Aquila Elounda Village Resort, Suites & Spa

The hotel pretends to be a luxury high-end resort but unfortunately is rather disappointing.
The general layout is cumbersome, with lots of steps and long walks up and down. The pools are a real let-down: their sizes range between small and very small. Some are in poor state of repair, with strips of paint peeling off the sides.
The food is mostly mediocre and the selection of dishes is very limited. Cost-cutting is very much in evidence: the meat is usually second rate (tough, fatty or gristly), the dishes are often tasteless, sometimes barely warm, the fruit and veg selection and the offer of deserts is very basic – the kind you would see in a run-of-the mill 3 or 4 star hotel. Economising on food seems to be the norm in Greek resorts these days, but is still surprising in a five-star hotel.
The most inconvenient aspect of the stay here is the stiff formality of getting even the simplest drinks or beverages. You can’t just ask for them at the bar or pour yourself some beer/wine during dinner. Everything has to go through waiters – which can take ages if there are lots of other orders or if the waiters choose to ignore you. After each order, whether at the pool bar or restaurant, you are also presented with a receipt to sign, even if the bill comes to €0.00 (in case of the all-inclusive). What an unnecessary waste of everybody’s time!
The staff attitude to guests is very uneven. Some of the employees demonstrate kindness and hospitality, some others seem unable to smile, greet or even make eye contact with the guests. In some instances we couldn’t help feeling ignored or unwelcome. We find this very surprising in a hotel of this standard and a country so famous for its hospitality.
A few days after our arrival we received a request to complete an online survey and duly conveyed most of the above concerns to the hotel. Even though we specified our room number there was no reaction from the management and no improvement in any aspect of our stay.

Im staying in the hotel next year and wanted to just appreciate the team at Aquila as they have been so helpful in sharing information about the hotel and travel which is really helpful towards planning our trip next year. The Hotel team are so kind and helpful and really looked forward to my stay. Will be leaving a final review when I come back

Excellent service wonderful food. Location slightly off the main track so go for all inclusive as you can get everything you need on site which makes for an excellent relaxation experience. Staff all professional and friendly without being OTT. Special mention to Nikos for being so friendly and the 2 ladies in the bar (sorry did not get your names) who worked tirelessly always friendly and cheerful. This was our second stay and we will be back!!

Stayed for 10 nights on all inclusive. The hotel lives up to its description. Service is top quality with all staff friendly and helpful. Buffet in the main restaurant was excellent with plenty of choice at all meals. Hotel was quiet at the end of October so no fight for sun beds. Beach area with enclosed swimming area very nice, with a friendly service from the beach bar with drinks and snacks. Poll could possibly do with refurbishment, I found blue paint on my feet after swimming!

All inclusive does not include the other restaurants, just a 25% discount. As the buffet was so good we didn’t bother with these.
Would certainly visit again.

The hotel I’m afraid is not worthy of a five star in our opinion, whilst elements of the hotel were good, mainly the food in all the dining areas, with a very good breakfast choice, the staff in all the hospitality areas were very helpful and polite, the reception staff not quite so, in fact they were a bit aloof and not particularly friendly,
We were in a sea view junior suite that at first seemed nice, with a fantastic view of the sea, but on closer examination it was a bit tired and old fashioned, we reported issues with the cleanliness of the room (after a few days in the room) these were addressed apart from the dirty underside of mattress and bed, the customer service blamed it on a shortage of cleaners, that’s not good enough in a five star hotel.
We would of thought that being a five star hotel that guests would of dressed up more in the restaurants , but nobody seemed to bother, we feel there should be a dress code in the evenings , with men in at least a collared t shirt and trousers.
The buffet restaurant was a bit of a bun fight, with a feeling of a large work canteen. The Al a carte restaurants were nice and food was presented well.
We booked a massage each and while expensive, it was a very good massage.
Please be warned that the hotel is quite a long way from the nearest town , with about a 40 minute walk to Elounda along a narrow road or 12 euros each way in a taxi, so eating out of the hotel would prove costly unless you had a hire car.
The entertainment in the lobby bar on several evenings was enjoyable and we never had a problem getting a drink.
We think the hotel should be down starred to at the very most a four star as it didn’t live up to our expectations we are afraid, we don’t like to leave negative reviews but we felt we had to on this occasion, summing up while some elements were good, it’s not quite good enough to warrant a five star.

Argeo spas ladies Joanna and Eleana,
Thank You both for amazing full body massage! Atmosphere and service was perfect!
Best recommendations :)
Good luck!

Our Yearly Escape to Cretan Paradise — Serenity, Warmth, and Perfection Beyond Expectations!”

We have the joy of returning to this adults-only paradise every year, and each time our expectations rise — yet somehow, this five-star resort with a six-star atmosphere not only meets them, but surpasses them in the most beautiful way.

From the moment we arrive, we’re embraced by an overwhelming sense of serenity. The calm, the elegance, and the natural beauty of the surroundings make it the perfect sanctuary for anyone seeking peace and rejuvenation.

The hospitality and service here remain unmatched. The staff are exceptional — professional, warm, and genuinely caring. Every encounter feels sincere. They have a way of making us feel not just welcome, but truly valued — more like friends than guests. That personal touch is what brings us back year after year.

We always stay in the Deep Blue Suite with a private pool, and it continues to take our breath away. Watching the sunrise reflect its magic across the waters is an experience beyond words — romantic, idyllic, and out of this world. It’s as if time stands still and the sky paints a private masterpiece just for you.

