Room - we had a 4 bed room with a sea view, the room was very spacious and the kids had proper beds and not the usual camp beds. There was more than enough storage for all of us and the bathroom was also a good size. Cleaned every day and towels changed regularly. My only 'complaint' is that the balcony is not very large, but it was very private and the view was fantastic.

Food - the variety was very good, there was a good choice of salad, fish and meat every day. There is also a kids area. There was always plates etc available and a large number of tables to choice from.

Pool - fantastic amount of pool space for the size of the hotel, as usual there a number of sunbeds that get taken VERY early around the big pool, but there wan't a day when we wanted a bed that we didn't get one.
The pools are kept very clean, to the extent that even the largest pool was drained completely to allow for a complete clean. There are 3 lifeguards on duty who check the pools and the beach and also man the slides. The water though is very cold!

Beach - it isn't the sandest beach in the world! There are large rocks just in the shore and you do need to be careful. On one day we had a very rough sea and it was red flagged. Although the waves looked great fun to be in it was very dangerous because of the amount of rocks and I did feel for the life guards who were trying their best to ensure everyone stayed out of the water to be ignorned by some who thought they knew better.

Kids clubs - my kids attended the bugs bunny and the wavelength clubs had loved every second. Some activities do require an extra charge, but this it to cover their costs and I felt that is was a very little price to pay for what activities and drinks/food/presents that they recieved.

Entertainment - the reps were fantastic. They encouraged without being pushy in the day and at night gave 3 hours of really good entertainment. Like a previous reviewer has said, they are FC reps and work very hard

AI - the snack available during the day was excellent, there was always chips, pizza, salad, fruit, bread, pasta available with sausages, fish fingers, meatballs also served. The was kept well stocked all day. The beer, soft drinks and wine was self service in the pool bar whilst shorts being served to you. The plastic cups rule is only one of common sense as there are a lot of kids in the hotel and this ensures that there is no broken glass on the floor.

General - we really enjoyed the holiday and would return in the future. The only down side was in our second week a large gang of kids developed that were running wild in the hotel/pool with no sign of their parents.

Sorry but I have to disagree with some of the other comments! Ok the hotel is not bad, but we have stayed in far better all inclusive hotels.

Rooms were of good size with a small balacony (make sure you get a safe as our room was broken in to!)

All areas were kept clean and the staff work very hard to achieve this.

Food - kids area very limited, consists of chips, beans, fish finger once a week, burgers once a week and god knows what the other stuff was! Salads and desserts very good but did get boring by the end of the fortnight. The hotel had a passion for cheese and ham slices - these will appear in the salad, pizza,pasta, on potatoes and you can even make sandwiches with them! There is no air conditioning in the restuarant so just as well the food is great!

Drinks - I do think the plastic cups around the pool area are a good idea (even if you do get sick of drinking out of them) but you are allowed to have glasses if you pay for cocktails (the power of money!) Think it is wrong to charge children for cocktails, which means the end up drinking fizzy stuff all night.

Entertaiment - think of Butlins and you get the drift!

Pool - unfortunately children under 9 can't use all the slides (this wasn't mentioned in the brochure) Lazy river was more of a moat, don't expect for it to gently swirl you around! We found most of the sun beds taken by 9am. The pools were kept very clean.

Kids clubs - my son enjoyed the Taz club and reps work hard but it is supposed to be a kids club extra with at least 2 hours in the morning and afternoon and free pj party. this was not evident and all evening parties were chargable( and remember the sandwiches/drinks for these parties are coming from the hotel - so in theory you have already paid for this food). It is advertised in the brochure that the club is open 10-11 6 days a week, which is suppose to give you flexibility - none of this is true. I don't mind the extra charge, but I hate to be mislead by First Choice.

Be prepared to wait at the airport coming home for at least an hour outside. The airport is so small they only let some many people in at a time.

