Vasia Resort & Spa

Booking a hotel that is still undergoing renovation is always a risk, but we decided to give it a try and did not regret it. Of course, not everything is finished and fully set up yet, but overall our holiday was comfortable, and it was actually interesting to watch the changes taking place during our stay.
Some unexpected perks, such as a complimentary room upgrade with a sea view and an all-inclusive package that truly included all drinks compensated for the hotel's unfinished details and "teething problems."
A huge part of our positive impression came from the people working there. The reception team was efficient and well-organized. The maintenance staff quickly fixed a couple of minor issues in our room and, unexpectedly, spoke good English. The housekeeping staff in our block were exceptionally friendly, and both our room and the entire hotel grounds were kept clean. The food and beverage service team was great. Special thanks to Calvin, Sherily, Malamatenja, and Maria.
A few notes about the hotel in its current stage:
● Location
The location would be perfect if the water at the nearest beach (just a couple of minutes' walk from the hotel) were not so cold. Apparently, there are cold freshwater springs on the seabed in that bay. There are other options for swimming in the sea, including a complimentary hotel shuttle, but they take more time. Going for a quick swim and then returning to relax by the pool is not really possible.
● Junior Suite
Beautiful and spacious. The TV placement is somewhat inconvenient (see photo). There is no power outlet in the bathroom and no mirror in the room. The ventilation and air conditioning are excellent. Be prepared to spend a couple of days figuring out the light switches - there are a lot of them 😊
● Restaurants
The main restaurant is divided into sections, each staffed by very friendly assistant chefs. Everything was neat and well organized. Labels describing the dishes were rare, and during our 10-day stay there was no noticeable improvement in this regard.
The other restaurants were not yet open, so for our à la carte dinner we visited the sister hotel, which is located very close to ours on the edge of the village. Beyond it there is no further development, and the restaurant offers stunning views of the bay and the mountains. After dinner, we walked back along the seafront (passing through the hotel to reach the promenade), and it made for a wonderful evening.
● Food
The selection was not huge but perfectly sufficient and tasty. We were also very satisfied with the à la carte lunches and dinner.
● Drinks
Good quality and a wide selection. I especially enjoyed the many smoothie options. My only criticism concerns the hot latte. In my opinion, it should contain about three times more milk (I always asked for extra).
● Pools
They are not very deep, but the water warms up nicely. We were delighted to find a large quiet pool without music. This may change in the future, as the pool bar is expected to open in the next few days.
● Spa
Excellent treatments and wonderful staff. The seawater pool used for thalassotherapy could benefit from some renovation, but it was still a pleasant and relaxing experience, and the atmosphere throughout the spa was lovely.

Overall, we were very happy with our stay 😊
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making our holiday so enjoyable.

My partner and I stayed at the resort for 10 days. It was a fabulous holiday!

Every single staff member was super attentive and really made us feel at home. Julian was lovely and always stopped for a chat, sadly I didn’t get the names of the other staff members but they were always straight at our table taking our order, and learnt our drinks after one day!

The hotel itself was beautiful, our room was upgraded on arrival, which was really appreciated and the room was stunning. We had wine and fruit waiting for us after our first night which was delish.

I will say, the hotel is still under construction, however we did expect that since it had only just opened, the construction didn’t bother us, we would love to come back next year once the full renovation is finished.

The food was brilliant, it’s not a huge buffet,
however the quality of the food doesn’t really make up up for it. The lunch is a menu and not a buffet, which we weren’t sure of at first, but the lunch menu is brilliant, real quality food.

There are three pools to choose from and not sun-bed wars!! The pools are always super quiet so it is really relaxing.

The evening entertainment is good and we enjoyed each type, I would say it is hard to watch it sometimes due to where the seating is, but other than that, no complaints.

A special mention to our Garfield, he’s a little grumpy of a cat but he really made our holiday, all the staff take such good care of him and we miss him already (just a warning, don’t give him too much love, you definitely have to earn it).

Thank you for such a lovely stay, and we hope to see it again soon!

