Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The "Blue Bay Resort Hotel" is situated on the northern side of Crete, above the Mononaftis Bay, approximately 22 km from the capital, Heraklion, in the tranquil village of Agia Pelagia. Its privileged hillside location offers breathtaking views of the Cretan Sea. Nestled in a serene and naturally beautiful environment, the hotel provides a diverse range of room categories, excellent service, and a variety of recreational activities. Serving as an ideal choice for relaxed stays, the "Blue Bay Resort Hotel" also serves as a central starting point for excursions throughout the island of Crete.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
At the Blue Bay Resort Hotel, guests have called out the sparkling cleanliness of both rooms and facilities as a standout feature. While the hotel's atmosphere is lauded for being both magical and family-friendly, the value proposition of the all-inclusive package has faced criticism due to additional charges.
The staff's friendliness and professionalism often receive compliments, but there have been occasional mentions of customer service shortcomings. Travelers enjoy the scenic beaches and praise the roomy accommodations, although some have noted the need for decor updates and noise reduction.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Magical
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Underwhelming
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
In this review I have tried to give some useful information, so it is quite lengthy. For those who like to cut to the chase – we simply loved this hotel. It’s clean, welcoming and the food is great. The staff are there if you need them, but they let you get on with your holiday. All the staff are very friendly, and it is not possible to name them all but suffice to say that they made our holiday special by looking after us so very well – Nothing is too much trouble. So, yes, I would really recommend this hotel and if you want more details read on.
We travelled to this hotel as a family group of 9 people. 2 of us were retired, 3 in their forties and 4 young adults ranging from 11 to 16 years. We went for two weeks in August 2023. We booked with Jet2, and this hotel is amongst the first drops – Transfer time around 40 minutes.
We arrived in the evening and were welcomed by Nicos, a very efficient front desk manager. The check-In was quick and smooth. Worth noting is the tourist tax at 3 euros per room per night. Other costs were the safe at 20 euros per week.
Wi-Fi is free in all parts of the hotel and is surprisingly good – You are given a code which is unique to your room for as many devices as you have got. Signing into the Wi-Fi is easy.
Our luggage was taken to our rooms by a porter and, because we had arrived midway through the evening mealtime, Nicos encouraged us to go straight to dinner.
The restaurant was quite busy, and we could not get a table to accommodate 9 people, but the Maître De explained that there were large group tables around the corner and that if we got there early in future, we would be OK. We did so for the rest of the holiday and never failed to sit together.
MAIN RESTAURANT
The restaurant is buffet style serving a really good selection of food with a slant towards Greek cuisine. The quality of the food was great and at no time did any of us have difficulty in finding a choice – our party had a couple of fussy eaters and a couple of vegetarians, but everyone was happy.
The restaurant has self service drinks. There are soft drinks and a choice of local wines (Red, Rose, and White). There is also local beer on tap. The restaurant time are – Breakfast 07.30 to 10.00. Lunch 12.30 to 14.00 and dinner 18.30 to 21.00. They don’t rush to kick you out at the end of service and the restaurant staff are really nice.
Breakfast is a good choice of everything. Full English, Cereals, Toast, Fruit, Continental, Waffles, and Crepes etc.
Lunch and Dinner is a full service of soups, salads, and a vast choice of cooked dishes both international and Greek. The food was a definite highlight even if we ate too many of the scrumptious sweets!
ROOMS
The rooms are clean and are serviced every day. The maid changes towels each day and makes up the beds daily and changes bed linen every couple of days. There is a very welcome fridge with a complimentary bottle of water. BTW there are free water stations throughout the hotel to refill your bottles.
There is a hairdryer and a TV with very few English channels (Who cares – not here to watch Corrie!). You can’t take room towels to the sun loungers – you can get a towel from the spa upon payment of a ‘green tax’ of 2 euros and a further 2 euros each time you change them – or take your own.
The aircon is a Godsend and works very well – You can also put it on timer at night if you want it to go off after you have nodded off.
Most rooms have a lovely sea view in the main building but it’s worth checking when you book. Also, be aware that if you are in the annex, it is away from the main hotel and up the hill which is not ideal for those with walking difficulties.
BARS
There are 3 bars. One in the lobby which doesn’t open until 17.00. A main pool bar near the main swimming pools which opens at 10.00 and another in the Annex, up the hill on the left, which opens at 10.30. Here there is also a swimming pool. The two pool bars serve snacks as well as drinks.
Be aware that the included all inclusive drinks are a good range of soft and hot drinks and a limited choice of ‘Alcoholic’ drinks – Beer, wine, sangria and a few ouzo or raiki based cocktails…. But the drinks are universally low alcohol especially the beer. It is understandable as the hotel don’t want a load of drunken guests at the end of the day.
So, you can drink as much as you like and won’t feel ill! They stop the AI at 23.00 but you can then buy international brands until 01.00 if you want to… You can also buy international brands at any time.
Both pool bars serve pizza, various filled rolls, cakes, and the like throughout the day. You can also get lovely ice-creams and they give out little cups of melon every afternoon.
