Amirandes, A Grecotel Resort To Live



About
Set along Crete’s stunning coastline, Amirandes, A Grecotel Resort is an exclusive five-star retreat inspired by the grandeur of Minoan palaces. A true haven of elegance and sophisticated hospitality, the resort offers a variety of luxurious rooms, suites, and villas, many with private pools and stunning sea views.
Guests can indulge in six exceptional restaurants, offering gourmet Mediterranean cuisine and authentic local flavors. Relax by the Olympic-sized seawater pool, unwind on the private sandy beach, or pamper yourself at the holistic spa. The resort also provides exciting activities such as golf, tennis, watersports, and personalized services for families, including a kids' club and tailored experiences for all ages.
Ideally located near Knossos, Heraklion, and other cultural landmarks, Amirandes blends luxury, relaxation, adventure, and the rich essence of Crete, ensuring every guest enjoys a truly unforgettable stay.
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For the environment, the hotel is situated with its own private beach that we had all to ourselves. Our 3rd floor suite had a mesmerizing view of the mediteranian coastline, surrounding mountains, and Dia Island. Our sleep was comforted by sounds of the sea and a comfy bed. There were a handful of restaraunts within a 15 minute walk. We thoroughly enjoyed all the food we had during our stay. Bus stop 15 to Heraklion is an 11 minute walk away (wave the westbound charter bus down). The bus passes by every hour of the day and was a 20 minute ride into town, 3€ one-way. A taxi for the same trip is 40€ one way.
For the personnel, we were treated like royalty by the hotel staff. They accomodated our every ask and gave us an appreciation for Cretan hospitality. The following employees that we got to know all share the following qualities: a heart for hospitality, a passion for each of their crafts, very intellectual (bilingual and knowleable), an attention to detail that shows they care.
-Marios, wait staff: a natural conversationalist and attentative
-Constantina, bartender: personable and attentative
-Alex, receptionist: very accommodating and welcoming
-Peter, chef: exceptional quality food. Sizable portions and gourmet taste for 20-30€/plate
-Eva, masseuse: transformational and soothing massages
There was also staff that we did not interact with but we know make a vacation like this possible:
-upper management that puts a team like this together and gives them autonomy to practice their craft.
-the maid service that kept our room clean and well stocked with toiletries, linens, and refreshments each day.
Thanks for making the memories and sharing your Cretan culture with us!



𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲
We received a warm welcome from the staff on the steps of the hotel which was lovely. We were then taken to a quiet spot for a personalised check in with Georgia and given a selection of three drinks plus water and iced tea, and a couple of snacks. The views from this area are stunning and it set the perfect tone for what was to come.
𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺
We stayed in a premium bungalow which is just 60 steps to the sea. It was relaxing listening to the sea before dozing off. Really nice room proportions and the bed is incredibly comfortable, we slept so well.
We had a shower and bath which is not all that common these days but all the hotel rooms have both. Really easy to use shower with great pressure and it was nice and warm. There are also two sinks (be careful of the stiff taps), toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion) and amenities. There is a reasonable sized wardrobe with enough hangers for the week if you double up, a laptop-sized safe, coffee machine (2 pods per day), a mini bar which you can fill for a charge, a powerful hairdryer (the cord is very short which means drying the back of your hair is tricky if looking into the mirror!), dressing gown and slippers. There was no full length mirror in these rooms (they do have them in others) and when sitting down on the pouffe by the dressing table, I could only see my eyes upwards. Lots of storage in the rooms but the unit has no handles (it's a push system) and they're not the easiest to access.
The bungalows have a little porch area with two chairs and a table plus a drying rack and then there is a small grass area before you reach your two private loungers and parasol. We stayed in room 504 and had the sun on our loungers until mid afternoon. Then we headed to the communal loungers on the grass area in front of our room. If you like privacy, be mindful that these rooms do have people walking past, but it's not heavy traffic and you do have that space between your room and the pathway. We loved being so close to the sea.
𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱/𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀
Really good food! The buffet area is compact given the size of the hotel and when it's busy, it's a bit of a squeeze but it’s a pleasant atmosphere and unlike any other buffet I’ve been to. If you hate buffets, it’s probably because of the mass produced food and canteen like atmosphere; this is not like that.
We're vegetarian and found options at dinner were a little limited. If you enjoy salad you'll love it here and we did enjoy the variety of salads made every day. However, the vegetarian options really need a little more thought. The salads/starters are great as are the desserts.
We tried the Greek restaurant (Xasteria) and the Asian Restaurant (Blue Monkey) both of which were included in the comfort package (2 free a la cartes for a 7 night stay). You receive a set menu but you can also pick from the a la carte options and pay for those although it's not inexpensive. The options for starters and desserts were excellent as usual, but there was no vegetarian main on any set menu. However, they did adapt upon asking but you always feel a little bit of a nuisance having to ask all the time.
