Almyra Hotel & Village

We were lucky enough to catch some amazing padel exhibition matches, then play on the perfect courts ourselves. Everyone was so friendly and looked after us whenever we needed anything. The food was excellent, and we had an unforgettable weekend. I wish we could stay all summer. Thanks for everything, we’ll be back soon!

The sea view was lovely, and the balcony was large. The rooms were quite nice, and the restaurant food was tasty, especially the Greek dishes. Most of the staff were friendly, helpful, and a real highlight. A few didn’t understand English, though, and a cleaner came into the room while I was half naked even though I was calling through the door to say I was inside. Check-in was confusing and involved some waiting. We appreciated the freshly made cocktails, but the restaurant drink selection during meals wasn’t great. Drinking water wasn’t included in the rooms, so we had to buy it or go looking for it. The TV had no signal, and I missed having a smart TV with something like Netflix. There was no kettle or tea either. A coffee machine appeared in our room after three days, but I’m not sure whether it had been forgotten or was an extra. The hotel is tucked away, several hours from Heraklion airport. There’s a bus stop nearby, but connections are limited, so renting a car is a better option. Crete is lovely, and the people here are warm.

The food and drinks were good, but the way the room issue was handled was not suitable for a 5-star hotel. We had paid over 200€ extra for a sea view, yet the hotel had overbooked those rooms and tried to put us in a cheaper one. I raised it with reception as soon as we arrived at 4am. The receptionist said we could move after breakfast because the room hadn’t been cleaned. In the morning, another woman said there was no room for us and they were already full. We never got what we paid for, and they said they couldn’t refund the money. I spent the whole first day trying to work out what to do. The older brunette at the desk was especially unpleasant. She treated me as if I were stupid, kept smiling in a strange way, and didn’t sort anything out. I think she was hoping I’d just drop it. I also lost my earphones on the first day and asked every day whether anyone had found them. She said there was nothing in lost and found. On the last day I sent my sister to ask, and suddenly the earphones had appeared.

The only drawback is the remote setting. You’ll need a rental car to explore the island, but if you’re happy to relax at the hotel for 3-5 days, it’s an ideal place to stay. My time at Almyra Hotel & Village was wonderful, with a lovely room, great atmosphere, excellent hospitality, and delicious food. Special thanks to Nektarios, whose warm, proactive service really made a difference. I highly recommend the hotel and its restaurant.