We got to the hotel and were impressed with the thoughtfulness and kindness of the staff. In fact all the staff there were amazing and couldn't try to help you or do more for you. We went whilst they were doing a staggered opening so all the restauants weren't open. This in itself is not a huge problem as there were a lot of nice Taerna's to eat from. However, the electricity in our room kept going. We asked somebody to check it out several times but it didn't improve. As a result the fan in the room stopped working randomly so we were actually bitten a lot on the face and arms and left quite uncomfortable. The cherry on top though was finding a cockroach in our room. The poor receptionist was mortified but nothing that she could do apart from apologise. I really hope that they sort out these issues before they become a big barrier to the hotel succeeding.

This hotel was amazing and surpassed our expectations. Before arriving at the resort we were pretty worried about the experience we would have due to previous reviews. However, our stay here was amazing. The staff were really polite and were very accommodating. There are a few cons I would like to point out just to make everyone aware. The first thing being the shallow pools. There are multiple pools scattered throughout the resort, all really nice. However they are only around 0.8m deep which was still fun to swim around in but a deeper pool would have been nicer. The deepest pool onsite is inside the spa which is 1.4 meters deep. Also regarding the spa, I never actually used the facilities as it’s 50 euros for 90 min access to the pool, Sauna and steam room and then additional costs for treatments, however it did look really nice if that’s within anyone’s budget. Another small con was we arrived around 11pm and wanted to get some food before going to bed. The hotel did provide us with some wraps with chicken and salad on, however we didn’t like them very much and really wanted a different selection of food. The hotel does not offer room service after 10pm so getting food after that time is difficult. For anyone interested there is a kebab shop around a 7-10 min walk from the hotel that is open till late, if the food options after 10pm affects others like it did us. Other than these small cons the experience really is amazing. Cleanliness is really good and house keeping is great. Food inside the hotel is very nice. Breakfast is buffet style, lunch is ordered from menus which stayed the same and dinner is buffet. There was entertainment on one night after dinner around 9pm but we didn’t see anymore after that. However we did go from 9th- 16th June so they are likely just starting out for the season so the entertainment will probably pick up after this. A pointer for anyone wanting to go into near by towns like Malia, order taxis from the hotel front desk as they will give you their number and you can come back with the same driver for a reasonable price. We went for a night out in malia one night and paid 20 euro for a taxi to get there and then were told by a different driver it’s 35 euro to get back, and then another driver told us 25 euro. To avoid over spending stick with the company the hotel sends. Another thing to point out is that the hotel is currently under renovation and is expected to be finished in 2028 so if you don’t want to be around construction work then I’d probably avoid until it’s done however it’s not in the way, doesn’t make too much noise and really didn’t bother us while we were there. The bar inside the hotel is open until 12pm however after 11pm you have to pay even if your all inclusive, we just ordered extra drinks around 10:30pm to avoid this because it’s silly to me you have to me you have to pay for the last hour of opening time. And the last thing, we booked a room where the maximum people allowed were 3 so naturally we assumed this meant a dbl bed and a single bed. When we arrived we were put into a room with a double bed. When we spoke to reception they said that the maximum 3 people actually meant 2 adults and a cot if requested. No where on the website did it say this. There was 4 of us in total, me and my boyfriend who had a separate room and my brother and sister who was supposed to share a room and have separate beds. To resolve the issue we had with having two double beds and 2 siblings who couldn’t share a bed. My boyfriend shared with my brother and I shared with my sister for 3 nights until a different room became available for sleeping arrangements to be as we booked. This was annoying as it wasn’t properly advertised, it didn’t affect my view on the hotel as the staff did sort it out. But not being able to share with my boyfriend for 3 nights and waiting for the issue to be resolved was annoying. Overall nice experience and would stay there again, just wanted to make everything clear to people who are looking at this hotel as I don’t feel like it was clear enough for us.

