Peaceful setting a five-minute walk from the beach
Within walking distance of supermarket, restaurants, and shops
Rooms are clean and comfortable with functional design
All rooms come with TVs, mini-fridges, and furnished balconies
Quiet, shaded pool area offers poolside drinks and snack service
All-day restaurant serving a breakfast buffet
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Some of the rooms have dated furnishings
Limited kid-friendly features
No gym
This lower-middle-range, 67-room hotel charms guests with its hospitality and peaceful setting a few minutes' walk from the beach. Rooms are comfortable and outfitted with mini-fridges and balconies, but some have more dated furnishings than others. Features are limited to a restaurant and two bars offering meals that guests generally find acceptable, plus a pool that has a small wading section, free loungers, and poolside drink service. On-site entertainment is limited, especially for kids, and the atmosphere is quiet. Those looking for a bit more in the way of family-friendly features should check out Europa Beach Hotel, which has a playground, kids’ pool, and proximity to a secluded beach.
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Scene
Peaceful hotel with simple offerings that guests enjoy for hospitality and relaxation
Hara Ilios is a lovely, peaceful hotel which delights couples, and some families, with its genuinely friendly staff, comfortably appointed common spaces, and gorgeous grounds. A large portion of the clientele is French, though guests find the hospitality just as earnest for English speakers. The hotel is generally quiet, particularly at night, and guests appreciate the relaxing atmosphere. A simple, but comfortable lobby invites guests in with warm neutral colors, large cushy couches, and a bright, open space. The front desk has a marble counter and stone reliefs reminiscent of the hotel’s Greek heritage. An adjacent bar has a similar look and offers seating in the form of dark-brown wicker chairs and couches. Beyond reception, the grounds are beautiful and lush with trim bushes, a variety of trees, and pretty flowers blooming all around.
Location
A five-minute walk to the beach and shops, with a drive to popular sites
Hara Ilios Hotel is on the northern coast of Crete in a small village about 25 minutes by car east of Heraklion. The surrounding area is quiet and though there are many hotels in the area, they are not so packed together that they are on top of one another. A three-minute walk from the hotel brings guests to the coastal road with a few small shops, including a supermarket, bar, and a cafe. A couple more minutes down the road, there is a nice beach with sunbeds and a well-reviewed restaurant. The hotel has free parking for guests, and there is a bus stop a six-minute walk away. CretAquarium has a number of displays featuring Mediterranean sea life and is a seven-minute drive from the hotel. A 15-minute drive will bring guests to Crete Golf Club, a full 18-hole course, and Acqua Plus, a fun water park with slides. Heraklion Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
Rooms
Clean, functional rooms with balconies, mini-fridges, and safes
The 67 rooms are divided between bright, contemporary spaces renovated in 2015 and more out-of-date rooms. The older rooms have old-fashioned wood furniture, dated patterned linens, and tube-style TVs. Newer rooms have more contemporary white wooden furniture and solid linens. Rooms across the board are spacious and comfortable, with work desks, double beds, sofa beds, and wardrobes.Balconies are furnished and have views of the gardens or pool. All rooms have mini-fridges, safes, and air-conditioning, and Superior Rooms add TVs. Simple bathrooms have shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and wall-mounted soaps dispensers. Wi-Fi is free in rooms, though guests report a weak connection.
Features
A restaurant, two bars, and a pool, plus free Wi-Fi in all areas
Simple features provide for a relaxing vacation, but extras are limited. The main restaurant is a simple space with white walls and wood or wicker chairs surrounding tables dressed with linens. A few pieces of artwork add interest to the room. Guests find meals to be adequate -- the free breakfast is better reviewed than dinner -- but lacking variety. Breakfast-only or half-board meal plans are offered. The pool is a decent size with a wading section fenced off for smaller children. The surrounding tile patio has plenty of free sunbeds, some with umbrellas and palm trees, and others under a functional shelter. The pool bar serves drinks and snacks to guests poolside, or on the shaded terrace with small tables and wicker chairs. Entertainment is limited with two theme nights per week. Billiards and ping-pong tables are available, for a fee. A small meeting rooms has a desk and rows of plastic folding chairs to accommodate small functions. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.
