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The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete – photo 1
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The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete – photo 8
Crete, Greece

The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete

5-Star Hotel
The 5-star The Royal Blue a Luxury Beach Resort is a tranquil exclusive resort on the northern coast of Crete. A private bay, 38 pools, 4 restaurants, and 4 bars are found within its 70-acre premises. Free WiFi is available throughout. The superior rooms are stylishly decorated in warm and soothing tones and offer sea or garden views. They all feature flat-screen TVs and spacious bathrooms with 2 sinks. Upon arrival, all guests are greeted with a welcome drink. The Pure Senses Spa offers massage, hydrotherapies, facial and body treatments. Guests will find a tennis court, as well as mini golf and soccer courts within the premises. Colorful gardens extend throughout the resort, while natural stone has been used to blend harmoniously with the surroundings.
5-Star Hotel
Crete, Greece
48 km to Heraklion Airport (HER)
Beachfront
Private Beach
Free Wifi
Outdoor swimming pool
Free parking
Family rooms

Facts we have checked

  • Private-pool rooms
  • Full-size private pool
  • Kids' club
  • Kids' pool
  • Family suites
  • Babysitting
  • Kids' menu
  • Sunbeds or beach club
  • Sea-view rooms
  • Spa

Tripplo's verdict, based on guest reviews

Tripplo’s analysis · Updated 26 September 2026 · How we review hotels

The Royal Blue is the choice for travellers who want a private bay and room to breathe. Seventy acres of grounds hold thirty-eight pools, four restaurants and four bars, and the bathrooms are unusually generous. The size means walking, the grounds can feel impersonal, and peak-season prices are high.

Set along a private bay on Crete's northern coast in Panormos Rethymno, The Royal Blue Resort & Spa combines expansive grounds with a notable density of pools and dining options. Its scale and natural stone architecture suit travelers seeking a self-contained beach retreat with room to roam, particularly couples and families looking for varied amenities in one setting.

Guests score it 8.8 out of 10 — the average across the 53 hotels we list on Crete is 9.1.

  • The abundance of pools, spread across the property alongside a private bay, means guests rarely need to compete for sunbeds or water space, even during busy periods.
  • The 70-acre setting allows for generous spacing between buildings, gardens, and gathering areas, giving the resort an unusually open, uncrowded feel compared to typical beachfront hotels.

Should you book it?

The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete is worth booking for families wanting space, pools and varied dining options — but pick somewhere else if you want an intimate, small-scale hotel feel.

Book it if you want

  • Families wanting space, pools and varied dining options
  • Couples who value privacy and uncrowded sunbeds
  • Travellers seeking a beachfront resort with wellness facilities
  • Guests who enjoy long stays with plenty of on-site variety

Pick somewhere else if

  • You want an intimate, small-scale hotel feel
  • You dislike long walks between rooms, pools and restaurants
  • You're travelling on a tight budget in peak season

Rooms & which one to pick

Our tip: Couples after the best view and space should book the Superior Suite with Sea Front (50 m², sea view, king bed plus sofa bed), or splash out on the Presidential Suite Sea Front with Private Pool (100 m², private pool) for a special occasion. Families needing room to spread out are better off with the Family Suite with Sea View (75 m², queen bed, sofa bed, family-friendly amenities) or the Luxury Villa Sea Front with Private Pool (80 m², own pool, sleeps 4).

  • Superior Suite with Sea Front1 king bed, 1 sofa bedsleeps 450 m²Sea viewAir conditioningFlat-screen TV
  • Superior Room with Sea View2 twin beds or 1 queen bed, 1 sofa bedsleeps 330 m²Sea viewAir conditioningFlat-screen TV
  • Luxury Villa Sea Front with Private Pool1 king bed, 1 sofa bedsleeps 480 m²Private poolSea viewAir conditioning
  • Superior Room with Garden View and Shared Pool1 queen bed, 1 sofa bedsleeps 330 m²Garden viewShared poolAir conditioning
  • Presidential Suite Sea Front with Private Pool1 queen bed, 1 sofa bedsleeps 4100 m²Private poolSea viewAir conditioning
  • Family Suite with Sea View1 queen bed, 1 sofa bedsleeps 475 m²Sea viewFamily-friendly amenitiesAir conditioning

Room types as listed on Booking.com; availability varies by date.

Prices at The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete

When we last checked (5 October 2026), a 2-night stay for two adults cost from €324 in total (€162 per night).

Across our last 7 daily price checks, the nightly rate has ranged from €162 to €186.

Prices sampled daily by Tripplo for a two-adult stay about a month ahead, in EUR. Your dates may differ — use the price check to see live availability.

