Avra Palm

We came to Avra Palm for nine nights and would happily return for the peace and quiet. It sits right by a fine gravel beach, but there isn't a town close by. Ierapetra is 15 km away, so a rental car is pretty much essential if you want to explore Crete. We spent plenty of time by the sea or pool, and there are free sunbeds. Hiking and snorkelling spots are close by, plus there's a free canoe and two SUPs. German and English books are available in the lobby. There are quite a few cats around the hotel, as you'd expect in Crete and Greece. Please don't feed them, they're already well cared for. Our room was at the back of the lovely palm and flower garden. It was clean, and room service came daily. We had a hairdryer, kettle, large fridge, and a balcony with two chairs, a table, and a drying rack. The beds aren't new, but they did the job. The restaurant terrace is just a few steps from the water. We chose half board. Breakfast was simple but had what we needed, with fresh bread, croissants, Greek yoghurt, coffee, milk, tea, water, and orange juice. Latte Macchiato and cappuccino cost extra and can be added to your bill. Dinner was a three course menu, with a choice of salads and three main dishes, including one vegetarian option. The food was delicious, traditional Greek or Cretan cooking. The staff were so kind and friendly, almost overwhelming in the best way. The owner and manager kept things running like a ship's captain. When the severe storm hit on 15 October, he took good care of the guests, buildings, and rooms. Thanks for a wonderful stay. We'll remember to collect moments, not things. Jámas!

We stopped at the hotel to pick up friends and told a blonde woman who works there that we were waiting for them. She came back angry and aggressive, saying parking there was illegal and we had to leave immediately. We parked outside and picked up our friends later. I've never met someone so disrespectful. I told friends about it since we come to Greece every year, and they had a similar experience. They wanted to check out the hotel as a place to stay and were angrily kicked out by the same woman. The place looks fine, but staff behaving like that is a dealbreaker and would make me uncomfortable. Our friends won't return either, and I wouldn't book here. There are plenty of nearby places with genuinely friendly Greek people.

On my first trip to Crete, the owners welcomed me with big smiles and a hug, then showed me around the grounds and my room at an easy pace. They took time to explain everything and chat warmly, and suggested things to do and places to go. They even arranged reservations for all kinds of things during my holiday. They were a real help and felt like friends. The room's view, layout, and quality were exceptional. Housekeeping did a great job, and I was never inconvenienced. You can tell the people here really care about their guests. Avra Palm was fantastic, and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Crete. I hope to return soon and wouldn't consider staying elsewhere.

The beach right in front of Avra Palm and the location were wonderful. We were on a trip as a couple and felt the friendly Greek hospitality throughout our stay at this privately owned hotel. We'd gladly come back and highly recommend it.