Castro Hotel

We stayed at the Castro hotel for a week. The overall experience was super good considering the price we paid. It should be mentioned that we booked through a travel agency and it was a last-minute trip. If you want proximity to the beach and a week of sun and swimming, this is a super place for the price. Small pool area with a very good pool bar, where it is easy to order food from the hotel restaurant which is SUPER good. The rooms are not of the highest standard, but that didn't bother us. We wanted a room in a corner and got this wish granted. Hotellets greatest strength is its staff, incredibly nice. Seems to be a family-owned hotel where a large part of the family hangs out at the hotel. The girls at the reception were incredibly welcoming and service-minded. The hotel's biggest weakness was the breakfast; it was included in the price but it was really nothing to write home about. For the price we paid, it was hard to have higher expectations, but this also meant that we skipped breakfast one day and bought breakfast ourselves.

Old room, windowless bathroom with a sewer smell, very small. From 7:30 AM doors slamming, people talking, children screaming or playing in the hallway. Breakfast a disaster: if you arrive at 9:00 AM there is nothing left, terrible coffee, powdered milk in the cappuccino, tap water from the juice machine. The lack of service prevails and every request is rejected by management that is superficial and not very attentive to the customer's needs. The Maxim restaurant is excellent. Don't ruin your vacations.

Castro is centrally located, close to both commerce and city. The local bus runs often and right outside the door, so it's easy to jump in to Heraklion. The hotel is nice and clean and the staff are really nice and helpful. Please note that this is not a “look-out hotel”. We had views of a residential building, but it was our own fault that we had not been aware of it when ordering. There was fully booked at the hotel so no possibility of changing room. The shower cabin is small in both width and height, but we were prepared for it before we arrived. There was room cleaning every day. Large fridge with freezer in the room and safe. Plenty of sunbeds at the pool - however we do not find the pool area very attractive. Overall a good experience.