Iberostar Selection Creta Marine

Absolutely superb hotel with staff who really care.

The hotel is spotless, and we stayed in room 742, a beach front Bungalow. Brilliantly designed with breathtaking view. The room was cleaned every day. The whole resort is spotless and the staff are attentive but not overbearing. Special mention to Victor in the older kids club who was full of enthusiasm and really cared about his job. He was fantastic with my daughter Molly.

The food here is good but my one definite complaint is the ridiculous rule about MEN ONLY have to wear shoes at dinner…utterly ludicrous you have a room full of men in gym shoes rather than some smart sandals. This rule is discriminatory as women are allowed sandals and flip flops at dinner. On a warm evening having to wear shoes just ruined my dining experience. This is an antiquated and ridiculous rule that needs to be changed ASAP.

Special mention also to Nikki at the pool bar who was utterly fantastic- a really caring individual who loves her job a was a joy to be around.

We’ll be back. Just hope I can wear sandals at dinner next time.

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Where do we begin...from arrival to departure we have never felt such warmth and kindness from all the hotel staff.
This beautiful totally revamped hotel is truly outstanding and deserves 6 stars!
As others have said, when we arrived it was all smiles with a quick check in. We were welcomed with a glass of champagne and a red rose. We were made to feel very special and from that moment we knew we had made the right choice!
Things just got better when Natalia with her beautiful smile, handed us over to Helena who was very proud to actually take us to our room. Helena was grinning and chatting all the way and when she opened the door, we could see why!
We had been upgraded to a superior suite, with a bottle of champagne with a anniversary/birthday cake. We were thrilled! There were swan towels on the bed and scattered rose petals everywhere, such a lovely touch.Even a red rose in the bathroom
We were truly impressed and hugged Helena with gratitude, this was the beginning of our wonderful 10 days of pure happiness and relaxation.
Sorry to our maid, I cannot recall your name, but what an excellent job you did each day restocking and keeping our room spotless!
Each day we looked forward to what culinary delights awaited us in the Dias buffet. There was so much choice everyday for each meal. Definitely go all inclusive it is so worth paying the extra. Food, drinks, service, everything was perfect. We are a very well travelled couple and enjoy staying at 5 star hotels. As long as you walk round and choose your food before actually plating it up, you will have hot food.
A few reviewers complained of the food being cold, but the choice is so vast if you keep walking round with your hot food, by the time you go back to the table it may seem luke warm which is your fault....
One day I actually burnt my tongue, the dish was so hot. So many starters, salads, mains and deserts the choice was huge.
There was a pizza/pasta station,chocolate and cheese fountains, a vegan section and kids corner too. So much choice, even sweets for the kids and a cookie selection.
There was a seafood station one evening with trays of oysters, lobsters, langoustines, and caviar etc...superb!
You will always be satisfied and full, there was so much choice to satisfy everyone's palate.
Some reviewers moan it was like a canteen, use the outer room which was much quieter and has a better ambiance and views.
The staff and service were first class.
The Chardonnay was lovely and converted my husband from red wine to white, whilst we there, it was so palatable and made us giggle!
There were hand sanitizers on entry and on each table, not once did we fear of becoming ill. Sadly not everyone used this, the choice is yours.....it was spotlessly clean.
We booked into the "Thalassa al carte"twice as part of our all inclusive deal as it was so good the first time. Again the food,the staff and service was outstanding! There were another two al la cartes but we did not use those so cannot comment.
Most evenings we were quite merry and we were 100% chilled out. The spirits were high end, not cheap local brands....
Again, great service with a smile. It was a pleasure to tip for such a great service, although we didn't see too many people being so complimentary which was sad. They do deserve their tips.
The street food van on the beach did amazing food too and the caramel doughnuts were to die for!
Only manned by two staff, who again provided a great service with limited resources, being a van. Well done to you!
Again so relaxing sat by the sea eating and drinking watching the waves roll in and people enjoying theirselves.
The evening entertainment again was your choice. Nightly shows at the theatre in-between Creta Marine and the sister hotel. We saw a couple of shows mainly performed by the animation team who worked so hard day and night.
We chose to stay in the main lobby bar most nights which had live music.
Nothing was pressured at this hotel and all the staff were so happy and polite, you felt like part of a family. Well done to you ALL!!
All these things make a perfect holiday for us.
The pools were cold but once you braved getting in it was tolerable.
Most days we chose the quiet pool as we were there to relax. Plenty to do with activities all day if that's your choice at the main pool.
It was a pleasure to walk from the beach and pool each day, the grounds are beautiful and constantly being kept manicured and maintained.
Hopefully this kept a bit of weight off after being so well fed!
We never struggled for a sunbed and there are also lots of grassed areas if you want complete peace and quiet.
Just to inform incase you havent done your homework, the beaches are rocky bays and we were disappointed the sea was not warm. Bring beach shoes as the sand is gritty, not the usual yellow/white colour, but we knew this from looking at the reviews and you tube videos. This would certainly not stop us from returning. ..
We got the bus outside the hotel and went into Remythnon which was very busy but a pretty town with a marina and lots of shops to get gifts.
We felt so guilty not exploring more of Crete, but to be honest the hotel was so perfect and we were there to relax so we didn't mind. Maybe next time!
We had the most truly relaxing, superb holiday and we wished we'd booked 14nights which we have never felt that before.
We look forward to returning soon!
Once again THANKYOU everyone for our truly memorable experience, we will be back xxx

