Kato Daratso, Crete 73100 Greece, Kato Daratso, Greece | (937) 315-4602
Small Cretan village-style hotel layout and lots of greenery
Peaceful location but close to Chania’s attractions
Small children’s playground with swings and slides
Two large freshwater pools with sun loungers, umbrellas, outdoor showers, and changing room facilities
Pleasant poolside restaurant and pool snack bar on-site
Gym with a reasonable selection of fitness machines
Luggage holding service and shower room available for late departures
Quiet, despite roadside situation
WI-Fi doesn’t always work in rooms
Rooms near the pools or the main road can be noisy
Gym is rather small
The nearest beach is a 10-minute walk away
Some facilities, including safe boxes, may incur an extra charge
Some all-inclusive guests have complained about the lack of variety of food and preferential treatment for pay-as-you-go guests
Steps scattered throughout the property could be a problem to guests with mobility issues
Guests have complained of the large number of smoking areas
A 10-minute hike away from a pretty sandy beach and a 10-minute drive from the bustling resort of Chania town, this older upper-middle-range resort has all-inclusive and half-board options for guests. This village-style property is a haven of peace and greenery, with winding paths leading through the resort’s mature gardens to two large pools, both with designated areas for children and adults. The main pool is overlooked by a spacious restaurant where buffet meals are served and a small bar serving snacks, and drinks. Quaint rooms received upgrades in 2014 and all have patios, some with sea views.
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Scene
A village-style property drawing families with young children and couples who appreciate a peaceful, location within easy reach of Chania town
A 10-minute drive from the shops, restaurants, and historic harbor of Chania town, and a 10-minute walk from a charming stretch of sandy beach, Althea Village Hotel is an older property that received major upgrades in 2014. The mature gardens, olive trees, and Cretan-style houses surrounded by flowering plants are charming, and flights of stairs and narrow alleys lead to suites and rooms. Some accommodations overlook a large oval freshwater pool fringed on one side by a grassy lawn studded with parasols and sunbeds. Part of the pool has been cordoned off to create an area that is specifically for younger children. There is a second pool with children’s facilities at the top end of the property, overlooked by the light-filled Aktaion restaurant and neighboring Elia pool bar. Open for breakfast and dinner, the rather eclectically furnished Aktaion restaurant serves a buffet menu to all inclusive guests and offers a la carte choices to guests who have reserved on a room basis only, while Elia pool bar serves drinks and snacks until midnight.
The small gym has a basic range of fitness equipment and there is a small children’s playground with a few swings and slides.
Location
On a side road, a 10-minute walk from a charming sandy beach and a 10-minute drive from Chania town
Althea Village Hotel is a 10-minute drive from the shops, restaurants, and historic harbor of Chania town, a short walk from the charming sandy beach of Aghii Apostoili bay, and a 30-minute drive from Chania international airport.
The hotel is also short distance from Kissamos, where ferries leave for the paradisiacal beaches of Balos and Gramvousa, and within easy driving distance of the legendary tropical-style beaches at Elafonissi, the ancient and renowned Monastery of Chrysoskalitissa, and the famous Samaria Gorge, where hikers flock to walk the stunningly scenic 15-kilometer route which leads to the isolated beach of Agia Roumelli.
Rooms
Quaint rooms with balconies and garden, pool, or sea views
Short flights of steps lead to Althea Village Hotel’s two-floor and three-floor structures housing 93 studios, maisonettes, suites, and apartments, most of which were refurbished in 2014. Grouped around the hotel’s lower pool or scattered amongst the properties mature gardens, all rooms have balconies or terraces with sea, pool or garden views. Smaller rooms have bathtubs or showers and larger maisonettes set over two levels have fully equipped kitchenettes, a small dining area, and bathrooms on each floor. Decor varies, but most rooms are airy and have colorful color accents; the one we viewed had a more restful, neutral color palette.
Family Suites and one- and two-bedroom apartments have extra balconies. Rooms closest to the pool area are popular with families, although they can be noisy during the daytime. Guests seeking a more peaceful environment should chose rooms towards the center of the complex, away from both pools and the main road.
Features
Two good-size pools, a restaurant, a poolside bar, and charming mature gardens
Althea Village hotel’s main pool close to the Elia Pool bar is a popular hangout during the daytime, while the large second pool is a haven for peace seekers. Both pools have designated children’s areas where younger ones can play in safety. For breakfast and evening meals guests head for the Aktaion restaurant where a buffet of Greek specialties are served, and there is also an a la carte menu. At lunchtime guests can choose from a range of drinks and snacks at the Elia pool bar and café. There is also a small kids' playground near the pool bar area and a small gym which has a basic range of fitness equipment.
