Elounda Water Park Residence Hotel

Girgis Salib

Unfortunately, this hotel didn't live up to expectations — or to the standards you'd hope for visiting beautiful Greece. The property feels noticeably outdated and in need of a serious refresh throughout. The layout is a real practical headache. Rooms, pool, canteen, waterpark, and disco area are all scattered across different levels of a very steep hill. Getting between them is exhausting — manageable for the able-bodied, but a genuine challenge with young children, elderly guests, or anyone with mobility issues. There is a buggy service, but the driver we encountered was unwelcoming — no smile, no greeting, and particularly indifferent towards the little ones in our group. The food was consistently disappointing. Everything felt cheap and low quality — bacon so thin it was almost translucent, rubbery mushrooms, and soft drinks from the dispenser that tasted watered down. Even the fruit selection was uninspiring. For a country renowned for its incredible fresh produce and cuisine, the catering here was a real missed opportunity. To top it off, there was a power outage during our stay. The already-basic food options became even more limited, and with no cooling, flies were everywhere — not what you want around a canteen. There are far better-value options in the Heraklion area that will actually let you experience the best of Greek hospitality. Just wanted to add the receptionist elderly lady was so rude on our last day, very blunt and not caring at all. Left a bitter taste. Definitely not returning here again!

JAN KOWALSKI

The only good thing about this hotel were the bartenders – friendly and professional. Unfortunately, everything else was very disappointing. After two requests to change our room because the standard was no more than a 2-star level, the receptionist kept making rude comments instead of helping. After waiting over an hour for assistance, we finally had to carry our own luggage to the room. The food was extremely monotonous every day. Snacks in the main restaurant were supposed to be available from 3 PM, but most of the time there was nothing there, or at best just a few slices of ham. Definitely not the standard we expected and not worth the money.

Ani Tchetchenianova

From the moment we arrived, we felt very welcomed. The staff were smiling, kind and made us feel genuinely happy to be there, which created a great first impression right away. Our room was beautiful, clean and well maintained, with a stunning view that we enjoyed every day. Everything worked perfectly and the atmosphere felt calm and comfortable. The hotel area is not too large, which makes it easy to move around and relax without feeling overwhelmed. The pools and water park are great for both relaxation and fun. We visited at the end of the season, so the atmosphere was peaceful and romantic, but I can imagine it being very lively and fun for families during the main season. Sunbeds were generally available, especially if you choose the right time. We stayed on an all-inclusive basis and were very satisfied with the food. There was a good selection every day, and the option to try different restaurants was a nice bonus. The staff in the restaurants and bars were friendly and professional, always ready to help. One of the highlights of this hotel is definitely its location. Situated on a hill, it offers breathtaking views and beautiful sunsets every evening, which made our evenings with a drink truly special. Overall, the hotel offers great value for money, a wonderful location and a very pleasant atmosphere. I would happily recommend it and would love to come back again.

Alesia Berdufi

I stayed last summer at Elounda Residence with my partner and we had a wonderful time. The hotel is in a beautiful location with stunning views over the bay, which makes the whole atmosphere very relaxing. The all-inclusive concept offers a very nice variety and the food was delicious throughout our stay. We really enjoyed the different dining options, including the main buffet restaurant Ariadne, the traditional taverna Raki & Meze, the grill restaurant McCretan and the Waterpark buffet lunch restaurant Thalassa The evening entertainment was enjoyable and added a fun atmosphere to the hotel. A special compliment goes to the staff, who were very friendly, attentive and always willing to help. Their hospitality really made our stay even more pleasant. Overall, it’s a lovely hotel for couples looking for great views, good food variety and a relaxed holiday experience. We would happily return.

Peter Hovanec

From the very first moment, we felt truly welcomed. You know you are in a good hotel when the staff smiles at you genuinely and makes you feel happy to be there, and that was exactly our experience. We were welcomed from every side and immediately had the feeling that guests really matter here. After check-in, we were taken to our room by a golf cart, which was a very nice touch. Our room was beautiful, new, perfectly clean and everything worked exactly as it should. The view was absolutely stunning, waking up and falling asleep with such a view is something special. The hotel area itself is not overly large, which we actually appreciated. Everything is easy to reach and you never feel lost or tired from walking long distances. The pools and the water park are great for both relaxing and having fun. For families with children, I can easily imagine spending the whole day there. We visited at the end of the season, which made the atmosphere very romantic and calm, perfect for couples. At the same time, I can imagine that during the high season the hotel is full of life thanks to children, the water park and clubs. It really depends on the period you choose, which is a big advantage. Sunbeds were generally available, although the upper pool area requires choosing the right time to secure the best spot. We stayed on an all-inclusive basis and the food selection was very good. Every day there was something new to choose from. What we really liked is that if you want something different from the buffet, there are two additional restaurants where you can sign up. We were lucky enough to try excellent sushi one evening, burgers another night, and also traditional Greek cuisine with charcoal-grilled meat and classic side dishes, all delicious. Drinks were what you would typically expect from an all-inclusive hotel, but if you want something extra or special, the bartenders will definitely take care of you, just like they did with us. The staff deserves special praise. Throughout the entire stay they were excellent, friendly, professional and always willing to help. This positive energy was consistent everywhere, reception, restaurants and bars. The location of the hotel on a hill is simply outstanding. The views are breathtaking, and every evening you can enjoy a different sunset, which is truly fascinating. Our favorite moments were evenings with a drink, just sitting and enjoying the scenery. We had a car, so we explored the surroundings, but it’s absolutely possible to enjoy the hotel without one. There is transportation to the town below the hotel, where you can visit shops, restaurants, cafés or go to the beach. A car is not a must. The location is also perfect for boat trips, visiting Spinalonga Island or going to Agios Nikolaos. If you do have a car, I highly recommend driving up into the hills to experience the views from a completely different perspective. Housekeeping was excellent, daily cleaning, fresh towels, clean bedding and a spotless bathroom. The hotel is clearly very well maintained overall. Evenings were lively depending on the program, usually with music, sometimes live, sometimes different entertainment. There was always something happening, but if you prefer peace and quiet, it’s easy to find a calm spot elsewhere in the resort. Overall, the price, quality and location are very well balanced. I can confidently recommend this hotel, and we would definitely come back again.