Glykeria Hotel

Situated on a main but largely undeveloped road, Glykeria Rooms stands out with its bright white facade and brown shutters behind the stone-lined perimeter. Founded in 1978 by Nikos and Glykeria Tzanakis, the hotel is still run today by their descendants; although there is not much in the way of amenities, the family offers friendly service.

Aside from the pool and delicious restaurant across the street, there's no public areas for guests; there's not even a lobby. Hotel patrons are typically laid-back vacationers with cars to explore the area, including the nearby beach. Anywhere around the property, but particularly from the balconies of each room, guests get stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding mountains.

Glykeria Rooms is located on a main road in the southwest coast of Crete; it's busy with cars during the day but is quiet at night since there's not much in the immediate area. On one side of the road is the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea and the hotel is perched along the other; this offers breathtaking views of the water and mountains around the property.

Aside from the hotel's restaurant, which is across the street and along the water, there's little within walking distance. A couple of markets and restaurants, however, are a five to 10-minute walk down the road.

Guests that stay here need a car to travel to the surrounding area, and there's free on-site parking. The famous pink-sand Elafonisi Beach is a short 5-minute drive, but it does get crowded. Chania is an hour drive and the airport is 90 minutes away. Other nearby attractions include the Chryssoskalitissa Monastery, which is a 15-minute walk from the hotel.

There are only nine rooms on the property, but all are open and spacious; though rooms feature different linens and furniture, all have basic wooden furniture including beds, desks, and closets. The Double Room is decorated in earth tones with green walls and brown floral curtains, while the Twin Bed Triple Room has three beds along one wall with pale blue bedding, dated pink floral curtains, and sunset photos.

Decent-sized bathrooms could use an update and the tiny showers lack curtains or doors, so not getting water all over the floor can be tricky. There are no TVs, but each room has a small balcony big enough for a table and two chairs for sitting and admiring the surrounding landscape. All rooms have mini-fridges, toiletries, and air-conditioning.

The highlight of Glykeria Rooms is the restaurant across the street that the family also runs. Serving authentic and traditional Greek dishes like ntakos, guests typically rave about meal there, although it can get pricey, and it's not the most well-kept; beer cases and other knick-knacks line the artichoke-green interior. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and it offers pretty views of the water.

The small pool is tiled in bright blue and has sun loungers and worn metal tables for guests to use; a hammock and cabana area with cushioned seating are adjacent, as is an outdoor shower.

One month out of the year, guests can partake in the picking of the olives from the olive garden next to the hotel; after picking, rinsing, and learning the process, guests get to keep a bottle of olive oil for themselves.