InterContinental Crete by IHG

“We stayed for a week to celebrate our anniversary, and overall we had a wonderful holiday. The hotel itself is immaculate, with incredible views that make it a truly beautiful place to stay. The restaurant staff were exceptional and couldn’t be faulted. They were always friendly and attentive.The live music during most breakfast and dinner services really elevated the experience and created a lovely atmosphere. There were only two downsides to our stay. Firstly, I asked to move rooms because either a guest or a member of staff appeared to be moving furniture during the early hours of the morning and again in the evenings. I was told someone would follow up with me, but unfortunately no one ever did, so my sleep was disrupted every night for the rest of the stay. Secondly, I found a hair in one of my evening meals. The staff member apologised and kindly replaced the dish, which I appreciated. However, I did expect a little more in terms of a goodwill gesture, particularly as the previous evening I witnessed another guest receive two complimentary bottles of wine after complaining that their chicken was dry. While I thought the staff handled those difficult guests very professionally, I didn’t feel the response to finding a hair in my food was proportionate by comparison. Despite these issues, we genuinely enjoyed our stay. The hotel is beautiful, the location is fantastic, and Agios Nikolaos is a lovely area to explore. I would happily recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a relaxing stay in Agios Nikolaos.”

“I can say having stayed here now 3 times over 2 years (and about to book my 4th stay) that this hotel is just perfect. We stay at IHG properties worldwide and believe me this is one of the best. And the value for money is impeccable. The service is just right between attentive and not overbearing. The spa is beautiful, the pool is incredible, the breakfast is plentiful and fresh. Front of house team are very attentive and the manager Natalia even remembered me from last year, which is quite remarkable really. She is exceptionally friendly and helpful even when I had some issues during my stay last year. I’d recommend the suites as they are beautiful. We’ll see you again soon, Crete. ☀️ GB”

“We recently stayed in the hotel’s top suite, and unfortunately, it did not live up to the expectations of a true 5-star luxury establishment. While the suite offered a magnificent view, the accommodation itself fell short of high-end standards. The bathroom design was highly impractical for guests and completely inappropriate for a premium suite. Overall, the hotel’s facilities are quite underwhelming. The decor feels outdated and cheap, giving the property the atmosphere of a boarding school rather than a luxury resort. Additionally, there was a noticeable, unpleasant odor in the hallways, and the elevators were painfully slow, requiring long wait times. For the high price of the room, we were disappointed by the lack of complimentary amenities—absolutely everything comes with an extra charge. The Dining Experience: The food in the main dining area was very poor, and the breakfast buffet was incredibly sparse. However, I must give a special mention to the chef, who went out of his way to personally make us wonderful pancakes and spaghetti. His individual effort was greatly appreciated. Service & Staff: The staff's English proficiency varied, but they were generally polite and genuinely tried their best to provide good service and hospitality. Location & Pros: The hotel’s strongest asset is undoubtedly its location. It is perfectly situated right in the heart of the town, close to all the shops, making it incredibly convenient for walking around and exploring. The views from the property are also spectacular. Conclusion: This is not a hotel to return to if you are looking for a luxurious, elegant getaway with a high standard of service and genuine pampering. The management has a very long way to go before this property truly earns its 5-star rating.”

“Stayed in the InterContinental Crete in May, as part of a three-hotel vacation across the northern part of the island. Had high expectations going in given how modern it looked and being only the second InterContinental in all of Greece! I’m very happy to say that I had an absolutely wonderful experience. I am IHG Platinum Elite, and emailed the hotel ahead of time to ask for an upgrade, which they kindly provided - to a room with a private plunge pool and sea view. The room itself was bright, big, and visually stunning - has a kind of modern nautical theme to it, with usage of light woods, marble effect, and cozy furniture. Very cozy bed with great pillows. The bathroom felt very premium, with a separate large walk in shower with Byredo soaps (an InterContinental classic). There are two pools, 5th floor and 9th floor, both infinity pools with stunning views - personally we preferred the 5th floor pool as it’s where the main hotel bar is located, but the 9th floor is adults only and has a (much smaller) bar as well. The staff were lovely throughout our stay (I can only remember Despina’s name but front reception and the valet in particular were fantastic), going above and beyond - two examples of this were 1) when we asked for restaurant recommendations and we were given a handwritten list of 9 restaurants with locations and style of food, and 2) when we got sunburned on a Sunday and asked which pharmacy was on call that day (they’re usually closed on Sundays in Greece with the exception of the on call one) and they not only researched which one it was but even offered to send someone over to pick up after sun cream, which we politely declined. The car valet service was very helpful in that finding parking in front is a hassle, and as long as you let them know 20 minutes ahead of time they’ll get your car for you. Breakfast had a wide spread of buffet items supplemented by an à-la-carte menu as well. Overall, a true 5-star experience and great value for money considering the experience and status recognition! On a side note: Agios Nikolaos is a lovely little town and is picturesque, but if going for more than a few days would do what we did - fly into Chania and use it as a base for a few days because it’s so incredibly pretty, stay somewhere between there and Agios Nikolaos like Rethymno, and then go to Agios Nikolaos before flying out of Heraklion!”

“✨ Badge: Luxury Escape Best for: Couples, families and anyone looking for a high-end stay with great views and excellent facilities. Pros: Beautiful infinity pools, a fantastic rooftop bar, great views over the bay, very good restaurants and a luxurious overall atmosphere. The hotel is also very family-friendly, and the free valet service is a nice bonus. Cons: There aren’t many major drawbacks from my experience. A car is useful if you want to explore beyond Agios Nikolaos. Rooms: 10/10. Comfortable, modern and luxurious. Service: 10/10. Friendly, attentive and consistently high quality. Location: 9/10. Excellent for enjoying Agios Nikolaos and the bay, although a car is useful for exploring the rest of eastern Crete. Facilities: 9.5/10. The infinity pools and rooftop bar are particular highlights. Dining: 9/10. Several very good options, especially for breakfast on the terrace and dinner around sunset. Value: 9/10. It’s a luxury hotel and priced accordingly, but the quality of the experience makes it worthwhile. Tip: Don’t miss the rooftop bar and try to have breakfast or dinner on the terrace. For photos, the main infinity pool overlooking the bay is particularly impressive just before sunset. Would I come back? Absolutely. A very complete luxury hotel that works equally well for a family holiday or a romantic getaway.”