Atlantica Caldera Palace — Hotel in Municipality of Chersonissos

Arrived on 20th April for one week, two adults, 1 teenager. Family swim up room.||Arrived by bus rather than private taxi transfer, as our coach arrived two others did at the same time, so there were around 150 people arriving which was chaotic, The coach pulled up and 4 different reps got on and grabbed the microphone to bark instructions at us. Instead of just being honest that they were overwhelmed they kept saying that they like to do things a little differently. They gave very specific instructions that only one person from each party should wait in the stair well and identify their luggage to the hotel rep. The rest of each party was to go through to the terrace for welcome drinks and await check in. We were asked to download the Atlantica App to check-in ourselves if we could, which we did. We waited around half an hour and no one had been allocated a room or been dealt with. I gave up and went up to the reception desk where we were allocated quite smoothly – but over an hour later when we went past others were still sat waiting – it was just odd.||The entrance was probably quite grand when it was built, but now looks tired, the large glass windows at the main entrance were filthy. The hotel management came out to welcome everyone but it was a bit stilted and awkward. We were there at the end of the easter holidays and in the lobby was an Easter display which would not have looked out of place from a childrens nursery – overall very poor first impression.|The swim up family room was excellent – it looks like it was recently refurbished and had everything we needed, there was a screen divider between the main master and the childrens area which had two pull up sofas. They were very firm but we requested a mattress topper – after three requests over the course of the two days one was delivered which improved it immensely. |They had a hairdryer in the bathroom but not high powered so would recommend taking your own. They also had a weird keypad to control all the electrics, so when all lights were off at night the whole power went off so beware if you are charging devises overnight – that caught us out the first time. We also had a leak in our bath – we requested it be fixed but were not notified if it ever was.|As we were early in the season the water in all of the pools was very cold, so the swim up room is not really beneficial – no one was in them – it would be better I think to have a view of the sea in exchange at this time of year.|The main lobby area is the central hub for evening entertainment and lounging, it is well appointed with comfy chairs and there is waiter service from the bar. There is also an enormous entertainment zone on the lower ground floor – with multiple theatres, but it was either very young child focused or just singers. In short zero for an older child to do. There was an arcade but it is crammed into a tiny room – it has some good stuff in there but they should consider moving it and making it bigger. The large games room had some bean bags on the floor and a snooker table. Previous Sensatoris are renowned for their activities for all the family, Mexico had a full ‘teenage hub’ complete with basketball court, cinema and games zone – we were very disappointed that there was nothing like this and the primary reason we booked was because of the Sensatori name.|Dining was in the main restaurant – buffet style like most large hotels was hit and miss, but overall I would say of very poor quality, little variety and a small selection. Contrast this with the neighbouring hotel Lyttos Sports Hotel – which we checked into for one night during our stay as it had more for our teenager to do. The food offering was exceptional (as well as the entertainment and activities).|There was a Tex Mex, Thai, Italian and Al La Cart, Mediterranean – but each had to be booked via a different app (Blu app) you could only book it the day before no further in advance and every time we tried it was showing as full – so in the week we only managed to get into the Italian by taking a 9pm table. This again was ridiculous and frustrating.|The snack bar was open and easily accessed from the many pools but the food again was incredibly poor, hot dogs, toasted sandwiches and chips and a few other bits – think very poor roadside café. The seating outside the snack bar is disgraceful – sorry if that sounds extreme, they are rusty black metal chairs and tables & hundreds of them – they look like a relic from years ago and make the whole area look very run down and drab.|The external areas were a mix, the adult only area was much better than the family areas, more comfortable seating. There were plenty of beds for off peak but the hotel is huge and in peak I would imagine it would be a fight. |The beach is very easily accessed across a road and has a large number of sunbeds with parasols which are free for the hotel guests.|Staff overall were lovely a few a bit grumpy in the main restaurant if you wandered to a table without waiting to be seated even when really empty.|The spa was OK but very expensive comparatively to other hotels and has an average service. The staff though were absolutely lovely and the ambiance relaxing. |The main lobby, restaurant and ground floor often had a smell of drains which was disconcerting as it was pre-peak and not that hot around 24 degrees.|In short a hotel that is tired in places and does not deserve the Sensatori or Blu branding as it isn’t up...

This is a really nicely laid out and clean complex that is across the road from a Sandy/small stone beach.

There’s an equal segregation in adults and children’s areas. This doesn’t stop you walking through the areas but if you have children, you can’t have them with you to enjoy the full package.

Greeted with orange or sparkling wine on arrival. This is where a star gets chalked off. The reception is painfully slow. They are aware that arrivals are going to be there but there’s only 1 or 2 receptionists attending to a coach load of people. Spent an hour getting checked in after a chaotic airport transfer experience was not a good start.

Rooms are lovely and spacious with big beds and nice bathrooms. The shower gel, shampoo and conditioner is good too. Towels and bedding replenished daily as is the fridge which is all included. No white wine though. Nice swimming pools all around that aren’t too deep.

We decided to opt for a swim up room on this visit. I’m on the fence on whether this was worth the extra money or not. At another complex the rooms were 100% swim up virtually to your door. Here, in our room, you have a path between the patio and swim area. This allows people to walk past the rooms which is fine for walking to the other areas but defeats the point of where it’s swim up. Just being a little picky as it’s fine and our room was in a perfect location. Next to the Fresco Bar, family pool and the splash/children’s pool. In addition, you have your own sun lounging area for that added privacy if you needed.

