Rainbow Apartments

Rainbow Apartments offers a budget-friendly option for exploring eastern Crete with easy access to the beach and sights. Couples and families generally find the family of owners to be helpful, and enjoy the friendly atmosphere -- guests particularly rave about the fun weekly Greek and barbecue nights. The lobby is a modest space with contemporary furnishings making up a sitting area across from a bar. Though simple, it is neat and clean with a soothing color palette: gray and ivory, plus a few pastel color accents. Outdoor spaces are likewise low-key, but well-kept and pleasant. Ivory buildings with squared edges have arched cutouts for balconies with black-iron railings. Bricked paths are lined with trim greenery. Embellishment is limited, but everything has a pleasant, cared-for feel.  

This hotel is in Stalida, a small town on Crete’s northern coast, a 30-minute drive east of Heraklion. It is on the main road through the area, with a small market next door. A nearby underpass provides access to tourist areas across the busy street. From the hotel, it is a five-minute walk to a beautiful beach with plenty of sunbeds for rent. The area is full of restaurants, and many good choices are within a five-minute walk. There is free street parking near the hotel, and a four-minute walk brings guests to a local bus stop. Nearby Limenas Chersonisou is bustling town a six-minute drive away, offering lots of shops, restaurants, and family entertainment. Lychnostatis Open-Air Museum is a four-minute drive from the hotel, and provides a look into the history and culture of Crete. It is a 10-minute drive to Crete Golf Club, a full 18-hole golf course, and the neighboring Acqua Plus, a fun waterpark with slides and play areas. The major city of Heraklion is a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Heraklion Airport is a 25-minute drive, and the port is 33 minutes away. 

Studios and apartments are spacious and simply decorated with a clean, welcoming feel. White floors and walls get light color accents -- such as pale-blue or salmon -- from linens, creating a relaxing atmosphere that pops against the dark-wood furniture. Kitchenettes come with a sink, mini-fridge, kettle, and electric burners, and all rooms have a desk, dining table, and flat-screen TV. On the downside, use of air-conditioning and safes require fees. Balconies furnished with a dining set come standard, but rooms facing the busy road can suffer from noise. Apartments have a separate bedroom and can fit up to four people thanks to sofa beds in the living room. Most rooms do not have space for extra beds, but Superior Apartments can fit one for a fee.  Bathrooms are the most out-of-date area of rooms, showing dated tile, grout stains, and watermarks. Some showers are walled with a door and mounted showerhead, while other rooms have a curtained shower with a lip on the floor and a handheld showerhead. Other rooms have updated bathrooms with tubs and a nicer look. All include a hairdryer, but toiletries are not provided. 

This simple hotel has a nice pool with a bar, but not much else on-site. The sunny pool area has plenty of loungers, though not all have umbrellas. The shallow end includes a small slide and a two-foot deep wading section for young children. The pool bar has an indoor space with a counter and a few tables. An exposed-beam ceiling sports colorful team jerseys and flags; otherwise the space has a neat, functional feel. Outside, a few tables under umbrellas and a pool table sit next to the water. Guests find the snacks and light meals well-prepared and reasonably priced. Above the pool, there are a grassy area with more loungers for sunbathing and a small, sunny playground with a few toys. Free Wi-Fi is limited to the reception area, though some nearby rooms report getting service.