In our opinion the best bar was the quiet one in the annex up the hill. By day it was staffed by the lovely Evelina who was so nice. By night it was Antoni who is a great character. This bar is very cool as it has a pergola and there is a water station and a good swimming pool…... Many people totally overlook this little Gem – Check it out.
ENTERTAINMENT
By day there is a low-key entertainment program and by night there are various shows in the Amphitheatre next to the main block which begin around 21.30 – take a drink from the bar as there is no bar in the entertainment venue.
STAFF
All the staff at this hotel are very friendly, and it is not possible to name them all but suffice to say that they made our holiday by looking after us so very well – Nothing is too much trouble.
LOCAL AREA
The hotel runs a minibus down to the little local beach. They do so because the hill is an absolute killer – It is possible to walk down the hill, but you will be glad of the lift back. On that note it is worth saying that this hotel is a bit isolated, and this is nice but not really suited for those with walking difficulties.
At this beach you will find a few shops and a supermarket as well as a couple of nice restaurants and bars. There are also pedaloes and jet skis and the snorkeling is great but be advised that the beach is rocky and water shoes are useful… Snorkeling masks and shoes are available at the shops at reasonable prices (Twenty euros for full face snorkel mask).
The main local town is Agia Pelagia and it is possible to walk there and the older two of our party did so – It’s best to do it in the morning because of the heat. Turn left up the hill outside the hotel and keep walking. You get to another small beach where there is a small bar and some loungers and water sports and not much else. Get refreshed and continue walking!
After around 30 to 40 minutes, total from the hotel, you get to the town and the beach area of Agia Pelagia – It’s nice. There are a lot of shops, restaurants, and bars. Our particular favourite bar was Café Del Mar run by owner George and his main man Mike – Very welcoming with great service and reasonable prices. And George and Mike are great guys!
You can get a taxi back for 10 Euros using Tranfershop.GR – these guys are super friendly and highly efficient. The hotel reception will book it for you or ask at Georges bar and he will sort it. They are also on WhatsApp.
LOCAL BUSES
There is a bus stop right outside the hotel and anywhere you want to go is 3.50 euros…. Whether it be locally or to Heraklion it is a fixed price. Times available from reception.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Korinna A, Geschäftsführer at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 4 Sept 2023
Dear LPPPPPP, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed review of your recent stay at Blue Bay Resort Hotel. We appreciate your thorough feedback, and we're thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful experience with us during your family holiday in August 2023. We're delighted that you found our hotel to be clean, welcoming, and that you enjoyed the food in our restaurant. It's fantastic to know that our staff made your holiday special by taking excellent care of you. We understand that it's the small details that matter, and we strive to make every guest feel at home. Nicos, our front desk manager, is indeed an efficient and welcoming member of our team. We're pleased to hear that your check-in was smooth. Thank you for mentioning the tourist tax and safe costs; this information is helpful for future guests. It's great to know that you found our Wi-Fi service to be reliable, and we appreciate your positive comments about the unique room-specific codes for multiple devices. We aim to make your stay as convenient as possible. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the dining experience at our main restaurant. Your description of the buffet-style meals with a slant towards Greek cuisine is mouthwatering. It's wonderful that even with a variety of dietary preferences in your group, everyone found something to their liking. Thank you for mentioning the room amenities, including the daily cleaning service, complimentary bottled water, and air conditioning. We understand the importance of a comfortable stay. Your insights into the three bars and the included all-inclusive drinks are valuable for potential guests. We appreciate your understanding of our commitment to responsible alcohol service. The information you shared about local attractions, the beach, and transportation options is incredibly helpful for future visitors to Crete. Your recommendation for Café Del Mar and the local bus service are especially valuable. Lastly, your kind words about our staff's friendliness and attentiveness are heartwarming. We take pride in our team's dedication to ensuring your stay is memorable. Once again, thank you for your extensive feedback. We look forward to welcoming you and your family back to Blue Bay Resort Hotel in the future. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. Warm regards, The Blue Bay Resort Hotel Team
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My partner and I have just returned from a fantastic and very relaxing stay at this hotel. It was our first time in Greece and we’d definitely return! We upgraded our room to an executive room with an outdoor jacuzzi bath, the room was lovely and spacious and we thoroughly enjoyed a soak in the bath at the end of the day, watching the sun set. Only downsize to the room was the chargeable safe, we acknowledge this was advertised, however felt a little steep.
The standout for me was the food - I have severe allergies and staff were extremely hospitable and made me feel very safe (safer than many restaurants in the UK where there is no language barrier! ) Every meal I was greeted by a member of staff who would walk me around, with the chef, and explain what was safe and what I should avoid. Despite the hotel being busy, after a few days these members of staff recognised me and gave me advise without me even having to ask for it.
I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this hotel for people with allergies!
The pools were lovely and there was always loungers free mid morning, unlike other hotels where it becomes a battle for space by 7am!
