Alai, Crete, a Tribute Portfolio Resort

Staying at Alai Crete, A Tribute Portfolio Resort by Marriott was an unforgettable experience. Everything exceeded our expectations — from the warm welcome at reception to the attentive service throughout our stay. The breakfasts were outstanding — fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented every morning. You can really feel the care put into every detail. The hotel’s greatest strength is its team. Every staff member we met was friendly, professional, and attentive. Special thanks to the hotel manager — always present, helpful, and efficient, clearly caring about guests’ comfort. Alai Crete is the perfect choice for a peaceful and relaxing vacation. We’re leaving with wonderful memories and hope to return soon!

Lovely hotel in great central location. Went in May so not too busy and we got an upgrade to sea view. Breakfast very nice. Couple more freshly cooked options would be lovely but every thing was fresh and tasty. Sunbeds were always available both around the pool and on the beach. No need to reserve which we loved. Might be different in high season ? We had a couple of teeny practical issues in our room which were dealt with super quickly and efficiently. Nothing too big. Just a sticky lock and lightbulb. Lots of restaurants nearby in walking distance and supermarkets and cafes too. We requested a courtesy room on our last day which they provided. The hotel has been recently refurbished and was a lovely style and very relaxing. All in all a great stay and would recommend.

The hotel is clean and well-maintained, both in the rooms and throughout the common areas. The staff, especially at the pool bar and in housekeeping, were very friendly and helpful. The nearby beach was beautiful and easily accessible, and the pool itself was nice, offering a pleasant place to relax – if you managed to get a pool bed! Unfortunately, towels were left on pool chairs for hours every day (sometimes up to three hours) to reserve spots, making it difficult for others to find a place. People would claim chairs early in the morning and then disappear to get ready, eat breakfast, and have a relaxing morning knowing their favorite pool spot was waiting for them. This went against hotel policy, but management did nothing, even after we raised the issue. This made mornings stressful for us, as we didn’t want to reserve chairs unfairly but still wanted to secure a place by the pool. The hotel seems to be expanding, adding more rooms, which might worsen the already overcrowded pool situation in the future. Happy hunting! :) Further, the hotel itself feels poorly designed and built, with some areas seeming unbalanced or awkwardly arranged. Our room lacked attention to detail; many things were crooked or improperly installed. The phone and TV didn’t work properly however they did fix the TV quickly after we mentioned it. There was also an issue of outside noise due to the lack of a door between the hallway and bedroom and at one point, the power was cut off without any notice, leaving us without electricity and water. It turned out to be planned maintenance and not an emergency, so advance notice would have been appreciated. Another major concern was the lack of understanding regarding dietary needs. There was confusion over vegan and vegetarian dishes – one menu labeled dishes as vegan, while another labeled them as vegetarian. When we asked the staff, they treated the two as the same thing. "Vegan, vegetarian? It's the same!" This is unacceptable, especially for guests with allergies, like those to dairy. Proper training for the staff is urgently needed to ensure the safety and comfort of all guests. The surrounding area is heavily touristy and lacks the authenticity one might expect from a more traditional Greek experience. It felt more like a typical charter destination than anything unique or local. In summary, while the hotel has some good qualities, such as its cleanliness, friendly staff, and proximity to a nice beach, several issues need to be addressed – particularly the staff’s understanding of dietary needs and the issue with reserving pool beds, as well as the lack of enough beds for all guests, especially with the upcoming expansion of the hotel. Sadly, we will not be returning.