For quite some time now I’ve wanted to see more of Greece, having only visited one of the islands before. When a great deal popped up for the amazing TUI BLUE Sensatori Atlantica Caldera Palace in Crete for the end of April, I couldn’t resist snapping it up. We booked last minute and had the most perfect holiday – it was just what we needed to warm up the spring months.
Getting There
Our flight from Birmingham to Heraklion was due to depart at 3pm, which gave us just the right amount of time for an early drive to the airport and a couple of hours in the airport lounge. With comfy seating, a lovely buffet and unlimited drinks, there’s no better way to kick off a holiday! We treated ourselves to a place in the Aspire Lounge, which is often the cheapest option in Birmingham Airport, and we had no complaints at all. We were given a friendly welcome and had a wide range of drinks and snacks to choose from ahead of our flight.
The Hotel
Our hotel was conveniently just a 25-minute drive from the airport at Lyttos Beach, which meant we arrived with a little time to grab a bite to eat before getting some sleep. Our first impression was fabulous – we were greeted with a glass of prosecco as a musician played some atmospheric songs in the lobby, and we were quickly given our room key. The general feel of the hotel was very sleek yet warm and friendly. It has a wonderful location right by the beach and the pools, set on different levels of the hotel, were lit up as we passed them on the late night walk to our hotel room.
The Room
The first thing to say about our room is that it was absolutely huge! There were three of us, so we had opted for a double room with limited sea view – it had two large single beds and a sofa bed, along with a spacious balcony and a beautiful bathroom complete with a free-standing shower and a deep, wide bath. The views from our balcony were fabulous – we were overlooking one of the pool bars and could see right out to the sea. Everything was spotlessly clean, and we loved the extra touches like fluffy robes and slippers in the wardrobe and a fully stocked minibar. I’d give it a 10/10!
It’s also worth noting that if you’re travelling with a family or want to treat yourself to a little upgrade on your visit to this hotel, there are some really great room options to choose from. Some are swim-up suites, some are more like mini apartments and some even have their own private pools!
The Food & Drink
When you’re staying All Inclusive, it’s obviously so important that the food and drink hits the mark. Luckily, we were impressed by what we tasted at the Atlantica Caldera Palace across the board. There were some beautiful a la carte restaurants to book (some that were payable – we tried the four free options), an incredible cocktail list and the breakfast buffet was particularly tasty. There was just so much to choose from – one day I would have a couple of freshly cooked waffles with fruit and maple syrup, and the next could be poached eggs or a Cretan pastry.
The a la carte restaurants you can visit as part of your All Inclusive package at the Atlantica Caldera Palace are the Five Flavor Thai, Oregano Greek Tavern, Basilico Italian Restaurant and Tex Mex A La Carte Restaurant. We visited each of these (the Tex Mex a couple of times as you could visit without booking for lunch) and they were all amazing! Whilst the buffet is great and has a diverse range of food to choose from, it was lovely to go to these restaurants with table service and set meal options on some nights of our trip. If you have time, I’d recommend you try them all!
The Entertainment
On our first full day in Crete, we decided to join the TUI BLUE team on their walk into the local village of Analipsi. We were greeted by two lovely girls who were enjoying a summer working on the entertainment team. They showed us the tiny local church, along with some nearby bars and restaurants and the local pharmacy. It was a great way to start the holiday and get to know the area around the hotel a little better.
If you’re looking for things to do throughout the day, there’s something going on from first thing in the morning to last thing at night. We did a yoga class one day before breakfast on a beautiful platform overlooking the sea, and we saw plenty more going on throughout the day. Think table tennis, aqua aerobics classes and various water sports. The entertainment team put on shows each evening and even did a mini flash mob around the pool one day. You’ll never be bored!
The Pools & Beach
Those who like to be in the water will be spoilt for choice when it comes to swimming spots at the Atlantica Caldera Palace. There’s an array of outdoor pools, some designed for families and children and some reserved just for adults, as well as a jacuzzi and swanky features like in-water tables and loungers. You can treat yourself to an indoor swim in the spa pool, or the hotel’s beach is right over the road if you fancy cooling down with a dip in the sea.
We spent the first few days at different spots around the hotel and beach, but once we got ourselves a spot on the beds at the adult-only pool, we knew we’d found our favourite place. The pool was a great size and we were right near the amazing adult-only bar – the Guru Bar. The service staff were incredible, constantly wandering around taking drinks orders and bringing them out to you, meaning you wouldn’t even need to leave your sunbathing spot to grab your next mojito if you didn’t want to.
