Jo An Beach

Jo-An Beach Hotel is listed as a 4 star. Unfortunately it is at best a 3, with ample potential to improve.

Check in was simple, we have been greeted by friendly staff the entire time and rooms are spacious. The area itself is stunning but amenities are lacking and upgrades are needed in most areas. There are 900 and something rooms, even in September I had prepared for more noise/disturbance but it was minimal, but as was the entertainment (unsure if there is more on offer in the busier months).

We have a family/double room, with a bathroom as a divider. There is an air con unit on the master side, I think a second one would be helpful for the other. We asked for a fan to make the children more comfortable but I was told there are none. There is 24 hour assistance by telephone or by desk, and I did see staff taking meals to those arriving later than restaurant hours.

The highlight has been the wonderful kitchen staff, waiters/waitresses. Fotis has been exceptionally helpful as I am gluten intolerant. He has talked me through (at every meal) what I can/cannot eat & has prepared meals especially. The women have been so warm with my children and made them look forward to meal times - thank you so much.

Although I am on holiday, life admin does not stop and the WiFi really struggled. After 11pm it seems to improve however. Crete itself isn't great if you are roaming, anyone needing to keep on top of life back home, maybe a local sim would be helpful?

TLDR - the hotel is warm & friendly and can offer a basic space to rest, improvements needed.

One of the worst hotel experiences we have ever had

This was, without a doubt, one of the most disappointing vacation experiences we have ever had at an all-inclusive hotel. The hotel advertises itself as a 4-star property, but based on our 10-day stay, it is nowhere near that standard.

The hotel is more than 40 years old, and it clearly shows. The infrastructure is outdated, the furniture is old and heavily worn, and many of the facilities and doors look like they have not been properly renovated in decades. The overall impression is of a hotel that has been left behind while still charging prices as if it were a modern 4-star resort.

The beach bar opening at 11:00 a.m. is already disappointing for an all-inclusive resort. Even worse, the snack bar operates for only around 2.5 hours per day, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This is extremely limited for a hotel that claims to offer an all-inclusive experience.

The situation at the restaurant is also unacceptable. During lunch and dinner, you cannot simply get the drink you want yourself—you have to wait for a waiter and place an order. Asking for a second drink can even result in an unpleasant or judgmental reaction from the staff. This is hardly the level of service one would expect from a 4-star all-inclusive hotel.

The furniture in the rooms and common areas is extremely old and worn out. Even more concerning, our bed linen was not changed once during our entire 10-day stay. This is completely unacceptable for a hotel charging 4-star prices.

One of the most frustrating incidents happened when we lost hot water in our room. After contacting Reception, we subsequently lost the cold water as well. When we called Reception again, we were basically told that the receptionist was “just a receptionist” and could not do anything other than call a technician. While we understand that technical problems can happen, the way the situation was handled showed a complete lack of urgency and customer care.

The biggest problem is that this hotel seems to rely on its 4-star rating to justify its prices while failing to provide anything close to a 4-star experience. Old facilities, limited food and beverage services, poor maintenance, and disappointing service simply do not justify the money guests are paying.

After spending 10 days here, our conclusion is very simple: this hotel is seriously overpriced and does not deserve its 4-star rating or the prices it charges. If you are looking for a comfortable, well-maintained all-inclusive resort with a genuin 4-star standard, I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere.