Arina Beach Resort

Well hello again and definitely see u all soon,not the first time we have been this hotel and definitely not the last, well we’re can I start from the excellent reception team helping with the bags to the rooms to the gentleman that has checked me in over 5 times now, rooms are absolutely spotless big lovely show room and open area, kids love the slides and the waterpark and the little extra waffles and stuff outside aswell, food is average don’t no if that’s because me and the family are basic type off people ie pizza chips and chicken nuggets so didn’t really try 2 much extra would definitely recommend the lentil soup could do with being little hotter tho, have a little shop for all your treats and stuff if needed the man who works in there is definitely a cat lover my kids loved him, didn’t really use the spa as it’s not our thing, night time entertainment is okay for us. Guys at the pool bar panos top man my not sure about the other guys name but he loved my kids calling him the bald guy hahaha, the both managers think there both called George not 100% sure am both lovely men always saying hi and keeping eyes open to make sure everything runs good 👍, the best out them all we’re definitely the main bar staff albi and murto made our holiday each night from the little small chats 1 family shot each night to celebrate having fun made us feel right at home, kids didn’t visit kids room as mine are over 10 they did visit the pool table a couple of times to be greeted very rude from a gentleman dimitris so just decided not to go again. Lovely sunset at night time lovely beach could definitely go good with jet ski saves the travelling but it’s not a most, did rent a car from inside the hotel for couple days but prices are little higher then the little place over the road especially when ur looking for a car or quad bike for a few days at a time, would very highly recommend this place especially if your there for a chilled out relaxing time as a said at the start it’s not my first time think 5th now and we will definitely be back it’s not good bye it’s I’ll see u soon big George from your Scottish friend

Arina Beach Resort is located close to Heraklion Airport, about a 10-minute taxi ride away. The hotel area is long and relatively narrow, running parallel to the beach. There is a smaller road right next to the hotel and a motorway further up the hill. We could hear some traffic from the smaller road in our room, but it was not disturbing.

The flight path to Heraklion Airport goes directly over the hotel, so this is something to be aware of when booking. Planes land very frequently, including during the night. However, when travelling with a child, plane spotting was actually a fun bonus rather than a problem. Of course, the situation will change once the new Kastelli Airport opens in 2028.

The hotel itself was of a good standard and very clean. It is an excellent choice for families with children, with a great water park as well as indoor and outdoor play areas for younger children.

The hotel has a long sandy beach with a very gentle slope into the sea. With children, you can walk quite a long way out before the water gets deeper. In our opinion, the beach is excellent by Crete standards, and when staying at this hotel, there is really no need to go elsewhere in search of a good sandy beach.

The food was good quality and varied, and there was also a good selection of drinks.

We stayed in a Superior Sea View room in one of the side buildings near the water park. Our room was in a quiet location, and we were very happy with our choice. In fact, we would have preferred this location to the main building, which looked somewhat busier and livelier.

One thing we particularly liked compared with some other family-friendly resorts was that this hotel would also work well for couples. There are adults-only areas where you can enjoy some peace and quiet, while families can spend their time around the water park and pools. It therefore doesn't feel like a resort that is exclusively focused on families with children.

The only real downside we noticed was the refrigerator in the room. It made quite a loud noise when running, which was slightly disturbing at night.

Overall, we were very happy with our stay at Arina Beach Resort and would definitely return. I would especially recommend it to families with children, but I think it is also a great option for couples looking for a good beach, cleanliness, plenty of facilities and the possibility to find quieter areas within the resort.