We have just got back for a wonderful stay at this hotel. Ignore the previous reviews as the hotel has had an amazing upgrade in all areas.
We arrived early and was told our room would be ready to check in straight away and handed a welcome drink, which was great and the staff were very friendly and couldn’t do enough for you.
We have stopped in hundreds of hotels and this room was one of the nicest. The room itself is huge, with a walk in wardrobe and plenty of storage. We also had a free upgrade to a sea view room, which was a lovely surprise.
The hotel itself has a new, calming feel to it and has clearly been upgraded to a very high standard.
There are three different pool areas, meaning it didn’t feel too busy and a sun bed was always available. The sun loungers were all brand new and reflected the high standard through out the hotel.
We had bed and breakfast and were never disappointed in the amount of choice on a morning. From breads, pastries, fruit, cooked breakfast etc.
They have also upgraded the spa and gym area, with one of the best gyms I’ve visited in a hotel, with lots of new equipment and space.
There is still some work being done to the bottom end of the hotel but the workers are very polite and it didn’t interfere with our stay. The noise level from the workers/machines was minimal and couldn’t be heard or see from the pool area.
I would recommend this hotel to anyone and hopefully will be back in the future.

I think this will be a stunning hotel in 3–6 months' time, but I'd be cautious about visiting until the renovations are complete.

The staff were the standout of our stay. Everyone was welcoming and helpful, particularly the Philippine team, who couldn't do enough for guests.

The grounds are attractive and well maintained, although it's clear much of the landscaping is newly finished. The gym and tennis court were easy to access, though the court could use some attention.

The biggest issue is that the hotel is still very much under renovation, despite being marketed as "newly renovated." Large areas and rooms remain closed, there is constant construction noise, heavy machinery on site, and workers completing rooms opposite ours each morning. While the workers were polite, it was concerning to see some smoking, drinking and using the pool after working in dusty conditions. Guests should be informed at booking that major renovation work is ongoing.

The pool areas themselves were clean and well looked after, with helpful staff and new sun loungers added during our stay.

There were also several safety concerns. We found numerous nails and screws left on pathways and near the pool, which I picked up myself. The shower area by the main pool has an almost invisible step made from the same tile, causing multiple guests, including myself, to trip. There were also no visible fire extinguishers near our room (1415) until day four, suggesting safety measures were still incomplete.

Our room looked beautiful but clearly hadn't been fully tested. Our key cards repeatedly failed before a technician fixed the issue. On our first evening there was no hot water, and the room phone didn't work, making it difficult to report the problem. After a long wait and an unhelpful response from reception, the issue was eventually resolved. Later, the hairdryer stopped working, and we discovered the sink pipes had leaked, soaking our belongings and forcing us to throw some items away. The electrics were also unreliable, with light switches behaving inconsistently and the power randomly cutting out, including overnight, meaning the air conditioning would stop and we'd wake up hot.

Breakfast was always fresh and enjoyable, with attentive staff and a clean dining area.
Upon booking, the hotel advertised four restaurants, with a small note that availability depended on occupancy. However, when we arrived, only the buffet was open for every meal, which was disappointing. We were told this was due to "low occupancy," but it seemed more likely because half the hotel was closed for renovations. We were later told we could dine at the sister hotel a short drive away, but after the staff's reaction when we asked, it didn't feel like a worthwhile option.

Overall, this hotel has huge potential and a fantastic team, but I believe rooms have been opened prematurely and before renovations and safety checks were fully completed. We didn't report every issue during our stay because it became exhausting to spend our limited holiday waiting for maintenance. However, I raised everything at checkout in the hope these issues are resolved for future guests.