Things To Do In Crete
Whilst we absolutely loved our time simply soaking up the sun and enjoying the hotel, we wanted to see a bit more of Crete on our trip. It’s such an incredible island and we had plenty of options to choose from when it came to excursions. We decided to take a day trip to Spinalonga Island and Agios Nikolaos as well as hopping on the road train that stopped just outside the hotel, and they made for two amazing days out.
Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos
Spinalonga Island is just off the north-eastern coast of Crete, famous for being one of the places where lepers were made to isolate. It was both fascinating and really sad to learn about its deep history. Our guide was fantastic and so knowledgeable as we wandered the ghost town on one side of the island and then made our way up to the fortress. The views were incredible, both over towards Crete and out onto the horizon. We had dark clouds and rain as we left the hotel (the only time we saw rain on our trip!) so we were lucky that the sun was shining gloriously by the time we got to Spinalonga.
Following our couple of hours on Spinalonga, we hopped back on the boat and were given a little time to browse the beautiful village of Elounda. There were plenty of shops to wander round and a stunning bay with the most gorgeous, clear waters and views out towards the mountains. Elounda is a very popular spot among visitors to Crete, and after a couple of hours there, I can see why – it was just lovely.
The final stop on our day trip was to Agios Nikolaos. I think if I were to visit Crete again, I’d try to find a hotel in this coastal area as there was just so much to explore. It was also truly beautiful – like something from a postcard! We had a little over an hour here, but we could have done with at least a half day to explore the many tucked-away coves and thriving bars and restaurants scattered along the beach. We had time to wander past Voulismeni Lake with an ice cream and grab a quick cocktail by the water before it was time to head back to Lyttos Beach.
Train Tour
We’d noticed a little train pass by our hotel regularly each day, and when we woke up one morning and it was a little breezy, we decided we would go and have a look at it. There were plenty of people still lounging by the pool, but we took the opportunity of a cooler day to go out and explore. The hop-on, hop-off train cost €16 and stopped off at a few villages and seaside towns on its route. We got some gorgeous views over the coastline and found it to be a great way to see a bit more of the area surrounding our hotel. Top tip – bring a drink or two from your mini fridge to make it extra fun!
Top Tips
It’s always good to be extra prepared in order to make the most of your time away. Hopefully these handy tips will help you prep for a fabulous holiday to Crete…
Download The Apps
If you’re staying in the Atlantica Caldera Palace, there are a couple of apps you’ll want to download for your visit. The first is the Atlantica app. You’ll use this to fill out a pre-check-in form which the TUI rep will tell you about in your transfer to the hotel. It’s super easy and just takes a minute or two, saving you valuable time when you reach the hotel.
The Atlantica app can also be used to book in for your evening meals. At 10am each morning, booking slots open for the following evening. The availability went pretty quickly, so if you know you want to get into a particular restaurant, I’d recommend setting an alarm for just before 10 so you remember to book!
The other app I’d recommend downloading is the TUI BLUE app. There’s plenty of information on there, including a full itinerary showing what’s going on around the hotel each day and all the info you need about things like kids’ clubs and excursions. This app is where we found out about our morning yoga session and the group walk into Analipsi. You’ll get a little overview of the entertainment on each evening and be able to book onto classes where applicable. It’s really easy to use and a great way to get a feel for your TUI BLUE hotel.
Leave Your Toiletries At Home
Wherever I go, I tend to over-pack my toiletries just in case the hotel’s freebies aren’t great or I don’t have enough to last me. If I’d known how fully stocked our bathroom would be, I would have been able to leave most of my toiletry bag behind! There were large bottles of amazing shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, as well as extra bits like a shower cap, sewing kit and cotton buds. Save that precious suitcase weight for an extra pair of shoes or outfit choice!
Ask For Your Favourite Cocktails
The hotel has a large list of cocktails, but one of my favourites – an espresso martini – wasn’t on there. It wasn’t until a few days into the holiday that I thought to ask the pool bar staff if they could make one, and it turned out to be one of the best I’d ever tasted! If there’s something you really like but it’s not on the menu, the staff are so friendly and I’m sure they would be happy to put it together for you if they have the ingredients.
Ready for Crete?
If you’re looking for a relaxing five-star holiday with plenty to do and a wonderful location, I can’t recommend the TUI BLUE Sensatori Atlantica Caldera Palace enough. Take a look at all the latest deals here – you won’t regret it!
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