




In short: We analysed 13 recent guest reviews of Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only. Guests consistently praise Service & staff (12 of 12 mentions positive), Food & restaurants and Noise levels.
Tripplo's verdict, based on guest reviews
By Axel Hernborg · Updated 11 September 2026 · How we review hotels
Ethereal White Resort scores 9.3 on Booking from 1,100 reviews and 4.8 on Google. Guests praise the service, the cleanliness and the central location near the museum. It is a city hotel: there is no beach, and the setting is urban rather than scenic, which suits a short stay better than a long one.
Guests score it 9.3 out of 10 — the average across the 43 hotels we list in Crete is 9.1.
What Guests Loved
- Heated private plunge pools in several suites
- Rooftop pool and sky bar
- Walk to the Archaeological Museum and old town
- Close to Heraklion airport
Things to Consider
- No beach — an urban setting
- Better suited to a short stay than a beach holiday
Photos from previous guests
Photos provided by GoogleWhat guests say
Reviews from Google“The staff at this hotel have been incredible. Breakfast is amazing as they really carter to their guest as they offer a buffet and à la carte breakfast menu. The spa and gym was incredible as open till late, very peace. The only downside is the parking situation as it’s very limited and hard to find parking if you’re driving. If you’re not driving is perfect as it’s in the center close to everything and is all a short distance walk. Overall I would highly recommend as I loved my stay♥️ shout out to francisca !! Always went above and beyond! The best staff”
“We had such a wonderful stay at this hotel in Crete, and it’s one of those places that really stays with you after you leave. From the moment we arrived, we felt so warmly welcomed. The entire service team was simply outstanding – always attentive, kind, and genuinely caring, which made such a difference throughout our stay. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for making us feel at home. A very special mention goes to Francesca and Alexandros. They truly made our days brighter with their warmth, attention, and constant smiles. It felt like they were always there at exactly the right moment, making sure everything was perfect for us. We will honestly never forget them. Breakfast every morning was a real highlight – fresh, varied, and absolutely delicious, something we looked forward to every day. And the spa area was like a little paradise: peaceful, beautiful, and the perfect place to completely unwind. And of course, Alexandros deserves a special shoutout for his incredible cocktails – easily the best we’ve ever had. 🍸 We left with great memories and would love to come back next year. Greets from Belgium ☺️”
“More Than a Design Hotel: A Place of Character, Charm and Unexpected Kindness We stayed at the Ethereal White Resort for five nights at the end of our holidays in Crete, after already spending time at a beach resort. For the final days, we wanted something different: a stylish city hotel in the heart of Heraklion where everything could be explored on foot. In that respect, the location is excellent — central, lively, yet surprisingly calm. From the moment one enters the hotel, it becomes clear that this is not a conventional five-star property. Marble, modern minimalist design, soft lighting and striking oil paintings create the atmosphere of an artistic white sanctuary hidden within the old town. The aesthetic is elegant, unusual and memorable. Our room was beautifully designed and filled with impressive smart technology. Almost everything — lights, curtains, climate — was digitally controlled, which gave the room a futuristic feeling, although at times perhaps slightly too futuristic. Still, it was spotless, very quiet and cleverly arranged with mirrors that made the room appear far larger than it actually was. One thing that initially disturbed us was that housekeeping carts remained permanently outside our room — not only during cleaning hours, but throughout the day and even late into the night. In the already narrow corridor, this felt visually unpleasant and also somewhat questionable from a fire-safety perspective. To the hotel’s credit, however, the staff reacted immediately and professionally once we mentioned it, and the issue disappeared the following day. Another curious detail was the so-called “pillow menu” advertised in the room. Guests are invited to choose between five different pillow types, but in reality only one seemed to be available. As the pillows were unfortunately much too bulky and uncomfortable for us, we ended up improvising with folded bath towels as makeshift pillows for the rest of our stay. The rooftop terrace and bar were another highlight, with magnificent sea views at sunset. Breakfast was generous and served in a spectacular dining room full of art and eccentric decorative details, including an amusing imitation fireplace that seemed to function through video projection. What stayed with us most, however, was the human warmth of the staff. One morning my wife was not feeling well, and the breakfast manager personally brought her tea and remedies, saying warmly: “I am a mother. I know what will help you.” It was a deeply human gesture that we will not forget. More generally, many of the young women working at the hotel had wit, humour and genuine personality. Conversations felt natural rather than scripted, elegant yet relaxed. One sensed that the management had selected people not only for efficiency, but also for character. Ethereal White Resort is not a perfect hotel, but it is a memorable one — artistic, unconventional, occasionally chaotic, yet full of charm and humanity.”
