Porto Beach Resort & Spa

Poorly cleaned rooms, uncomfortable and worn-out mattresses, and a staff member entered my room while I was naked. The resort has no common areas or meeting points, making it impossible for guests to socialize.
The only good thing was the food – tasty and varied.
Overall, it’s not worth the price.

We made a reservation at the Porto Platanias Beach Resort & Spa. However, upon arrival the Hotel refused to honor our reservation and accommodate us at the hotel. They suggested that our reservation was at the Porto Platanias Village Resort (a much lower rated hotel in same group).

Booking.com responded to our enquiry and confirmed that our reservation was in fact at the 5-star Porto Platanias Beach Resort & Spa as we had said all along. We forwarded all our proofs of the reservation but the the hotel did not accept it and never responded to our messages. We had to stay at the second-rated hotel for the entire stay.

We wanted to stay at a hotel that fronted the beach. We did not even consider (know of) the Village-hotel at the time of making the reservation and therefore would have chosen a completely different hotel had we have known that the hotel would transfer of our reservation from the Beach Resort & Spa to the Village Hotel.

We believe the hotel is directly responsible since they are either grossly negligent in allowing third-party partners to offer rooms at the Beach Resort& Spa and then placing them in the second-rated village hotel. Or alternatively, they are complicit since ultimately they are selling rooms at much higher rates than what one would pay if you were to book directly at the second rated village hotel, that would not have been sold.

We paid £170 a night with taxes for 7 nights. We stayed in room 1505 and this is my review.  As people have mentioned in previous reviews this is not a 5 star hotel. Not in facilities or service.  I would say 99% of staff are miserable, rude and unfriendly. There is no service with a smile and they look down on you. Here are some examples: - On arrival there isn't a warm welcome or service with a smile. - Asking where the kids club was. The woman at reception just shrugged her shoulders. Then got a map and circled the kids club but didn't actually explain how to get there. - When walking past any staff there is no hello, good morning, smile etc.. - At breakfast you go to the table reception and get assigned a table. The table you are brought to is not even ready. So you are standing there just waiting for your table to have a tablecloth, cutlery etc... put on it.  - I wanted to grab a water bottle from the bar. It was 4:45pm and the bar apparently only opens at 5pm. All I wanted was a bottle of water but the bar man said we don't open until 5pm.  The breakfast setup is shambolic. If you sit upstairs you have to go down and get your food. Then you carry your plate up a busy set of stairs to get to your table. Tea and coffee are not consistently served to your table every day. Waiting staff seemed baffled when I asked for non dairy milk and basically didn't want to help.  I wanted to use the microwave to heat up my toddlers' food. I called reception and the guy at reception said he needs to speak to another team and he will call me back. I waited 30 minutes and no call-back so I called reception again. This time someone else tells me I need to go to the restaurant to ask for a microwave. This is terrible customer service.  We apparently got an upgraded room. We were meant to get a garden or pool view room. We got a room facing the front of the hotel with a lot of road noise. It was so much I couldn't sleep. The room was very small and dated. The shower doesn't work and the toilet leaks. The toilet door lock is broken so we couldn't lock the door.  The silly charges at this hotel are ridiculous. They would charge you for breathing if they could. To use the SAFE in the room you have to pay!!!! I have never seen this in any hotel. To use the water park which is part of the hotel you have to pay. It's beyond a joke. The beach chairs you have to pay for.  On a positive note the breakfast selection is good and parking is free. The beach is close by.  Overall, this hotel was terrible and I would not recommend it. I know Crete is expensive but for £171 a night you expect so much for your money. We feel very disappointed with our experience and would not recommend this hotel. We will not be returning.