. Even the buffet food was far superior to other All Inclusive resorts I have stayed in either in Europe or the Caribbean. The beach is great, a lot of waves, the pool area is perfect and there were a lot of free beds always, but we stayed at our room most days as we had full sun. The bars were all excellent, I never had an issue ordering drinks, and certainly did not have to wait. Limoncello Spritz is now my favourite drink I do not think I heard the word "no" once, and whichever staff member I met when walking around the resort I was always met with a smile and a cheerful greeting. It was my birthday when I was there and I got a cake delivered to my room, so thank you Ella Rocrita! Location wise it is remote, Mochlos is about 2km along the coast and I walked in every morning, there are a few shops and a few bars and restaurants. For food, I would highly recommend Bogazi, right on the seafront and around the corner is The Rocks bar, perfect for a sundowner. The front desk will arrange a taxi (Nikos is the man!). Overall I would say its great even with the issue with the room at the start. Would I go back? Maybe, if flight times were adjusted from Belfast to arrive a bit earlier so that we would arrive at a more reasonable time, our first day was over before we arrived. I had doubts given Facebook posts etc, but I would dispel any criticism given our experience. Also the cats are lovely, we even bought them some treats in the local supermarket, but they are very well fed, lots of people took meat etc for them from the restaurants."

Castri Village Hotel ★★★

"Rooms: Spacious, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed. The décor is simple but elegant. Most rooms offer beautiful sea views—waking up here is a highlight. Value: Excellent for what you get. The combination of location, comfort, and service makes it feel like a great deal, especially compared to more crowded tourist areas. Cleanliness: Impeccable. Rooms and common areas are kept spotless. Noise level: Very quiet, especially at night. Ideal if you want to relax, read, or just enjoy the sound of the sea. Service: Warm, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. The staff go out of their way to make you feel at home and are always happy to offer tips about the area. Amenities: Everything you need for a comfortable stay—reliable Wi-Fi, good air conditioning, and lovely pool area. Some great local dining options are also just a short walk away. Overall: A hidden gem in eastern Crete. Perfect for travelers who want authenticity, tranquility, and a beautiful seaside setting."

Althea Suites ★★★

Porto Kaza ★★★★

"Our stay in Porto Kaza was simply wonderful! The hotel is beautifully maintained, extremely clean and thoughtfully designed. The location is fantastic- within walking distance to the center of Sitia and the harbor, yet still peaceful and quiet. The apartment is spacious and well-equipped, just perfect for a comfortable stay. The view from the balcony is also a lovely bonus, offering a stunning view for our morning coffee and breakfast. The hosts are incredibly welcoming, helpful and attentive. Overall, Porto Kaza is a fantastic choice for anyone visiting Sitia. We cannot recommend it enough!"

Ella Rocrita ★★★★

"Absolute joke of a hotel. We booked to stay for 29th July 2025. As of February 25, we started to see worrying signs of people who had booked for May, having their trips cancelled as the hotel wasn't going to be ready. I contacted the hotel reservations to be told the hotel will be fully open by the start of July. I again contacted them in April to be told yes, everything will still be ready for July. Today, 21 May 2025, I have received an email from my booking company saying the hotel is closed until 2026 and they are offering me a different hotel which looks nowhere near as good. Absolutely disgraceful, leaving it so late that we will struggle to find a new hotel to accommodate all our family at such short notice."

Casa di Cornaro ★★★

"The hotel is very close to the pier. The store service is very good, and I notified in advance how to take the key into the room. So although it was very late to the hotel, everything went smoothly into the room. The room is modernly decorated, very clean and comfortable, that is, the bed has a platform to climb up and down. Stayed for one night and was quite satisfied."

GM Luxury Suites & Spa ★★★★

Sitia Beach City Resort & Spa ★★★★★

"Best service we have ever had. Friendly nice stuff. Best experience ever. Great food variation. Kids friendly. Big clean rooms. Great spa experience. Everything was great. Nothing bad to comment. We will definitely visit again. Thank you for everything!"

Terra Minoika Boutique Resort ★★★★

"We were unsure what to expect when we drove out of Zakros village all the way down to the beach. The 7km sealed road is another Cretan stunner with fabulous views over the cobalt blue Libyan Sea. Apart from a handful of tavernas (right on the beach and providing excellent food and typical Cretan friendly service), the Zakros Palace ruins and the Zakros Gorge, there is very little else around so you do feel you are on the very remote eastern edge of the island. The villas themselves blend beautifully into the landscape and the natural stone and timber are very easy on the eye. The villas are very roomy, with private courtyards and/or balconies, and excellent breakfasts were included. It is a very professionally run family establishment with excellent amicable hosts, and ample car parking. All in all Terra Minoika is a classy establishment without being pretentious. We were virtually at the end of a 4 week self-driving holiday around Crete so a couple of relaxing, hassle-free days at Terra Minoika was very much appreciated."