Every detail — from the comfort of the suites to the top-quality service — speaks of care, passion, and excellence. Each stay gifts us with new positive memories we will never forget, moments that linger long after we’ve left.

For us, this place is more than a resort; it’s a feeling, a tradition, and a piece of paradise we can’t imagine missing. Until next year — thank you once again for making perfection seem effortless.

Elana was my therapist and she was incredibly strong and attentive to my needs. Highly recommended, best massage i've ever had.

We had a great experience with Charis! Get the full experience. You won’t regret it. It was one of those full spa experiences

I booked this hotel expecting a luxurious 5-star experience, but unfortunately, it fell short in many key areas. It is not on the 5* level of similar experiences we have had with the Mitis or Ikos hotels in Greece.

My main issue was we paid extra for a sea view - the hotel description states these rooms are not on the ground floor and offer sea views. The room lacked the promised sea view, which was a major letdown. See photos - the first room we were given was on the ground floor with a view of the lifeguard at the pool - our 'balacony' was part of the main walkway to the pool. As we arrived at 1am we were told we could not change rooms until 10am the next morning when the manager in charge arrived. We ended up losing a day of our holiday sorting out the room - we were told the hotel was fully booked and the staff made us feel we were a bother asking to be given the room type we had paid for! The room we were moved to was only slightly better but still not what I would consider a sea view (see photos).

More concerning with the rooms was the old outdated furniture - chipped and tired-looking, far from the polished finish you'd expect at this price point. Dirty marks on the curtains and stains on the floor etc.

We were all inclusive with access to the al carte resturants - you have to book for these via the hotel app. When we arrived on day one we were unable to get one single booking for our week long stay - it was only after going to reception and having to complain that we were able to get a table.

Service was stretched thin throughout our stay. We regularly waited 20–30 minutes for drinks by the pool, and flies around the buffet food were off-putting. While the staff were friendly, they were clearly overworked.

One final warning: the blue pool surface rubs off on your feet and stains—definitely not ideal.

Overall, it felt more like a 3-star stay dressed up in 5-star marketing. A few improvements in maintenance and attention to detail could make a big difference, but as it stands, I wouldn’t return or recommend it. Be aware of these points when making a booking. Very disappointed we didnt get the experience we were after.

Vagelis very professional masseur, This was my first massage and it left a really big impression on me. I am very satisfied with this very much.

Wow what can I say yet another fantastic two weeks at the Elounda village hotel. To be honest I was preparing myself for some disappointment as I could not see how they could  maintain such high standards  but again my expectations were surpassed. Excellent food in the three restaurants and really friendly and attentive staff with special mentions for Maria and Elani in guest services, Mustafa at the symposium, Elani and Maria in the lobby bar, Enkeleda at breakfast and Zia at the beach bar. The management should be very proud of their staff selection as it’s the people who are the greatest asset.
Wonderful complimentary boat trips and thanks to Maria and Elani for making our wedding anniversary so special again. We will definitely be back again next year for our ninth visit.

Charis & Maria were amazing in their service. The body heals when it relaxes and I certainly feel healed. Thank you so much for this experience.

Perfect massage.
The Spa is great, the facilities are amazing. The staff is friendly and helpful and Vagelis and Kostas did an
awesome job.

A careful and competent therapist created a relaxing atmosphere and resolved some deep-sitting tensions. I can highly recommend this spa with its amazingly friendly and skillful staff who turns every vacation into an unforgettable experience.

Nice hotel, professional and friendly staff. Food good but not amazing. Room beautifully clean. We had a private pool - I personally think it should be called a plunge pool. Very small but clean and well kept. Resort is very clean. Almost every night had a different theme in one of the 3 restaurants. 2 x a la carte - both very good. Weather was beautiful whilst we were there. Enjoyed our week away but my only quibble is the ‘beach’. This is a very busy paved area which for me was over crowded and didn’t tick the 5 star box.

Ruhige Hotel Lage, traumhaftes Ambiente mit sauberen Bungalows und erstklassigem Buffet.
Sehr nettes und zuvorkommendes Personal.
Würden jeder Zeit wieder buchen.

Brilliant and resilient staff! There was a group of entitled and aggressive guests unnecessarily shouting at multiple members of staff at the reception desk and the lady dealing with them handled it perfectly. Unfortunately these guests were being horrible to her and she and the other staff remained professional and polite throughout. Our stay has been lovely, the rooms and communal areas are perfectly well kept, the scenery and access to the sea is great too ( definitely get there early if you want access to the sun loungers). The staff have been warm, welcoming and helpful the entire time, even introducing us to Peaches the cat. would highly recommend!

Very nice 5 star- hotel with great rooms, great private beach, professional people. The food is high quality and fresh. The room and entire resort were spotless . The team is globally pleasant and professional - especially Iro at front desk and Sofia at the restaurant (Always smiling and on top of their game!). The cleaning ladies (rooms 201 to 216) and the guy for mini bar replenishment were awesome also . The only 2 things perhaps requiring attention: the lifeguard of the Infinity pool keeps talking loudly all day long with other employees- not very professional while preventing clients to live a fully zen expérience. The drinks even water are very costly if you have only half-board.

Such a lovely experience with relaxing massage from Elena! Perfect service, personal care, true relaxin and very comfy.