Reviews of Albatros Hotel in Hersonissos, Crete
The Albatros Hotel is located very close to the center of Hersonissos
yet only a few meters from the beach. There are 106 rooms available and
the hotel is open from May to October. The interior decor of the Albatros hotel
is attractive and the public areas of the hotel are furnished with a fine selection of
antiques, many of which belong to the owner's family. Keep an eye open
in the lounge for the bronze lamp, which is over 200 years old, and a
mirror that is 150 years old.
The
rooms are simply decorated and in each there is a small refrigerator is
available for the use of guests. The rooms overlook either the swimming
pool and the sea, or the road in front of the hotel. During the high season
in Hersonissos (July and August) you might wish to ask for a room in the
back as the road in front can be busy and noisy. Whilst the swimming pool
offers the chance for a quick and refreshing swim, the beach is so close
to the hotel that there is no reason why you shouldn't prefer the "real
thing" than the pool. It is also pleasant and relaxing to have a cup of
coffee or a drink by the pool, especially in late afternoon before your
tour in the crazy nightlife of Hersonissos will begin.
Breakfast
is served in the big and luminous dining room of the hotel. Our advice:
if you really want to taste all that is served at breakfast, do not eat
the previous night! There so many different dishes served that you may
get anxious just looking at them (or reading about them): coffee, tea,
milk, chocolate, 2 different kinds of juice, 5 kinds of marmalade, 4 kinds
of cheese, 3 kinds of pork meat, a different hot dish ever day, pickles,
compote, cake, boiled eggs, 2 kinds of yogurt (reviewer recommends the
one with the fresh strawberries), cereals and 3 kinds of bread plus toasts
and Cretan barley rusk.
If you are hungry by noon, or if you are a later riser, and have missed
breakfast then you may ask for something fast but delicious from the hotel's
snack bar. You may choose from spaghetti, omelet, hamburger, saganaki
(fried cheese), souvlaki, grilled chicken, and the like.
The Albatros hotel pays great attention to the service of it's clients,
especially parents with young children or babies. There are nursing bottles,
cradles or even baby carriages available. Family rooms, apartments with
2 rooms and 4 beds, are also available.
For the technologically "advanced" clients there is an "Internet corner",
a room where you may send or receive your emails or even spend some time
surfing or chatting.
PS. This review is from the summer of 2000. Check Albatros Hotel for availability
Discussion with Mrs. Nandia
Tamiolaki, one of the owners of Albatros Hotel
What is your favorite place in Crete Nandia?
Mrs. Tamiolaki: Lassithi Plateau is my favorite place as my father's
family comes from there and I have spent many summer holidays there. I
have so many nice memories of this place.
What are the places in Crete that your clients
seem to like most?
Mrs. Tamiolaki: Crete is the island of adventure. The best way to see Crete is to
rent a car and explore the unknown inlands of Crete. Many of our clients
like Vai palm beach and the Toplou Monastery in eastern Crete. They also
like Lassithi Plateau but they will have to get out of their car and walk
around. I would suggest that they visit the Kera Monastery, they can taste
the omelet or the roasts of Mrs. Marazaki at the tavern by the entrance
of the Kera village, they can enter the Diktaion Antron cave and they
try an apple from the many apple trees growing in Lassithi.
For the more
"adventurous" visitors I would advise them to take a nap under the trees
in lassithi and enjoy the peace and calmness of the place. If they find
some fresh goat's milk in some kafeneio in the area then they shouldn't
miss tasting it. It is so delicious! Another suggestion is a mountain
bike tour from Lassithi plateau towards Hersonissos. There are agencies
in Hersonissos that offer this kind of tour. They are safe and easy as
the road is downhill to Hersonissos and there is always a guide in every
tour. The clients are transferred by car to Lassithi Plateau and then
they ride their bikes and drive down to Hersonissos together with their
guide.
Are there any dinner suggestion in Hersonissos
area?
Mrs. Tamiolaki: Go to Milatos for fresh fish, Potamies for snails, the "Petrina" tavern
in Ano Hersonissos for delicious roasts, the "Cretan tavern" in Malia
for "mezedes" (explore Crete: mezedes are various dishes shared by
the whole company) or the "Kalesma" tavern in the narrow streets of
the old town of Malia.
Is there something that you want to say about Hersonissos?
Mrs. Tamiolaki: Hersonissos is an ideal place for young people. There are many one-day
tours available, water sports, bungee jumping, intense nightlife and nice
beaches. Hersonissos is close to the Archaeological sites of Knossos and
Malia and there are buses available to the above places and Iraklion very
regularly (every 15 -30 minutes, depending on the month of the year).
Do you want to add something about the Albatros
Hotel?
Mrs. Tamiolaki: My family takes care so that our clients' wishes and needs are satisfied
in every possible way. If there are special requests then we will try
to fulfill them as long as we are informed prior to the guests' arrival.
Yannis: Nandia, thank you for the valuable information
and we wish you a nice summer season.
Mrs. Tamiolaki: I also wish a nice summer to "Explore Crete"
and its visitors.
PS. This interview is from the summer of 2000. Check Albatros Hotel for availability
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