On our first night, a pasta dish appeared to be a vegetable pasta dish and had no mention of fish or meat on the card by it. Unfortunately, it had meat in. There were no vegetarian labels used and so the only way to confirm if something was vegetarian was to ask a member of staff to walk you through the dishes. Often they were busy and so we felt a bit awkward. There are no vegetarian snacks at the beach bar and the options at the pool bar are limited to a green salad or several pizzas (although these are extra). We loved the nut selection at the bars with drinks.
On our penultimate night we spoke with Konstantina to ask what dishes were vegetarian. She mentioned us to a manager, Salia, who then spoke with us at our table. I think there had been a little miscommunication between reception and the restaurant, and we should have been spoken with on our first night to talk about our food choices for the week. We said we didn't want to have to pre-order every day and didn't know what was possible but we named a few dishes we liked. On our final night, we found the choices so much better. We really felt like our points were taken on board and the staff were so keen to get things in order. This is a very good sign of an excellent hotel. It wasn't just lip service but genuine care and keenness to get things right.
Great breakfast and Eliza on the omelette stand makes the best omelettes I have ever had.
It's hard to single out any single staff member as they are all wonderful. Every single one deserves a big thank you! Some of those who we were more familiar with: Elefthera who welcomed us every meal time and Chrysa, Eleni, Ioannis and Konstantinos. All staff across the hotel do a brilliant job!
It would be lovely to see a more casual beach/pool option for lunch which is included in the comfort package as we had to use the buffet restaurant every day.
Never any issue with service in the bars, restaurants, beach or pool. Always very prompt and excellent. Good selection of included drinks. Ask for the menu to see what's included in the comfort package, indicated by a "CP" next to those items.
Zenon at the beach bar makes amazing cocktails and Stella always served our drinks with a smile. Do try the Greek cocktails…..we’re missing these already! Go here for the beautiful sunsets.
There are a lot of plastic water bottles at all meals and around the pool and beach. You can't drink tap water here, but it seems a shame to have so much plastic where glass would seem a viable, more recyclable alternative.
𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
The hotel is spotless and there are people cleaning and maintaining the property all the time. There are fresh flowers in reception and the rooms have a lovely scent.
The olympic-sized pool is cool but not freezing. I'm terrible at getting into cold water and it really wasn't that bad and warmed up so quickly. I totally forgot it was sea water and it was a lovely swim. The kids pool nearby is freshwater and has a shade over it.
Pool towels are in the room with a beach bag and flip flops. You'll also find pool towels on each lounger every morning and others will be available by the pool and beach.
Yoga every morning at 8am by the beach looking out to sea was brilliant. Great yoga teacher and a good way to start the day. The yoga teacher runs a lot of the classes and is brilliant! We loved our first ever TRX class with her too.
The gym is quite small, surprisingly so for the size of the hotel. When we arrived, there were just three people there and it felt busy and so we left and went for a jog outside the hotel which was nice and not too hot. There is an outdoor gym which is brilliant and feels much larger. They run some free classes each week you can sign up to on the app.
The indoor pool is quite small but nice to have.
There is also a tennis court, paddle court, basketball court and five aside. Some are payable. I believe tennis was 25 euros per hour for instance.
There is an on-site shop and you can buy Agrecofarm products here.
We were there for olive harvesting and got involved in collecting olives. It was a brilliant experience and lots of guests and staff got involved. The staff also put on a tasty selection of snacks and drinks and it was a really lovely, unique experience.
There are two beaches. The main one by the buffet restaurant and villas is nice and sandy and has plenty of loungers. The Greek government changed laws in April 2024 meaning the space the hotel can use for beach beds is restricted, but we didn't have issues during our stay and the hotel was full. The first two rows are reserved for villa guests which is fine by us as they have paid for this in their package. The second beach on the other side isn't quite as nice, but still fine, and attracts more adults and this is where you'll find the beach volleyball and water sports.
There is a good kids club which is by the pool and is outdoors.
They have cinema nights looking out to sea and by the main pool. Other evening entertainment is low key (trumpet, saxophonist, DJ).
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The hotel is about 20 minutes to the airport and we paid 30 euros for a taxi each way. We visited Knossos and paid 45 euros for a taxi there (it's a busy route and took 40 minutes due to traffic). On the way back we got a bus to Heraklion (2 euros each) and then explored the town before getting a bus back to the hotel (2 euros 40) and bus stop 15 is just at the top of the road and then it's a 10 minute walk back. At the top of the road there is a car hire/tour shop with money exchange (not the best rates) and a little supermarket. There is also a small cafe by the bus stop.
There is not a lot around the hotel. One way there is a little duck pond just off the beach and the other way has a promenade with a few hotels and restaurants. It's also on the flight path (planes coming into land) but it doesn't bother us as we have the same at home. It's not all day, it’s not that loud and you get used to it.
𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘀
We did attempt to organise a trip to the Agrecofarm but it was a little tricky. We made about 6 visits to reception and were then booked in for something not quite as first advised and found this out by asking more questions as we felt something wasn't quite right. It's 60 euros per person plus a 250 euro return taxi trip and you can only do the tour in the evening. In the end we decided not to go. It's a shame that they don't run a weekly trip here.
Koutouloufari and Hersonissos are 15 minutes away by bus (2 euros per person each way). Nice to have a walk around. Busy with a different feel. Koutouloufari is a pretty Greek village and would be a nice place to visit in the evening perhaps getting a bus there and a taxi back.
Thank you Grecotel Amirandes for the most relaxing holiday ever!



The architecture and feel of the hotel is gorgeous, the lagoons make the place feel very relaxing.
Me and my boyfriend were very lucky to be upgraded from Meli Palace to Amirandes for the last two nights of our stay and had the comfort package - includes breakfast, lunch, dinner in the main restaurant and drinks at all bars. There are some extra costs if you wanted an a la carte meal or food in the pool bar and certain drinks however there was a good selection of food when we were there and an amazing selection of drinks.
I don’t think we would have needed to buy anything extra as the main buffet restaurant is stunning with a water feature in the middle, it doesn’t feel like you are even in a restaurant. The food itself was very tasty and fresh but the buffet area can feel crowded during peak times. There were some dishes that were lukewarm rather than hot too but never cold.
The room we had was stunning with a comfy bed and a bottle of rose waiting for us. The room was spotless and very spacious and matched the luxury of the rest of the hotel whereas our previous hotel room was very basic. We were lucky enough to have sunbeds and full table on our terrace which was perfect for the evening sun.
The pool and beach areas have very comfy sunbeds and a nice touch of towels being available to self-change whenever you wanted. The pool wasn’t too cold and you could easily get used to the temperature but it is very salty! There are lots of sunbeds but majority of them get areas of shade as they are under the wooden structure around the pool.
The staff work very hard at keeping the place spotless and all guests happy, it doesn’t go unnoticed. Everyone always has a smile on their face and are happy to help even after their long days. We didn’t get his name but the supervisor at the labyrinth bar from morning to night was very welcoming and efficient at serving us drinks throughout our stay. They also had a coffee tester station at breakfast for world coffee day which was very cool and something different.
The hotel is around 20 mins from the airport and under the flight path of incoming flights so there is often airplanes flying over. Unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to explore Gouves or outside the hotel but it seems to have decent transport to the main towns.
I have never had a bad experience with Grecotel, their standards in their premium hotels is very high. We would love to return to Amirandes one day and are missing it so much! Thank you grecotel <3

Highlights:
The architecture is stunning.
The entire area is kept spotless and the beach is raked every morning.
The staff are very friendly, nothing is too much trouble.
The main 50m seawater pool is never overcrowded. It is possible to swim in shady areas in the heat of the day. There are ample sunbeds under slatted roofing. Fresh towels are always available and friendly staff provide refreshments from the pool bar/restaurant. Special mention of Gianni whose welcoming smile could light a room. Sunbeds are also available on grassy areas and the beaches.
Food: The main restaurant has tables around a lagoon area and on two balconies overlooking the sea or central lagoon. Staff will show you to a table of your choice and provide drinks. Thanks to Vasso and Soula for excellent service. A self service buffet provides a wide range of
foods. Four speciality restaurants, Asian, Italian Cretan and a grill provide food at higher prices, well worth paying on occasions.
We will go again.
Why ? 😎
There are many reasons:
⭐️ The complex is beautifully landscaped, with many sunbathing areas, water areas, a large pool and direct seafront location.
⭐️ Even if the hotel is fully booked, you never get the feeling that it is overcrowded, so well distributed the guests on the premises.
⭐️ The food is first class. In the main restaurant there is a beautifully arranged buffet for breakfast and dinner. If something is empty, it is quickly refilled, and it is always made sure that everything looks clean and appetizing. There are also 4 specialty restaurants for which reservations are required. Again, everything is of excellent quality.
⭐️ The sports programme offers different activities every day: Football, paddleball, table tennis, volleyball, TRX, yoga, Pilates and more. Also special variants such as sub-yoga on paddleboards in the water and soon also training on mini trampolines.
👉 I would particularly like to highlight Niki. She is a very experienced trainer for yoga, Pilates, TRX etc. I like her great competence, her attention, so that no one gets hurt by a wrong exercise and her personality so positive, appreciative and interested.
⭐️ The staff is friendly throughout and always strives to ensure guests are well. With many employees you feel like you are meeting friends, so warmly you are treated here.
If something doesn't go quite smoothly, everyone immediately tries to fix it again.
🤩 This is definitely not the last time we are here!
