I have stayed at the Marina Hotel now 5 times and absolutely love the place. Each time I go I love it even more. The all inclusive package is value for money. It is definitely a proper all inclusive with all meals, drinks (including water) and snacks part of the package. Sunbeds on the beach and by the pool are also part of the package. In the dining room if you ask for a red and a white wine they will bring you a bottle of each. The staff at the hotel are lovely and helpful. The bar is still all inclusive up to 1 a.m. instead of the usual 11 p.m. The hotel is spotlessly clean, rooms cleaned every day and towels changed every day. The Marina hotel is undergoing refurbishment but not during the summer. Both of the hotel blocks have been refurbished in the last 2 years as has the poolside bar at the main pool, the outdoor restaurant, reception and bar. I believe that the bungalows are next in line for refurbishment. The waiters have a fantastic sense of humour and have become our friends. The Italian animation team are really good fun - do some silly things but are a good laugh. I will go back again and again. The town of Gouves is about a 10 minute walk away. The first thing you see as you walk up the street towards the town is the Irish bar which is a brilliant place to visit. George the owner is a lovely man and goes out of his way to please. There is a brilliant chinese at the top of the stretch - very reasonable and well worth a visit. The main town isn't very big compared to some resorts and is full mainly of bars and gift shops. It is much cheaper in Gouves than Stalis or Hersonnisos.

This holiday started like the holiday from hell! Diverted to Athens airport for 2 hours as unable to get into Crete due to the most horrendous electrical storm and torrential rain. Thought we were never going to arrive and once we did definitely wished we hadn't!!

The hotel can only be described as decrepid. Horrible 1970s decor: pink dining room with quilted wall hangings to hide (unsuccessfully) the peeling paintwork. Bar area with multi-coloured disco themed ceiling - Saturday Night Fever eat your heart out! Furniture extremely dated and had definitely seen better days. As for the bedrooms, where do I start. Lumpy, uncomfortable beds. Rattling, drafty windows. Bathroom poor, rubbish shower attachment on tap. Hotel block looked more like a prison, thought we were in Prisoner Cell Block H. Whole place needs knocking down.

Food very unexciting. Luke warm and heavily recycled. 3 of our party had norovirus during the stay. Public areas not particularly clean.

The weather did eventually improve and we were able to sit by the pool, couldn't get in the pool though as water freezing cold. The beach is horrible, rubbish everywhere, much like the rest of the resort. Went out for walks around the complex, looks like a war zone or third world country. Rubbish strewn everywhere, cars dumped, stray dogs, abandoned houses, no beautiful scenery more like a slag heap, it is terrible.

My only advice is to tell you not to book this hotel, it should be classed as 1/2 star and really has no good points. I'd also advise not to go at end of season as weather very unpredictable and very few tourists around, feels kind of eerie.

Having booked our all inclusive holiday before discovering this excellent site we were horrified to read the reviews. It was with trepidation that we boarded the coach for our transfer to the Marina Hotel. To add to our fears we were the only people on the coach staying at the hotel. Upon reaching Gouves the drive in down narrow dusty lanes did nothing to allay our fears. Out of nowhere the Hotel seems to appear and we alighted the coach, retrieved our bags and entered the hotel, passing the cleaning staff polishing the marble steps. The impressive reception area was ahead of us and we were greeted by a very friendly member of staff. Once checked in our bags were taken by a porter to the bungalow that we had booked. As we walked through the grounds we felt a weight lift from our shoulders. I admit the bungalow's interior and furniture did appear a little dated, however it was spotlessly clean with good air con and all the essentials you could need. Good shower/bath, fridge etc

We went to breakfast and couldn't help but to be impressed by the range of food on offer from the buffet, a mountain of various types of loaves, choice of hot or cold breakfast and traditional Cretan breakfast. All the other meals had the same range of choice so you were never disappointed. Sarah the waitress was excellent very funny to watch when she became animated. When going got tough she got going. Service superb but best to arrive early at meal times to avoid long queues

The two pools were well maintained but being a beach lover we opted to use the sunbeds provided free to us on the beach a short walk across a fairly quiet road opposite the hotel. The facilities at the beach were excellent and the main man in charge always had a word with the regulars.

Multi-national hotel and the Italian entertainments team ensured that the activities were open to all. It was great watching the Euro beach football and volleyball tournement each afternoon.

Overall excellent holiday would definately stay again

On arivel to the resort its dirty run down half built. filthy. the hotel on arivel looked good given a small glass of orange given keys to bungalows porter went of with our bags so fast that we lost him walkig around in the dark in the rain found the room in the end. room flooded. cleaner came swept room out and went we had to get her back again as we were still in puddles. the was plaster comming of the walls shower knee high mould and rust in bathroom. room very basic didnt tell us that the bungalows are on two floors and a pool view is not like there broucher as the trees are so big now they block all light and view noise from planes is very bad day and night. main building is clean food warm and a bit boaring. entertainment terrible general staff ok understand from others manager very rude to english. this is not a 4star hotel more like a 2/3 star not worth the money a great disapointment all round.