Photos from previous guests

Photos provided by Google

What guests say

Reviews from Google
4 months ago
“After spending 9 wonderful nights at The Royal Blue, we can confidently say this is the best hotel we have ever stayed in. The view from our room was absolutely breathtaking, with a beautiful sunset every evening. The hotel is elegant, peaceful, and full of character. If you’re looking for karaoke and loud entertainment, this probably isn’t the place for you 😜. But if you’re looking for relaxation, stunning surroundings, and total tranquillity, you’ll love it. The food was delicious throughout our stay. While dining in the hotel may seem more expensive than the local tavernas, once you factor in the cost of sunbeds and umbrellas on public beaches, it actually offers great value. Having food and drinks delivered directly to your sunbed within minutes is a wonderful bonus. The private beach and the main pool are fantastic, and despite the hotel being almost full, there were always plenty of sunbeds available – no early morning rush to reserve a spot. The staff were excellent, our room was spotless every day, and the whole resort has a calm atmosphere that makes you forget about the busy world outside. A special thank you for making our wedding anniversary so memorable. We couldn’t have chosen a more beautiful place to celebrate such a special occasion. We will definitely be back. The Royal Blue truly is a little piece of heaven.”
— mac filip
3 months ago
“Perfect resort. We were upgraded upon arrival to the seafront suite with a private pool. Room and garden were spacious, private, quiet, clean. The private pool had a view to the sea. Couldn't ask for more! Breakfast was ok. Room service is expensive. Staff were helpful and super kind. Will definitely visit again”
— Oriya Gefen
3 months ago
“★★★★★ An unforgettable stay at Royal Blue Resort, Crete This was one of our best vacations in Greece. It was our second time visiting Crete, but this time our experience was truly special and unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, we felt incredibly welcomed. The whole team was so kind, friendly, and professional. We were even surprised with a room upgrade, which made our arrival feel like the beginning of an amazing holiday. I was traveling with my wife and two small children, and the resort was absolutely perfect for a family vacation. The staff made everything so easy and comfortable for us. They helped us organize a wonderful nanny for our one-year-old child, and she was such a lovely and caring person “Thank you Mrs Anna”. Mrs Katerina at the kids’ club was also fantastic and took great care of our three-year-old, making sure our child had fun and felt happy. A special thank you to the reception team, especially Mr. Theodore, and everyone who went above and beyond to help us throughout our stay. Their kindness and attention to detail truly made a difference. The food at the restaurants was excellent, the atmosphere of the resort was peaceful and relaxing, and the private beach was beautiful. Every little detail contributed to making this holiday something we will remember for a long time. We only returned home yesterday, and we are already thinking about coming back. Hopefully, we can visit again soon — maybe even this year, or definitely next year. Thank you to the entire Royal Blue Resort team for making our stay so wonderful and unforgettable. We highly recommend this place!”
— W D26
2 months ago
“This review is for Spa Massage only. For hotel, rooms, service I will give review later. I had a skin deep tissue massage booked for 90 mins. I had Elena as the masseuse. She was excellent. I wud give her a 7* rating when normally rating are at 5* level. She knew exactly what needed doing and did it to perfectionist level. The proof of the pudding is I have booked another appointment for tomorrow 9/7 with her. Wud strongly suggest to book 90 mins n NOT 60 mins. Also I wud highly recommend her even if u r not staying at the hotel n can book massage. That needs to be checked. Best Wishes to her. Regds Ghalib Sarkar Room No:119”
— Ghalib Sarkar
2 months ago
“The hotel is undeniably Instagram-worthy, and the food presentation looks great. Unfortunately, that’s where most of the five-star experience ends. Service is well below what you would expect from a 5-star resort. The food looks much better than it tastes. The gym is outdated and almost unusable, and the overall cleanliness is average at best. The most surprising part was seeing staff filling their own plates from the buffet before dinner service had even ended. As a guest, it gives the impression that the restaurant is closing and that guests are no longer the priority. This is simply not acceptable in a luxury hotel. Overall, this is a beautiful property with poor execution. In my opinion, it is an average 4-star hotel marketed as a 5-star resort.”
— AB Travel

Frequently asked questions

How far is The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete from the airport?

The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete is 48 km from Heraklion Airport (HER).

How far is The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete from the centre of Crete?

The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete is 24 km from the centre of Crete.

How do guests rate The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete?

The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete is rated 4.6 out of 5 on Google, based on 1,469 reviews. On Booking.com it scores 8.8/10 from 496 guest reviews.

How many stars does The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete have?

The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete is a 5-star hotel.

What amenities does The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete offer?

The Royal Blue Resort & Spa Crete offers beachfront, private Beach, free Wifi, outdoor swimming pool, free parking and family rooms.

Weather & sea temperature — Crete

Right now: 21° air · 24° sea

Avg daytime max (°C)Sea (°C)Warmest months
Data: Open-Meteo

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