Giannoulis Grand Bay Resort

Greece , Crete
kolymvari, Kolymbari
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50 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

04 Sep 2025

Andrea

lovely staff! very thoughtful welcoming gifts as well as parting gifts. would highly recommend staying here!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Aug 2025

Kirsty

If you’re looking for busy and noisy with lots to do this is not the place for you. If you’re looking for quiet, relaxed, lazy pool days then look no further. Staff are amazing from reception to pool bar nothing too much trouble. Food is good with a la carte option at additional cost if you want it. Will definitely return

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

28 May 2025

Nicolas

A comfortable hotel with lovely views of the sea and great breakfasts. But the second night of our stay was spoiled by a spillage of oil somewhere in the hotel - the overwhelming and acrid smell of diesel fumes permeated our room for the rest of the night, making sleep difficult or impossible.The manager said that he could move us to another hotel since the hotel itself was fully booked, At 11pm at night this was hardly a practical solution. No other solution was offered. We were told that the smell would disappear within a few hours but it was still powerfully present in the morning despite the fact that the windows were wide open. A sad end to stay should have been a special stay.

Business_and_leisure

10/10

Exceptional

07 Sep 2023

Richard

This was our First trip to Crete, this resort was on the quite side, so if you looking to unwind and relax , this is the place. The meals were pretty good and the desserts amazing. The staff were pretty friendly although I find the bar staff at the pool could be a bit more friendlier.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 Jul 2021

Ofek

Great hotel!

We very much enjoyed our stay in this hotel. Very nice hotel. Beautiful comfortable rooms with an excellent service.
Make sure to make reservation the sea view.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

07 Oct 2020

Carolyn

great location for driving to western beaches.

This is a medium size hotel on a rocky strip of beach in a small beach town. Nice atmosphere but if crowded there is not much space between rooms, chairs on the patio or beach. Pools spaced throughout property is a nice touch. Best part was the location- good driving distance to many great western beaches. Food is okay. Servers working hard during trying times. Several restaurants nearby but not all opened back up after Covid. 3.5 stars. 4 for location.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

31 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

You couldnt fault the staff, they were so friendly and helpful.
We were aware until 4 days prior to departure that the hotel was closing. It was very quite, rooms pleasant but dated. We enjoyed our stay overall but it didnt meet expectations of a 4 star hotel

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

15 May 2019

Verified traveler

Basic place noting luxurious, perfect to stay a night, clean and gentle, but not a week resort.

Business_and_leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

11 May 2019

Sarah

Lovely, quiet location and staff are very helpful. Is kept really clean and has all the facilities you need on for a relaxing holiday.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2019

Verified traveler

The property is right on the ocean and we had ocean view room. Spectacular! Esp compared to other hotels in the town or Kolymbari. The food was amazing!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

31 Oct 2017

Darius

Great experiance

Very friendly staff made us feel very welcome. The food choice was good and the deserts were great. Overall, we have enjoyed the stay. There were also live music and entertainments almost every evening.

8/10

Excellent

14 Sep 2017

K from Surbiton

Adults Only hotel right on the beach.

We had a ten night stay which was extremely relaxing and quiet. The hotel was excellently placed with a 20 second walk to the beach. The staff were very polite, helpful and efficient. Some of the rooms were allocated lie out beds next to a pool otherwise it was first come first served. The lie outs on the beach were rented out at 2.50 euros per day. We left feeling calm and relaxed with a healthy tan thrown in.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Sep 2016

Raymond

Best hotel / beach access in the area

This hotel is a lovely place to spend time and has bus pick ups outside which the local tour operators come to directly so you can survive without a car.

Everyone was friendly and the week passed by seemingly too quickly.

Partner

2/10

Poor

06 Sep 2016

Samantha

Awful hotel and management

Awful hotel and management. I have sent the hotel management 2 emails about the issues we encountered during our stay and they do not even bother to reply. Our main issue was we booked and paid in advance for a Beachfront Junior Suite with Sharing Pool but were given a small dark room at the back of the hotel. We were told that there were already guests in the Beachfront room we had booked and that we had to take the other room. The hotel staff were quite rude about it even though they admitted that it was the hotel's fault (although the reason for the mistake kept changing so we were not being told the truth). After I called Hotels.com for help the hotel "found" another available room for us which was bigger but still located at the back of the hotel and it also had no sea view. The hotel manager told us several times that we would receive a refund for the room mistake which was clearly a lie as the hotel has not given us any refund to this date and they do not answer my emails. This hotel has the worst customer service that I have encountered in many years.

