Hotel Sissi Bay

I have read reviews on here that there is nothing to see or do in Sissi itself – what rubbish! The harbour area is quiet but by no means sleepy or lifeless (only if compared to Malia!) but this is not Malia so if you want that kind of thing then yes – you have booked the wrong place! This is a place for all ages to watch people, locals even jumping in and swimming at sunset! and fisherman arriving back with their catch - for a few euros enjoy a beer overlooking one of the most prettiest harbours I have ever seen (Hemingways bar is great) and all this is a short walk from the hotel. For those who wish to stay in Sissi all week there is plenty to do from the resort itself. If you have some money to spend but don’t want to go too far, take the Nemo 3 hr boat trip (20 euros pp), the Happy Train (18 euros pps a 3 hour trip and views from the mountains stunning) or for an hour instead, also a night time horsedrawn ride around the town, quad bikes, jet ski, fishing… I can go on… Further afield but for reasonable prices, see Mevis travel, Spinalonga, Chrissi Island.. (not much more than the Nemo trip)

But for those on a budget the most amazing snorkelling in a safe and clean harbour, a fun pub quiz at the Jolly Roger, watch the sunset from the pier (8pm most nights) even spend the morning on the only sandy beach – this is all there within 10 minutes of the hotel. The sunsets are stunning but can be enjoyed from the upstairs seating area of Sissi Bay hotel drinking your all inclusive drinks for no more than you paid to get there.

The staff work tremendously hard to make your stay a pleasant one, being all inclusive means you do not have to pay at the end of your meals or drinks but don’t forget to make a small tip from time to time, or offer to buy a drink it’s a small gesture but if you appreciate their efforts and the small personal touches the staff make then this should not be forgotten by you when your there.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, we loved the hotel and the location and could find no complaint. We made some small suggestions to the Manageress who welcomed them. Having been there in the week that negative comments were posted and the absurd nonsense about drug dealing – really, please? would I take my children there if this was true, I can only say how such negativity is damaging and unnecessary. This hotel is fully worthy of its 4 star rating and represents excellent value for money, we loved every minute and can’t wait to go back!

The choice everyday was superb, every meal had something for everyone and was always fresh, well presented and in plentiful amounts. If something ran low, it magically filled up by the many hard working staff who work dam hard to clean up plates and reset tables. We never had a problem finding a seat and there were always plenty to choose from with shade or not. Dimitri and Bona were lovely, friendly, helpful and always greeted us warmly and helped if we needed it (I recommend the 2.50 euros for freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast) Every meal we enjoyed, the variety was excellent with new dishes neither of us had tried but even for fussy eaters, you can find something to enjoy. Don’t knock the food until you’ve tried it and if you were to eat out every day 3 times a day, you would be hard pushed to get the same value of money, good food and variety for the money you pay to go here all inclusive.

The entertainment is simple, but again – be open minded, you never know who you may meet around the bar at night and lifes characters are all there but also friends to be made. Jimmy runs one bar, Nikos runs the other and both offer a different kind of evening dependant on what you want. Nikos is one of life’s true gentleman - you could not wish to meet a nicer, warmer, more genuine person and after you get to know him will make you feel like an old friend. The bar staff work so hard, we didn’t wait more than 5 minutes (even in the busiest times) to be served.

Our room did not have a direct sea view, but it was quiet, peaceful and cleaned every day by the maid, our towels changed every other. We had no complaint about the quality of our room. Simple, yes but clean and worth the money – most definitely, we had no complaint with the room at all. Our bathroom bulb went, it was changed by the time we came back from breakfast. I would recommend the aircon and yes this is additional cost but reasonably priced and in Greece or Crete paying for this is normal, so you cannot expect anything different from this hotel.

The pool is a saltwater/chlorine mix which is not uncommon in many hotels but for sensitive eyes wear goggles
Have a massage at the hotel! Konnie is fabulous and an hour with her eases all your troubles.
Want a sea view from your room? If you haven’t got one, weigh up whether the money spent on upgrading is worth it, the whole hotel has a sea view for nothing, no-one ever sits up the upstairs seating area, its private, relaxing and costs no more. Our room (406) had very little view but it was private, quiet and the late afternoon sun was beautiful.
The all inclusive is great value, the local beer and spirits are perfectly fine, the fact that this finishes at 11pm is responsible and quite honestly, adequate.