A lovely area and overall a fantastic holiday. Thank you so much, we would absolutely recommend this hotel to friends and family.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Korinna A, Geschäftsführer at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 10 Sept 2021
Dear valued Guest, «Kalispera» - Good day from Crete! We do appreciate you for taking time & sharing your experiences here on Trip Advisor based on your recent visit. We thank you for choosing Blue Bay Resort hotel as your holiday destination. Greece is indeed a blessed place, that guest certainly could not resist. Your kind words will certainly be shared among the entire team especially with the F&B department. Furthermore, we appreciate your feedback regarding the charge of the safe, which you felt could use improvement . Your comments are noted and will certainly be taken on board, as we continuously strive to provide our guests a relaxing vacation creating many nice memories. It shall be our honor to welcome you back to your home away from home, whenever you return to Crete. Stay safe and be well, Yours faithfully Customer Relationship Department Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
Me and my partner stayed at the blue bay as our first time in Greece, and we absolutely loved our stay. We stayed in the annex which was perfect for us! There was a pool and a bar at the annex which was always really quiet in comparison to the main bar, so if you’re looking for a quiet drink that’s the place I’d suggest. In the evening Antonio made the bar lively and always made us laugh! The room was quite small, but always really clean, and realistically we only used the room to shower and sleep so it didn’t bother us.
We were on the all inclusive option and the drinks were all soft drinks, coffee and teas, water, local red, white and rose wine, Cretan beer, raki and ouzo spirits. Personally we didn’t like the spirits but liked the beer so was more than happy to drink this, as per every all inclusive option other spirits come at a cost which I don’t know why people would expect otherwise? The food in the main restaurant was absolutely lovely! Breakfast was always the same, but it’s hard to vary breakfast’s! A few days they had waffles as an option, but also lots of fresh fruits. Lunches and dinners were changed every day, and some of the meats and mains were repeated once every 3/4 days but all of the food was absolutely delicious, and it’s worth just trying new things!
There was entertainment on every night either at the main pool or the amphitheater. Day time games and entertainment was by the main pool which is where we spent most of our time. The bar was lovely with fresh fruit bought round in the afternoon, and snacks available all day. Maria at the bar during the day made it very welcoming!
The closest beach was down quite a steep road, but the hotel offered a bus service through the day. There was a lovely bar at the beach where we had the nicest lunch. There is a dive centre at the beach so if you are qualified divers I can recommend doing the dives here. You could hire sun loungers for €10 per day, or you could set up a towel on the stoney beach and just relax. The beach is very slippery getting into the water so I recommend wearing some shoes, there are quite a few sea urchins so is a good idea to wear something anyway!
There is another beach about 20 mins walk away which we went to a couple of times, there are lots of restaurants, bars, shops and a pharmacy. We went to a restaurant there and it was amazing, lovely drinks and food, and they watch your bags so you can go for a swim.
The only thing I would say about blue bay is it is quite hilly so if you have mobility issues it probably isn’t the best option for you. But apart from that I would 100% recommend! Me and my partner absolutely loved our stay here!
Read more
Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The main pool so get there quickly! If you reserve a spot they will throw away your towels, we...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Korinna A, Geschäftsführer at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 9 Jul 2023
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for sharing your feedback about your fantastic stay at Blue Bay Resort. We are thrilled to hear that you and your partner loved your first-time experience in Greece and had an enjoyable time with us. We're glad that the annex was perfect for you and provided a quieter atmosphere with its pool and bar. It's wonderful to know that Antonio made the bar lively and brought laughter to your evenings. Our team works hard to create a welcoming and entertaining environment for our guests. While the room may have been small, we're delighted that it was always clean and met your needs for showering and sleeping. We understand that the room size may not have been a primary concern, as you made the most of our hotel's facilities and amenities. We appreciate your understanding and positive perspective regarding our all-inclusive drink options. It's great to hear that you enjoyed the soft drinks, coffee, teas, water, local wines, Cretan beer, and the available spirits. We understand that preferences may vary, and we strive to provide a variety of options to cater to different tastes. We're glad that you found the beer to your liking and enjoyed the offerings within the all-inclusive package. The food in the main restaurant received high praise, and we're delighted to hear that you found it absolutely lovely. While breakfast may have had consistent options, we appreciate your understanding that it can be challenging to vary breakfast choices. We're glad that there were fresh fruits available, and we continuously changed the lunch and dinner options to provide a diverse and delicious culinary experience. We're thrilled that you embraced the opportunity to try new things and enjoyed the overall dining experience. Our entertainment team works hard to provide a lively and enjoyable atmosphere, and we're glad that you had the chance to experience the evening entertainment at either the main pool or the amphitheater. It's fantastic that you spent most of your time by the main pool and enjoyed the bar with its fresh fruit offerings. We'll pass on your compliments to Maria, who made your time at the bar welcoming. Thank you for sharing your experiences at the beach. We're glad that the hotel's bus service facilitated your visits, and you had a pleasant lunch at the beach bar. It's great to know that there is a dive center for qualified divers, and we appreciate your recommendation. We take note of your advice regarding wearing appropriate footwear due to the slippery conditions and sea urchins. We're also glad that you explored the other beach within a 20-minute walk, which offered various amenities and a restaurant where you had an amazing experience. We appreciate your mention of the hilly nature of our resort, which may present challenges for guests with mobility issues. It's important for us to provide this information to ensure that our guests can make informed decisions. Thank you once again for your recommendation, and we're thrilled that you and your partner absolutely loved your stay at Blue Bay Resort. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another wonderful experience in the future. Warm regards, Blue Bay Resort Hotel Management & Teams
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is most definitely NOT a 4* hotel! Rather it is a 2* maybe a 3* at best!