This 'resort' is not as advertised nor is it in the right price bracket or star rating. What irritated me is that there was so much that was avoidable and I got the sense that it could have been so much better.
The positives - the pools were clean and refreshing but I didn't see any accessible ways to get in and out for people with mobility issues. The location is good, Sissi is a lovely little seaside village with an interesting new church and some great views.
At this point I would normally say "staff were polite and helpful" and the truth is that the majority were - but many were young and inexperienced, we witnessed arguments between them and were shocked when a receptionist told us that they didn't have security - a manager came out and told us that the staff member was new and didn't know but that they did have security. This was after expressing concern about worrying levels of hostile voices from the room next to us - the walls are thin.
The negatives are so many that there is not enough space to mention them all. - The food was not great and was lower end food stuffs. The a la carte restaurants are to be avoided, they are worse than the buffet. others complained, some walked out.
The room was very poor. We had a suite which meant that it had a separate dayroom with couches. Except they weren't, they were two single beds and when we said that we thought we would have a sitting area there they just offered to put more pillows on it! All the furnishings were old and worn and our double bed was made up using two single sheets laid across the bed so you went between them when you got in. The room had a safe, you get the key from reception and the fob has the room number on it - so if you left the key anywhere the person who found it would know which room to go to. The toilet seat was stained with red marks and the toilet brush was dirty - I could go on and on.
The lifts broke down on us 3 times leaving us stuck between floors in complete darkness, on one occasion the doors opened between floors and another time it stopped a foot before the floor. When I asked about the lifts I was told "yes, this happens when we have had a power cut" - we had a few power cuts, which also resets the air con.
We went all inclusive but ended up eating out and getting supplies from shops. The drinks were a mixed bag and limited. The all inclusive whisky was Ballantine's which I was OK with under the circumstances but the Vodka seemed to change. HOWEVER, the soft drinks were very bad - no diet options and the cola was some of the cheapest own brand rubbish I have ever had - spoiling anything it went into.
Something I never got my head around was the glass or plastic policy. If you ordered a drink from the pool bar to have there (you can eat around the bar) it would be in a glass. If you wanted to take it to the other pool or your room it was in plastic. The result was that you had plastic in the safety of your room but glass around the top pool.

I was really looking forward to this holiday because of the good reviews but the hotel did not live up to expectations, it was tired looking and because it was near end of season I think we didn't get the best.
Example we booked the Greek restaurant for 8 of us when we got there they pointed out what they had left on the menu which wasn't much so we left and went to the main restaurant, the entertainment was none apart from Greek dances one night that were very good. They are setting up for a end of season staff party right now pulling out all the stops, the probably do deserve it because the staff were great but it's a shame that they couldn't do it for paying guests just once a week and buy the way we are watching this being done feeling left out lol.

First time in Crete, family holiday. Easy and quite check in arrived late at night, check in was quick and straight forward. Given a snack due to late arrival, cheese and ham sandwich, apple and bottle of water in the room. Room was decent size, good view of the pool and sea, bed comfy, maid daily but not sure what issue was never left us clean towel for pool had to ask. Breakfast usual there bacon, eggs, omelette freshly cooked, beans, toast, meats etc. lunch was beef, pasta, pork, veg chips rice and pretty much the same for evening, even if fussy would not go without. Snack bar hot dogs, burgers chip and fish sticks, bar so there four bar that AI, the bar by the beach I have to pay for you drinks and only open wed/sun. Drinks are good named brands and good size measures. No limit on what u can get. Bar shuts at 11 pm then the lobby bar stay open but u pay for them from after 11 pm. Staff are friendly and polite. Except restaurant lady she never smiles and looks u up and down. Entertainment aqua aerobics in morning and then not much else, could be due to getting near end of season ?. Evening entertainment limited if honest. Over all good holiday. Weather was amazing while we were there. Ok carremart next to the hotel totally out disgusting behaviour and attitude and seems not the first to experience this, followed round the shop and then accuse of stealing. Pretty bad considering we spent enough money in there first few days, not no more, go to spamip.road bigger better and nicer staff. Complained to head office and guess what mo response no surprise there. Try the sports bar just past the Irish pub staff amazing friendly and good entertainment. Food Def go to Amelia's staff food are amazing and made to feel very welcome. Would I go back maybe to Crete but not here, trying new places but Def nice relaxing holiday with fsmily

This hotel is advertised as a 5* hotel and when I challenged the hotel about this (and the cockroaches), they said they offered ‘basic’ accommodation. That is definitely true of my experience. The room I stayed in, was simply bleak- with a very noisy fridge and decor from the 80’s.

The bed, the bed linen, and towels are of such a worn out quality that it’s clear there has not been any investment in this place for a very long time. When I came out of the shower and saw several large cockroaches it was enough to make me pack up my bags and leave- there was simply no way I could spend another night there. Whilst the manager of the hotel explained that cockroaches are inevitable in Crete- I just didn’t buy that explanation as the hotel is so run down I just wasn’t surprised to see them. I’ve stayed in enough hotels to know that cockroaches tend to be in the lower end places…and I have to say this hotel is exactly that.

