Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection

I don’t write much reviews but this one was worth taking the time. I have traveled around the world, this was my first time in Crete and will not be my last. The service is beyond 5 stars, the hotel is at an ideal location, the rooms are modern and well kept. Thank you Domes Noruz for the amazing experience, I highly recommend this hotel 5++++++

Domes Noruz Chania is perfectly fine, but it falls well short of true luxury. It is honestly baffling how this property managed to secure a spot on the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) roster, as the overall experience aligns far more with a standard mid-tier stay than a high-end destination. Design-wise, the room interiors lean much closer to a cookie-cutter Aloft than a refined Autograph Collection property. The layout feels surprisingly cave-like, and privacy is virtually non-existent; if you pull back the blinds to let in any natural light, anyone walking past outside can look straight in.  To make matters worse, the Wi-Fi connectivity is painfully sluggish throughout the property, making even basic browsing a frustration. The treatment of Marriott Bonvoy elite members also leaves a lot to be desired. Despite holding status, we weren't just assigned a baseline entry-level room—we were given the absolute worst room out of that baseline tier, offering the least privacy on the property. Booking through Amex FHR didn't seem to offer any additional leverage or protection either, as it failed to prevent us from being assigned such an exposed, undesirable room. At the end of the day, it is not a luxury resort by any stretch—it’s just fine, but far from extraordinary.

We stayed here for a week last year and it was the most beautiful hotel with fantastic service. We dined a few times in Topos restaurant and every dish we ate was wonderful. We had a minor inconvenience with our room and the staff went above and beyond to rectify the situation. We have spent a year thinking about this hotel, and next week, we finally get to return. This hotel is something special.

This adults-only hotel is located on a stunning calm and sandy beach. Parking at the front of the hotel is very limited - maybe about 7 cars - but the hotel does provide complimentary valet parking (or you can self park at the parking lot at the bottom of the road). The check-in process was a bit long-winded but we were eventually upgraded to a loft room overlooking the pool and sea. The duplex room was modern with lovely decor and included a balcony with outside bathtub (plus modesty screen) and separate plunge pool. However, the bed was only a queen size and it really was a tight squeeze upstairs in the loft area. The shower room was also very small with the sink outside in the living space. On reflection, we felt the room was awkward and to some extent style over substance. The buffet breakfast was a decent spread and you could order eggs any which way for free as well as any type of coffee (although the staff didn't inform us of this). They also had an à la carte menu which was extra. There's both an outdoor and indoor gym, and the pool together with pool bar was an excellent place to watch the sunset. We dined at the Topos restaurant one evening...whilst the portions were small, the dishes we tried were very well executed. The service was a little lapse however, but maybe that was because we sat away from other diners in one of the corners. Because the beach in front of the hotel is technically a public beach, the resort has installed mini safes on their umbrella stands (big enough for your phone and wallet). We had no problems securing complimentary loungers and umbrellas, and the beach was definitely one of the high points of our stay here. The hotel also has a couple of swimming pools. There was the aforementioned pool with pool bar which has music and a more lively ambience. There's also the quiet pool elsewhere on the grounds which was great for reading and general peace & quiet. We had complimentary access to the Soma Spa facilities which included a heated indoor pool, sauna, and steam room. Treatments were extra of course. Overall, we enjoyed our stay here but it was not perfect.

Recently returned form this hotel after spending two weeks at the venue. Due to limited characters will try and fit it all in - Good - nice beach and great sunsets Close to Chania - fabulous town and great restaurants Topos restaurant - very good Raw bar - nice place for evening drink watching sunset Room amenities were adequate, great shower, bed very comfortable and beautiful linen. Great gym inside and outside Restaurant, bar and cleaning staff were fabulous. Tean and coffee machine was good but had to phone reception for it to be restocked on numerous occasions. Birthday cake and bottle in room. Sunbeds are very comfortable. The place is kept very clean. Balcony pool is a nice touch, small but no privacy. Not good - Worst reception area to a hotel ive ever visited. Library where half board guests get snacks, is in a dungeon, underground with no windows, not enough seating, the food was not restocked adequately and the additional evening drinks were adequate, nothing special. Definitely not worth the upgrade. Any use of the spa is an additional cost even the pool. The evening entertainment was poor for a 5 star hotel, with the same ones on a weekly repeat. The rooms were certainly not big enough for 4 people, just the two of us felt cramped. There was seating both inside and out but nothing reclining to chill and snooze. Mini bar had no price list, which we found to be extortionate on departure and we were charged for items tht we did not take. Worst - our welcome text message was received a day prior to our deprture, Our packge included a free mixology class and one free a la carte meal which we did not receive. Our initial reception at the hotel was not good as we were rudely spoken to by one of the managers (Blonde hair) as she clearly believed that we had never stayed in a 5 star hotel before. Similarly a day befor departure we were spoken to by another femle manager (dark hair) and as we explained our disapponting review to her she got defensive and told us that we could not give anything below 9 or 10 score. Overall after waiting a year to visit the hotel, sadly we returned home with a sour taste in our mouths. Those of you considering this hotel would know that it is not cheap, but sadly we can go somewhere else next time. If you decide to go, I would advise staying on a bed and breakfast basis and trying the vast choice of restaurants that are available with some treat nights at the hotel.