THIS IS NOT AN ALL INCLUSIVE HOTEL! You have to pay for bottled water €1 per 1L bottle, iced coffee €2, fresh orange juice €2.50, cocktails €7.50 and all other alcoholic drinks were at an additional cost (except local wine, beer, ouzo & raki - non of which are particularly pleasant to drink!)
The rooms are very basic, like a travel lodge, not great and definitely not 4* - You do have to pay extra to use the safe in the room as well.
The annex’s are not on the hotel complex and you have to walk up/ down public roads to get to them as they’re completely separate and no security.
Noise goes on until 1am in the morning most nights - at the earliest, most nights I was woken up by either singing, screaming or shouting. Which in a family hotel doesn’t seem right. One night I was kept awake until 4.30am!!
The food here was OK, not great but not terrible. However there were no vegan options & very little vegetarian options, everything seemed to be smothered in cheese or had a hell of a lot of cheese in the dish. The food was also very oily! Majority of the time the dishes weren’t labelled, so you didn’t know what was in the dish ie, meat, fish, nuts, dairy etc (allergy wise this is not great!)
The pools are closed (locked gate) until 10am and have so much chlorine in it made my skin itch! One morning I saw the maintenance man emptying 10 bags on chlorine into what is a very small pool.
In summary, this hotel need a big refurbishment, especially the annex buildings along with their respective pools, & the hotel rooms in the main building as they are outdated and look run down. The food is ok if you want a very high fat diet and you don’t have any allergies! I would not go back to this hotel, and I would not recommend!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:If you’ve got allergies, avoid!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Korinna A, Geschäftsführer at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 7 Sept 2021
Dear valued Guest, On behalf of the team, we thank you for your note. It appears that your visit as described was a far cry from the distinguished standards we pride ourselves on. All of our guests are so valued, and we greatly appreciate the time that you took to share your feedback as it allows us to focus and improve swiftly. We would like to add to your mentions regarding the all inclusive beverage package that it is published as follows: Local soft drinks, water, juice selection, local house wine (red, rosé & white), local draft beer, raki, ouzo, tea & filter coffee. Also the chargeable safe is marked. That being said, now more than ever we understand how cherished travel and time away is and are truly regretful that yours was anything short of the perfect vacation, while you had the choice of booking a room in the main building. We do not take noise disturbance lightly. In the meantime, there is a ban on playing music since 11th of August. Further we do stop all activities by 23 hrs. If there are disturbances from other guest rooms, all a guest need is a free call (extension 9) to reception and the night attendant will take care of it. We regret that you did not particularly like the much praised Mediterranean cuisine, where high-quality extra olive oil is used instead of butter. Also it is especially the numerous, fresh summer vegetables that are particularly valued by particular target groups. Furthermore, there is our Maitre d'Hotel in the Restaurant who always offers guidance along our extensive buffets and certainly beyond, when necessary. Please be assured that your feedback has been well received and communicated to the appropriate parties. Again, we take this feedback very seriously. However we would like assure you that our swimming pools are equipped with a salt water electrolysis system for water maintenance. The salt water electrolysis has some serious advantages over the use of conventional chlorine and is an environmentally friendly disinfection alternative. In addition, no typical smell of chlorine and the low salt swimming pool water has only about one-tenth of the salt content of sea water, contains valuable minerals and trace elements and is therefore very pleasant for the eyes and skin. Weak salt water does not leach out the skin. It results in a skin-conditioning and connective tissue tightening effect. That being said, although mentioned otherwise, we would still love for the opportunity to welcome you back to the Blue Bay Resort Hotel. We understand your position, but should you change your mind we urge you to contact us directly so we may best customize and cater your stay to your preferences. Once again, thank you for sharing your experience with us. Stay safe and be well, Customer Relationship Department Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
To start off on a positive; the hotel is nice, the location is good albeit there isn’t much around, and the staff are friendly. The drinks are nice even though the options are quite limited, and the food is generally okay.
We booked the hotel with Jet2 and got to the hotel in the early evening before being promptly checked in and taken to our room in the annex building.
Now, the annex building is quite a distance away from the main hotel however this was described in the description on Jet2 which is fair enough, however the online description did not describe quite how steep the hill is up to this building. To describe the annex building as anything more than 2 stars would be a flat out lie. The building is covered in bugs, especially at night as well as the stairs all being very steep with no lift available.
The room in the annex was nothing less than a disgrace and how this hotel qualified for a 4* rating with rooms like this is astonishing. Do not believe the pictures online from the hotel. Aside from being a trek from the hotel, the rooms have a generally musky aroma, the air-conditioning barely works and takes hours to cool the room (while making an absolute racket). The rooms are also incredibly small and you can hear every noise your neighbours make. There are also only 2 plugs in the room with only one being next to the bed. The bathroom lacks any form of ventilation besides a small window and as such is constantly humid and dank. The shower has no curtain of any time and thus after 2 minutes in the shower the whole bathroom floor is soaked. The drain also closes on its own furthering the bathroom flooding. The towels in the room also have a quite gross smell sometimes, often smelling as though they hadn’t been washed. I would frankly expect a room such as this in a 1 or 2* hotel.
After initially being so underwhelmed by this room that we payed a good deal of money for, I complained to the receptionist who frankly looked as though she couldn’t be one bit bothered entertaining my justified complaints, saying that I “paid for the cheapest room” and said the only option was to have a look at more rooms in the annex the next day (even though from one of the previous reviews this month, which I read through before uploading, the residents were moved to the main hotel after complaining). Even if the room was one of the cheaper options it does not justify it being as poor quality as it was as it still cost a lot of money.
The food in the restaurant is generally very nice however the food is very very repetitive, with the same dishes being constantly recycled. The meats were also sometimes unfortunately very fatty cheap cuts and also occasionally had a funny taste to them. As well the restaurant staff are also constantly flinging cutlery across the floor.
The wifi is also absolutely abysmal, dont even think of trying to watch anything on your phone.
Frankly there are all inclusive hotels a lot cheaper and better quality than Blue Bay Resort, with its only saving grace being the very nice staff they have working in the restaurant and bars.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Korinna A, Geschäftsführer at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 6 Oct 2022
Dear MJeff97, First of all, our best thanks for choosing to stay at our resort. We are delighted that the hotel, the location and the trained, friendly staff met your expectations. Your descriptions of the room and staff are not at all up to our standards and we would like to apologise for any shortfalls. The staff has already been retrained and we assume that you were able to move to a room that was closer to the main building and also met your expectations. In this context, we would like to mention that due to precautionary measures, especially regarding Covid, many decorative items such as pillows, bed cover, duvet and the like have been removed. It is also regrettable that our chefs were not able to satisfy your taste senses, although we always try to offer a lot of Greek, but also Cretan dishes, basically Mediterranean food. Cold cuts, on the other hand, are not or very rarely part of the Greek diet; also, the Greeks are not known for their production, but for excellent products such as feta, yoghurts, desserts, gyros and much more far beyond the borders. It is regrettable that cutlery falls down, but it can happen even to trained staff. We apologise if this has happened too often in your area and assure you this went straight back to the dish washer. Only a few years ago, a substantial investment was made in setting up an extensive WiFi network and since then, WiFi reception has been available throughout the resort, despite its hillside location. However, depending on the location of the room, as well as in the main restaurant, the signal can be weaker and if there are many people logging on at the same time, there can also be delays in terms of video resolutions. In view of the fact that you have apparently booked a package holiday and can therefore only guess at the hotel price in comparison to online prices, we would like to kindly question your statement on the price-performance relation. Nevertheless, our best thanks for choosing our resort as your holiday destination out of surely many. With kind regards, Customer Relationship Department
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was at the hotel for a friends wedding. The staff were accommodating and helpful when it came to the set up, but at times they were restrictive. I have been to abroad weddings before and it was surprising that they wouldn't reserve the outdoor restaurant area for the wedding party dinner.
The food is the main reason I have given 4 stars. It was superb every night and I definitely indulged. Overseen by Mr Dimitius who is a gentleman, a true gem.
The hotel itself is quite small so there's not much to do. It's a decline down hill to the pebble beach (or the hotel has a shuttle) which charges for use of the sun loungers (I believe €3) and extra for the umbrella. There are other beaches but will require 2 buses and the timetable is quite restrictive. The pool and bar area is good with plenty of loungers.
