Sensatori Crete - any advice or recommendations?

[Eggrules]

Will it be hot in May?

If we opt for full board - how much more will we need to take for drinks in between?

Can we drink water bought from the shop at the hotel pool?

Can jeans (dark denim skinny) count as long trousers?

What is the tipping etiquette?

Anything else?

Many thanks in advance.

Glad you liked the hotel justanothertenminutes.

Were you expected to tip waiters/ bar staff?

Was the hotel busy in May, were there loads of kids?

Tips aren't expected, we tipped a few especially the waiter around the pool bar as he bought us drinks over hourly without us needing to ask in the end. Actually, I'm not sure what came first now I think of it, the tip or the regular drinks

The hotel wasn't overly busy, the loungers around the kids pool used to get busy fairly early but you would always get around one if the other pools.

Any other questions, ask away!

Thanks just

Did you upgrade to AI and was it worth it? We aren't big drinkers but would rather have one or two after dinner and rush a bottle on wine whilst eating.

May I ask how much you tipped? Don't answer if you think this is rude.
Will we need lots of ? - 5? note for a round of drinks seems a lot to me.

Did you have children with you and what did they think?

Was it hot? Did it rain much?

TIA

We did upgrade, iirc the kids drinks are free too if you upgrade (only pay extra for adults to upgrade) and we like a couple of drinks after dinner, the drinks are v v expensive so we thought it was worth it.

I don't remember what we tipped tbh, just a few Euros a time and not often.

We had a few days of rain but I remember the staff commenting that we had been unlucky with the weather, it was 22-25 ish.

Our Dc1 didn't really join in with the activities, he was quiet then! But the other children loved it! I'm sure he would love it if he were there now!

The beds are the best beds known to man!

TA is full of people complaining about children being at the hotel.

Tip sounds fine - tipping notes would be too expensive for me.

We are in a family room and it looks spacious. It is a shame they don't heat one of the pools or let you use the indoor one at least.

I would like to try the Tenerife one.

Children at a hotel aimed at children, who would've thought it

We had the family room, was v spacious and well thought out.

My parents went to the Tenerife one, they loved it, pools were cold there too though, I don't understand why they don't heat one. We went for a week and I only saw 2 people having a swim, the 'hot' tub was luke-warm at best, although this is pretty much the only thing I could complain about.

justanothertenminutes

Excited eeeeeeee

My first flowers, thanks!

It's one of those hotels where you will find fault if you try hard enough, but why try? Like those on TA who move the beds to look for dust

Have a great holiday, I'm sure you will!

I am really grateful for your wisdom. Have some too, cheers.
We have fancied Sensatori for a while.

The only problem we have had was Holiday Village Lanzarote - we had a refund. We decide to have a good time before we go. I think if you have a real problem and remain polite, the reps/Hotel will always be fair and try to help.

Need to get a swimsuit wetsuit and I am sorted.

Blimey, how bad was HV Lanzarote? I was tempted by a few of the HV's.

Sensatori Egypt is next on my list and then possibly the one in Mexico, I'm not feeling blown away by their beach though.

There was a mahoosive problem with drains at the hotel next door. Not just the horrendous smell; sore throat, eyes watering and itchiness. DS was destroyed. They did not follow their own/ABTAs complaint procedure which is why we got our money back (rather than vouchers). IMHO it isn't a holiday Village but it is being branded and costed as one.

We loved the Majorca one and would like to try Rhodes. HV are ideal for litte children, they tend to be out of the way though.

Not long Eggrules? Have you been listening to any stories relating to whats happening in Greece and currency?

It said in the papers not to worry if you are heading to Greece in the next few weeks. I'm flying out tomorrow,totally worried about the pools being too cold.

Eggrules that mustv've been awful!

Great topic! We're going next week, and we booked the creche for my 14m.o. girl, is the creche any good? Do they have black-out blinds? My girl doesn't fall asleep in hotels easily. We might be locked in the room from 8pm - her bed time :-( I heard evening entertainment is very good... Why wouldn't someone come up with an idea of a baby monitor in the rooms and connected to reception, so that they can call you if your room's monitor is activated and parents don't miss out on entertainment in the evening. My girl gets really cranky if not put in bed by 8pm, so no chance of taking her to watch the evening shows.
How everyone else deals with this on holidays, any tips please?

velvetkate Could you not get her to sleep in a pushchair and wheel her down for the entertainment?