Partner

4/10

Poor

22 Aug 2016

bill

Just ok

The hotel itself is really a 3 star rather than a 4. The staff are excellent and could not be more accomadating.
The breakfast buffet is awful. Basic and bland just like the rooms.
The location of the hotel was great being near the Habour which has nice restaurants.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Aug 2016

Shai

Wonderfull vacation

We were 4 couples and stayed 3 nights at the hotel.
On our check-in, we were welcomed by Alex and the staff and we must say that Alex was very kind and warm and gave us the best service everrr!!!
The hotel was on the beach, surrounded by great restaurants in peacefull nighburhood.
The hotel's main pool and the shared pool are infinity pools, magnificent view, delicious breakfast and freindly staff.
Thank you for great vacation, Alex you are the best!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2016

Verified traveler

Fantastic resort in a very peaceful Environment

The resort is about 30min drive from Chania main town or 20min from Platanias (party place). 45min taxi from airport.
If you are looking for a chill stay away from all the main crowd this place is for you. Waking up each morning to the sound of the waves and direct access to pool and beach was such a nice relaxing experience. The staff was very helpful upon arrival (7am) and offered us free breakfast and guided us to chill and wait by the pool while the room was getting ready. It's not a party hotel to meet people, the age of guests are most around 60+.

6/10

Pleasant

23 May 2016

Stephen

Promised so much, delivered so little

I think the full season started the week after we arrived. Not being totally negative- ,the staff were friendly & helpful,the housekeeping first class with fresh linen every day. .. but it's a bit like trying to hold superbowl in a playpark. the Hotel was just not 4star. No armbands for all-inclusive but then asked our room number everytime. No organisation for-- mealtime seating, where to swim, where the gym or spa were .The free Wifi dropped out every 5 minutes. the swimming pools not heated Outside walkways just wooden slats, some rotten & muddy. There was also dogs in the area, & spoiled the beach a little with their mess.
The food plentiful if you like processed but not good Greek food. Little variety and either bland or totally overspiced.... and the first time ever I've seen duck including the entire webbed foot! Again, for a 4 star hotel a little more effort. The soft boiled eggs at breakfast were good though. Lots of local drinks. Very good strong cocktails but the beer and the soft drinks all had a chemical taste that was unpleasant and the local bottled wine tasted corked.
There were items totally out of the Hotels control, the beach and surrounding area very run down and scruffy. The bus service to Chania, reported as every 30 minutes from outside the hotel was a 15 minute hike to the far end of town and then up to an hours wait, if you're lucky and the bus is not full. The trip to Chania, however, around 60 minutes, is well worth the journey.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2016

Claire

Lovely quiet relaxing holiday

Had a wonderful stay at this hotel. We had a junior suite on the ground floor with direct access to the pool. The room was very spacious , clean and comfortable. When we arrived we had a complimentary bottle of wine and a fruit bowl in our room.

Directly outside our room was a balcony with table and chairs with stairs leading down to the edge of the pool. We had our own sunbeds so there was no need to rush down early to get a sunbed. At the end of the pool there is a bar that you can swim up to and the sea is just on the other side of the pool so while you lie by the pool you can hear the waves crashing on the beach. The beach is pebbly but there are sunbeds if you want to lay there.

There is very little to do in the immediate area but if you are looking for a quiet relaxing holiday this is a lovely hotel to go to. There is a monastery that you can visit and a handful of shops so if the weather isn't great and you can't really sunbathe then you may need to travel a little further to find other things to do.

The meals were lovely with lots of choice. We were all inclusive and you can have beer, wine, local spirits, cocktails and soft drinks.

The staff were really friendly and helpful and we had a really lovely time.