The rooms was quite basis, more like a travelodge. Had to request a kettle, refreshments and toiletries. It was an ok stay overall.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Blue_Bay_Resort_GR, Manager at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 12 Feb 2020
Dear Shezrena, “Kalispera” – Good day from Blue Bay Resort Hotel! It was our pleasure to welcome you and your friends for another friend’s wedding. We are happy to read you had a nice stay overall and enjoyed also the food. In reply to your thoughts we’d like to bring to mind that the hotel was fully booked during your stay and that the main restaurant was accordingly busy; The seating capacity is designed in such a way that all hotel guests (all booked on all inclusive) have the opportunity to find a table at a location of their choice during the 3-hour service period. Accordingly, it would not have been justified to offer and reserve an entire outdoor area for a large group like yours. Especially since for occasions like this, there is the choice of a separate room and the a la carte restaurant, both available for a surcharge. It should also be noted that you ultimately implemented your seating wishes to the satisfaction of your group and for this; too, we would think that we have earned at least the 4 stars, which also corresponds to the category of the hotel. We are thrilled though that you found the food superb and had a great wedding reception on the outside terrace organized by your friends. Blue Bay Resort hotel is located in a quiet and relaxing surrounding in “Agia Pelagia”, in a privileged slope location above the “Mononaftis Bay” – a public beach with a few shops, taverns and cafeterias. The distance to this beach is just 250m through the hotel via stairs or along a traffic calmed road, while the hotel offers a free shuttle at 5 set times a day. The resorts centre, “Agia Pelagia” is in distance of approximately 2kms with a nice sandy beach, more shops, taverns and cafeterias; another beach with crystal clear waters is the “Psaromoura Beach” in about 1,5kms. All these beaches are in walking distance and the local bus stop just outside the entrance of Blue Bay Resort hotel directs to the capital city of Crete, Heraklion. It is unfortunate that the room you selected and booked from our wide selection did not meet your expectations. Perhaps an executive room or a suite with a pool would have more likely met your needs; all guests are spoiled for choice and examples of all rooms can be viewed also on our homepage. Further, all hotel descriptions and publications refer to kettles offered on request and upon availability, while it is also clearly described that bathroom toiletries are offered in form of a soap dispenser in all rooms, while the higher categories also have further bathroom amenities. Rest assured, that at Blue Bay Resort hotel, we are always striving to provide distinguished services combined with genuine hospitality to our valued guests, which is what we are known for. We regret that apparently you do not seem to know that all inclusive programs differ, which is one of the main reasons that we describe ours in detail on all occasions; The all inclusive program includes following beverage consumption daily until 23:00 hrs: Local soft drinks, water, juice, local house wine (red, rose & white), local draft beer, raki, ouzo, tea & filter coffee. While the 4 water stations throughout the hotel as well as the welcome station in the lobby with water, juice, tea & coffee are available 24hours/7days. Cocktails are subject to extra charge, except 2 special compositions based on raki (with fizzy lemon, grapefruit & grenadine and (ouzo with fizzy orange, orange juice & grenadine). In addition to the above an extensive menu-card of branded refreshments, bottled wine & beer, cocktails, spirits, champagnes etc are available at charge. There is a mini refrigerator in every room, where we place a bottle of water for every arrival, however there is no mini bar with refreshments. Thank you for your feedback and open words, which we highly appreciate. We definitely look forward to welcoming you back again, whenever returning to Crete. Yours faithfully, Korinna A. Hotel Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Just come to the end of a 7 night stay at the Blue Bay Resort in Crete which has been excellent value. All I can say is that this is a popular hotel that works extremely hard to keep everyone happy and if not for the weather deteriorating on our last day would have been a near perfect week,
Positives: Food is exceptional in terms of quality, choice and quantity
Cleanliness of rooms and public areas/pools is superb
EntertaInment was mostly good but impacted by weather towards end of week
Drinks are limited but plentiful and of reasonable quality with local beer served in frozen glasses a nice touch. Restricted choicecreflective of price paid and prefer investment in menu anyway
Although apartment appeared dated outside it had clearly been recently modernised and refurbed inside and was clean and fresh
Sunbeds never an issue and no hassle over taking part in activities, photos or spa treatments
Opportunities:
I think the hotel should consider the inclusion of a local gin/vodka/whisky rather than just Raki & Ouzo
Steps, we counted over 100 from our apartment to the restaurant or a steep climb up a hill. Not sure what can be done but maybe a golf cart service running through the peak times would help. Ok for us as physically fit but still quite a challenge
Mosquitoes, be aware they are prevalent in Crete unlike Turkey and have a thirst for blood. Bring preventative measures including sprays etc for room and ointment for wen you eventually get bitten as they itch like hell
All in all a really nice holiday in a family run feel hotel that serves great food and endeavours to make your stay personal without getting in your face. Great value for the price!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Careful with annexe rooms if you can’t manage lots of steps or steep hills
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Korinna A, Geschäftsführer at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 18 Oct 2022
Dear valued Guest, It was a pleasure for us that you decided to spend your holiday at our resort and that the value for money convinced you. How pleasant to know that you spent a lovely week with us in our resort! Thank you for your words of praise, but also constructive. Both much appreciated, as is your recommendation. The hotel's hillside location does indeed entail some stairs, although our advertisements always refer to this fact and we also mention that the resort is not suitable for people with walking difficulties and only conditionally suitable for prams. Some third party providers don't always take this information on board, whether because their system doesn't have space for these specifics or others, we don't know. In the hotel, we naturally also take action against bugs, such as mosquitoes. However, we don't use chemical maces but environmentally friendly measures that are also harmless to humans. Presumably, the wet and humid weather has caused the mosquitoes to multiply rapidly. Thanks to your comment, we have already spoken to the external company, which has already carried out an on-site inspection. Finally, our best thanks for sharing your holiday experience at Blue Blue Bay Resort Hotel here with other interested travellers and us. It would be our pleasure to welcome you back as soon as you are attracted to Crete again. Best regards, also on behalf of the entire staff, Customer Relationship Department
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We are just coming to the end of our 1 week stay at Blue Bay and we are sad to be leaving. My partner and I booked our holiday through Jet2 and were delighted to see when Blue Bay resort showed as an option. On arrival, a reasonably speedy checkin process with a very smily front desk representative called George. We were kindly directed straight to lunch that day and then on to our room in a small mini van due to location on site. Great and efficient start to our week away. Poolside area very clean every day with a lovely atmosphere, supported by fantastic service at the poor side bar by a variety of staff. Special mention (sorry, don’t know her name) goes to the lovely lady with short blonde hair; incredibly efficient at all times. Our room was cleaned to a high standard every day by housekeeping and it really was a very comfortable room with a great sea view from the balcony. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner included in our package every day and we took advantage of this at the buffet restaurant and by the pool with sandwiches and ice creams. The variety of option in the buffet was excellent and the quality of food was too, excellent. We felt we tried something new every day and were keeping with a healthy diet. The staff here were also fantastic, particular shout outs to the maitre d’s! All very personable. The hotel is located in good walking distance to Ayia Pelagia (the local town) and a lovely beach is to be found just down the hill! If you put your mind to it, the hill is perfectly reasonable to walk back up but the hotel does have a minibus service which is very helpful. The amenities on site are brilliant, the pools are very comfortable and another particular mention has to go to Marina who ran the activities throughout the day - what a lovely woman! Thanks for nearly helping me win darts ☺️ Thank you to Blue Bay resort for making our 2023 time away so memorable!
