Aristea Hotel Elounda

“ Wonderful position with balconies at the back (front overlooks the busy road) looking out over Elounda Harbour with the floating restaurants down below. Basic but very clean and totally adequate; run by a very friendly Greek family aided by Seka doing the rather simple breakfast taken in, the 1 poor point, the room over the main road heavily net-curtained so no view and felt we were missing the wonderful morning sunshine. (It may be that once season fully started and their own 'Kalidon' floating Restauarant is open that may be other options?). But this was made up for by Seka kindly arranging for us to have yoghourt instead of bread and cake as 1 of us is Coeliac and cannot eat wheat.
Family also run next-door Poulis fish restarant with 'floating' section over the water and everyone was very friendly to us.
So very pleased we insisted on this local hotel when learnt our originally booked hotel, Akti Olous, would not be open in time - we were offered room at Elounda Ilion - a purpose built hotel with conference centre some 2 km away up a hill where we would have felt isolated from the local community. Aristea Hotel however is just yards from the harbour, sea, shops, boat-rides and with a municipal beach only a short walk in either direction - the perfect spot.
Our favourite taverna / cafe had to be Kanali out past the old salt pans and second municipal beach over the strip of land between the harbour and the sea (where ancient Olous used to be); from here you can walk up and over the hill to a deserted sandy beach like a paradise island - that is until the late morning barbecue boats arrive and the beach is overun by hundreds of people! So you need to go early!
We took the bus one morning (1.70 Euro each way) to Aghios Nikolaos - harbour and lake area very attractive, but found it to be so busy we could not wait to get back to Elounda which we found so much more beautiful, peaceful and self-contained.

“ Top Tip: Our favourite taverna / cafe had to be Kanali out past the old salt pans and second municipal beach over the strip of land between the harbour and the sea (where ancient Olous used to be); from here you can walk up and over the hill to a deserted sandy beach like a paradise island - that is until the late morning barbecue boats arrive and the beach is overun by hundreds of people! So you need to go early!
We took the bus one morning (1.70 Euro each way) to Aghios Nikolaos - harbour and lake area very attractive, but found it to be so busy we could not wait to get back to Elounda which we found so much more beautiful, peaceful and self-contained.
I went on the Happy Train trip up to 'mountain' village and olive press - interesting, but probably better to hire a car as did not see very much although enjoyed the view back over Elounda from up in the hills plus passing through Plaka. Felt faintly embarrassed by the custom of everyone on the Happy Train waving madly at other tourists, ex-pats etc and them waving back!!
Didn't do other trips as so lovely just to stay in Elounda.

Marvellous bookshop, recently taken over by an English couple - excellent selection both new and secondhand; they will discount your purchase if you bring a book to exchange.

“ Bedrooms at the front noisy due to road.
Staff very friendly.
Could do with a bit more variety for breakfast.
Would stay again with a sea view.

“ Top Tip: Plenty of Tavernas right outside the hotel. Spoilt for choice.

“ Staff are very friendly. Hotel is right on the sea front and so ideal for exploring the village of Elounda. We booked this hotel so that we could do the boat trip to Spinalonga and it was ideal for that. The rooms are very basic but clean and comfortable. You would not want to stay here for a fortnight but for a 1 night stay it was great. Breakfast was a simple continental breakfast of cereal, bread, jam, ham and cheese. If you want 5 star luxury this is not the hotel for you, but if you want somewhere clean and comfortable to stay for 1 night it is spot on. There is plenty of parking along the sea front but you may have to park a little away from the hotel and walk around the very pretty harbour.

“ Top Tip: The boat station for the boats to Spinalonga was about 200 yards from the hotel.

“ Friendly hotel, staff helpful

“ Top Tip: Being directly on the front where the boats set off for visiting Spinalonga. Close to all restaurants and general life in Elounda