Gouves Water Park Holiday Resort — Hotel in Municipality of Chersonissos

We took family room for 7 nights. We were a bit skeptic reading the feed backs, but actually it was for nothing. Usually people write of negative things and if everything is good then it no one bother to leave comments. Anyway it started a bit negative course as when getting into room our safe lock was broken, at least it did not work and we had to go back into reception to get it fixed. This could not be like problem happened overnight, lock was very old but in 15 minutes lock got replaced.

Rooms are simple. But as it is season and it is water park then actually rooms were for sleeping and that it was perfect. I am over 100 kg and usually in hotels my back hurts in 2nd day already as mattresses are too soft, but not this time, My back (spine) did not hurt and also pillows were in perfect condition. We came from northen europe so it took some time to get used to the humidity that came into your room after sunset if you kept windows opened but in 2 days we found right balance when to open windows and when to close them.

We got our room on northern side of area one the first floor with 5 step away from pool. It was perfect as we had 3 sunbeds with our room numbers just for us and actually the pool with 1.4 m depth without lower parts in it prevented families to come there so basically 45m long pool was mostly used by 8...10 rooms facing it. Has we were facing to north then hotel building offered nice shadow from sunlight. Also it was really quiet as all families with kids were mostly in different size of water parks.

beach was couple of hundred meters from our room so it was perfect. Mostly windy making nice waves so you do not get bored in see. Going deep slowly and very nice sand beach.

Several minibars in hotel area with nice service. There were negative feed backs about alcoholic drinks but for use the selection was good enough. No reason to say anything negative. Someone wrote that ice cream lines long and ice cream running out fast, it did not happened, longest line I saw was like 6...7 persons and these got everything in a minute or two, no long waiting. And ice cream were offered from 11 am to 6 pm, basically entire park opening time.

Everyday different shows in the evening were great for whole family and we had lot of fun visiting these. I have been in different places but I believe these were best I have seen :) Also before the trip I read negative comments about food that selection is small and to few meat. We did not see it. We arrived on Saturday and until Wednesday there were mostly 5 different meat selection each day so you could choose lamb chops, something with beef, pork was daily and also there were always selection with chicken and also fish. Yes selection got a bit smaller and Thursday they obviously ran out of lamb, pineapple and it seemed they were low on melon also but huge selection of everything else compensated it. On Friday new stuff came before noon, pick ups, vans and small tail lift trucks. So Friday evening and Saturday all stuff was available again (lamb, pineapple and melon).

Stuff overall was very helpful, nice and polite.

Only negative thing to point out is obviously not related only with this hotel but with country overall. In northern Europe you can not smoke on public places and actually there are special rooms for smokers or behind the building some special corners or spots so you do not see them actually. I did notice ash trays every were on outside tables and there were not a single signs for restrictions. So it was no surprise if you were with your kids at kids water park and on sunbed next to you someone light a cigar and they did not car if wind blew it directly in your or your kids face. I have thought about it as a 3rd countries problem but obviously I have understood it wrong and we do not have same laws in EU. Like I said it does not concern only this place but country overall so it is actually something you always need to pay attention where to sit in restaurant or pub or any other public...

Currently at Gouves park and shall start with the positives, the food is lovely as a neuro divergent I like the sameness and the fact I can always find rice and chips.

Please ignore all reviews that mention massage and 5 stars they are made under duress - as soon as you’ve had your massage a QR code is thrust in your face and they hover over you whilst you write the review. Definitely biased and are skewing the true results for the hotel.

The people aren’t as grabby as other places as well there is no expectation of tips which is a welcome change and not one I’ve experienced before in other countries.

It says it’s a 5 star but definitely is not more in my option a 3 star plus for the following reasons:

Because of the star rating you pay a higher tourist tax in our case that was €140 for a week for a family of 4. Which I thought was excessive.

The usual gripes there are more guests than sunbeds which I don’t understand, you know how many people are staying at the hotel so make sure there is enough space for them.

A late check out fee is €100 can someone explain this to me as it’s only €80 a night to book a whole new room - make it make sense.

There are 2 a la carte restaurants which you need to prebook but booking is a drama we tried to book on the app that you are given when you use the wifi (the wifi is excellent) for some reason our booking wasn’t confirmed and when we turned up at our allocated time we were told it hadn’t gone through correctly but also the main restaurant was shut by then. They “graciously” honoured the booking when we showed them the app booking but was given attitude and by that I mean they were borderline rude when we asked for drinks. I quote “yes when I get to you” and a whole lot of hostility after we had apologised for the confusion. I stood up to walk out as I didn’t deserve that it was a mistake with technology not negligence. My husband tried to smooth things over but the damage was done.

