The Cretan Royal Dream is as the pictures and website describe - it's five years old, nicely appointed, clean and a very nice place to spend a week; we were there for a half-board holiday in September 2009 when the weather is bit cooler (80sF/18-32c) and crowds less than high season.
Whist it may technically be a 5 star hotel, I would be happy describing it as a very nice, small, modern hotel of 3 or 4 stars. The star system tends to describe levels of service (eg 24 hour room service) and facilities (ensuite in every room) rather than the quality of fittings and food etc. That said, it's good.
The staff are mostly Romanian and a few natives - all uniformly very nice, friendly and ready for a quick chat and exchange of pleasantries. A really nice bunch. I read a few reports of earlier years of rude staff and am keen to say in 2009 they are a nice bunch.
The guests tend to be middle aged, a few younger couples or extended families with kids/parents and grand parents. We were the only gay couple there and found it fine; gay life on the island is low key. There were Germans, Brits and Fins in the main and yes the Germans got their towels out early and there was a lot of very large, pale flesh on display!
The pool area was popular but never over crowded and the hotel was 80% full in this late season week, which suited us. Another week later and the weather does become much windier and one evening we eat indoors as the temperatures dropped. The outside bar was nice but not heavily used so it felt quiet after dinner finished at 9ish; it's probably busier in the high season but overall the feeling was of a quiet hotel.
The entertainment was so-so - do have a look but it was very cabaret and I felt for the staff having to watch that every week!
We booked half board. Fine for a week but I suspect that two weeks might feel a bit restrictive. There are lots of local taverns and places to eat if you want to wander and the best selection is in Chania but very touristy. Breakfast and dinner are buffet; every day there was something different or a twist to the previous day so you could have cereals, German style hams/cheese, toast, a version of the traditional British fry-up and some other items like Greek pies, pancackes etc. Coffee was was Ok but tea was the only low point - the pots of hot water brought to tables were not hot enough and no breakfast-strength tea bags. Even late Sept we eat out side everyday, overlooking the pool, which blends into the sea via it's infinity edge, which blends into the sky. I hate piped music so we sat outside the canopy and could ignore it - some might find it too loud/bland.
Dinner was also a buffet and there was always a selection of 6 or 7 different main meats including veggie options. I had something different every night and we eat in Chania one night too - the guidebooks do tend to over rate the "high" end restaurants, so take them with a pinch of salt. Food was hot enough at the hotel and the basic salad was good every day, with a twist and variety of changing items each day. There was less selection in desserts and the wine list was so-so and relatively pricey at 15-20 euros for average wine; there wee much pricey items if you wanted better. These are items that might make you think this is not really a 5 star hotel - but at £50 quid a night and half board in nice surroundings, we weren't disappointed. Just be realistic in expectations at these prices. 5 Star in London is £200 a night.
The room was good - twin beds are the default. We didn't bother with the air con and had a minor upgrade to a side view from the balcony. The hotel has two wings - the west one has views on the outside over the sea, but also over the two 200m-wide empty strip next door which one day will be built on I suppose. Whilst described as a side-view the view was really very wide and looked over the sea/small island that sits opposite the hotel. The East wing is i think slightly more expensive and views are over the communal areas of pool/eating area/bar and then over the pool/sea and also nice.
The in-room TV was a 14" portable and only had BBC news/CNN in Englifh, but then who's here to watch TV? The ensuite shower room was excellent - a massively powerful shower and all very clean and exactly want you want. It has typical Greek plumbing - ie toilet tissue in the bin and not down the loo. The room had black out blinds and was corporate-hotel smart. Every day the cleaners leave your towels arranged in letters spelling "love" and place flowers picked from outside on the bed! very sweet if you like that sort of thing. There was a 1/2 sized fridge, kitchenette sink coffee pot and glasses etc all hidden away behind full height doors - that we didn't use much but you could prepare a small meal if you felt so inclined - personally not something I'd want to do in a week but maybe useful for two weeks. Floors are tiled and cool, as you need in the med area. Internet access was via wireless in the main hotel so that is not as described and was charged for.
We drove all over the island and loved it - really worth getting out and about. The road to the castle on the south coast is quite terrifying - about 12 hair-pin bends one after another as you drop through 800m. Sat Nav generally worked very well (2008 Garmin map).
The hotel is placed close to headland/curve in the coast and is happily slightly away from the main tourist drag, which is busy with small hotels/taverns/bars etc and a 500m walk away. The hotel has parking and is 2 minute stroll across a quite busy road to the local little beach. People with kids may want to factor the road in but it didn't worry us - there is a traffic-free tunnel to the beach, but it's disused drain really! Probably dry in summer, it was a bit damp in September. The local beach is lovely - small with a tiny bar/cafe run but a lovely Greek man. After 5pm we were often the only two there. Hania is a 20 min drive away. Busier/larger beaches are not far away. We generally had very nice service everywhere - low key, not too pushy. The Cretans really are a nice bunch and it was a pleasure to meet them and the many Romanians who work here.
We had some really good Greek salads and fish dishes - eg at the Snifista beach in Western Crete (last cafe) - the fish soup was out of this world and caught by the staff via sear fishing every day and there are some stunning and relatively quiet beaches, especially on the south of the Island.
Cretan Dream?- Yes OK, I'd go that far. Excellent value, nice spot, friendly staff and pretty Ok food.