Staff are brilliant, always friendly and smiling. One little niggle is that when you’re on the beach, to get served, you practically have to jump and shout to get their attention rather than them asking and at first it as if you don’t have the right to sit on the loungers.

The beach is nice. It is very small stones and a little sand with rocks further in and it does break up sitting around the complex pools and is one of the reasons for choosing this place.

There really isn’t too much outside of the resort. A few restaurants and bars are scattered around.

The food was good, we always found something to eat and it did vary but not too much. The snack bar was a little bit of a let down though. There didn’t seem to be a great deal of options other than cheese filled pastry, pizza or bland cheese toasty. There was a nice salad option but the cakes had seen better days.

Another star gets struck off here… Trying to book an al la carte meal is so frustrating. Either using the app or the machine in the foyer will let you know that it’s fully booked. We found out that booking opened at 6am after we were told it opens at 10am but even trying that it still was fully booked! Luckily the Thai restaurant had a reservation otherwise we wouldn’t have experienced any al la carte dining and even this was sitting 9:00 at night. We really wanted to try the Greek and Italian but were left disappointed that these were always fully booked and how on earth is 1 seat being left available constantly? The Tex Mex is open at lunch time and is very nice so I’m glad this is an option as this was also fully booked through the system in the evening. Stone grill and the Japanese restaurants are an additional extra if you want to try these as is their Greek BBQ night which is on Wednesdays.

Kids club is really good, the staff are brilliant here and the kids have a good time with loads of activities and this allows you for a little break and enjoy the adult facilities.

Opposite the kids club is a games room that’s nicely laid out. Next to this is a reasonably priced shop that sells the normal holiday essentials and tat.

Evening entertainment is good and will have you involved, especially the quiz.

Bars are all around the complex and you can get service while just lounging. The drinks are nice with a good choice.

I would recommend this place and would come back here. Atlantica really needs to sort out their restaurant booking system and somehow make it fair so that everyone is able to...

FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN PLEASE READ Stayed here with my family of 4 boys under the age of 10, the hotel is nice food was good so no issue here, hotel staff was pleasant our issue was and is with the TUI Blue staff hence why we are lodging a complaint with TUI and to (ABTA) regarding them also, if you have young children please continue reading.

Firstly i have to say the best of the hotel pools heavily favours adults, you would have expected the biggest pool near the beach entrance to be the family pool however it is not it’s adults only.

The family pools are the splash area, another pool which is salt watered and the activity pool which is fairly deep for young children.

Parents be mindful as in the toddler splash area (See pic attached) right next to the splash pool maybe 3-4 steps away is a deep pool, I do not know why there is not a gate separating this our son was in the splash area and he actually jumped in this pool which was too deep for him, I have no idea why this pool is not gated off from the kids splash area which is for toddlers, you can be the best parents ever but kids are fast so be mindful in this area as this pool is very hidden so I’m making you aware that it is here.

Our stay was ok however our son fell ill whilst on holiday and halfway through the day when napping in his pram by the pool he developed a fever and had a seizure this was at 14:30 his mom took him to the dr office and a life guard and another resident helped her, after his seizure he was pretty much unconscious for 10 minutes the life guard took him to a sun bed in the indoor pool area and DID NOT put him in the recovery position, TUI told us these life guards were first aid trained however I doubt it, the dr finally came and took him to the dr office and gave him oxygen, we were asked by TUI staff what we wanted to do Ambulance or he stay with the onsite DR we said back home we would take him straight to the hospital, they said wrong answer he should stay with the nearest medical practitioner, we finally had them call the ambulance after around 30 minutes of him being in the dr office, no TUI staff came to be a representative to the hospital I took him alone via ambulance, the Dr also seemed annoyed that we chose to take him hospital as he commented if he stayed their with him “more money for him” his final bill was €660 for 45 mins oxygen and “out of hours call out” bare in mind this was around 3pm.

After leaving hospital we were told we needed a fit for flight note and hotel Dr could do it but he needs to review him over a few days (when we were due to fly out the next day) TUI said we had to sort our own accommodation out, so I took him to Cretian Medicare SA (5-7 mins in a taxi) (€13) they were amazing, looked him over looked at his lung xray from hospital and provided him antibiotics and gave us a fit to fly note the same day, this cost only €170 for examination prescription and the antibiotics were €4

Later that day when I returned to the hotel I met the TUI blue manager Daniel M. He has held that position of “Manager” in that hotel for only 4 months so still very junior and I recommend he is out of that position as he was very rude to mom and when I finally met him I asked him one simple question (I also have it on video anyone can feel free to reach out to me via my Google profile to see the video) I asked him “Do you know first Aid” he said to me “yes” in return I asked “ok so after my sons seizure and he was unconscious what recovery position should the life guard and your staff had put him in” he replied “I don’t know” I was shocked and disgusted so I started filming our engagement and he just walked away from me and told me he is calling the police for filming me as he is a “private person” bare in mind the man’s instagram account is public, TUI then gave me final warning and extra carriage rules for my...