Kind regards, Ellie Jones and Grahame Johnson
Read more
Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:There are a good number of steps around property - you keep fit, I can assure you! There is also...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Korinna A, Geschäftsführer at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 1 Oct 2023
Dear Ellie Jones and Grahame Johnson, Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience at Blue Bay Resort. We are delighted to hear that your one-week stay with us was happy and memorable. It's fantastic to know that you had a smooth check-in process and that George at the front desk provided you with a warm welcome. We're pleased that you found the poolside area clean and enjoyed the excellent service at the poolside bar. We appreciate your special mention of our efficient staff, especially the lovely lady with short blonde hair – we will make sure she receives your kind words. We are glad you enjoyed the high standard of daily room cleaning and the comfortable room with a great sea view from the balcony. It's also wonderful to hear that you took full advantage of our inclusive dining options and found the variety and quality of food excellent. Your positive comments about the staff, particularly the maitre d’s and Marina who organized activities, are greatly appreciated. We aim to provide a memorable experience for our guests, and your feedback confirms that we are on the right track. We're delighted that you explored the local town, Ayia Pelagia, and the nearby beach during your stay. We understand that the hill can be a bit of a challenge, but we're pleased you found our minibus service helpful. Once again, thank you for choosing Blue Bay Resort for your 2023 getaway. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future for another memorable holiday. Kind regards, Blue Bay Resort Hotel Team
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We arrived after a delayed flight at 3am and was greeted by a lovely man on reception called Dimitris. We had to pay tourist tax on arrival that I believe was €27. I didn’t realise this but to be honest not an issue. The porter then said he will take us to our room. He informed us he will drive us in the car. When he said this I initially thought how far is this Annexe… turns out it was literally up a slight hill. I have noticed here reviews state it’s a very steep hill…it’s not at all. The walk back from the beach is a steep hill! I did assume the annexe were all within the complex and didn’t realise it was slightly along the main road. The room we were in wasn’t what we expected in honesty. It was clean but could do with a lot of TLC - missing tiles on the bathroom ceiling within the shower cubical, rust on the shower head etc. also two twin beds pushed together which for a couple is not ideal. However, we should have emailed the hotel to state we want a double bed. The walls are extremely thin to the extent we could hear our neighbour coughing, plugging things in and so forth. There was a building behind that was having work done to the roof. This would start very early in the morning. It got the extent where my partner didn’t sleep at all one night which is when we decided to complain to the reception. We spoke to a gentleman on reception and he was so helpful he explained that he could change our room from the next day to another room in an annexe but a different annexe to what we were in (there’s basically another annexe on the way towards the beach and opposite the main pool area) this room was a million times better and changed our mood for the holiday.
The AI drinks as explained are not the best I found the red wine drinkable but tasted watered down and the beer was very watered down and very gassy to the extent my partner could not drink much of it and he just felt permanently bloated after about 4 (and they’re not pint glasses just ordinary glasses) The food was pretty good some cuts of meat quite fatty but extremely tender.
We paid the €2 per towel for the pool as it just saved room in the case. The same friendly receptionist who changed our room let us book the spa to have a shower on our last day. When going into the spa I told the beautician/masseuse who worked there I had the towels to give back. Her response was ‘how will you dry yourself if you give this to me now?’ I did think what on earth and then realised I had to dry myself in a dirty towel that had been used for 9 nights for the pool…pretty disappointing from a 4* hotel I don’t understand why they cannot give you a clean towel to dry yourself in.
The entertainment was good. We went to the drifters tribute act and it was brilliant and then there was karaoke one night. One of the guest Martin was fantastic and entertained the whole hotel.
