Violetta Hotel

We stayed in a ground-floor room with large twin beds and good mattresses, plenty of space for our clothes and luggage, and a clean, fully working bathroom. Some furniture in the lobby and rooms is old, but in a well-preserved vintage way, especially the lobby collection. The fridge with freezer was compact but roomy enough for cheese, wine, juice, beer, olives, fruit, and sweets, and kept everything very cold. We also had a large kettle, tea and coffee cups with teaspoons, and two glasses for water or juice. The new air conditioning worked well, though we only tested ours briefly. Other guests ran theirs for hours without trouble. The garden was full of flowers and trees, including olive, orange, lemon, and pomegranate trees loaded with fruit when we visited. We had candlelit dinners on the balcony among the trees and flowers, eating Cretan products. There’s a pretty spot in the garden for food, coffee, or a chat, with decorative white iron tables and chairs and comfy cushions. Another similar area beside the lobby is where breakfast is served. Breakfast was fresh, tasty, and generous: omelette, fried and boiled eggs, charcuterie and yellow cheese, fried charcuterie and vegetables, yogurt, butter, coffee, milk, juice, cold water, and a big selection of homemade sweet and savory pastries prepared by the owners. The family also runs Pergola, a restaurant separated from the hotel by part of the garden, where you’ll find the pool next to the bar and restaurant. The food and service were great. They’re known for pizza, but also make delicious Cretan dishes, all fresh and tasty. You can order drinks at the pool, and we had very good coffee there. A big plus was being able to swim until 9:30 in the evening. We enjoyed swimming under the stars, with flowers blown into the pool floating for a while before its powerful circulation system cleared them. The pool ranges from 0.9 to 2.20 m deep, with a large enough deep end to get some exercise while swimming in the golden sun or under the stars. The hotel has a large parking lot, and there’s free parking on the nearby street too. We rented a car from the office next door at a good price. A bus stop is right outside, and a very large Sklavenitis supermarket is easy to reach by bus or in a seven-minute drive. Across from Pergola there’s a good shop selling food, water, cosmetics, and other useful items. Ammoudara’s large, beautiful beach is across the street. You can see the sea from the boulevard where Pergola is, and there are good tavernas on the beach, some with nice pools. There’s plenty more to explore nearby, including the splendid spot where Almyros river meets the sea and taverna To Rodi, which is worth checking out. Look at a map and make a list based on what you like. There’s something for everyone, and more than one thing.