Blue Sea Beach Affiliated by Melia

Just 20 mins from Heraklion airport. We went half board to include transfer to/from the hotel. Upon arrival around 7pm (not hotel related at all) independent provider for transport hotel seemed really disorganised. Worth watching out closely for your bus/coach as we had a half hour wait in very humid conditions which wasn't ideal. As I say this is not arranged by the hotel but worth noting if doing a similar deal. Coming back to the hotel, lovely air-conditioned room and staff were all fantastic. Huge selection for buffet breakfast and in particular their staff looking after us each morning brining fresh orange juice were so nice as well. We had dinner most evenings at the hotel mixing between going out to a few local restaurants. Dinner was nice, I'd probably say a little more selection needed as certain dishes while fresh were clearly recycled from the day before. Otherwise location superb, sea facing and the pool/atmosphere during the day was great. If wanting a quieter holiday with fewer kids around probably go out of peak season.

I spent a week at Blue Sea Beach Affiliated by Meliá (June 17–24, 2026) and it was an absolutely fantastic stay! The hotel has a wonderful location — right on the beach, which makes the views and access to the sea truly amazing. The beautifully maintained grounds with lush, well-kept greenery deserve special mention, creating a lovely and relaxing atmosphere. The pool area is also great — perfect for unwinding. The biggest highlight, however, is the staff — incredibly friendly, helpful, and always smiling. We felt genuinely cared for throughout our entire stay. The food was delicious, varied, and fresh — there’s something for everyone. I would definitely recommend this hotel and would be happy to return!

Our stay was truly outstanding, and what made it exceptional was not only the beautiful hotel, but above all the level of service and genuine hospitality. I would especially like to recognize Mr. Zacharias, the General Manager, who took the time to personally listen to our concerns and understand our individual needs. Rather than offering a standard solution, he took a very personal approach and found a solution that was specifically tailored to our situation. This kind of attention to detail, commitment, and genuine care is what defines a true five-star experience. A luxury hotel is not simply about beautiful rooms, great facilities, or an impressive setting. It is the people and the service that turn a stay into a memorable experience – and Mr. Zacharias truly understands this. Thank you for taking the time to listen, for your professionalism, and most importantly, for making us feel genuinely valued as guests. A well-deserved five stars – not only for the hotel itself, but especially for the exceptional service and hospitality.

I would go here every year if I could 😊 The staff is so polite. At check in, you get a cold towel for your hands (maybe face too, I don't know haha) and a drink — we got lemonade. You also get a (fabric) wristband on your hand that the staff member gives you. Someone will then guide you to your room or apartment. Moving on from check in, the rooms and apartments are amazing. You can get your own private pool, TV, safe, ... The hotel is near the beach. There are two bars (I believe) and two restaurants — with an amazing food and drink selection. There are lifeguards (beach is guarded from 10 am to 6 pm, however I don't know about the public pool!) There are daily activies and a wellness/spa center. You can go to the gym or the spa, get your towels changed (until 6 pm). Overall, an amazing hotel! 😊 (p.s. Love the cats)

The staff and service at the Blue Sea Beach Hotel were excellent. The location is also fantastic. During our stay, we experienced a couple of minor issues (air conditioning and a faulty light), both of which were dealt with promptly and efficiently by the hotel team. However, overall, we felt that some aspects of the experience didn’t quite match what we would expect from a 5* hotel, particularly compared with previous all-inclusive holidays we’ve enjoyed. The food offering, toiletries, and additional charges for certain items were disappointing. We were surprised that wine in the restaurant, some bar drinks, and selected snacks at the beach bar came at an extra cost. The toiletries provided were very basic — there was no toothpaste/toothbrush, hair conditioner, moisturiser, etc. Although the mini fridge included complimentary wine and water, there were no soft drinks or beer, and no option to replenish items. Food was probably the biggest disappointment for us. We appreciate that all-inclusive dining can naturally become repetitive and that salads, vegetables, stews and meat dishes are standard offerings, but we felt the selection was limited and lacked variety. There was also very little show cooking available (unless counting the omelette station at breakfast). During our seven-night stay, shellfish was never available on the evenings we checked, and on several occasions we chose to eat out instead. Another challenge was securing sun loungers around the pool. We stayed for seven nights and only managed to get pool loungers once. Unless guests were w illing to reserve beds very early in the morning, there seemed little chance of getting one — most mornings, by 8am the loungers were already occupied with towels. Fortunately, free loungers are available at the beach, which is directly across a small road from the hotel. The beach itself is lovely — sandy with some pebbled areas, clean, and lifeguarded. The daytime entertainment was virtually non-existent, aside from a brief water yoga session, and the evening entertainment was disappointing, with the exception of the Drifters tribute band, who were excellent. Malia is within easy walking distance along the main strip and offers plenty of bars, tavernas, shops, excursions, and car/bike hire options. We would particularly recommend the land train trip to the old town and mountains. Overall, we had a good holiday. The hotel is clean, well located, and the staff are friendly and helpful. However, in our opinion, it didn’t quite deliver the full 5* experience we were expecting.