Asterion Suites & Spa

We had a fantastic time at Asterion. We were very sad to go home - I cannot recommend the hotel enough. The staff are so friendly and will take the time to get to know you, whilst delivering excellent service. It definitely felt 5 star. Arrival: As soon as we arrived we loved the layout/look of the hotel and Liana on reception gave us a warm welcome. Whilst checking in, George, the Operations Manager, came to greet us and introduced himself also. Liana offered to show us around the hotel and its facilities, and to our room. Lovely gardens which are well-kept. Upon entering our room, we were given a special treat to celebrate our recent engagement. The room: We opted for one that was not a swim-up room, but did have a balcony which was nice to sit on in the mornings and evenings. The hotel is off the main road and on a quieter one, so we did not hear much - only the sea and occasionally other guests returning to their rooms. The room was comfortable and very clean, with a chic feel to it. The bed was also very comfortable and we liked the his and hers sinks, and there was enough wardrobe and cupboard space for our luggage and clothes to be tucked away. A fridge and coffee machine, and a table was good to have. I liked the separate space between the bedroom and living area with a sofa/kitchen too. Fresh towels were given everyday with the cleaning and some bite size chocolates and more fresh towels if needed in the evening. Cleanliness: Every part of the hotel was very very clean - spotless. Communal areas such as reception, toilets and the pool were cleaned regularly and in the restaurant if you spilt something at the buffet, straight away the staff would be on it to clean it. The food: We were half board so had breakfast and dinner (it was good to hear on arrival we could swap and have lunch or dinner) at the hotel. The breakfast and dinner buffet options in the main restaurant were brilliant. So much choice - sweet, savoury and fresh omelettes made upon request, with Greek and continental offerings. The dinner buffet was changed each evening, even the salads were varied, with some staple foods each night such as bread, Greek salad etc. All stations were frequently restocked and there was a good choice of varied desserts each night. The food was fresh and tasty too including the fresh fruit. A previous review said their food was cold - but perhaps that was because it took them a while to make a decision about what they wanted to try on their plate each time as there was so much choice. Definitely the best buffet I have been to at a hotel / restaurant. Several trips were made at breakfast and dinner! We ate in the a la Carte one evening, I did not catch the waiters name but he was lovely and helpful with the menu. The grilled octopus is a must try. Good choices of a few wines too to accompany dinner. The staff: I cannot explain how welcoming and friendly each staff member is at Asterion. I don’t think a morning or evening went by without George checking in with every guest, the waiting staff and bar staff saying good morning / kalimera (as we tried to speak some Greek). I didn’t catch everyone’s names but shout outs in particular to George, Liana, Elli and Katerina, but there are many others who would smile and converse when we saw them throughout the day. Spa: The sauna is very hot, as it should be! We used this on a rainy day (at a cost). And the staff members again in the spa are lovely. We had two treatments each and they were both great, again the therapist was very friendly. The location: Situated away from the main villages / town of Chania and Platanias, it was nice and quiet but you have the option to walk to Maleme and we did walk to Platanias (circa 40 mins for quick walkers) to look at some gift shops and have lunch. But there are some supermarkets nearby and you can walk by the beach to Maleme - it just depends how far you want to walk. We opted for a bus to Chania as it was cheaper than the price quoted for a taxi from the hotel. I was with someone who knew the area from a previous visit or two, so I was lucky there in knowing what was around. It depends what you want out of your holiday - I think the hotel has all you need for a relaxing holiday with good food - sun beds around the pool and beach etc but also the options to walk to places if you want to. We did a day trip to Samaria Gorge which the hotel helped organise with an external company. Because we would miss breakfast, the hotel arranged a fruit bag and sandwich for us, we made it back in time for dinner though. It was a very early start and late finish that day, but going through the gorge was 100% worth it! Thank you to everyone at the Asterion Suites and Spa for a special holiday, so relaxing too. Would 100% recommend and return.

5 star all round. Staff were exceptionally helpful and friendly, rooms are modern and extremely comfortable and the food was delicious. Highly recommend the all inclusive as it’s worth its weight in gold.