Lyttos Beach

Ola Wozniak

OMG — everything is just right. On top of that, the staff are incredibly warm, engaging, and attentive. The food is absolutely amazing! This is the best 5-star hotel we have ever stayed at, and honestly the only one I would genuinely consider returning to. The hotel is designed very cleverly around a circular layout, so nothing ever feels too far away. The facilities are hidden underground, which is both smart and convenient. It’s also an adults/teen only (12+) hotel, which makes the atmosphere so much more relaxing without little ones screaming around the pool. There’s also a sister hotel next door with a water park and Olympic-sized swimming pool that guests can use anytime, which is such a bonus. I genuinely cannot stop smiling here — and I say that as someone who worked in high-end hospitality for 9 years and is an extremely demanding guest. Everything feels just perfect. It also attracts a really lovely mix of people. I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but everyone just seems relaxed, friendly, and chilled.

Jordy Mevissen

We recently stayed at Lyttos Beach and were impressed from the moment we stepped into the imposing lobby. The welcome was incredibly warm, and the check-in process was seamless. The Resort & Rooms: Our rooms were clean, practical, and well-maintained. A huge plus was the indoor route connecting our room to the restaurant – very convenient! The outdoor pools are crystal clear with plenty of sunbeds available, and the gym is one of the best-equipped we’ve seen, with a great focus on safety and guest identification. Dining: The atmosphere in the restaurants is cozy and the staff is exceptionally polite. We loved the daily themed buffets; the food was consistently fresh and tasty, even if you arrived towards the end of the service. A Heartfelt Thank You: What truly sets this hotel apart, however, is how they handle the unexpected. Due to a mistake on our part during booking, our family of six was split between Lyttos Beach and Lyttos Mare (the sister hotel next door). Even though it wasn't the hotel's fault, the management and staff showed incredible kindness and flexibility to ensure we could enjoy our holiday together as a family. It’s in these situations that you see the "real" value of a hotel. The team at Lyttos Beach went above and beyond for us. Verdict: Whether it’s the great sports facilities or the top-tier service, we can warmly recommend Lyttos Beach for any family trip.

Stephen Boyington

Fantastic hotel for families. Only thing I can knock it on are that air con wasn't turned on until after easter for them which was 13th April. It made the first few nights very hot and unbearable. Honestly other than that, I can't recommend it enough. All staff are polite and helpful. Food is varied and mostly pretty good. The puddings are a bit samey but again, caters for all. Place in clean, plenty of pools and space to enjoy. Main bus route which is cheap (use Google maps and it's a doddle!). Never struggled with sunbeds, food, drinks, cleanliness or language barriers. Splash park has parts for all ages raging from 30vm deep to 1.4m deep for some of the bigger slides. The season begins in May so we're finding a lot shut locally but again a quick bus to Malia or Heraklion isn't a deal breaker. You can get a taxi, about 50euros return to malia or 100euros return to herlakion.

Mike Mat

Lyttos Beach claims to be a 5 star resort but falls short in comparison to many we have visited in Greece over the years. Do not get me wrong - it is not a bad hotel but you need to be aware of what you are picking in the details (Note: we didn’t “pick” it but were rebooked as our original choice was still undergoing renovations). The good: It is a clean and sizable facility def aimed at families. Its animation and sports program/facilities are the biggest and best we have seen in any resort. It has a decent amount of pools and restaurants to service the approx 650 rooms. Staff are generally friendly but not particular proactive. Animation and kids programs and options are plenty (also the decent sized water park). Checkin was quick and easy. You also get access to an app with all key information (you need a code for it). Plenty of excursions are up for sale as generally on Crete - mostly ranging from €30-50 pP. Be aware: There are two hotels on the Lyttos grounds - the Beach and the Mare. This is not always immediately obvious. The Mare is the slightly more upscale one for Adults only. Back to Lyttos Beach - The food (while lots of choice) is very much not up to scratch - quality of the meat and fish is average at best, food often lukewarm, and it is all exclusivity buffet style / self serve also in the theme restaurants. They do constant cooking to replenish or to order omelettes in the mornings. Best option is the snack bar Thalassa with limited choice but fresh wok cooking - otherwise Kalypso. We were there during late May and it is def mostly a family hotel during that time. The amount of kids seems to outweigh the amount of adults. Due to its size it feels overall very crammed in particular around the main pool / bar / entertainment area. There is not really a quiet hide way. On Sustainability (for those who care) - lots of plastic bottles and plastic cups and not all of them reusable (only main pool area). No option to not get the room towels replaced either if they make up your room. As often in Greece you find that plenty of stray cats around but it feels particular high here. A family member also got attacked and bitten by a cat (unprovoked simply while walking along the beach) which had to be treated at the medical center due to infection. WiFi (for those who need it) is overall patchy. Generally best around the main restaurant / bar area. Lyttos Beach is overall a solid general option in particular if you have young kids but not a place we would highly recommend as exceptional or outstanding.

Thè Geoff

Staying at the Lyttos is an amazing experience but one that must be planned to really benefit from. First, it's a maze. Although well-labelled, getting around can be an initial challenge. Then the sheer vastness of the the facility and the number of things to do necessitates careful planning to fully experience the place. It's also easy to remain within the confines of the hotel and not experience the easy-going and friendly atmosphere that's outside the hotel along the beach. Well planned, it's an amazing experience.