The Creta Marine is placed between Rethymno and the village of Panormo. It is a little isolated. The closest shop is a 10 minute walk, more shops are 50 minutes away on foot close to Panormo. You can catch the little train to Panormo for 5 euros. We had rooms overlooking the main pool, which were modern, clean and equipped with a large smart TV. The hotel and grounds were immaculate and with possibly the best grounds I have ever seen. There is a very large pool, a medium sized pool and a smaller quiet pool. All have pool guards in attendance when open. There is also a pool in the spa. Additionally there are a number of small sheltered coves for sea swimming, along with a harbour for watersports and boat rental. Food is of a very high quality and there are food trucks and 3 speciality restaurants Italian, Greek and Fish. The main buffet has a large selection of foods with show cooking. However whilst the quality was good then variety was often lacking and without flavour, particularly the deserts. Theme nights were ok but again the dishes were often bland. Chips were an issue, they could be very soggy and unpleasant to eat. I think this was down to them being precooked and stored before serving. There was always a massive selection of fruit and salads available at breakfast, lunch and dinner. There were greek dishes on offer but again they could be bland, lacking variety from day to day. Overall however the food was good and service excellent and attentive. Unfortunately I was ill during my stay. The staff were absolutely brilliant. In particular Ellie on customer service, our cleaner Angelika and Nikki in the pool bar. All of the reception staff were excellent. The entertainment team were excellent and engaging all of activities were well thought out. I am not a fan of hotel entertainment for adults though, there was some low key professional entertainment in the lounge. Additionally the Halloween celebrations were held on the area to the side of the hotel next to the main building accommodation. The noise levels were too high. This event should have been held in the Delphi theatre. summary this is an excellent hotel, with facilities and staff to match. Food could be better but I appreciate they are catering for a wide variety of tastes

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Iberostar Creta Marine. From start to finish, everything was fantastic — the atmosphere, the food, the staff, and the service.

A very special mention to Ellie from Guest Relations, who was truly amazing. She went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience possible. Her kindness, warmth, and genuine care made us feel completely at home.

Also, a huge thank you to Niki at the pool bar — always friendly, cheerful, and full of energy. Always up for a chat and really made each of the guests that spoke to her feel important. Both Ellie and Niki made us feel like part of the family, not just guests. It’s rare to find that level of hospitality, and it really made our stay unforgettable.

The food was outstanding — fresh, varied, and delicious every day. The hotel is spotless, the grounds are beautiful, and the views of the sea are breathtaking. Every part of the resort felt so well cared for.

Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better holiday. The entire team at Iberostar Creta Marine made it a truly special experience — we’ll definitely be coming back!