We made the best of a bad job and at least the weather was nice. The majority of people we talked to had been on previous AI holidays as we all thought the same - it's ok but there is a lot better out there!

Age travelled 2,6,15,35,36,37. The rooms are cleaned daily, the towels are replaced daily also. The food was fantastic especially the chef's specials every night, would recommend to eat outside as it can get a little warm indoors. We choose a quiet resort and that is exactly what we got. The hotel staff are very friendly and the entertainment staff are the best, they worked so hard every day entertaining us from morning till evening they all deserve a medal and a wage rise I'm sure would help. This is probably the best all inclusive holiday I have evey been on and would definately book again. I would also recommend the El Paso Bar at the far end of the complex if you don't want to go to bed early... The Waterpark is great only open twice a day but that was enough, ice cream again twice a day but was enough. Beer drinkable compared to some english pubs, watersports on beach front excellent we tried quite a few well worth not going on day trips and spending your money there instead, would recommend 100%. We had a 6 beded apartment with sea view it was fantastic!!!!! ignore previous bad reviews as I could not fault a thing. If you don't like children don't go on a family holiday knowing there will be lots of them, and if you don't want meal times to be repetitive don't make it, choose something different I did and had different meal every night. A Holiday is what YOU make to be...

we had a lovely big room on the ground floor right on the beach it was cleaned everyday and was more than big enough, you do only get one key which is a bit of a pain because this also worked the air-con. the food was ok i recomend the liver its the best the first choice reps work really hard dont get behind antonia or bonnie in killer darts as you will lose they are really good make sure you go to the al-paso bar at the far end past the water slides they have brillent prizes down there, try the kareoke and the bingo we had some really good nights brillant with the kids. there is a supermarket just up the road if you dont like the plastic cups for 90cent you can buy a plastic glass its probably all in the mind but the drinks do taste better out of them.the phone cards form the shop in the hotel are really good value for money for 5 euros you got 140 minutes well worth it.the lifegaurds on the waterslides were very friendly and great with the kids.

Arrived at 11.30 at night quick check in then went to restaurant for cold ready made chicken salad which filled a gap at the time.Went down for breakfast next morning not a great deal of choice, plenty of continental food but not a lot of hot food which you usually get in all inclusive hotels.When we went to pool area all the sun loungers were take found 2 which were broke so we squeezed by the kids pool so from then on had to get up early to reserve lounger even though the hotel was full of brits!Pool area kept clean always seen cleaners around & pools kept clean throuout the day by lifeguards.Rooms basic but clean towels changed daily,snack bar served chips,hotdog sausages & pasta drinks are self service but warm we got our drinks from bar by the pool but beware you can`t fill large water bottles from the water containers even though you are all inclusive!Meals in restaurant are very basic,not a lot of choice had chips with every meal.Entertainment throughout the day was killer pool,killer darts,table tennis ,quiz & volley ball/water polo,at night kids disco followed by bingo with cash prizes between 240-280 euros for house then a quiz where you challenge bonny,one of the entertainers then the main show which was usually very good.Town is about 15 mins walk along prom & has a variety of bars & shops you can also get tickets for the chrissy island tour. Hotel is located right on the beach which is very nice there are sun loungers & parasols which are free to use also you can go on banana boat,jet ski or other inflatable which is towed behind speed boat but these are payable.Slides are open for about an hour in the morning & two hours in the afternoon, there is also a shop onsite whicn is open from 9am-11pm.There is a bar called elpasso bar which is by the childrens pool which is open from 11pm-2am but drinks are payable from 12,also a bar inside hotel open till 2am drinks payable from 12 & you have to pay for cocktails which have been free in other all-inclusive hotels.Overall the holiday was enjoyable apart from the food & warm drinks kids will enjoy it as we hardly seen our 9 yr lad as he was always with friends.