I left ds in the a room with a monitor linked to reception when he was a baby. This was before the Madeleine Mcann case and I was so horrified that I would now never leave him on his own. He is now 5. do you know if there are nannies who do extra babysitting?

The childcare and entertainment staff are amazing. Creche looks fab, kiddos look very happy. I think they do evening sessions so you can have a meal. Ds is loving the playhouse . There are loads of supervised sessions over the day and evening. (7:30-9:30) Stay and play is great too. Our room curtains are fine not quite blackout.
Extra restaurants will be difficult to book for the first few days but you will get in. If not reps can help. Having a lovely time. Egg and family.

Eggrules You are there!!! Fantastic. How is the weather? Have a fab time and report back.

We were there the first week of May and it is lovely :-)

I haven't read your whole thread, but some of the points I picked up skim reading ....

We seemed to be permenantly eating and drinking - the mealtimes come round fast! So we didn't buy any additional drinks over the full board plus package. We took a bottle of duty free for ore dinner drinks while changing for dinner, though shop over road is just as cheap. We got water and come etc there too.

Own drinks by pool - there are signs saying don't, but we did, just discretely. We didn't leave bottles out on sun eds etc, just got 500ml bottle out of bag, had a drink and put it back in bag (where it kept cooler anyway). Drinks at pool bar etc were expensive, though ice creams were ?1.50 - ?3 (but there is ice cream at every lunch and dinner for dessert too).

Taking wine etc back to the room is not allowed because only drinks with meals are allowed. It's amazing what you can fit in a buggy basket tho

The playhouse is fab and they have stay and play sessions too, if you kids are under 3 or don't want to go to the supervised sessions.

You don't need to take any towels - you can borrow as many as you want and change them for clean ones whenever. You can take them to the beach too.

The beach outside the hotel isn't brilliant. Turn right and walk along to outside the lyttos beach hotel (it's white and has manicured lawns - you can't miss it!). It only takes 5 mins to walk and the beach is better.

Have to dash, but have a fab time :)

Scorchio. Rained cats and dogs this am and 25 with no cloud by lunchtime. Great advice from happy. The pools are cold but fine once you get in. You can use indoor pool for free too.

Its been raining over here in Crete too!. Bit better today,just cloudy. The pools are chilly, i found the sea water warmer?

We have been to Sensatori Crete twice and loved it. However this Easter we went to the one in Egypt and it was amazing!!! Ignore the moaning minnies on TA. The hotel is lovely. Great food. Fab location. Lovely staff. And it is all inclusive. Our children are 11 and 8 and had a fabulous time.

I've heared the one in Egypt is very good.

There is a new one opening in Turkey and another planned elsewhere (country not revealed).

This was without doubt the best holiday my DS(5) has EVER had. He loved Playhouse and Playhouse live. He went to a supervised session every day between 10 and 12. He loved Playhouse Live in the evening between 7:30 and 9pm. The shows were very professional and they tried to include all of the children.

The supervised sessions run each day 10-12, 1-2 and 3-4, except Thursday when they are closed. They normally show films in the evening however there was a problem with the licencing and so they held supervised parties between 7:30 and 9:30pm instead (not Sat). The parties were excellent and much better for DS than a film. My DS did not go to the sleepover but loads of kids did and it sounded like they have a great time.

We didn't upgrade but if you like a few drinks at night, it may be worth your while. We went to Aroma Stone, bought ?20 wine and had drinks and ice creams etc. Our bill on check out was less ?300. Had we upgraded we would have had cocktails instead of wine.

At the end of our holiday, the booking machines broke down and the hotel reception took over. Don't worry if you can't get in when you arrive, people leaving may have booked them. Just go to see the very helpful staff at reception and they will help you. I loved Five Flavours Thai; all meals can be made as a veggie option. We went to an ace place by the harbour where the patron selected our traditional Greek food. Taxi is ?10, return on the 'train' is ?26.

I loved it (sigh). Have an ace time.