Great hotel and gardens. Good location and food was really delicious. For a week, there were plenty of options and enjoyed mixing the buffet for a couple of evening meals at the onsite restaurants. Did have an issue with room set up (Garden view bungalow) for 2 adults and child which was completely impractical as the sofa chair which converted into a single bed didn’t allow the balcony door to open. We moved a piece of furniture to allow for a better room layout and all hell broke loose with the reception team and manager saying we weren’t allowed to move any furniture and it would have to be moved back to the original position meaning we couldn’t practically access the balcony! This was not pragmatic at all and at the time was not a great way to start the holiday and something I’ve never experienced before from a hotel. They relented in the end but in our opinion it was completely unreasonable in the first place.
Big shout out in particular to Natalia on the reception for being very kind and helpful.
Victoria on the front desk for the Dias Buffet evening service was also very helpful.
Do take a walk around the gardens and explore the Creta Panorama gardens too. They’re really beautifully kept and provided a nice option for walking off all the food!
The swimming pools were cold at this time of year and the hammam wasn’t working and you couldn’t access the sauna unless you paid for a treatment at the spa which were priced very high. The indoor pool was nice but policed by the spa team who didn’t allow any noise!
The water park was fun and great sunshine in the afternoon.
All in all, we’d love to go back (and we’d move the furniture again!)
Mike’s car hire is highly recommended. Much cheaper than Hertz offered through the hotel and delivered a car promptly to the hotel and picked it up on our return.

love the rooms, they are so pretty.. the stuff ist very kind they are very helpful und polite, i love the animateure programm, the service is also very well and the atmosphere is great in here

I really liked the stay and i thought the animateurs are wonderful. So much that i even thought about coming here to be one. Every staff member is really nice and if youre friendly you can definetly benifit from it:)

Fabulous stay.
Hotel and facilities excellent. Staff attentive and polite, very kind.
All restaurants offered excellent service.
Treatments in spa very relaxing.
Would definitely visit again.

I like the hotel room alot. The food is really tasty and theres alot of variety. The personal is very nice and helpfull. Super

Highly recommned. Having a lovely holiday. Staff all amazing and room beautiful. Thank you! Food tasty and rooms really clean.

Really great hotel. Brilliant vibe across the whole place. Staff (Nicki, George, Shane, Olivia, Alexander to name just a few) were excellent hosts. Genuinely made our holiday more enjoyable.

The whole pool animation team/bar team deserves a pay rise for their incredible energy and efforts. Getting the balance just right with the vibe they created at the main pool.

Overall decor was lovely, gardens immaculate and it was a pleasure to just walk around the grounds.

Coves by the sea great for swimming and snorkelling.

Food was of a good standard and varied enough throughout the day. Drinks were lovely too. The all inclusive drinks selection is top notch!

Start to finish the service was exceptional. We received an upgrade to a waterfront property which was furnished and cleaned to.a high standard. A lovely gesture.

General buffet restaurant is busy but again standards are very high. You book a time to ensure everything runs smoothly. We ate at the Italian and also the Mediterranean restaurant which is superbly appointed overlooking the sea. The Mediterranean was our favourite.

We found all staff to be friendly and professional always asking if they could do anything for you. Shane, Victor and Rafa all impressed from the animation team.

A first rate holiday and I would return which is something I rarely say.

Very clean and friendly staff. You get roses by check-in Also the animators are amazing.
A lot off choice for breakfast and dinner.

Hotel is very nice we had a wonderful time. Staff is very kind and helpful. The food was very tasteful and the cleaning of the rooms was very good

Just got back from the loveliest 4 days in this hotel and I cannot wait to go back!
Was a bit worried based off of the reviews but the food was incredible, the staff go above and beyond and the hotel itself is BEAUTIFUL.
Location is a little remote but an hour to the city of Rethymno which is lovely for a day trip. (Just get your ticket from the shop to the left of the hotel but take CASH as bus tickets are cash only!)
The entertainment team deserve so much credit as they truly work their asses off and it pays off with everyone smiling and dancing around the pool.
As I mentioned, the food was so good but just a tip, book the other restaurants as soon as you get there as they book up very quickly.
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and cared for.
If you're considering booking this hotel, I would urge you too as I am already looking to book again.

