Agia Pelagia, Crete 715 00 Greece, Agia Pelagia, Greece | (937) 315-4602
Built on a hillside that offers beautiful views
Some rooms have gorgeous sea views
Nightly entertainment includes quiz contests, dance contests, bingo, and more
Excellent Greek night dinner and entertainment, including Greek dancing
Free shuttle bus to town and the beach
Kids pool and playground are family-friendly features
Two pools, including a quiet "relaxation" pool, means they rarely get crowded
Multiple complaints of the hotel overbooking
Fee for air-conditioning and use of in-room safe
Some rooms have tube TVs
Room decor is bland and basic
Fee for Wi-Fi
The 136-room, mid-range, all-inclusive Village Panorama Hotel sits on a hillside high above the sea. The hotel has two small pools, one of which is dedicated to relaxation (so is pristine and never crowded). Rooms are clean and large but basic, with balconies or terraces; many have sea views. Some have been updated with flat-screen TVs and others have not. There is neither a sports program or a kids club, and the beach is a 15-minute walk down a steep hill (however, the hotel provides a free shuttle). Guests repeatedly mention that the Village Panorama has a serious problem with overbooking, which causes stress at check-in.
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Scene
Lots of sun and great views, but a lack of character
The Village Panorama Hotel has spectacular views of the sea from all the terraces and public spaces. The lobby, however, lacks character or any seeming attention to decor, with a vast expanse of white tile floor, lots of signage and brochure displays, and a series of uninviting bright-blue vinyl seating cubes. The lobby bar is similarly plain and painfully brightly lit, with bright orange vinyl bar stools, foosball and pool tables, and random signs, but the terrace is entirely different as the view from it is gorgeous. The atmosphere and lack of attention to detail feels touristy.
Location
High on a hillside overlooking the sea, near the beach
The Village Panorama Hotel sits high on a hillside, overlooking the sea, a five-minute drive above the seaside fishing village of Agia-Pelagia and the beach. It is possible to walk there, but the climb back up is quite steep. There are no shops or restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, which is down a secluded mountain road. Heraklion Airport is ten-and-a-half miles away.
Rooms
Clean, basic, and bright, with large balconies
Rooms at the Village Panorama Hotel are clean and basic, painted bright white, with sparse decor except for small Greek island photos over the beds. Many rooms have private entrances and large balconies. Guests have reported hallway noise in the evenings, and rooms lack shutters or blackout curtains, which means visitors may find themselves waking with the sunrise. Air-conditioning costs extra. Bathrooms are clean with large tubs, but they are not ultra modern, and the hair dryers are old-school. Higher grade rooms have flat-screen TVs, but standard rooms have small tube TVs.
Features
Fish pedicures, and a playground and relaxation pool
The Village Panorama Hotel offers fish pedicures, where tiny fish gnaw off callouses. There's a playground and kids pool, but no kids' club or supervision. Live entertainment takes place every evening, including typical quiz games, bingo, dance competitions, and other classic all-inclusive activities. Billiards, ping-pong, and foosball tables can be found around the pool and in the lobby bar. There is a mini mart on-site for incidentals. The Village Panorama offers fewer amenities and activities than other all-inclusive resorts in its class.
The buffet restaurant is furnished with wood tables and chairs that are worn around the edges. The tables are set with placemats, and as many as possible are crammed into the dining room, giving it a slight cafeteria feel. The narrow terrace, though, furnished with tables for two, feels far more upscale thanks to the landscape.
