Kastalia Village

Just arrived back from this oasis we booked very last minute with jet 2 and a great price . We arrived very late due to a delay . We were greeted by friendly reception staff , given a bottle of water and shown to our large 2 bedroom apartment and slept . 3 adults 2 children 1 buggy . 1st - apartment was large , clean , a bit dated but everything we needed . It was cleaned , tidied with new white towels and bedding daily . The grounds are fantastic , beautiful , clean and it’s a large complex . 3 pools 1 adult only , a splash park with slides open 10 till 3 with lifeguard and a large family pool with kids area , all spotless . Plenty of beds , a small playpark and lots of seating areas . A big shout out to friendly Stefan in the restaurant lovely food everytime . We didn’t find this an issue but there are lots of steps in the complex . There are also cars but we like them and they don’t bother you . It’s a bit off the beaten track as resorts go but it’s authentic and I loved that . There’s plenty of lovely tavernas around and great food , good prices and the staff always there to please and give Cretan raki after a meal . There are bus stops outside the complex we visited Chania, kolymbari and platanias . It’s cheap to travel and easy though they do get busy . All staff were helpful and courteous , we loved this resort and will return , Thankyou for making our holiday fabulous .

This resort is truly a gem – beautifully designed and very well maintained. The staff are extremely polite, attentive, and always ready to help, which makes the stay even more enjoyable. The facilities are excellent and cater to all types of guests. There are three swimming pools: one for children and adults with water slides and a lifeguard until 3:00 p.m., another for children and adults open all day, and, best of all, an adults-only pool offering complete peace and relaxation. The rooms are spotless, comfortable, and well-kept, while the breakfast buffet is rich, varied, and sure to please every palate. Beyond that, the resort offers plenty of options for leisure and entertainment: a bar with refreshing drinks, arcade games, a fully equipped gym, and even a library where you can enjoy a good novel by the pool. For those who prefer outdoor activities, there are also various games and sports, including mini golf, which make it even more enjoyable for both adults and children. It’s an ideal place for both families and couples, striking the perfect balance between fun and relaxation. Highly recommended for anyone looking for restful, carefree, and memorable holidays.

It depends what you want out of a holiday and we chose this hotel purely as a base. We had Self Catering as it was the only option on Jet 2 but this maybe different for non Jet 2 customers. We were located down next to the waterslides ( the room up the spiral staircase right next to the slide) and crazy golf and initially when we arrived in the dead of night we were disappointed to be put there. In addition the room was dark and not very cheery, we planned to ask to move in the morning. However when we awoke and looked out of the sliding doors we were looking out the back of the hotel onto lovely fields, the odd building and the sea in the distance. It was like being in Greece many years ago before the mass building of hotels. Every morning we got to see the goat herder try to herd his goats up the lane and the goats make a run for the grass. There were hardly any cars, and the lane opposite led to the sea and a few restaurants. We loved it. In addition the waterslide didn’t open until 10 and closed early so the noise was not an issue. Being where we were I think was the quietest part of the hotel as we could barely hear the noise from the pool area. Although our room was a bit dingy, we reasoned, having nosied into other rooms as we passed that they just hadn’t got to our room with redecorating as others looked nicer. More white furniture etc, although the bathroom was definately updated and very nice. Watch the shower though it can suddenly get really hot. our room was attended to nearly every day. The biggest negative was the very very noisy Air conditioning, we had to wear earplugs to sleep if we wanted it on at night. Our neighbour also complained at the noise of ours!!!! We did not eat at the restaurant, but had a few drinks We went out most of our 2 weeks to the beach hit used the adult pool every evening. It’s peaceful with no kiddies but the road which is at the front of the hotel is quite noisy. The pool is lovely. Always clean and refreshing. The accommodation around this pool looks nice. The gardens and plants are kept wonderfully and make the paths and walkways so pretty. The family pool was busy everyday with mainly younger kiddies but some teens having fun. There are outdoor showers available by the pools. Although we didn’t go, there was some low key entertainment in the open air bar whilst we were there, mainly for adults I think. There is a lovely restaurant or two behind the hotel. The cats were not a problem as they didn’t really beg. I do think the hotel should feed and neuter the cats/kittens that are there. If all hotels took this responsibility there would be less little strays (left to fend for themselves in the winter when no tourists to feed them) The back of the hotel , where our room faced had a road to the beach. This was a really disappointing beach, pebbly and was rarely in use because of this. We didn’t use it. It’s not really suitable for taking little kiddiwinks to for a beach day as the pebbles are not comfy and would need beach shoes to get in and out of the sea. We used this hotel as a base to visit Balos beach, Elefonisi beach, Falasarna beach, to go to Chania and down to Palaiochora on the South coast as well as other little beaches etc as we hired a car. Be warned you cannot easily drive to Balos (hire car companies don’t like it because the road is a track and also where you park means a long walk to the beach. We took a boat trip to Gramvousa/Balos but did drive to the others. Do your research before going. As a base this hotel was fine for us but not many frills or comforts if that’s what you like. It’s pleasant to look at, some rooms are ok but the location isn’t great if you want to walk out of an evening, or day! No nice tavernas ( except a few at the back and down by the pebbly beach) or shops to peruse. Nearby Kolymvari is nice and also Kissamos abit further away. Just a side note the hotel car park is small but there is an overflow a little walk away which we were not keen on leaving the car at.

