Pergamos Village

The owners, Argi and his family, were easily the best part of our stay. We arrived to two cold beers, then got time to cool down before they showed us to our rooms. The place has a wonderfully laid back feel. You could order a drink and hear, “Pay now, pay later, whatever is best for you.” They greeted us like family each morning and asked about our plans while we waited for breakfast by the pool. They were happy to arrange taxis and tours and did everything they could to make the stay enjoyable. The staff all speak fluent English and seem to enjoy using it. Pergamos Village is a quiet spot with the basics, and the beach is just a five minute walk away. There are two excellent restaurants nearby, plus a small supermarket right next door and a larger one about five minutes down the road toward Kolymbari. On foot, though, it’s a bit far from other places. Kolymbari is only minutes away by car, but at least a 20 minute walk. We spent a lot of time in Hania, which is a €2.25 bus ride away. For British visitors, the buses are air conditioned Mercedes Benz coaches with toilets and luggage compartments, quite different from the buses we’re used to. The rooms are basic but fairly spacious and have what you need: a balcony, Greek language TV channels, a small kitchenette with kettle and cutlery, a bathroom/wet-room, a safe, plenty of storage, and a dressing table. We could get WiFi in our room, though I can’t say if that’s true of every room. By the pool, there’s a small bar with drinks and reasonably priced cooked food. There are plenty of sun facing deck chairs, and the pool was a good size for the number of guests. In our ten days, we had it all to ourselves for four or five of them. WiFi covers the outdoor areas and is fine for browsing and social media, though streaming HD video may be a struggle. This is a great place to unwind, and the staff really make you feel welcome. I’d suggest renting a car since the location can feel a little too quiet, though the bus service is excellent. We didn’t feel like leaving the hotel much anyway. Tip: choose a garden or pool room. The sea view rooms sit right beside a busy road.

The family are lovely and go out of their way to make your stay pleasant. It’s a small, family run place in a quiet spot, with spacious, clean rooms that are basic but far better than some I’ve had in Greece. The pool is great, with room to sit peacefully with a drink and a good book. An excellent bus service stops right outside, and the restaurant next door is handy and serves lovely local dishes. Heading back soon, can’t wait.

Argy runs the hotel and will go above and beyond to make your stay perfect. The bus stops right outside, with a short ride to Kolymbari and about 45 minutes to Chania. The pool is beautiful, and the bar stays open late, with good prices and food. The rooms are basic, but if all you need is somewhere to sleep, they’re fine. Great value for money.

Argy made us feel welcome from the minute we arrived. He should be a Cretan national treasure! We stayed in July 2022, and I keep thinking about coming back in 2023. It’s a lovely, quiet escape from any major city. There are a few small shops and cafes nearby, and you can take a bus for anything more substantial. We didn’t drive, so these are just walking tips: west takes you to a lovely little cafe with amazing pastries and a small shop. North takes you to the sea, with nice beach fronts and some hotel bars and restaurants. West is also the longer walk to a nearby little town for more supplies. You can take the bus, but the walk is lovely too. The rooms are basic, so I’d bring a tablet with some shows or movies downloaded. We meant to cook for ourselves, but the nearby tavernas were so cheap that we didn’t bother. We tried lots of restaurants over the week, and the nearby taverna, just across the road, was hands down the best. The pool was well kept, and Argy and the team were close by if you wanted hot or cold snacks. My only downside was the big tree by the pool, which gets particularly loud with Cicadas. You get used to it!