I’m so glad I left when I did as walked around the corner to a beautiful family run hotel which is absolutely delightful. It’s saved my few days here.

We had a nice stay at this hotel. The room was very comfortable, although aircon was a bit weak. Bed was very comfortable. Had a huge balcony which was great.

The food was good, but a bit low on choice compared to other all-inclusives. One annoying thing was that the restaurant closed very early at 9pm sharp and by 9.01pm everything had been taken away.

Pool area was great with loads of sun loungers and different areas to choose from. Nice and quiet without music thumping out which we really appreciated.

Staff were very much a mixed bag. Around 60-70 percent of them were from the Phillipines and they were largely delightful.

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the European staff. Most of them were very surly, including the female restaurant manager. She never even said hello or even acknowledged us, despite me repeatedly smiling and giving her the opportunity.

I understand that working in hospitality is tough (I have done it myself) but it really dampens the atmosphere if the staff can’t even make the effort to show some warmth towards the guests.

The cleaner, however, was delightful (room 1219) and we gave her a generous tip at the end. As was night recepionist when we checked in.

The town of Sissi is very pretty but there is nothing to do. Getting a taxi even to the neighboring town of Malia is expensive and tiresome. Going to Heraklion and back cost €150. There is just one bus a day, leaving at 9:15am.

With all this in mind,I would recommend this place to people who are just looking to unwind and enjoy the sun in an all-inclusive resort.

Vasia Resort & Spa – Sissi, Crete (April Stay)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

We spent 7 days at Vasia Resort & Spa in Sissi, Crete in April. As it was still a bit out of season, we had mixed weather—around 4 good sunny days, which wasn’t too bad for the time of year.

🌟 Hotel & Rooms

The hotel room was lovely. We had a large, comfy bed in our bedroom and a separate area for the children with two single beds. There was also a fridge in the room and a balcony with a fantastic view of both the pool and the sea.

🎾 Facilities

Tennis Court: We played tennis a few times; it’s free for guests—you just need to book an hour slot in advance.

Gym: We used the gym a few times. It was adequate for our needs.

Indoor Pool: Available, but we didn’t use it.

🍹 Food & Drink

Main Restaurant: The food was generally very good with lots of choice. Each night featured a different meat dish as a special.

A La Carte: We dined at the Italian restaurant on-site, which was also enjoyable.

Snack Bar: Located near the children’s pool—served hot dogs, sandwiches, chips, and ice cream.

Cocktails: A bit disappointing. All served in the same glasses and started to taste quite similar after a few.

🏊 Pools & Slides

Slides: A big hit with the kids. There was also a smaller pool with mini slides for little ones.

Pool Temperature: Unfortunately, the pool was very cold in April. The kids didn’t last long before their lips turned blue and they were shivering. Likely better later in the season.

🧒 Kids Club

The kids club seemed fantastic. The staff were incredibly friendly, always engaging with the children—even at mealtimes, which was a lovely touch. Our children were always excited to share what they’d made or done.

🏖️ Resort & Location

The location was peaceful and quiet—perfect if you're after a relaxing break. That said, it felt very quiet in April, and many things hadn't opened yet.

There’s a small bay a short walk from the hotel which we enjoyed visiting.

The train ride around the resort and a nearby beach (about a mile away) were both closed during our stay.

The sea view bar on the hotel grounds was also closed, which was a shame.

A large convenience shop is located right next door to the hotel for basics.

📝 Summary

Overall, we had a great stay and really enjoyed the hotel, room, and facilities. However, being there in April meant we missed out on some of the resort’s full offerings. We imagine it would feel quite different—and more lively—between May and August. Still, for a relaxing early-season break, it ticked most of the boxes.

Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for a quick review, or if you want to tailor this for a specific platform!

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We stayed at this Hotel end of September and can honestly say it was amazing. The rooms were cleaned every day, and fresh water left in the fridge. The whole complex was kept so tidy. The staff from the bar, restraunt in fact everyone couldn't be any more helpful. Would definitely recommend

Colazione ottima. Un cenno particolare alle spremute di arancio fatte con frutta fresca.