“City centre location, close to the sea. Downside, is that The hôtel only has 8 spots and they fill up very quickly in busy periods. The roads are very narrow and packed with parked a cars and pedestrians so your driving skills will definitely be tested. Very helpful staff and very accommodating. Saliad was a gem and made my stay a fantastic experience with great location recommendations and Greek language lessons. Francisca was also fantastic and made me very comfortable throughout the stay. They’re both great representation of the hotel and the management should be very proud of their efforts. The gym and swimming pool are open until very late. The gym has everything you need and the pool has a fantastic atmosphere with a huge screen to watch the football game. Parking and Valet service is very useful. The luxury suite was amazing. The huge TV, double sink, split shower and bathroom and a balcony. The negatives are the water spilling into the sink area out of the shower cubicle; I’ve had to mop the bathroom after every shower. The smart tech room is very very cool but not always practical. Having to find the table to turn on the light in the toilet or shower is not always ideal and even worse if you don’t charge the tablet and it dies. Overall, I had an amazing time and would definitely visit again.”
“I had a very good experience in this hotel! Thanks so much to the friendly, helpful and welcoming staff, with especial thanks to the ladies in the spa, who always tried to accommodate my requests. The hotel is very new, comfortable beds (and pillows!) both pools are lovely (big plus for the indoor pool) and the breakfast is very complete, with a buffet and local à la carte options. Fresh and local food and the manager is professional and very very nice. I would just point out a few things that should improve, however. When I booked the hotel, the main reason for me to do so was the access to the indoor pool. In my reservation, it said 120’ per day. When I arrived, it turned out it was 60’. It was enough but this should have been communicated, since it was a modification in my reservation. Also, I was encouraged to book the access to the pool in advance since there could be more people. I had several exchanges to book the time slots and I was always told they were confirmed. When I got there, it was not the case and I had to book again for each day. Luckily, it was not an issue for most days, but still there were a couple of days when I had to change my plans. In high season, I’m not sure it’d have been that easy. And still I wasted time trying to book in advance. The rooms are very nice and modern although some things could improve- there are just two hangers in the whole room (in the bathroom, for the towels), but no hangers next for the hand towel or in the room to leave your coat, for example (I ended up using doors as hangers). Plus, the shower could benefit from a glass, since each time you shower, the whole bathroom is covered in water. And the super modern automatic system doesn’t always work. Lights suddenly on at night in the bathroom or I never managed with the curtains. But all in all, the experience was lovely. Thank you very much!”
What guests actually say
Tripplo analysed 13 full guest reviews in all languages. Every review is topic-tagged and the shares counted — never estimated.
Food & restaurants
5 reviews · 5 positive · 0 negative
- +Breakfast combines a buffet with an à la carte menu of local dishes
- +Drinks on the terrace in the evening
”the breakfast is very complete, with a buffet and local à la carte options.” — guest, translated
Service & staff
12 reviews · 12 positive · 0 negative
- +Staff named in review after review — Francesca above all
- +Tips for places to go and even Greek lessons at the desk
”The entire service team was simply outstanding – always attentive, kind, and genuinely caring” — guest, translated
The rooms
3 reviews · 3 positive · 0 negative
- +Comfortable beds and a pillow choice guests remember
- +Marble and minimalist design throughout
- –Indoor-pool access was cut from 120 to 60 minutes a day without notice for one guest
”The hotel is very new, comfortable beds (and pillows!)” — guest, translated
Location
5 reviews · 2 positive · 0 negative
- +Central Heraklion — the sights are all walkable
- +Lively streets outside, a calm hotel inside
- –Only a handful of parking spaces, and narrow, crowded streets for drivers
”the location is excellent — central, lively, yet surprisingly calm.” — guest, translated
Noise levels
4 reviews · 4 positive · 0 negative
- +Quiet rooms despite the central location
- +A peaceful spa open until late
”The room was quiet despite being just at the edge of the main shopping and historic district.” — guest, translated
pools, beach & aquapark, condition & cleanliness, value for money are mentioned too rarely in the sample for an honest picture — we don't guess.
Want to go deeper?
Download the Tripplo Report for Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only — the full category analysis, room guide, price analysis and alternatives as a PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only from the airport?
Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only is 4.5 km from Heraklion Airport (HER).
How far is Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only from the centre of Crete?
Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only is 31 km from the centre of Crete.
How do guests rate Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only?
Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Google, based on 270 reviews. On Booking.com it scores 9.3/10 from 1,100 guest reviews.
How many stars does Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only have?
Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only is a 5-star hotel.
What amenities does Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only offer?
Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa - Adults Only offers 2 swimming pools, Spa and wellness center, Restaurant, Bar, Free parking, Free Wifi.
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Apokoronou 2, Heraklion, 71202, Greece





