Hotel Handakas

This hotel is amazing. I stayed here for 10 days, and the people were wonderful. The beds were very comfortable, the rooms were well kept, and the view from the balcony is beautiful. The food in the little restaurant is delicious and they are very good at accommodating vegetarian needs. The pool is also very well kept. This hotel is overall very good and is a beautiful little place to stay.

This family run hotel is so warm and inviting that I honestly felt like I was part of the family when we left Honestly when we pulled up I thought we had made a huge mistake - there are half built cement block buildings on either side of this 3 story hotel and i was expecting an older more charming hotel. We stayed there for 7 nights as part of our global volunteer program - my daughters and I taught english for week in an elementary school a mile or so away . There is nothing fancy about the hotel - the bathrooms are super small- the beds, linens, rooms are very very simple BUT it's the people who run it that made feel that I would want to come back In the reception area which doubles as a LR the Greek TV is almost always on and various family members sit and talk, laugh, yell and just hang out most of the day. there are two computers ( free of charge) in that area as well. Wifi was free and work most of the time in the room Sophia was there to help with anything we needed -so lovely and speaks great english She did a big load of our laundry for $4 The lunches and dinner are simple but was always fresh and tasty - Breakfast is cold cereal, cheese,some basic fruit ( maybe an orange or banana) yogurt and tea/ coffee Everything was very clean, the pool was nice and the beach is a straight 10 min walk down the street I would ask Sophia to show you the road that leads to the school. It was just cool to walk "work" each morning through the morning glories and olive trees ...picking fresh fruit off the endless fig trees It would NEVER have been a place I would have normally chosen to stay but I am so glad I " leaned in" and let some American luxury expectations go and embraced the warmth of a family who made us just feel so welcome. FYI Check out the indoor salt water pool (30€ ) or the massages (70€) at thalasso ageo spa - a 30 min walk (or 5 min cab) away They have a a great gym and varies work out classes as well Petousis is the best restaurant in the town The one with "George " in the name -next door -is not great ...

We quite often booked not expensive 1-3 stars hotels for staying but in case of this hotel we are deeply disappointed.. Actually I am able to list only two positive points: 1. Good location. Ammoudara village is located nearby Heraklion city center (5 km), so it is easily can be reached by bus ( bus stop is also not far from the hotel) or by car. 2. Free parking space. Hotel also has a parking territory ( 4 places actually) but it is crowded so often. Fortunately there is a place for parking near the hotel enter. So now about negative moments: 1. Second-rate room room clean. The towels were changed only after 6 days ( according to hotel rule it had to be changed after every three). Problem with trash bin removing. No wet clean ( I mean floor, dust and bathroom). 2. Hand-to-mouth breakfast. 3. dirty furniture. It is not a problem that it is old, but too dirty.. 4. Problem with conditioner: it works only in one regime and this regime is like a fridge. You can't control the temperature. 5. No fridge in the room. 6. No mosquito mesh. And a lot of mosquitos inside as result. So for us the most critical aspect is absence of necessary clean and dirtiness. So, not recommended.