Iolida Beach by Smile Hotels

I had high hopes for this hotel, but it fell short in several key areas. The wine served was of very poor quality — cheap and nearly undrinkable. The beer wasn’t much better, tasting extremely light and watered down. The food was repetitive and bland, with almost every dish tasting the same. It felt like there was little effort put into variety or flavor.

Booked with TUI and they are not present here at all. This hotel caters for mostly Scandinavian travellers I think. Hotel description is misleading. NOT suitable for people with mobility issues. Steep ramps and slippery surfaces. There are lifts to the bedrooms. Hotel in 2 parts, beach side where reception is and then across a fairly busy road, the restaurant section. Both sides have a pool. The sky walkway is unsuitable for people with prams and anyone who finds stairs difficult. All inclusive deal , hmm what can I say. The restaurant has a bar where you can get soft drinks, beer and wine on tap. Anything else you have to stand at the bar inside the restaurant so you have to cover up and wear shoes,to get basic spirits and mixers. If you want a cocktail after 5.30pm, you have to cross to the beach side bar. No cocktails or other drinks are served at meal times. Food is ok, often hot food wasn’t very hot but there was always a good selection and always salad and fresh fruits. You can hire beach towels and pay for 2 beds and a sunshade on beach. I don’t know the price as we didn’t use them. Staff can be friendly, Stratos at beach bar, Soula in restaurant are both lovely. I tried speaking basic words in Greek but nobody really cared. The room was cleaned daily. We were on the 6th floor in a one bed apartment with sea view. Perfectly fine. Not the best view as there is an half completed plot in front of rooms but you can see the sea, just don’t look down. It looked like the hotel had only recently opened and the first few days it was fairly quiet. As the week went on, it got busier and sunbeds were at a premium. No reserving allowed and everyone followed the rule. We just had breakfast fairly early and easily got 2 beds and an umbrella by the restaurant pool. Pool itself doesn’t open till 10 and closes at 6. Disappointed that there was absolutely no entertainment in the evening and nothing during the day either. The local area had a few restaurants, car hire places and crazy golf. We didn’t explore far as the pavement was very uneven and my sister uses a stick. I’m afraid we weren’t really impressed and CAN NOT understand why TUI has it as 4* We don’t recommend it and would never return

Well this is definitely not a 4* hotel. I will start with the positives, place is clean lovely pool area and nice and close to the beach. The room was a decent size and shower was lovely. Our room was cleaned everyday and fresh clean towels replaced everyday. Good choice at breakfast and my husband loved the coffees. Now for the negatives. On arrival I said I had emailed and requested a better room with a sea view wanted it to be a little extra special as it was mine and my husband’s birthdays. Reception said yes yes sea view. Well we were taken to our room up to 7th floor and then straight to the back of the hotel and back out on the back road to another block completely away from the hotel our view was definitely not the sea view I had requested. But reading the reviews this happens quite a lot with TUI holiday makers which is not a good thing. Even though the breakfasts were ok and plenty to choose from. We thought the food in the evening was not up-to par and we ate out most nights. Most of the staff were quite pleasant with an exception of a few, so miserable and Looked like they didn’t want to be there. Also when you were eating your breakfast some staff couldn’t wait to clear the plates away even when they still had food on and you obviously hadn’t finished. Overall Chania is a lovely place especially the town, we did have a good time once we overlooked the negatives. And We would return back to the resort

Me and my friend visited in October 2024 for 8 days, at first glance this is not a 4 star hotel as tui have advertised and I do feel by the pictures that we were catfished a little bit. We was not happy at first but decided to make the most of it. If you are wanting a lay in in the mornings there is no chance of this as we was up at 7:30 every day just to ensure we got a sunbed by the pool! Sunbeds on the beach are 10 euros everyday for 2 with 2 small bottles of water which I find ridiculous! I see a lot of reviews talking about the British being shoved to the far end of the hotel as opposed to the beach side, this was no the case for us as luckily we had a room on the beach side. Breakfast is on the beach side, lunch and dinner is on the other side which is sometimes quite annoying but the beach side bar offers snacks from lunchtime to around 5pm it is very basic but it does the job. The food at dinner always had a theme and we never found a problem with this we loved it! The drinks machine was always either flat or not flavour it was very hot or miss but always go for lemonade it was the only one that seemed to taste okay all the time! We went out for dinner a few times and there are 2 restaurants we definitely reccomend Kri Kri restaurant and refresh beach bar and restaurant there food was amazing and the staff are so lovely! Really good prices too so is a must if you are visiting! Overall we would stay again but only if the hotel was modernised and had more entertainment.

Firstly this is NOT a 4🌟 hotel and priority and best beach front are given to.Scandanavians. If you don't go to breakfast by 7.30a.m no chance of a sunbed as already taken by yellow towels. The food is average and evenings is like a free for all (no dress code)and guest clearing own tables as not enough staff The staff look scruffy, no name badges, and the restaurant manager just stood around instead of helping No manager in beach bar. With guests wandering around bikinis etc even though it clearly states not too.No one to enforce this, lack of free cocktails etc .. The pool the British side is uninspiring and boring Wont be returning sadly Lovely on the beach but thats about it.

the welcome was pleasant and the employee's explanation was very informative, in relation to the hotel in general it is pleasant, but honestly it did not deserve the 4 stars it boasts. First we had an upgrade where the apartment we chose did not have a sea view and we were given the same one with a sea view, but this view was 150m away, which in my opinion is very far, secondly, on both nights so the air conditioning was throwing water while we slept, we complained and the problem was solved, thirdly, at the end of the day we never had hot water, we complained and the problem remained, but the worst thing was the allocation of the apartments, we traveled with another family of 3 people, This family also had an upgrade in their apartment, they were given a superior suite that was larger than the apartment we were in, we, who were 4 people, stayed in a smaller apartment than the family of 3 people... In terms of the restaurant, the food was delicious but Nothing spectacular, what surpassed it was the friendliness of the staff.