It was a pleasure to be here, everything was great! I liked the cleaning, the stuf was perfect, the administration was very kind

We stayed here as a family of 3 in a bungalow room for a week in October. Weather was sunny all week, 23-24 degrees, just right for us. Room was very well appointed, I guess refurbed quite recently, not massive but fine for us. Small balcony. Hotel grounds are immaculate. Main pool is saltwater, temp fine, never that crowded, swim up bar. There’s another pool almost overlooking the sea which is small but lovely. Sunbeds pretty much available all the time. Couple more pools, and a small kids pool. There is a water park for younger kids, maybe under 13 I guess? that is shared with the sister hotel next door. They don’t really advertise it much but it’s a great feature. There is also an outdoor theatre next to it that’s where the main evening shows take place if you like that sort of thing. 3 really good specialist restaurants in addition to the normal buffet, we got 2 evening meals included with our weeks all inclusive - the Mediterranean one in particular was stunning food, overlooking the sea - book it early!

The buffet restaurant is pretty good, normal all inclusive stuff, breakfasts very good, lunches ok, evening meals mostly very good. Lobby bar has great cocktails, all branded drinks on AI too.

There are 3 coves for the hotel, 1 has Watersports available too. The beaches are very small and not white sand pretty, but nice enough. Water great for swimming.

The location is pretty isolated and you need a taxi to get to the closest towns, and nothing really walkable nearby. But most people staying here are AI and don’t really have any need to leave the hotel!

Staff are generally really helpful and friendly, the animation team get the balance just right, and all the waiting staff are excellent. There were quite a few younger kids around when we stayed but otherwise quite a mature clientele. Very few teens/20s, presumably because of the remote location.

Overall, I would highly recommend!!

We had a fantastic stay! The hotel is beautiful, very clean, and has a large, well-maintained area. The staff were always friendly, polite, and helpful. The food was absolutely delicious – every meal was excellent. We would definitely come back again!

We visited at the end of september and the weather was wonderful.
The staff welcomed us like the most important VIP! Handed us the room with a view on the beautiful bay and, snow-white cleanliness, and delightful dinners - all with very polite service, attention and care. Amazing serivce and attention to every guest such as from Nikas and many other staff members. The hotel strongly watches over cleanliness and surroundings, and in that sense it cares also about our planet Earth!! I can't put into words our enjoyment from the stay in this hotel! I want it to become a outstanding example of quality service for the hotel industry!!! We really recommend and for sure will come back because we value quality and the level of service!!!
With kind regards, Tamara.

Very mixed reviews, mostly positive but just not ideal for us.
Hotel is beautiful, very sparse and well kept, beautiful grounds and gardens and flowers. Room lovely however booked a beachfront apartment which was a room with a sea view not beach front due to overgrown trees directly outside room.
Weather in October, very hot and miss, clouds, rain, storms and sunshine often all in one day, to chilly to sit out in the evening.
We went to the quieter pool which I have to say was like a plunge pool, freezing, no other word, the larger pool may have been warmer but very noisy with music, kids and loud entertainment's team.
Lots of children and babies which was unexpected for this time of year, main clients German so perhaps half term.
We had half board buffet for both, brekkie ok loads of choice and hot, evening was too busy and noisy and very much had a canteen atmosphere, just way too big and conjested.
Staff hit and miss, some pleasant, some really could not be bothered and it showed, room service very good as was suitcase delivery to and from room and maid service good.
Hotel warrants its 5 star but be aware nothing around at all, Panromos, 3miles away, 8euro taxi or 5euro return on fun train outside.
Book for the Greek and Italian al la carte as soon as you arrive, allowed 2 trips during stay and well worth it with huge portions.
Didn’t experience evening entertainment so unable to comment.
Good on-site supermarket, jewellers and small boutique.
Reception staff very lovely.
Cocktails 12euro soft drinks 4.8 euros