We flew from Manchester and arrived at the hotel as some silly hour in the morning, not doing that again. We arrived at about 4.30am. Quick check in which was great, husband checked in me and the kids took the stairs as the lifts were chocker, we were on the top floor. We were thrilled when we went in the room, nice spacious room, very clean and the view was amazing. Woke up following morning and i could not wait to look at the view, it is pretty fantastic from the top floor. From this point the holiday went down hill, my daughter started being sick late morning just got to the pool and she was sick. Took her back to room where she stayed for most of her holiday. Apart from being in hospital for 3 days. The Hotel staff were great, early hours of the following morning they gave me a thermometre for my daughter, they alled the Dr's for me. Every day they were asking how she was, more the the Reps were doing. So what we saw of the hotel looked great, we never went in any bars, we ate seperately most nights as one person had to look after out daughter. Both my children did not see any of the kids clubs but they did lend me a buggy to ship her about as she was too weak to walk about. The pools are nice, very very cold though. We spend the days in shifts as my 8 year old son was wanting to go to the beach and pool etc. The beach is really nice, be careful of the sand i burnt my feet, you have to run across the sand. The see is really clear and fantastic for snorkling. The shop in the hotel is really cheap too. The only time we went to the town is when were walking backwards and forwards to hospital in town as there only seemed to be one hospital, the last night we went too, some lovely modern bars, very Greek tho, Petra Mare is the only Hotel with English people in, i think.

The last night is a mare, we were told to ask at reception the day before check out to see if we could keep room on as we did not pre-book it when booking holiday. I asked at the time we were told and they had all gone, we were not happy as my daughter was still not very well. After we had checked out at 12 noon i then asked about showers for that evening, we were given two times 15.30 ot 22.30 we were getting picked up at 23.30. So be warned if you want to keep room on, be quick.

Over all a nice place, would be nice to go back and see more, but the best thing of all is the view from the Hotel Room.

we would defo return to this hotel again,it was brilliant.The first choice reps work really hard(say hello to clare and anna aks them about flight FCA3582 from birmingham on the 24th aug 07.They are very helpfull even colin(the boss) whos a liverpool fan but was well happy when the villa (thats me) beat chesea 2-0.Go to the "bar on the rocks" its about 10 mins walk and you can watch the football and enjoy some fantastic food a great prices.Jenny who ran the swim kids club was great she learnt our kids how to swin in just 4 lessons and they even got a swim badge and certificate each.The kids clubs are brill they are all really great with the kids and do wear them out,there is a small charge on some days but is well worth it so us moms and dads have some chill out time.The pools are great but beware that it is a little slippy around some parts of the pools.Water slides only operate twice a day for a couple of hours.At night the el paso bar has a different theme on each night with jessie,ella and petra who just love to dance.The food was really really great,i recomend that you get there early and sit outside on the terrace as the restaurant has no air-con.I dont understand what some people complain about we didnt have the same food every night,the kids menu was only evening times but my kids found that the normal buffet was just as good.My wife and kids say that the puddings are to die for.The only down side was you had to cut your own bread up there is a cloth to use but some people did not use it and we all know that some people dont was there hands before eating, so my advice is to pick up a new loaf.The hotel was very clean and our room had a double bed and two singles a fridge and a huge balcony we had a sea view which is well worth the extra money if you want it,the best part of having a sea view is when you wake up in the mornings you can hear the waves lapping on the beach.We always go with first choice and would recommend them 100%

Well i can just say it was the best holiday i'v ever had so far.i miss it so much.We went on the 3rd of july and just got back yesterday on the 17th of july.
I'v gotta say i was not really eating well because i din't like the food at all.the people were so nice and Chris was the best he was the kids rep he was cool and he mite be going to the same hotel as use next year.The rooms were clean BUT we din't have a very nice seen out our window we had the first room when you go to the left hand side of the 2nd floor.
I think anyone would like it at this hotel i really really wanna go back iv just got back yesterday and i miss all the people iv met over the past 2 weeks and i miss the hotel to.

