We visited the Iberostar Waves Resort in Crete as a couple for a relaxing two-week autumn getaway. The booking and flights with Jet2 were smooth and easy from start to finish.
The October weather was a little unpredictable — we had a few cloudy and rainy days — but most of the time it was pleasantly sunny and around 22°C, perfect for relaxing outdoors.
✈️ Arrival & Check-In
Our flight was as expected for a budget airline: a little cramped but comfortable enough. The transfer to the resort took longer than anticipated (around two hours) as our hotel was the last drop-off on the route.
However, our arrival experience at the hotel more than made up for it. We received a warm and genuine welcome from Olga, complete with a glass of prosecco and a rose — a lovely gesture. We appreciated being invited to sit and relax on the sofa while checking in rather than standing at reception. Our luggage was delivered promptly to our room, and the process was smooth and efficient.
🏖️ The Resort & Facilities
We chose Half Board, as we’re not big drinkers. The difference between Half Board and All Inclusive was about €40 per person per day, which we felt wasn’t necessary for us.
The resort itself is beautifully designed with plenty of different areas to enjoy — several pools, grassy sunbathing areas, and small beach coves. For those who like to stay active, there are paddle courts, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, and even crazy golf. The daily aqua exercise classes in the main pool were led by enthusiastic, energetic instructors, and there were also games like water polo for those who enjoy a bit of fun competition. We preferred to seek out quieter spots and use the smaller pools, which were perfect for relaxing.
Every evening, the animation team put on a show at the outdoor theatre. Their enthusiasm, energy, and talent were truly incredible — a perfect way to end the day with great entertainment and atmosphere.
There’s not a lot within walking distance of the hotel apart from a supermarket, car hire, and excursion offices, but we enjoyed taking the road train into Panormos village, where prices were much lower than the hotel shop. The village has lovely restaurants, clothing and souvenir shops, and even a proper pharmacy.
We also joined a road train excursion to an olive oil factory, some caves, and an old Cretan village — a fun day out with delicious traditional Greek food and drink.
🍽️ Food & Dining
The food at Iberostar Waves was outstanding. Both breakfast and dinner offered excellent variety and quality, with themed dinners on a seven-day rotation. Every dietary need was catered for, with clear allergen labeling, a gluten-free area, and plenty of vegetarian and plant-based options.
For simpler tastes, there were pasta, sauces, pizza, and chips available nightly. Meat, fish, and vegetable dishes were consistently well cooked and flavorful, and the desserts were truly incredible — from traditional Greek sweets to a chocolate fountain with fruit kebabs, cakes, and marshmallows.
The resort also has three à la carte restaurants — a Greek taverna, a Grill, and an Italian. We tried the Italian one evening and while the Melanzane Parmigiana was excellent, overall we felt the food and service didn’t add much beyond what was already offered in the main restaurant. We mentioned our feedback to the guest relations manager, though she didn’t seem particularly empathetic.
☕️ Breakfast Highlights & Exceptional Staff
Breakfast was a highlight: a full English, porridge, yogurts, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, seeds, breads, pastries, pancakes, cold meats, cheeses, juices, tea, and excellent Greek coffee — everything you could want to start the day.
What truly made our holiday special, though, were the wonderful staff. Everyone we met was friendly, helpful, and hard-working, including those behind the scenes in the kitchen.
A few people really stood out:
Manolia at breakfast — always warm, cheerful, and attentive. She noticed every detail, even bringing toothpicks unprompted when needed!
Dilli at dinner — professional, kind, and thoughtful. When I was unwell with a brief flu, he made me a ginger and honey infusion, which was just what I needed.
These small gestures made a big difference, and we hope the management recognizes what valuable team members they are.
🌅 Overall Impression
Despite a couple of small issues, this was a wonderful and relaxing holiday. The resort is spotless, the food is exceptional, the entertainment is top-class, and the staff are outstanding. We would definitely stay at another Iberostar hotel in the future
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