Elena Beach

The best part is the balcony looking out toward Nea Chora beach, with beautiful sunsets. The location is great. One problem, though: the plastic balcony chairs can collapse when you sit on them.

The owners, who also seem to be the staff, were really friendly. It’s a great spot by the beach, about 1km from both the city center and the bus station. I loved the balcony with its direct sea view, perfect for breakfast! 😍 The hotel is quite old and has no luxuries, but it had everything I needed for a pleasant stay: a decent bed, a good shower, air conditioning, and a fridge. It seems best suited to solo travelers or friends. I’m not sure about couples. It’s a good fit if you don’t spend much time in the hotel and just want a decent rest.

The location is a real plus, right beside the beach and an easy walk from the city center. The rooms aren’t anything special, but they do the job. There’s no usable Wi-Fi. There’s a router in the lobby, but the signal isn’t strong enough to load an image, never mind watch a video.

The woman working for the beach, a short blonde woman, was extremely rude to me over the beach bed. I tried calling the hotel manager to complain but couldn’t get hold of him. I spoke with her manager instead, who defended her and said they rent the bed five times a day while I was staying all day. I don’t understand that response. I paid for my bed, and they actually charge you for two beds. I told her she could rent the other one if she wanted, but she simply seemed racist and wanted me off the beach so she could rent the bed out several times. I’m posting my complaint here because nobody on the beach listened to me. The hotel next door has nicer staff, a nice beach, and great service. I hope the owner sees the damage this woman is doing to the hotel’s reputation and, most of all, to the amazing Cretan people, who are known for their hospitality and smiling faces.