Definitely not 5 star. Variable standards of accommodation. Got our 2 bed suite changed after being put in a suite with a dangerous spiral staircase which was moving a foot in either direction at the top of the stairs, should never have been given to guests this room. One push against the railing and the whole thing could have come down. We got put in a much better 2 bedroom suite thankfully which we appreciated but shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Pools were nice very average snacks at one pool. Plenty of sun loungers. Okay food. The Italian restaurant okay very limited and average food. Food in general okay not 5 star 3 star at best. What was exceptionally poor though was the cheapskate drinks. The soft drinks were awful. Water out the mixers tasted soapy. The white wine cheap and super dry. No Prosecco without paying which was a joke. Cocktails rubbish as using cheap vodkas etc. top tip make sure you ask for absolut vodka in cocktails as you will get it. Hotel needs to get a grip with the drinks especially the cheap supposed Diet Coke which tasted so sweet. On a plus as we had so much hassle the first few days we did get a free late check out which was appreciated. Would I go back, a definite NO! I’d go self catering and eat out at the many lovely restaurants in Sissi. Sissi is lovely!

I had a full body massage and also with aloe vera gel for body and face. My masseur called Nicos and he was great, very talented and very relaxing! I can only recommend it.

The staff was so kind and welcoming. The hotel so clean but 2 times we were looking for someone in the reception and no one was there.

We had a week at the Vasia Resort and Spa in September - overall we had a very nice time and good value for money (for the price we paid).
Please do set realistic expectations as this is nowhere near a 5 star resort.
The resort is quite spread out - think we were lucky to have a room in the block above reception with a pool, garden and sea view. The room was good and we were promptly provided with more pillows when we asked. The maid kept the room very clean so no issues there at all. Room had a fridge and water replenished daily. Aircon was good. Bed comfortable. Bathroom had a shower cubicle and a separate bath so that was all good.
We had no issues with the food and were pleasantly surprised with the quality and variety - you could eat very healthily if you wanted.
All staff that we encountered were excellent.
Drinks were a bit of an issue as the quality we thought was quite poor. The beer was something called Thea, which even the locals hadn't heard of. The cocktails were very limited so we ended up just having their Beefeater gin and tonics which was ok.
We liked being at a resort that was close to a village (Sisi) - there's a supermarket at the entrance to hotel where you can stock up on everything if needed. Plenty of bars and restaurants - we had drinks out 3 nights and all the bars seemed good (Cactus, The Rolling Stone, Stefanos, etc - where you can get your fix of Mythos beer). Nice bakery in Sisi as well. Obligatory Irish pub 3 minutes from the hotel (if you like that type of thing). Couple of bars showing Prem football.
Pool area was good and no problem with sunbeds - I can imagine shade is an issue during the warmer months.
Didn't partake in any hotel "activities"
There is no beach here - all rocks - this is not the part of the island for sandy beaches - but you can walk along the seafront on a track.
We had a nose around the Vasia Sea Retreat - adults only - along the coast - a 5 minute walk away and it did look like a "proper" 5 star resort - new, chic, well designed.
We hired a car for 2 days from Mervis - by the hotel entrance - 2 days in a little Fiat Panda for c. £100 all in. Easy driving - drove to Agios Nikolaos and had a walk around (fantastic place for a walk, lunch and views), then to Elounda, Spinalonga and Plaka and back. Didn't venture to the Lasithi Plateau as not sure a 1 litre, manual, Fiat would handle the mountain roads that well....
Overall, we would recommend this hotel, just set your expectations accordingly.

Unfortunately, this hotel made a terrible impression. On the first night at dinner, one of the chefs was yelling at the staff and thrasing around in the kitchen like a madman. The chef obvously has anger management issues and needs help before he does anything bad. He displayed visibly abusive behavior that frightened those in the restaurant. He abused his position and power and simply doesn't know that this is not acceptable behavior, let alone in a five-star hotel or in any workplace.
They try to isolate these people as much as possible in normal, civilized countries.
Sadly, on the other days we also heard shouting noises from the kitchen to the detriment of a pleasant meal. We definitely do not reccomend this hotel, it was scary.