Mitsis Royal Mare

We had an absolutely fantastic stay at Mitsis Royal Mare in Crete. From the moment we arrived, we were incredibly impressed with the entire experience.

The resort itself is beautiful. The property is stunning, exceptionally well maintained, and has such a relaxing atmosphere. It truly feels like a special place to spend a vacation.

The food was incredible throughout our stay. We were consistently impressed by the quality, variety, and overall dining experience. Just as impressive was the service. Everyone we encountered was friendly, welcoming, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care that we were enjoying our time at the resort.

There really wasn’t anything we were disappointed with. We were so happy with the property, the food, the service, and the entire experience. It was one of those vacations where you leave already thinking about coming back.

We would absolutely stay at Mitsis Royal Mare again and would highly recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Crete. A wonderful resort and a fantastic experience from beginning to end.

We had a really enjoyable stay overall and would happily recommend the hotel, although there are a few things worth knowing before booking.

The good stuff

From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel welcome. We were given welcome drinks, and the reception staff and bus boys were really helpful, giving us a tour of the hotel and explaining how everything worked on our first day.

Our room was cleaned every day and the fridge was topped up daily, which was a nice touch. We did have an issue with the fridge during our stay, but after reporting it to reception it was sorted within a couple of hours.

The grounds are really scenic and there are some lovely views around the resort.

The beach snack bar was great for lunch if you didn’t fancy sitting down for a full meal or going into the buffet. The food from the à la carte restaurants was also really good and definitely worth trying.

One of our favourite things was the snorkelling. The beach at the bottom of the hotel has loads of fish and plenty of underwater ecosystems to explore. There are quite a few sea urchins and the entrance into the sea is rocky, so I’d definitely recommend buying some water shoes. The sea was like getting into a bath and was actually warmer than the pools during our stay.

The main pool was also great. It isn’t heated, but it was between around 26–30°C while we were there, so it was actually a really refreshing temperature. It also wasn’t overly salty, which was a bonus.

We didn’t have any problems getting a sunbed on either the beach or around the main pool, provided we were down there by around 10am. It wasn’t particularly busy during our stay though, and I could definitely see this becoming more of an issue during busier periods. There were only two of us, which obviously made finding space easier.

Another nice touch was the watermelon slices brought around to people on the beach around midday. Little things like this really make a difference, and I’d love to see the hotel do a few more things like this.

Things that could be improved

The room was probably the biggest disappointment. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it was a little underwhelming compared with the rest of the hotel. There was no bath or iron, although this wasn’t a massive issue for us as we didn’t spend a huge amount of time in the room anyway.

I’d say around 99% of the staff were excellent and genuinely couldn’t do enough to help. There were one or two who weren’t quite as friendly or helpful, but to be fair, you’ll get that in pretty much every workplace and it didn’t have a major impact on our stay.

One slightly strange thing is that drinks from the evening menu aren’t available during the day, and drinks from the daytime menu aren’t available in the evening. It would be nice to have more flexibility with this.

The O’Club put on various activities, but these seemed to be aimed mainly at French guests. The reps themselves were great though, and we did manage to join in with some activities when they were short on numbers, so it wasn’t a major issue.

The cocktails were also a bit disappointing as they seemed to be mainly ice rather than much else!

A few other things worth knowing

We paid €45 for a taxi from the airport to the hotel.

The Port of Hersonissos is well worth a visit. There are loads of restaurants, sports bars and shops, and it’s nice to have a walk around in the evening. A taxi from the hotel cost us around €12.

The hotel is on quite a big hill. We didn’t find it too much of an issue, but I could see it being difficult for some older travellers or anyone with mobility issues.

Some areas around the hotel can also get quite slippery, so something to be aware of.

The sea was quite choppy for most of our stay, although there’s a little cove around a 15-minute walk away which was much more sheltered. Sunbeds there were €15 for the day.

One final thing to be aware of is the planes. The sky around the hotel is pretty busy and I’d estimate we saw somewhere between 50–100 planes flying over during the day. We didn’t personally find it a major problem, but if you’re looking for somewhere completely peaceful and quiet, it’s worth knowing.

Overall

We had a really good holiday and there are definitely more positives than negatives. The staff, grounds, food, pool and especially the snorkelling were the highlights for us. There are a few things that could be improved, but none of them were enough to ruin our stay.

Would we come back? Yes, I think we would.

Title: An Unforgettable Stay – Mitsis Royal Mare

Sets a New Standard in Crete! We had an absolutely fantastic week at the Mitsis Royal Mare resort. Over the years, we have stayed at several luxury resorts across Crete within a similar price range, but in our opinion, none come close to this level of quality. The dedication, service, immaculate cleanliness, and genuine friendliness of everyone on-site far exceeded our expectations.

Immaculate Cleanliness, Grounds & Care for Animals From day one, we were struck by how meticulously clean and well-maintained the entire property is. The housekeeping and maintenance teams do phenomenal work: every morning at the crack of dawn, you can see staff actively mopping, scrubbing, and caring for the outdoor tiles and walkways across the entire resort. The gardens and paths remain pristine throughout the day. A particularly heartwarming detail was the resort’s animal-friendly ethos. The local resort cats are treated with kindness and respect, provided with designated feeding areas, and genuinely cared for. It speaks volumes about the warmth and values of the management and team.

Dining Experience & Room Service The culinary offerings were a delight across the board. Both the à la carte restaurants and the main buffet delivered a great dining experience. What we especially appreciated about the buffet was the daily variety: the menu rotates every single day, keeping the dishes varied, flavorful, and fresh, even during a longer stay. Room service is prompt and operates on a very clear, flat fee, making it completely hassle-free to order. If we have one minor, constructive suggestion: it would be wonderful if room service were available a bit later into the night (deliveries currently stop around 22:00/23:00). Fortunately, the resort already has a solid alternative, as you can head to on-site dining venues to get a hot or fresh bite to eat until 04:00.

Luxury Facilities, Transportation & Wellness When it comes to relaxation, everything you could possibly need is right here. We booked extra access to the Wellness Area during our stay, and it was worth every single penny—a true oasis of calm to recharge after an active day exploring the island. Another major convenience is the on-site buggy shuttle service. You can request a golf cart at any point, and a driver arrives promptly to take you wherever you need to go on the grounds. Whether you have walking difficulties, tired feet after a long excursion, or perhaps enjoyed one cocktail too many at the bar, just ask and the friendly drivers are ready to help.

Shops & Lifelong Memories The third-party facilities located directly within the resort add a wonderful touch to the experience. There are two convenience stores on-site; while prices are naturally a bit higher than a standard supermarket off the resort, the selection is great and the staff are very friendly. There is also a lovely boutique and a jewelry shop, both well worth browsing.

A special mention must go to the two on-site photographers. For a very fair, reasonable price, they captured our holiday in stunning photos. We are heading home with high-quality, tangible memories that we will cherish forever. Exceptional Service & Personal Thanks Finally, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the concierge for the wonderful guidance. Thanks to their insightful recommendations, genuine interest, and local expertise, we enjoyed some fantastic island excursions tailored perfectly to what we wanted to see.

A huge, personal special thanks to Afrodite Nikiforou and Jorge: your warm hospitality, attentive care, and positive energy gave our holiday that true golden touch!

We would also like to thank the entire team working between August 16th and 23rd, as well as photographer Antonio and his colleague (whose name has unfortunately slipped our minds—sorry!) for their great work and pleasant company.

Both the Mitsis staff and the external teams made this trip truly unforgettable. One thing is certain: we will 100% be returning. Hopefully, see you next year!