Golden Beach

My wife and I booked this hotel for two weeks. Last week of June and first week of July. We got a taxi from Heraklion airport. Didn’t book. Just come out onto the front of airport and taxi rank to your left. They have a map of the island indicating the cost to all destinations. Airport to hotel cost €45. The road was dual carriageway all the way and took approximately 25 minutes. Upon entering the hotel, you are greeted with an opulent reception. It looks like a very large boutique hotel! The staff walk around with a permanent smile and greet you every time. Morning is ‘kalemeras’ Afternoon into evening ‘kalasperas’ Our room is on the first floor or the third floor, depending on which lift you use! Turn left out your door you are on 1st floor, turn right, it’s the third! The chap from reception showed us to our room, which was sea view on the side of the hotel. Lovely view but be warned. The aircon expels out onto the balcony. If one is sitting on the balcony and the other is inside chilling, you will be roasted by the warm air as it flows around your legs! Everything you could want from a hotel room is there. A bed, which is extremely comfortable. I have sleep apnea so I’ve always been a critique when it comes to beds. These are long enough and strong enough to cater for 6’ 1” frame and the weight that comes with it! Sadly, although there is a wardrobe, with plenty of hangers, my wife’s dresses do not hang properly, so crease at the bottom. There are two thin drawers at the bottom, which you can put your underwear in but they are literally on the floor and are about 4” depth. It really could you with a chest of drawers, even bedside cabinets, instead of the side tables. However, it is what it is. Not a major problem but it does feel cluttered. The bed linen is changed daily and, with temperature not dropping below 25 C or 26 C every night, this is a welcome event! The ladies I’ve seen doing this role always smile and say good morning. It’s nice to be greeted regularly like this. The hotel can be proud of all their staff. I know it is expected but to keep it going 24/7 365 is impressive! ❤️ Ok. Bathroom. Sadly this is/was my personal biggest issue. Typical hotel bathroom, with a toilet, walk in shower, was basin. I’m used to toilets that that when seat yourself, it’s like sitting on a chair (I said sitting!!). These are like sitting on toilets you might find in an infants school!! When you expect your bum to be on the toilet seat, you still have another distance to go!! If you have dodgy knees, you may need assistance…. The shower was a major problem! It is small square shower, I estimate a 600 x 600 tray. The sliding doors are half and half, so the slide apart by approximately 150mm. I’m not going to lie, 6’ 1” I carry some extra baggage! I could not get into the shower!! This was, I’m sure you would agree, going to be a bit of a problem. A quick visit to reception to discuss the issue and see if any other rooms were available with a bigger

When we arrived in Hersonissos which was approx 1am, we were left in the street with shady instructions how to walk to the hotel - which was quite daunting when you didn't know the place, when found entrance we paid the holiday tax - approx £50 then 3 euro a day for safe, if you wanted a sunbed on the beach it was 18 euros a day, 3 euros for a towel oh & when your flight home is midnight you have to vacate your room at 11am but you can pay 30 euro to keep it til 3pm and 10 euro for each hour thereafter if you keep your luggage in a locker it's 2 euro - so they like your money. Food was repeated & carried onto the next day - the restaurant manager was quite annoying walking up & down - his staff didn't dare be friendly. Room was clean, nothing to rave about - we had paid for a room with a sea view, but on the 2nd floor, the verandah was concrete so unless you were stood up you couldnt see anything but concrete. Location was central - staff on reception were pleasant, but I won't be going back! I would not rate it 4 star

We enjoyed our stay here. The location was great. We used the local bus to go to Heraklion, Knossos Malia and Stalis. Would recommend walking up to the villages in the hills, Piskopiano and Koutouloufari, very pretty. We stayed half board and the food was excellent! Friendly staff. Unfortunately the rooms let this hotel down. They were a little tired, not modern as the hotel states and the shower was very small. However, the bed was very comfortable and the rooms were cleaned daily.