10/10

Exceptional

03 Oct 2015

David

Great low-key break

Stayed here for 5 nights on a short break. Booked a junior suite with shared pool, and the room was great. Comfy bed, a patio with sun loungers overlooking the pool and beach. The all inclusive buffet was better than I was expecting and the staff were friendly and helpful. There isn't much else going on in Kolymvari so if you want night life etc perhaps better try somewhere else. But if you're after a relaxing break then this offers great value and a nice, small hotel atmosphere.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Sep 2015

David

Fantastic views

Superb views. Was allocated incorrect room but was sorted out next day and given free upgrade to ultra all inclusive. Food was great but could have been warmer. Overall had a fantastic stay and would not essitate returning

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 Aug 2015

James

Clean hotel with friendly, helpful staff

Overall this hotel was more than adequate. We spent very little time there - checked in after midnight, spent the entire next day off prem at Elafonisi, and checked out super early the next morning - so can't really comment too much on stuff to do at the resort. Bed was comfy, and the room was clean. The staff was really cool and had kept some food ready for us the night we showed up late and prepared a breakfast for us the morning we had to leave early. The weather was really windy, and so the bay/beach outside the hotel was really rough, not really swim-able. not sure if it's like this the whole year, but aside from the bay it was an hour by bus minimum to the next beach. Just FYI in case you're traveling to Crete for beaches. Also the neighborhood outside the resort was a little run down. If you go, definitely hit Elafonisi; I have never seen water that clear. It was literally like a swimming pool.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Aug 2015

Victoria

Hotel rating is real 4 star

Private beach, nice stuff. Very sloooow WIFI, needs improvement badly. Beside that everything OK!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Aug 2015

Verified traveler

Relaxing

very relaxed, amazing staff, enough to do if you didn't want to stay by the pool. Food was ok but lots of Greek food which was lovely, loads of choice.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

06 Aug 2015

Julian

4-star resort with a distinct 2-star feel

The hotel was fine and some features were 4-star as expected, but quite a few aspects felt like a cheap hotel and service. Waiters and the concierge making you feel like you are inconveniencing them; offering you a lunch box for a day excursion and opening it to find 4 dry pieces of toast and two slices of ham and an apple; nickel and diming you for $5 per day for a beach chair for example. The staff was friendly, but weirdly unhelpful: for example when asked by a waiter standing near the bar for a bottle of water, he told us that the waiter manning the bar would be back soon (also no real bar tenders, just waiters that would mix drinks if you told them what to put in the drink). The beach was very rocky and uncomfortable to walk on, let alone sit on, so dont expect a soft sandy beach. The rooms had only single beds pushed together (they slide apart so we slept in separate beds for our hunnymoon), which is quite odd for an Adults only place. Overall we still had a good time and fun because we were on vacation, but it wasnt what we had hope for.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 May 2015

Beth

If you want peace and quiet this is it!

Excellent staff so friendly and they welcomed us with a drink!

2/10

Poor

01 Sep 2014

Kirk

Beware of Greeks offering upgrades

The hotel was overbooked and they treated us very rudely when trying to push around from one room to another then to a completely different hotel. The over booking policies of this particular hotel chain is offensive. Beds were hard but everything else would have been ok without the overbooking issue.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jul 2013

Pilo

highly recommend!

Looked like a promising spot.. was even better when we got there.
Great location.. such a great group of staff / employees..
Everyone was polite.. gave great service with a smile.. and made our 4 night stay special and enjoyable.
Thank you all...!

Family

4/10

Poor

21 Sep 2012

Anne

Dissappointing hotel

This was the last of four hotels that we stayed at while touring around Crete and it was by far the worst and most dissappointing. I most certainly would not recommend it and won't be returning. The hotel was tired and lacking tlc! The bar staff were great, but everywhere else they seemed lazy, maybe because they were short staffed?The food was awful and even at the beginning of restaurant service looked as if it had been there for a long time and wasn't always hot. As a result we ate out each evening and declined breakfast on the last day as we couldn't find clean glasses, cups, etc.

2/10

Poor

27 Aug 2012

Nick

Decent Motel standards, but Certainly Not a Resort

Location is terrible (in a rundown alley and 45 minute bus ride away from anything relevant). However, the 3 local restaraunts have great food.

The beach is easily the worst in Crete. Large stones make up the beach and it's brutally painful to get to the water.

The Hotel is very dirty and hasn't been cleaned (other than the sheets) for who know's how long. There are fees for everything (towels, sunbeds, wifi, and in-room safe). This "resort" is not airconditioned either. Their air conditioning is literally a fan. The rooms are very plain and the bedding is extremely uncomfortable.

