Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort

Popular with families, Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort offers plenty of fun for kids and relaxing options for adults. Guests appreciate the pleasant surroundings, from the warm and comfortable lobby, to the bright and open main restaurant, plus the outdoor spaces with gorgeous sea views. The hotel is nestled at the foot the mountains, with the grounds sloping down a hillside to the sea. Guests with limited mobility will likely find steep hills and many stairs difficult, despite available transport up and down the hill, and strollers may be an inconvenience. However, those able to navigate the grounds appreciate the stunning vistas and fun activities. There is enough to do that guests can spend their entire vacation on-site, which is necessary since there’s nothing to do within walking distance. 

This hotel is on the northern coast of Crete, west of Heraklion, in a quiet area just off the main road. There are a couple of small tavernas on the beach, but nothing else nearby, even residences. A bus to Heraklion stops in front of the hotel, and it is a 10-minute walk out to the main road to reach a local bus stop. It is a six-minute drive to El Greco museum, honoring the famous Renaissance painter reportedly born in Fodele. It is a 27-minute drive to Heraklion, where there are museums, historic sites, and plenty of restaurants and shopping to suit all tastes. Knossos, the archaeological dig site where guests can explore ancient ruins is a 30-minute drive away. It is a 25-minute drive to Heraklion Airport from the hotel.

Standard and Superior Rooms are functional but uninspiring with white-stucco walls, white-tile floors, dated wood furniture, and shades of brown and beige in the linens. All of the other rooms have more attractive, updated decor consisting of wood floors, modern white-wood furniture, and a few accents with bold colors that dress up the space. Rooms with sea-facing balconies have stunning views, especially those closer to the top of the hill. Double rooms have either a king bed or two twins, and triple and deluxe rooms add a sofa bed. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, air-conditioning, and a safe (with a fee). There is a fee to access Wi-Fi in rooms. Bathrooms are bland and have a curtained shower or tub with a handheld shower-head. A hairdryer and wall-mounted soap and shower gel are provided. Family rooms have two bedrooms -- one with a double bed and another with two twins -- and some add an extra bathroom. Suites offer a separate living/dining room and include options such as a whirlpool, private pool, office, or bar. 

With a water park, two good-sized pools, a kids’ pool, and a beach, there's plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the water. The water park has several slides and lifeguards, plus a smaller area for younger children. Guests find a shortage of sunbeds at the pools lead to difficulty finding a spot, but the beach is well-equipped. The pebbly beach is pleasant, and a breakwater in the sea keeps the water calm for swimming.  

A kids’ club with a playground is well-suited to small children and provides supervised activities. Games at the pool, mini-golf, and a game room provide more entertainment. Sports facilities include tired tennis courts, basketball, and archery. The gym looks nice on the hotel’s website, but guests find it run-down and unpleasant. Spa treatments, however, receive positive feedback.

The three restaurants receive decent reviews, though generally considered average. The main buffet provides all-inclusive meals and late-night snacks, plus the snack bar has light lunches. Greek and international cuisine are offered in the two a la carte restaurants. Three bars offer self-serve snacks during the day, plus the lobby bar and main bar serve cocktails in the evenings.