As booking a last minute deal, we wanted to make sure we read comments made on trip advisor about this hotel and we were overall happy except for a few negative comments. As with all comments made on trip advisor, there will always be unhappy travellers, but we decided to go for it.

All we can say, having just returned from a week at this fabulous hotel, is 'WOW'! We arrived at 4 in the morning and the reception staff were extremely friendly and helpful (as they were throughout our stay) having just travelled hours from Gatwick and immediately we were given a bag of fresh fruit, bottles of water and a couple of freshly made baguettes. Exactly what we needed after a tiring journey.

Our bags were taken to our room and having requested a sea view room, we were more than happy. Our superior room was very well located - excellent decor, very clean, outstanding facilites and we were very impressed.

Our deal included the 'All Inclusive' package and we did not stop eating for the whole holiday! We're not fatties by any stretch of the imagination, but the quality of the food was outstanding. The main buffet restaurant had a vast amount of different food catering for everyone and there were 4 other restaurants you can eat at once during your stay. The Italian was 'excellent', the Greek and Chinese were 'very good' and we were fortunate enough to eat at the exclusive '1996 restaurant' which was out of this world! There is an extra charge to eat here but it is worth every penny - you can't beat a six course meal overlooking a beautiful sunset. That apart, there's a snack bar you can eat at as well that has burgers/pizzas/greek salads etc and of course the soft drinks as well. Drinks were great, but as with most hotels, they pour too much alcohol in, but that's just standard for Greece! Local wine not that impressive, but wine list was and we more than happy to buy a bottle of decent wine to accomplish our evening food.

We were amazed by the number of pools available and each with a different contrast. Obviously there were a number of families with young children splashing water and having fun, but that's part of what you expect. There were smaller and quieter pools that we sunbathed at right by the seafront and it was very refreshing with the sea breeze. Perfect for couples. If you want to pay extra, you can even have your private pool!

Hotel Entertainment was okay but not something to write home about - there was a nightclub called 'Aquarium' that was great for the teenagers and younger couples to go to but short walks in to the little fishing village took our fancy and we found some good little bars etc to go to.

The Spa and Gym had good facilities but with 35 degrees outside, it was hardly worth a visit especially as we hadn't seen the sun for a year! Plus the spa had additional charges which we felt weren't worth it.

All in all, we were so impressed, we have decided to go again next year and take friends and family. Not everyone would have had the same experience as us, but it is what you make it that counts and if you get a good deal, we strongly recommend you stay at this wonderful 5* hotel. We've stayed in a few and this was up there with the best.

Oliver and Hannah

Great time but this is a really a 4 star as stated throughout other reviews. But the hotel has a great feel and contemporary design.

Food is great: you can eat at the Chinese (Ok) Greek (OK+) and Italian (Good) once per week stay on the all inclusive tariff as well as the main buffet restaurant. Salads are superb but also a good mix of meat, fish, chicken with different veg. Snack bar is good too with pizza, burger, 3 different types of pre packed salads. My wife is really fussy and she loved the buffet.

You will queue for dinner but no longer than 15 minutes (grab a drink from the bar). Here's a tip, get to the bar 5 minutes before the restaurant opens, grab a beer and join the queue. You'll wait no longer than 5 - 10 minutes this way.

Spotless hotel, great service, great rooms; did I say that the staff are lovely. Only problem is that the drinks are really watered down. But really that is the only problem we had which was outweighed by the positives.

The gym is great - free to use up to 2pm and 5 euro after that. Weights, running machines x trainers, plasma screens etc.

There is a small beach 3 minutes walk away (which is great for a dip in the harbour) but for a great beach take the free hotel mini bus to the beach 5 minutes away and then walk a 100 yards or so up the road and take the next beech. Cross over the cliffs on your right (not too precarious but be careful) and you'll find a long wonderful dream beach with great views over Malia with the hills to the back of you. Sunbeds are 4 Euros for the day. Make sure you order a free packed lunch to take with you.

Also at the back of the hotel there is a small promenade overlooking the sea, head down at sunset; great watching the crashing waves with a loved one :) ;)

If the world was smaller I'd definitely go back. we paid £530 each including flights and transfers - worth every penny

We stayed at the Vasia Beach Hotel for a week from 22nd June 2008. We had a great holiday and loved Sissi, but I want to be completely honest about the hotel, which in my opinion does not live up to its 5* rating at peak times as the staff and facilites are not geared up to cope with so many people.

The hotel building itself wasn't particularly impressive with basic reception area and main restaurant, which struggled to seat all the guest and meant queing for breakfast and dinner and on cocassion sharing your table with people who did not speak the same language as you (this happened twice to us and we had to que). The restaurants on the sea front had lovely views and you could watch the sun set, but as with the main restauarant the food was all buffet style and help yourself. The All inclusive drinks were very basic and the alcohol was watered down!

We upgraded our room to a superior double with sea view and this was very nice with big bathrom and both shower and bath in marble, the only complaint I would have about the room is that the fridge was never re-stocked during our stay and we had to pay 30Euro for the use of the safe, which when I have stayed 5 * elsewhere has been included in the price and the fridge is usually restocked every day.

There were 5 pools in total, but unfortunately none of this were adult only and as we had travelled as a couple in peak season meant we had to share the pools with lots of children and families jumping in and playing with inflatables, which meant we couldn't really relax and I couldn't swim lengths without crashing into someone or being splashed in the face, however this would be fine if you were a family, just not great for a couple on a romantic break!

There was a small beach in Sissi next to the port and this was lovely, crystal clear waters and extremeley still. There was also a very nice beach on the road to Malia from Siss which was used by the loclas, golden sands and still clear water again, gorgeous, we spent quite a few days there.

We hired a car and tralled over to Elouda one day, which was really nice for a change and had fresh fish on the port.

All in all I did enjoy the holiday and Crete but was disappointed with the hotel as expected more for 5 * and would have liked it to have been a lot quieter during the day and at feed times (Sissi itself is very quiet at night). I would go to Sissi again, but would settle for a 4 * at a lower price!

Hope this helps and I've not been too negative just trying to be honest!

I stayed I this hotel with my wife, 18 year old daughter and boyfriend. We booked after reading the reviews on Tripadvisor and if anything the hotel was better than expected. The staff are very helpful and professional - anything found in need of attention was entered into the maintenance system and seen to that day. The entire site is beautifully maintained to high standard and I have never seen a hotel with so many swimming pools. The rooms are very well furnished and air-conditioned with bed linen changed daily.
All of the restaurants we sampled were very good if not excellent. In the main restaurant there was something for everyone and all food was to a high standard. The head chef d'cuisine visits all the restaurants during the day, it appears, and is always to be seen in the main one at evening meal times. This pays dividends, especially when you see how many people turn up between 1900 and 2100 to be fed. I got the feeling that there was a well-oiled organisation working behind the scenes. We had a very enjoyable stay and would definitely return again.