Ilios

The food was delicious, though there wasn’t much choice, so it may not suit picky eaters. Dinner had one main dish, usually with another option at the buffet, plus vegetables, feta, tzatziki, cold starters, and dessert and/or fruit. Our small room was cozy and recently renovated, and it was cleaned every other day. Air conditioning cost €7 per day. There’s a rooftop pool and bar with a nice mountain view. The hotel is near the main road, so it can be noisy at times, and the beach is not too far. It’s a good hotel for the price, with helpful staff who do what they can to make your stay pleasant. It has three stars, so don’t expect anything fancy or luxurious.

A small hotel in a good spot, with comfortable beds and internet in the room. The staff are friendly and go out of their way to help make your holiday a great one.

The staff are what make this hotel enjoyable. The two main porters gave us a warm welcome and sorted out small problems quickly, while the serving staff were friendly and fast. One night, though, the night porter’s 20-second song alarm kept blaring through the billiard area’s Bluetooth speakers at 3 a.m. for over half an hour before anyone noticed. Also, if you tip the cleaners early, they may start neglecting their work afterward. The main porters dealt with that issue. Our room was clean, and the sheets were clean too, but the experience depends a lot on where you’re placed. Rooms farther from the main road are better; the lower basement rooms smell damp and moldy. The bathroom is tiny, and the shower will probably leave much of it flooded. AC costs extra. There was just one free plug socket, although you could bring a programmable IR remote, Flipper Zero, or Cyberplex. Wi-Fi was very slow and had long gaps depending on how near you were to the repeaters, so I had to use the lobby to get connected. The food was a bit sparse and repetitive if you stay more than a week. It was exactly the same on the first and second week days, though you could have extra portions of the main evening dishes for free. Breakfast was limited for a three-star hotel, and if you’re late, they turn off the lights and make it clear you’re no longer welcome to eat. The hotel is close to a main road, with shops about 200-300 meters away and a pharmacy nearby, though it charges airport prices. Bring mosquito repellent. The beach is about 300 meters away as the crow flies, but nearly a kilometer on foot. The narrow strip of sand is so thin it’s not worth recommending, and the small-gravel beach gets very crowded, though it’s usable after the main season. The rooftop pool felt too cold for me. The roof loungers are pleasant and have a nice hillside view, and there’s a bar up there too. There was a common cold outbreak in the hotel at the end of my holiday. I suspect the kitchen staff may not get time off when they’re sick. There’s a coin-operated billiards table near the lobby and another on the roof. They’re not great, but usable. There’s also a small book corner with books in various languages. The titles are basic, but it’s better than nothing. For nightlife, the area near the more northern beach is about an 800-meter walk away. Bars and sports bars there also have jet ski and scuba tour rentals. Along the main roads, you’ll see car, buggy, and ATV rentals everywhere. Check the off-road rules: driving off road isn’t allowed, so keep buggies on roads or risk a police fine. Nearby options make up for some of the hotel’s shortcomings in food and convenience. There are mobility rentals, buses, and taxis close by. If you want to explore Crete instead of spending all your time at the hotel, and the price is right, as it was for me, I can recommend it.

The location is excellent: bus stops are across the road, there’s a market right nearby, and beautiful beaches are five minutes away. The food was great, and the staff were very, very friendly. Our clean room was cleaned daily, and the towels were changed every day too. There’s a nice balcony, though the room and bathroom are on the small side. The room doesn’t get airflow, so air conditioning is a must, but at €7 a day it feels a bit expensive. All in all, a really great hotel. I’d recommend it any day.