I think if yoh go to this hotel yoh should have a go on the slides i went down all of them but the light blue one is really fast but if you have kids under 9 they can only go on the white slides they are fun to but if the man says lay back dont it makes yoh go slow.

Our rep had to go to this hotel in crete it was about 2 hours away from our hotel i think but he was really nice and a good laugh.

There is 2 bars in the hotel one outside and one inside yoh can't miss the one inside but the one out side is beside the kids water swingpark you can't mis that to.

from
Gail,Hollie,Steve & Kerr
x x x

The last report on the hotel was from my 11 year old daughter i think she got a bit carried away as you can see by her spelling !!!.....

Arrived at airport and got on to coach which we felt we were on longer than the plane.
Rooms were large and clean but did not have enough wardrobes for the 4 of us.We had a mountain view which was fine air con in rooms was fab tip take room key off and keep credit card type keyring in the slot.
Pool area fantastic for the kids slides open about 3 hours a day which is fine, i would have been on them constantly with my 5 year year ols if they were open all day.Kids clubs were great but was a bit miffed having to pay for certain activities at the club.Food was ok if you like chicken and pork you have cracked it.Weather was fab not a cloud in the sky and were you are you get a nice breeze.plastic cups at night at the entertainment area is not nice take your own it saves many trips to the bar..We had a great time and met a lot of nice people and i think thats what makes your holiday...Would i return to this hotel?? No as i have got to many diffrent places i want to see ....

Gail steve hollie kerr

After reading some of the posts on this site we were a bit worried about visiting this hotel.

Night flights are a pain, and the organisation at the airport is typically greek, we landed at 4 in the morning along with 3 other flights from the UK, and the baggage was not sorted into flight order, I think my cases came up on the gatwick baggage collection ,even though I flew from east mids.

The transfer to the hotel took just over an hour, no other drop offs, and was a great way to see the island, if you can stay awake.

We upgraded to a sea view, which is well worth the 50 odd pounds, as we had a large room with sliding doors opening out onto a large balcony overlooking the sea. The view was simply outstanding.

The food was a good, there was plenty of choice, and the greek salads are so nice, with two huge salad bars to choose from, plus a selection of hot foods. I dont see why people complain about there being chips on the menu, there is enough other stuff to avoid chips altogether. I nthe week we were there, there was choices of potatoes, pasta dishes, hot meats, spaghetti bolognaise, fish dishes, omelettes, piella, and thats just for starters. There are also some great deserts and an ice cream freezer to help yourself.

The drinks are plentiful, in the main resturant there is a fizzy drinks machine with pepsi, 7up, and orange in. there are diluted fruit drink machines, tea & coffer facilities plus beer and wine taps all over to help yourself to.
The poolside snack bar has plenty of places to sit out at, this also has drink taps to help yourself to, plus a greek salad bar and a hot food counter, serving fries, a pasta dish, pizza and sausages, plus bread and rolls. This is where the evenings entertainment is.The beer is served in half pint plastic cups, we read this beforehand and took some plastic pint pots with us, and no one seemed to mind.

At the far side of the pools is a night-time bar, which until about 9 oclock has german kids entertainment, and after has a DJ who will play anything you ask for. This is open til about 2am, and is far enough away from the hotel to not hear it from your room.
The bar in the hotel has a barman on, and the outside seating area is right next to the beach and is a great place to wind down away from the kids.

The pools are clean and there is loads of sunbeds around to not have to worry about getting up early to reserve one, although you still get the odd few doing that!

Entertainment is a bit cringe-worthy, but if you dont want to get involved you dont have to. We went as a couple, so cannot really comment on the kids entertainment, but from what we saw there was plenty for them to do.

The town of Ierapetra is about a 15min walk along the sea front, and has a selection of tavernas on the waters edge. It is a quiet town, with very few tourists, which is ideal if you want a relaxing holiday. For a more lively night out get a taxi from the hotel to Agios Nickolaos,(about