Overall I would consider going back if we had a better room from the start and in honesty if the al drinks improved as when it states ‘local beer’ I’d assume mythos beer not a watered down version of god knows what
Read more
Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Korinna A, Geschäftsführer at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 17 Oct 2022
Dear valued Guest, It was a pleasure to welcome you to our resort. Your descriptions of the room where you speak of missing tiles on the ceiling of the bathroom and rust on the shower head do not correspond to our standard and we could have ensured that they were eliminated immediately. It is similar with the single beds, it is advertised that the majority of the booked room type have two single beds, while we, also on request on site, can make a proper double bed with a 5cm thick double mattress topper. Nevertheless, we are glad that the colleague from the reception was able to assist you and arrange a move to another room for you. We are also pleased to note that you found the entertainment in the hotel good and that you generally enjoyed your holiday. Always happy to do see again. Best regards, Customer Relationship Department
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel was clean, rooms cleaned daily and the beds really comfortable which surprised us as they’re normally quite hard abroad! The food was really delicious with plenty of choices and although some dishes were repetitive, tbh most people do this at home anyway! I had muscles in a lovely garlic tomato sauce one evening, Gyros another, Carbonara another and for a whole week I had something different … and their fries were amazing! although the food was a little salty at times so be careful to taste first before adding your own! The staff were really friendly and attentive, especially by the pool area and the pool doesn’t officially open until 10am. I understand the points around the AI drinks, if you don’t like Raki or Ouzo in cocktails then it’s limited but the beer and wine was perfectly palatable and there was every soft drink available you could imagine along with a good range of ice creams for the younger ones (and older)! Lots of steps in and outside the hotel so if you do struggle with mobility, I wouldn’t recommend this hotel but it is made clear in the details before booking and there are plenty of lifts if you do come so shouldn’t be too much of a problem. We didn’t have too much trouble getting a sun bed in the morning but as time went on and it got busier they were getting ‘reserved’ a little earlier but this happens wherever you go and I did notice a family have a note put on their unmanned sun beds one morning so management we’re taking notice! Location wise, not much to do outside the hotel but for 9€ each way in a taxi you could go to the local shopping precinct, about 10 minutes away and of course a bus from the hotel each day would take you to the island centre with a wide range of shops, named brands etc. this was a 40 minute ride away. Overall we had a great time at The Blue Bay and would definitely return again!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Korinna A, Geschäftsführer at Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Responded 11 Aug 2022
Dear valued Guest, "Kalimera" - Good Morning from the Blue Bay Resort Hotel, In fact, we have only recently replaced mattresses, spared no expense and selected orthopedic once. Thank you for sharing your impressions and experiences here with us and other interested travelers. We really appreciate this as well as your open words and have already shared them with our teams. It was a pleasure to be your host and we would be happy to share our services and hospitality with you again if you decide to travel to Crete again. With kindest regards, Customer Relationship Department Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thank you for reaching out to us and considering Blue Bay Resort Hotel for your stay. We truly appreciate your interest in our services.
We completely understand the importance of catering to specific dietary requirements, and we are more than happy to accommodate your gluten-free preferences.
Here at Blue Bay Resort Hotel, we offer a buffet service with a wide variety of options, and we take all dietary requests very seriously. Our maître d'hôtel and the entire team are dedicated to ensuring that your dining experience aligns perfectly with your dietary needs.
While we are unable to provide an exhaustive list of offerings due to the nature of our buffet service, please rest assured that we are flexible and have on-site contacts who can cater to your specific needs. We are committed to supporting you beyond the buffet, ensuring a personalized and enjoyable dining experience throughout your stay.
Please note that we do not provide gluten-free beer.
We encourage you to reach out to our team during your first visit to our main restaurant and inform them of your specific dietary requirements. This will allow us to make the necessary arrangements to ensure your dining experience meets your expectations. Our maître d'hôtel and his team will be more than happy to guide you through our extensive buffet offerings and explore additional options beyond the buffet to meet your preferences.
Dear Leanne,
Thank you for your inquiry.
The "double/twin room with balcony/terrace and sea view" and the "double/twin room sea view main building" actually refer to the same room type. The difference lies only in the way they are labeled. Both room options offer a stunning sea view, with the main distinction being the inclusion of a balcony or terrace in the former option.
Should you have any further questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to use the contact form on our website, bluebay.gr
Hello Martin D! Thank you for your inquiry and for taking the time to read our reviews. We appreciate your interest in our All-Inclusive package.
Our All-Inclusive details are available on our website bluebay.gr. The drinking-package includes local soft drinks, water, juices, house wines (white, rose & red), local draft beer, Raki, Ouzo, various tea selections, and filter coffee. For a more detailed description, feel free to reach out to us at contact@bluebay.gr.
It's important to note that every All-Inclusive offer varies and is outlined accordingly. Unfortunately, at the moment, we do not offer vodka or gin options as part of our All-Inclusive package.
Additionally, we have water stations in the hotel available 24/7, as well as a welcome buffet in the lobby with water, juice, and filter coffee, also available 24/7. If you're looking for a refreshing alternative, we also provide various cocktail compositions based on Ouzo, Raki, and/or wine, as well as the option of Sangria.
Should you have further questions or require more information, feel free to ask. We hope these details are helpful, and we look forward to welcoming you soon at the Blue Bay Resort!
There are more places to choose from in the Mononaftis area.
PRICE RANGE
£74 - £175 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
blue bay hotel agia pelagia, blue bay agia pelagia
LOCATION
GreeceCreteHeraklion PrefectureMononaftis
NUMBER OF ROOMS
209
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
