TUI BLUE Atlantica Creta Paradise

There are two 'sister' hotels operating on the same site and sharing some facilities. The site map you are given covers both and is a bit confusing in the way it shows the buildings of the two (not helped by smudged printing). In one instance, the TUI welcome session is advertised as held at the 'Main Stage'. This is found on the map easily enough, in the sister hotel, - but is not the place where TUI want you to be. The welcome is actually held at the 'Amplitheatre', in your own hotel. I can only assume it had been a long season for the reps! The medical aid facility, marked on the map, no longer exists - or we simply couldn't find it. It mattered because on Day 2 on of us went down with a vomiting bug that required the next two days being spent sitting on the loo and holding a waste bin. Then the other went down with it as the first victim moved back onto solid food, i.e. toast. The housekeeper was tremendously understanding throughout. Reception was a tad less helpful, not managing much more than telling us the pharmacies were closed and misdirecting us to one! Customer services did telephone our room a couple af days after the bug struck but by that time we had identified the beast as norovirus, or similar, and declined their offer of a doctor as there was nothing additional a medic could do. On the last full day, we were both just about fit enough to leave our room and catch the bus into Chania to explore. The packed lunch the hotel gave us was alright as far as snacks go but I look forward to the day when hotels realize that sandwiches are more edible when the bread is buttered. I have to say that if a body has to spend most of a holiday confined to a hotel room I would prefer it to be the suite we got here on a late booking reduction. There wasn't much chance to use the outside space - a good size and semi-private (beware, some ground floor patios are directly adjacent to walkways). The quality of food was good though the variety seemed a bit samey over the week. We can however testify to the quality of the toast and tastiness of the chips - our main diet! The wine was very poor, but we don't go All-Inclusive to drink a lot! On the one day it rained, the main restaurant had fewer (dry) seats and had people queue to go in on a 'one in, one out,' basis. It seemed irrational, given the buffet style of the place. As far as I could see when I did eventually get in, it served no purpose. We wouldn't mind visiting this hotel again to use as a base for visiting this area of Crete.

Great value for money. Staff really friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Restaurants and bars kept clean, staff never stopped tidying up and always had a smile on their faces. Worth paying for all inclusive. Good variety of food, something for everyone. Nice & peaceful and a relaxing atmosphere. Would definitely go back again.