Althea

The pools were nice, there were plenty of sunbeds, and we never had trouble finding a good spot. Drinks were good too, and the gyros was amazing. The staff and entertainment were lovely. We went out to eat on four of our seven nights because the food was bland and repetitive, and not amazing. It felt very much aimed at British families with picky kids. Take the walk down to the bus stop called BMW and use contactless to pay for the bus. We had a good holiday, but it made me realise all-inclusive isn't for me. We didn't make much use of the food or drinks that were included.

The beaches were a 10/15 minute walk away, which was nice because all-inclusive holidays can make it easy to stay inside the resort and miss seeing somewhere different. We went in May for 10 nights with our two young children, and the hotel was well run and exceeded what we expected. The grounds, pools and kids' play areas were well maintained and very clean. Food was great, with lots of choice and Greek-inspired dishes we loved. Self-serve drinks were a good idea, so we didn't have to wait for someone to bring them. Our children were very upset to leave and ask every day how long until we return. I'm sure we'll be back someday.

We spent most of our pool time at the quieter pool across the road. It was peaceful, though a little background music would have given it more atmosphere. The main pool had music and games with entertainers, plus there’s a playground and tennis court. The grounds feel fairly compact, with most buildings only two storeys high. At Althea Village, the two areas have different facilities. The main one has the restaurant, bars, snack bar and two larger pools. The other has a smaller pool and the usual selection of drinks. There’s also a shop open daily from 9-5 with snacks, alcohol, sun cream, beach and pool items, and souvenirs. We didn’t use the gym or spa. Food was mostly very good, especially on the Mexican and Greek nights. Burger night was the low point. The pools have self-serve soft drinks, beer and hot drinks, plus a few sandwiches during the day. We often used the snack bar, open roughly 11-5 for gyros, chips and a few other things. The all-inclusive drinks included beer, five wines, some shots and several cocktails. We kept buying coffee because the included one was really bad. Lily’s, the local coffee shop across the road, was cheaper and better. For getting into the old town, there’s a bus stop by the BMW garage about a 10-minute walk away, and you can pay contactless on board. The beaches are 15-20 minutes away on foot. Agii Apostoli was our pick, with sunbeds for €20 a day for two and a good beach bar, Notis. At Iguana, the bar was slow and there weren’t any sunbeds. The walk from the beach to Lidl isn’t pleasant with a stroller, since the road is busy and has very little pavement. The staff were lovely with our baby, quickly bringing high chairs when available. The hotel also supplied a cot and kettle at no extra cost. At busy times the restaurant changes a lot, so try for an outside table and make sure a high chair is available. Inside can get loud and feel like a cafeteria. The cleaners did a great job, though the drains smelled a bit more by morning. Evening entertainment varied. The Greek performer on Friday was excellent, as were Bruno Mars and friends singing. Other nights, the entertainers mostly seemed to cater to a small group of middle-aged men drinking heavily. We could steer clear and still enjoy our evenings. We had a great stay and would recommend Althea Village to families looking for a somewhat smaller holiday at a good price.

We were already asking about dates for next year when we checked out. My partner and I spent a week at Althea Village in Daratsos, and we can’t wait to return. The hotel is about 10-15 minutes from several beaches. We went to Agios Apostoli, a lovely bay with white sand, inexpensive beach bars and calm water that was good for swimming and snorkelling. Two drinks, a beer and an Aperol, cost €10-11 together. You can also walk along the coast to Chania, around 4-5 km and about an hour. Driving takes 10 minutes, though parking can be tricky. There are local taverns within a 5-10 minute walk, including Dimitris & Sakis taverna just down the road, where the Greek food and hospitality were excellent. The food was a real highlight. For buffet meals, the quality was high, with plenty of local ingredients and freshly prepared dishes like omelettes, fried eggs and pancakes at breakfast, and grilled vegetables, souvlaki, kebab and fish for lunch or dinner. There was a big salad bar and fresh fruit and dessert station. Typical buffet food and unnecessary vegan substitutes were kept to a minimum, and there wasn’t much food waste. The snack bar’s fresh gyros were a winner. Drinks included two local draft beers, soda and wine. The wine was my one small complaint, as it tasted quite sour and acidic, so I went for ouzo instead. Our room was spacious and clean, with comfortable beds and a huge balcony. Staff were warm and attentive. When we asked about renting a car, one phone call was enough to arrange it through a local company at a very reasonable price. We’re waiting for next year’s availability to go online so we can book again. Thanks to everyone on staff for the care, service and comfort they provide every day.