Hotel Galini

A peaceful hotel removed from the hustle and bustle of town, Hotel Galini has a quiet, rustic feel. Colorful flowers and trees flank a walkway leading up to the property. In the lobby, a stone front desk and wooden ceilings add country appeal. Outside by the pool, there’s a long roof providing shade to a row of lounge chairs. A charming snack bar with a wooden roof has colorful flags and t-shirts hanging from ceiling beams over the U-shaped bar and bamboo bar stools. The Galini has a few chess sets so guests can play a game while enjoying a drink on the patio.  

Hotel Galini is in a quiet location surrounded by fields without many shops or restaurants nearby; it's a 20-minute walk away from the beach in Anissaras. Heraklion International Airport is around a half-hour drive west, and several historical destinations, including the Palace of Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Historical Museum of Crete, are within a 45-minute drive west as well. Other nearby attractions include the Cretaquarium and the Palace of Malia, the third largest Minoan palace on the island.

Guest units have stark white walls, wooden closets, hard floors, and minimal decor along with wall-mounted flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning. Rooms are clean but on the small side, and some guests find the slatted beds to be hard. Some spaces also have covered, furnished balconies. Floral-motif bathrooms are small as well; they are decorated with turquoise tiles and feature handheld showerheads in tiny curtained stalls. 

Hotel Galini’s amenities are on the limited side. The property has a heated outdoor pool with a separate children’s pool and a shaded area with plenty of lounge chairs in an array of colors. The snack bar serves cocktails and snacks and has plenty of covered seating as well as seating outside on a patio. Visitors appreciate the friendly staff at the hotel, and there’s a billiards table, an air hockey table, and a few chess sets for added entertainment. The rather large dining area presents meals as part of the half-board and full-board options available, but the drink and food selection is limited according to some guests.