You are also left to figure everything out yourself, like finding places etc and everything is sooooooo expensive. A water float was €25! We booked some day trips to get out of the hotel which were lovely: the water park was fun if you have older children.

Our family was a family of 4 (children both 15). The entertainment was geared towards younger ones so we went off site most nights and walked down to the strip and drank in there for karaoke and fun for us.

The weather is glorious so that’s a huge plus. Also don’t get a taxi into town we wasn’t sure on our first few days of the layout and we got a taxi into town from reception it was a three minute ride and cost us €10 lesson learned the walk was 8 minutes when we knew the route. Use google maps and it’s a direct walk on even ground.

The people in the local strip are more friendly and helpful than hotel staff, we needed a pharmacy (forgotten medicine) and the local bar owner organised a taxi that took me there, waited and brought me back to the strip.

I know it’s personal preference but some guests have taken along a speaker and they play music around the pool which might be nice for some but it annoys me.

Wouldn’t book this hotel again and going forward I think this will definitely be our last all inclusive holiday as a family we will be going to adult only hotels now our children are finally at that age.

I wonder how the hotel is in the height of the season when it’s already packed to the rafters now and it’s not even school holiday time. It’s too overcrowded everyone fighting for space.

It’s relatively clean in the fact cleaners come daily but there is definitely a sewage smell around certain areas of the pool.

Our room was a maisonette 5211 but it’s really just a double room with a veranda there is zero privacy and only one bathroom.

This review isn’t meant to be negative I hope I’ve given an all rounded review pointing out both the positives and...

Currently at Gouves park and shall start with the positives, the food is lovely as a neuro divergent I like the sameness and the fact I can always find rice and chips. ||The people aren’t as grabby as other places as well there is no expectation of tips which is a welcome change and not one I’ve experienced before in other countries. ||It says it’s a 5 star but definitely is not more in my option a 3 star plus for the following reasons:||Because of the star rating you pay a higher tourist tax in our case that was €140 for a week for a family of 4. Which I thought was excessive.||The usual gripes there are more guests than sunbeds which I don’t understand, you know how many people are staying at the hotel so make sure there is enough space for them. ||A late check out fee is €100 can someone explain this to me as it’s only €80 a night to book a whole new room - make it make sense. ||There are 2 a la carte restaurants which you need to prebook but booking is a drama we tried to book on the app that you are given when you use the wifi (the wifi is excellent) for some reason our booking wasn’t confirmed and when we turned up at our allocated time we were told it hadn’t gone through correctly but also the main restaurant was shut by then. They “graciously” honoured the booking when we showed them the app booking but was given attitude and by that I mean they were borderline rude when we asked for drinks. I quote “yes when I get to you” and a whole lot of hostility after we had apologised for the confusion. I stood up to walk out as I didn’t deserve that it was a mistake with technology not negligence. My husband tried to smooth things over but the damage was done. ||You are also left to figure everything out yourself, like finding places etc and everything is sooooooo expensive. A water float was €25! We booked some day trips to get out of the hotel which were lovely: the water city was fun if you have older children. ||We travelled with jet2 and our family was a family of 4 (children both 15). The entertainment was geared towards younger ones so we went off site most nights and walked down to the strip and drank in there for karaoke and fun for us. ||The weather is glorious so that’s a huge plus. Also don’t get a taxi into town we wasn’t sure on our first few days of the layout and we got a taxi into town from reception it was a three minute ride and cost us €10 lesson learned the walk was 8 minutes when we knew the route. Use google maps and it’s a direct walk on even ground. ||The people in the local strip are more friendly and helpful than hotel staff, we needed a pharmacy (forgotten medicine) and the local bar owner organised a taxi that took me there, waited and brought me back to the strip. ||I know it’s personal preference but some guests have taken along a speaker and they play music around the pool which might be nice for some but it annoys me. ||Wouldn’t book this hotel again and going forward I think this will definitely be our last all inclusive holiday as a family we will be going to adult only hotels now our children are finally at that age. ||I wonder how the hotel is in the height of the season when it’s already packed to the rafters now and it’s not even school holiday time. It’s too overcrowded everyone fighting for space. ||It’s relatively clean in the fact cleaners come daily but there is definitely a sewage smell around certain areas of the pool.||Our room was a maisonette 5211 but it’s really just a double room with a veranda there is zero privacy and only one bathroom. ||This review isn’t meant to be negative I hope I’ve given an all rounded review pointing out both the positives and...