Anemos Luxury Grand Resort

Impressions So Far – Day 3

We are on day three of our stay, so these are our impressions so far.

The room

We booked a Deluxe Garden View room via easyJet and requested a quiet, non-ground-floor room directly with the hotel.

Our first room, while fine inside, was on the first floor directly opposite the buffet restaurant and kitchen area. Privacy was limited, and strong cooking smells made the terrace unusable. We asked for a change and Nikkos handled this quickly and efficiently, which was a clear positive.

The new room is much better: more private, no kitchen smells, and a pleasant terrace. It was also spotless on arrival.

However, after housekeeping on day two, the room developed a strong musty, mildew-like smell, as if an old mop had been used. We tried airing it and cleaning the floor ourselves but did not report it at the time.

The new room also did not match our bedding request. We had asked for a king bed due to travelling with a child, but were given two twin beds pushed together and an uncomfortable cot.

Half board and restaurants

Half board breakfast is buffet-only, with no host or seating assistance. You simply find a table and wait for service, which is inconsistent and sometimes doesn’t arrive.

Drinks are not included, including water and coffee.

Guests can book three set-menu restaurants per stay. Even on all-inclusive, this limit remains. Extra visits must be paid for. The rest of the time is buffet dining or additional payment, which feels restrictive for a hotel of this positioning.

All-inclusive and service

We upgraded to all-inclusive after calculating drink and snack costs.

Service around the resort has been inconsistent and below expectations for this level. Around the pool and slides, it is often difficult to get served, and guests frequently need to go to the bar themselves, where service can feel indifferent.

Compared with other Greek resorts we’ve stayed at, including Ikos Oceania, Lyttos Beach and Athena Palace, the difference is noticeable. Those hotels consistently offered more attentive and friendly service.

Guest services and information

A major frustration is the lack of organisation and information.

There is only one customer relations desk handling everything, leading to queues for basic requests. There is no effective app or in-room system for menus, bookings or information, which feels outdated for a resort of this size.

Taxes and payment

Tourist tax must be paid in cash on arrival, which is inconvenient and unusual compared to other hotels we’ve visited.

Pools and children

Families should be aware of limitations:

• Indoor pool is adults only
• Children’s slide pool is around 1.6m deep and not suitable for younger or less confident swimmers
• Main pools are generally deep, with limited shallow areas
• Very little shaded swimming space is available

The slides are shaded but become extremely hot and uncomfortable to use.

Beach and sunbeds

The beach is excellent and easily accessible, and there are plenty of sunbeds available.

However, some parasols are old and difficult to operate. On one occasion, guests were left to struggle with them without assistance, which reflects a broader lack of proactive service.

Grounds and overall feel

The grounds feel dry and under-maintained in places, lacking the lush appearance expected of a five-star resort. While the climate is challenging, other resorts manage to present more carefully maintained landscaping.

Expectations and “luxury”

Our expectations are influenced by previous stays at Ikos Oceania, where service is consistently proactive and guest-focused.

While not every hotel operates at that level, attentive service is not unique to Ikos. Here, the overall impression is that the guest experience is not the central focus.

It often feels like: you have booked, you are here, and this is what you get.

That is disappointing given the cost. The issue is not that the hotel is плох, but that it does not match the level of luxury implied by its pricing.

Luxury, in our view, is defined by small details: attentiveness, ease, anticipation of needs, and consistent care. These are largely missing so far.

Management responses to reviews

Before booking, we read previous reviews and noticed a defensive tone in some management responses.

While context is understandable, guests compare hotels within the same price and star category. On that basis, some recurring criticisms seem valid and worth addressing rather than dismissing.

The hotel is not without positives, but when marketed as five-star luxury, it must be measured against similar properties.

At present, it is difficult to fully align the experience with the term “luxury.”

Overall impression after three days

Overall, the resort feels functional rather than luxurious.

Positives include the beach, our improved room, and the quick resolution of our initial issue. However, service inconsistency, limited organisation, and lack of attention to detail are noticeable.

The main issue is that the guest experience does not feel central to how the resort operates. At this price point, that expectation is reasonable.

We still hope the remainder of the stay improves, but at present there is a clear gap between the hotel’s positioning and the experience delivered.

Lovely hotel in beautiful surroundings and scenery. 30 minutes bus ride to Rethymno, which is definitely worth a visit and a 30 minute walk in to Georgioupoli, we walked back on the beach a much better route. Had a spacious and quiet suite, that was perfect for the family. Hotel had a calm atmosphere considering it was the school holidays and always plenty of sun beds. Wide selection of food and drink, from 5 restaurants, buffet to daytime snacks. Restaurants could be booked in advance.