Isla Brown Chania Resort, Curio Collection By Hilton

“Beautiful stay and wonderful food”

We have just returned from a short stay at this hotel. First of all this hotel has under new management so ignore any previous reviews prior to this summer. Only approx 30 mins from Chania Airport 30 min walk to the village of Stavros (famous for the film Zorba the Greek) Lovely views of the se… more

We have just returned from a short stay at this hotel. First of all this hotel has under new management so ignore any previous reviews prior to this summer. Only approx 30 mins from Chania Airport 30 min walk to the village of Stavros (famous for the film Zorba the Greek) Lovely views of the sea from our room in the main building so definitely upgrade to sea views. Food you have the choice of the island buffet and 3 Ala cartes - Italian for lunch and then the Asian and Greek have alternative nights. We were lucky to be here when they had the first Greek Panigiri festival so had some delicious Greek food in the buffet followed by Greek dancing on the large terrace. The pool area has plenty of sun beds and there is a pool bar close by. There is a small decked pebble beach area if you want to escape to this little cove. Lovely Gardens and views all over the complex. Drink quality is very good and your mini bar stocked and replenished daily with soft drinks and beer and a nespresso coffee machine in the room. We got an amazing deal to this new hotel and would recommend for couples or friends just wanting to chill, relax and totally switch off.

less

“A Beautiful Birthday Stay with Outstanding Hospitality — But Service Coordination Still Needs Improvement”

Our stay at Aulūs Chania, Curio Collection by Hilton was truly special, as we chose this beautiful hotel to celebrate my birthday — and from the very first moment, the experience felt memorable. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Nicky, one of the shining stars at reception. She greeted us w… more

Our stay at Aulūs Chania, Curio Collection by Hilton was truly special, as we chose this beautiful hotel to celebrate my birthday — and from the very first moment, the experience felt memorable. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Nicky, one of the shining stars at reception. She greeted us with such a genuine smile and kindly invited us to sit and relax while she prepared everything for our check-in. Shortly after, Mara from Guest Relations came to welcome us with the same warmth and positive energy. She explained all the hotel activities and restaurant options, wished me a happy birthday, and made us feel incredibly special. The check-in process was smooth and professional, and what truly elevated the experience was that Mara personally escorted us to our room. She carefully showed us everything inside and made sure we felt comfortable — a truly luxurious touch that reflected outstanding hospitality. When we entered the room, I was surprised with a birthday cake and a birthday card waiting for me. It was such a thoughtful and beautiful gesture that made my celebration even more meaningful. Nicky and Mara genuinely made our stay so much better by paying attention to every detail and making us feel cared for. However, while the front office and guest relations teams were exceptional, housekeeping was unfortunately one of the weakest parts of our stay. One day, after returning from a full-day excursion, we came back to find our room had not been cleaned at all — it was still dirty, and we didn’t even have fresh towels. The following day, the room was serviced, but the quality was still very poor. Several dirty glasses and cups were left behind, which was disappointing for a property of this level. In addition, I had to request two extra pillows three separate times before they finally arrived, which clearly highlighted a major communication issue between departments. It seems the hotel is still adjusting, perhaps because it has recently opened, but internal coordination absolutely needs significant improvement. We also noticed many restaurant staff members seemed visibly tired, often working late into the evening and returning early the next morning. Despite this, they consistently greeted guests with kind smiles and maintained a wonderful attitude, which deserves real recognition. The breakfast buffet itself was excellent — diverse, fresh, and very well presented. The main restaurant staff were also friendly and welcoming, helping improve the experience. However, the restaurant atmosphere could be enhanced significantly. Although speakers were visible, there was never any background music, which made the environment feel oddly flat. Soft music would have created a much more pleasant ambiance instead of hearing neighboring table conversations or the noise of people chewing nearby. Another issue in the main restaurant was the presence of cats constantly walking and running between the tables. While some guests may not mind, it often felt uncomfortable and unexpected, especially when cats suddenly passed close by while dining. It disrupted what should have been a more relaxing meal experience. Finally, a special mention to the Head of Reception, who spoke to us in Spanish — our native language — which was a huge plus and made us feel even more at home. Her energy, charisma, and customer service were exceptional. Overall, despite clear operational issues in housekeeping, communication, and some restaurant atmosphere concerns, the outstanding warmth, professionalism, and dedication from the reception and guest relations teams made this birthday trip unforgettable. We absolutely loved the vibe, the kindness of the people, and the genuine effort from so many staff members. With some important improvements, this hotel has the potential to be truly exceptional — and we would still return without hesitation.

less

“Looks Luxury, But the Experience Wasn’t”

We recently stayed at this hotel shortly after it opened and unfortunately, our experience did not meet the expectations of a “5* resort”. One of the biggest disappointments was the spa facilities. We were not informed prior to arrival that the spa was not included in the price we had already paid… more

We recently stayed at this hotel shortly after it opened and unfortunately, our experience did not meet the expectations of a “5* resort”. One of the biggest disappointments was the spa facilities. We were not informed prior to arrival that the spa was not included in the price we had already paid. We attempted to use the sauna and were then asked to leave because access is only available if you book an expensive treatment. For a hotel advertising itself as a luxury 5* resort, we expected basic spa access to be included or at least clearly communicated beforehand. The à la carte restaurant was also disappointing. Even after making a reservation, there were still multiple items unavailable and out of stock. On arrival, the grab and go buffet was not available either, despite the timings we had been told, and we had to complain before any food was provided. The buffet itself was also underwhelming. The variety of food available was very minimal, so if you are a fussy eater or prefer more choice, this probably is not the place for you. On top of that, the food was consistently cold no matter what time we attended. It appeared that the hotel relied on heated surfaces to warm the food rather than heating it properly beforehand, meaning most dishes remained lukewarm or cold. The gym also had no air conditioning, which made it very uncomfortable to use. Another frustrating issue was the minibar drinks being provided with bottle tops, but no bottle opener in the room. We asked multiple times for one and nothing was ever provided. Instead, we were repeatedly told to go to reception every time we wanted a drink opened, which felt very inconvenient for a supposed luxury resort. We did raise a number of these concerns during our stay when staff asked for feedback, however we felt that nothing was actually done about the issues we mentioned. We also heard from other guests during our stay that they had experienced many of the same problems, so it was clear we were not the only ones disappointed. We do understand the hotel had only recently opened, however in our opinion, if everything is not fully ready and operational, opening should be delayed until standards are met. That being said, the hotel itself is very modern and visually impressive, and the staff were all lovely and polite throughout our stay. Unfortunately though, despite the appearance and friendly service, we personally would not class this as a true 5* hotel experience.

less