The "restaurant" in the hotel has some of the worst food I've ever experienced at a "resort" and seems to be re-heated frozen food.

Anything loosely resempling a resort amenity is actually an amenity of their "sister resort" that's a 35 minute drive away.

This Motel should, in no way, ever be advertised as a 4 Star Resort, or a Resort of any kind. Chania is a very beautiful side of the island, but do yourself a favor and look at the other three cities (Platanias, Agia Marina, Stalos, or Chania) for hotel accomodations. The beaches are 10 times nicer and resorts are much nicer and 3 times less expensive than Grand Bay Beach "resort".

Overall, the Chania/West End of the island is the most beautiful in my opinion, but this hotel is definitely a miserable place to stay.

Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Aug 2012

despina

we had a very good time over all. the hotel staff is so kind, but we had trouble consuming the breakfast served- but quality food, issues of hygiene occurred as well..

Family

8/10

Excellent

04 Aug 2012

Verified traveler

Great family hotel

Lovely hotel. I like the idea of having small swimming pools around the hotel (some for private use only). Lots of families. Beach was pebbles. In a village. Grear if you want a relaxed beach holiday with trips to Chania. Anything further is a trek.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jul 2012

Babak

Everything in this hotel is just great. Big and clean rooms, good breakfast, very nice and helpful personnel, good location in the village of Kolymvari with nice neighborhood, and above all, being just besides the sea. Just keep in mind that the hotel's beach is not sandy but is full of small stones so it is better that you take a good paire slipper shoes with you.

6/10

Pleasant

23 Aug 2011

Verified traveler

OK Hotel

Hotel was ok, however breakfast was not good, and most of personnel is far below average.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jun 2011

Aprajita

GRAND BAY BEACH RESORT in Kolympari

This is the best hotel I have come across, with breathtaking views, private pools, sumptuous lay of buffet breakfast, friendly & helpful staff, and the most gorgeous views from your room. We had a sea side room and used to wake up to a beautiful sunrise everyday. We stayed there for 6 days and are already planning our next holiday trip there.
If you want to stay away from the crowd and enjoy a peaceful holiday, then this is the place to be.
Its easily connected to the national road and you can reach most of the other towns in half hour.
The village itself is quaint and beautiful with local shops, pharmacies, supermarkets, restaurants, and bakeries just walking distance from the hotel.
I would give this Hotel a 10/10 and would recommend it to everyone heading to Crete.

10/10

Exceptional

11 May 2011

Verified traveler

Grand Bay Resort

we spent 6 days and 5 nights the hotel was very nice we felt very safe waling to the hotel alone at night the staff was very nice

10/10

Exceptional

25 Sep 2022

Sandra

Magnifique ! Vue incroyable

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

30 Sep 2019

Morten

Godt men ikke prangene

Hotellet ligger lidt langt ude fra Platanias, men helt perfekt hvis man gerne vil have fred og ro. Der kører busser hvert 20'ende minut ind til byen og det koster kun 1,80 Euro pr person.
Hotellet er lidt slidt. Pools'ene er desværre iskolde. Morgenmaden er ok - men bestemt heller ikke mere end det. Synes ikke det er et 4 stjernet hotel, men nok nærmere et 3+

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Men kan steeds buiten eten. Zeer vriendelijk personeel.
Zeer rustig hotel.(geen animatie aan zwembad).

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Sep 2018

Piotr

Heaven on Earth

This place is Heaven on Earth. We had an amazing room with private pool and direct seaview. Food was amazing, service was extraordinary, everything was perfect. Definitely will come back.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Oct 2017

Verified traveler

Hotel direkt am Strand

Wir hatten eine Juniorsuite mit Frühstück. Das Buffet war sehr reichhaltig und für jeden was dabei und man konnte bis 10:30 Uhr frühstücken, was uns sehr entgegen kam. Allerdings waren da manche Angebote wie Waffeln oder Pancakes hart, weil sie so lange warm gehalten und nicht frisch zubereitet wurden.
Sonst war das Hotel eher auf all inclusive-Kunden ausgerichtet.
Unsere Juniorsuite war sehr groß mit Sofa-Sitzecke und Tisch und Stühle. Auch war ausreichend Stauraum in Schrank und Kommode vorhanden. Die Betten waren groß und bequem.
Die Dusche ist in der Badewanne, für ältere Personen könnte da der Ein-und Ausstieg problematisch sein.
Wir hatten zwei Reklamationen (kaputter Balkonstuhl und laute Geräusche im Sicherungskasten), die ohne Probleme behoben wurden.
Es gibt kostenlose einfache Liegen und Sonnenschirme am Pool oberhalb des Strandes, die aber oft schon morgens mit Handtüchern reserviert wurden. Am Strand waren genug bequeme gepolsterte Liegen und Sonnenschirme, das kostete dann pro Liege 2,50 €.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2017