Hotel Kastalia Village Review Hotel Kastalia Village offers a pleasant getaway, especially for couples seeking relaxation in a serene environment. We arrived late at night alongside many other guests, which highlighted the hotel's staffing limitations, as only one staff member was available to assist. This led to a somewhat overwhelming welcome. Our room was a standout feature—modern, spacious, and without any issues, making it a comfortable retreat. The adult pool was fantastic, cleaned daily, and provided a great spot for relaxation. However, we found the children's facilities to be a mixed bag. While the children's pool was adequate, the baby pool was disappointingly dirty at times, and the water park, with only three slides, left our older kids feeling a bit bored after just a few tries. The dining options were average, with a reasonable variety that didn't break the bank. However, the play area could use some maintenance, as it appeared rundown. Still, our little one enjoyed the swings. Entertainment was limited, with only a couple of acts performing on Tuesdays and Fridays, which then repeated the following week. Beyond that, options for entertainment were scarce, requiring travel to find anything more engaging. In summary, Hotel Kastalia Village is a lovely escape for couples, but for families, it may not be the best choice. We found it challenging to keep our children entertained, and the location, while peaceful, is somewhat isolated. Although the beach is a short 10-minute walk away, it's not particularly inviting, being deserted and lacking sand. Overall, I appreciate the hotel's ambiance, but I wouldn’t consider returning with my family due to the limited activities for kids.

Review of Kastalia Village, Kolymbari, Crete – August 2024 & August 2025 One of the most telling aspects of hotel reviews in general, in my opinion, is how the hotel responds to criticism, whether they accept it with humility or react in a rude or threatening way. When a hotel replies with understanding and respect, it shows that they take their guests seriously and are open to improving, rather than immediately going on the defensive or accusing the guests of lying witch gives a big red flag in my opinion . The kind of response speaks volumes about the attitude and values of the management. We stayed at Kastalia Village in both August 2024 and August 2025. After reading many of the reviews here, I can definitely relate to some of the positive and negative feedback. However, there are also some negative experiences mentioned by others that I personally did not recognize at all. Personally, I have mixed feelings about both the hotel and some of the staff. Mostly positive. The hotel itself is lovely, with clean and comfortable rooms and beautiful gardens. Very nice and clean pools with plenty of sunbeds. It has separate zones for both adults and children, a nice small water park, and various self-service activities like garden chess, table tennis, and a small football pitch. They also have two beautiful old churches on the property. It actually felt really nice to come back this year, despite also having had mixed feelings the year before. This year we stayed at 3 different hotels I Chania. Kastalia was the last one, before we went back home. Most of my concerns are related to a little percentage of the staff rather than the hotel itself. The majority of the staff are very friendly and welcoming. However, a few individuals made us feel like we were a burden or simply not welcome. The same last year. It’s mostly small things like interrupting or walking away when you speak, negative tone or rolling their eyes and mostly the lack of smiles. This only applies to a small number of people (I’d say 90% of the staff are great), but unfortunately, those less friendly individuals work in key areas like the bar and the reception. Last year, I even overheard some staff talking quite openly about guests in Greek. I’ve lived in Greece for many years and understand quite a bit of the language, even though I rarely speak it myself. One thing I found odd this year was the response to the lack of wine glasses in the room. When I asked at the bar, they gave me glasses to borrow without a problem. I asked if I should inform reception, but they told me I had to ask the cleaning staff myself. I found it strange that guests should be expected to track down the cleaners for such things, especially since we were usually out on excursions during the day when the rooms were cleaned. One situation this year made me feel particularly uncomfortable. I had just left a €5 tip in the tip jar at the bar, but when I proceeded to pay by card, the bartender still asked me if I wanted to leave a tip. I found that quite awkward and unnecessary, especially considering I had literally just tipped in cash seconds earlier in front of him? So I tipped him again.. We didn’t eat much at the hotel, but the food we did order at the bar was very good and tasteful. We’ve also heard that the breakfast is excellent. We often dined at the nearby tavernas or ordered gyros and other local food through the eFood app, which offers free delivery in the area. You’ll need a car or take the bus to get to the supermarket or to more child-friendly beaches. The hotel is very peaceful in the evenings, which we appreciate. Still, it would be nice if there was a bit more entertainment, currently I think it’s only once a week. Another small thing: it would be great if the hotel had a mini-market for essentials like bread, milk etc. Kids also love visiting mini-markets to pick out candy, toys, or stuffed animals, and I think the hotel could earn quite a bit from this. The mini-market next door (does not belong to the hotel) barely has anything and was mostly dark inside, probably to save electricity, so we didn’t feel comfortable shopping any food there. All in all, we are very happy with Kastalia and think it’s a great hotel, though it could be even better with a few small adjustments (and smiles). Our cleaning lady was absolutely lovely, warm and genuinely kind. Several staff members also recognized us from last year and made us feel truly welcome. Special thanks to the maintenance/garden man that is always smiling and saying hello, one of the male bartenders, the male waiter, and two wonderful young women at reception. They were all very kind, helpful, and cheerful, and that really makes us want to come back again.