"We staid for 10 days at the Almyrida Studio Apartments, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. We were in one of the rooms on the ground floor.
The apartments are spotlessly clean, comfortable, and wonderfully peaceful. One of the things we appreciated most was the calm, relaxing atmosphere.
The location is simply outstanding. The beach is literally about 20 steps from the apartments, making it incredibly easy to pop down for an early morning swim or watch the sunset in the evening.
The bay is rather protected from the North-Winds that can be strong and bring big waves and has a small natural pool in which kids can swim and snorkel even if winds and waves are bigger sometimes. On top you have the choice between two types of beaches just next to each other. The beach directly in front is a little stony, both on the shore and in the water, but the owners have thoughtfully installed a ramp, making access to the sea much easier. If you prefer soft sand, there is a lovely sandy beach just next to it, so you really have the best of both worlds. Clear, clean waters on both.
We had easy reach of restaurants and shops, car rentals, bakeries, ice cream shops etc and could enjoy the full beauty and taste of Crete. Very surprising for us was, that EVERY restaurant around there was fantastic. There was not a single restaurant around that felt like a tourist trap.
The staff deserves special recognition. Everyone was exceptionally warm, welcoming, and genuinely helpful throughout our stay. Their kindness and hospitality made us feel at home from the moment we arrived. Even when wishes for changes or extras were raised from our side or the friends we were traveling with, the staff was always ready to help and accommodate our wishes. They even installed extra towel hangers in our room, since we felt there were not enough :) Amazing!
One thing worth mentioning for future guests is that breakfast is not served in the apartment building of the Studios itself. The Almyrida Beach Hotel, in which breakfast is served is not next door either. Instead, you leave the hotel and walk about two minutes down the road to another building. It wasn't an issue for us after all, but it is useful to know in advance. Also, if you are more a pool person then we would suggest to book a room in the Almyrida Residence or the Beach Hotel, simply because the pool at the Studios is rather small - good for a dip but not really for a swim we recon. Since the Studios are really a few steps away from the beach, we di not really mind nor use this pool anyways, but also here maybe a useful info to pool-lovers :)
The hotel also helped organize a beautiful dinner for my group in the Surreal Bar/Resto right at the beach! Amazing food and drinks! Delicious, great portions, good prices, extensive selection of wines and drinks, that Ilias the restaurant manager prepares perfectly!
A very special EFCHARISTO POLI (Thank you very much) and a big hug goes out to Ilias, Tonia, Kyriaki, Artemis and Irini !!! But also the House keeping & Maintance, the Health Personnel, the life guards and the waiters.
Crete is a beautiful island, but what made this trip truly memorable was the combination of a fantastic location, comfortable accommodation, and the exceptional hospitality of the entire team.
We left feeling relaxed, refreshed, and simply blessed. We would happily stay at Almyrida Studio Apartments again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a genuine Cretan welcome, an unbeatable location just steps from the sea, and a peaceful base from which to explore this beautiful part of Crete."