Rolf

Super um sich zu erholen

Alles Personal sehr freundlich und zuvorkommend. sehr sauberer Strand und keinen Lärm

10/10

Exceptional

31 Aug 2016

Thomas

Unser bestes Hotel

Das beste Hotel unserer 14-tägigen Kretarundreise. Super Zimmer, hervorragendes Essen, nettes Personal. Hier kann man sich wohlfühlen. Das einzig negative war ein nicht vorhandes "Do not disturb"-Schild und ein fehlender Stift beim Bewertungsbogen ;-) Ansonsten wirklich alles super!!! Würden wir sofort wieder buchen!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

20 Aug 2016

Lynda

Parfait pour se reposer

Nous avons séjourné dans cet Hotel 10 nuits en août 2016 avec nos deux fils de 17 et 22 ans. Nous avions réservé sur Hotel.com 2 chambres avec vue sur mer + petit déjeuner mais en arrivant on nous informe qu'il n'y a plus deux chambres de dispo comme demandé. On nous propose en contrepartie 2 suites junior avec vue sur jardin + la version all inclusive et le wifi gratuit dans les chambres. Nous avons accepté cette proposition très correcte et avons vraiment apprécié les prestations fournies.
L'hôtel est exclusivement réserve aux personnes de + de 17 ans ce qui assure une certaine tranquillité et c'est très reposant.
L'hôtel est situé dans une rue calme sans passage et fait face à la mer. Plage de galets très propre et accessible directement de l'hôtel.
Nous avons apprécié le buffet varié et changeant chaque jour et surtout le jus d'orange pressé frais tous les matins au petit déjeuner.
Le personnel est très agréable et à l'écoute.
Il y a quelques restos sympas accessible à 5 minutes de marche.
Seul petit point négatif : les transats avec parasol payants sur la plage de l'hôtel.
Conseil : prévoir voiture de location pour visiter les environs et profiter des belles plages situées à proximité.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2016

Joël

Calme et agréable

Très bon séjour dans ce très bel hotel. Acceuil et staff sympathique. Plage de galets.
Le seul bémol, les cocktails du bar qui sont hors de prix, et pas très bons ! :-)
A part ca, tout est très bien !

Partner

8/10

Excellent

27 Jun 2016

Maria

Lugnt fint hotell

Mycket fint hotell med god mat. Tyvärr svarar de inte alls på meddelanden vilket drar ner betyget lite.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jun 2016

Thommyt

Dette var skikkelig ferie

Partner

8/10

Excellent

26 Jun 2016

catherine

très bel environnement et situation -plage de galets- hôtel de petite taille 75 chambres - calme- adultes only- chambre spacieuse- très bonne literie- mobilier et décoration vieillotte- tentures non consultantes- transats payant à la plage , non compris dans le all in- serviette de plage incluse- fruit et vin de bienvenu dans la chambre- excellent buffet varié et très bon- personnel très aimable-

Partner

8/10

Excellent

21 Oct 2015

Verified traveler

Ruhiges Hotel direkt am schönen Strand

Das Hotel ist an einem schönen Plätzchen, direkt am wunderschönen Strand .
Die Gäste waren großteils Ü70 . Leider waren wir vom Essen etwas enttäuscht Die Zimmer sind sauber, Badezimmer auch, das Personal sehr nett und zuvorkommend.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Oct 2015

Verified traveler

Sublime hotel

Nous avons passé 5 jours dans ce magnifique hôtel, rien à dire digne d'un 5 étoiles. Hôtel les pieds dans l'eau, Service au petit soin, nourriture de qualité et varié pour une formule all inclusive. Quartier agréable. Rien à dire la perfection.

Partner