🙏 Many thanks to the entire team of the Amirandes.
We chose the B&B option and were well looked after by Vaso in the restaurant along with the always smiling Katerina who always took time to have a quick chat. Thank you to you both for making breakfast a happy start to the day. The choice of food is very good.
The pool is huge and was warm once you got in. Plenty of sunbeds and parasols so no need to reserve. A big thank you to Yiannis who was always there with a huge smile and warm welcome to help put up the parasols. The waiters, Pavlos and Manos, must walk miles every day and they work really hard and are fantastic members of the team.
The food in the Japanese and Italian restaurants was amazing and the salads at lunchtime by the pool a refreshing treat.
For those who like to do a bit of gym work then I highly recommend having time with George in the outdoor gym. He made the exercises interesting and used his sense of humour to push me beyond what I thought I could do and, in the end, I really looked forward to working with him after a day at the pool. He knows his stuff and how to strengthen various parts of the anatomy. Whilst the gym area has quite a bit of equipment, I am sure with more (including more of the same items) then it will enable a larger audience to be attracted. George you are a star.
The only thing I would mention is that the hotel complex is a little out of the way for people with mobility issues. However, you can hire a private taxi (8 euro fixed fare) to get into the Gouves restaurants. We got a mobile number of a private taxi and used whatsapp to book in advance an hour or more before pickup time and we had no issues whatsoever.
In summary this holiday will give you the relaxing break you need and whilst comments have been made about the price of drinks, it is 5 star and it isn’t much more than in the local bars. Thank you to the whole Amirandes Team for making our stay so relaxing and enjoyable. You are all a credit to the hotel group.
Comfortable rooms.
The food is fantastic in terms of quality and variety, it is one of the hotel's great strengths.
Perfect for families with a spectacular kids club, the animators Helena and Sara are tireless, always careful, lively and fun!
Everything is available to children in the room on request (bed, bath mat, bathtub, potty, bench for brushing teeth).
The employees are always in a good mood, calm and always ready to help.
The hotel is also well thought out for people without children who are looking for tranquility because the areas are really well divided.
The reception staff are professional and always available.
The hotel really has those little touches that make us feel special.

We too found the food extremely disappointing, repetitive and poor quality. The buffet restaurant has slow service and the environment is made worse by the constant low mood cover music coming from the speakers. The staff is helpful, probably overwhelmed at peak times. I believe this is hotel policy and a stinginess from the part of the management.
The room is comfortable and spacious. The fact the mini bar is kept empty, save water, despite the ‘all inclusive package’ was also a major disappointment.
The beach sun-beds really do seem to be reserved for the Villa guests - which is fine, as long as there are enough for all guests - which doesn’t seem to be the case. This was extremely disappointing, as we were looking for a relaxing BEACH holiday.
With the exception of the check in, reception was overall dismissive and uninterested. To top it off with a bang, our check out experience was awful. We requested a late check out, but were given an appointment time to ‘freshen-up’ instead. This consisted of a 30 minute slot in a guest room, so that the family could get ready to leave for the airport after being at the beach, which is completely unrealistic. The bathroom was small, the toilet seat placed under the sink and the shower quickly flooded with water into the room itself. In this chaos, reception made the point of calling us in the room twice, at 30 minutes and 35 minutes, to tell us it was time to leave the room, as other guests needed to use it. Appalling treatment in a so called exclusive high end hotel. We have been travelling for years and never seen that before. Horrendous!
The staff are unbeatable in terms of friendliness and this applies to all areas. We felt so incredibly comfortable and welcome.
The restaurant terrace is spread over different levels so that guests are never crowded together. Perfectly solved. In the evening, the view of the sunset and the sea from the non-smoking balcony is sensational.
The buffet is very tasty and varied, no matter what meal you have.
As part of our catering option, we used the Lago Di Candia and ate on the floating deck, another highlight. A visit to the Argreco Farm is an absolute must. It is fantastically located, up in the mountains. You can also have another dinner here.
It is better to be cautious with the starters, otherwise you won't be able to finish the main course.
The 3-part beach, although public, is primarily used by guests. Here too, the beach boys do an excellent job.
In some places, you have to watch out for stones in the beautiful water.
The day can end successfully in the Labyrinth Lagoon Bar with subtle live music.
The guest structure consists mainly of couples, otherwise families. Single travelers might feel a bit lost.
It's about a 10-minute walk to the bus stop.
I will definitely come back, everything just fits together, which is certainly partly due to the management, thank you Evgenios S. Lomis.

"If you can - get the sea view rooms because then you can listen to the waves at night"Read full review
"there is a short cut along beach, to a lovely restaurant Island. Very friendly staff, lovely food. Get there before the beautiful sunset."Read full review
"If you want to enjoy dining flexibility go on a B&B basis. And do take up the free cookery class or wine tasting if available! "Read full review
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