Lato Hotel

“STILL A GREAT HOTEL”

Unfortunately we, Barry and Anne Junior, only visited the Lato this year rather than stayed. The only direct package from NI to the Lato would be with Evri and did not fancy travelling in an extra legroom box. Found everything the same as usual i.e really good. The first time we visited the La... more

Unfortunately we, Barry and Anne Junior, only visited the Lato this year rather than stayed. The only direct package from NI to the Lato would be with Evri and did not fancy travelling in an extra legroom box. Found everything the same as usual i.e really good. The first time we visited the Lato we arrived near midnight. Being my usual helpful self I gave my wife plenty of room to unpack and found the bar being operated by Janis who later I called the vampire because he was only there at night. I learned to enjoy parrot juice which we drank over a bit of chat. I later realised that the amount of parrot juice was much larger than the norm. Parrot juice is so called because everyone knows that parrots can be trained to say "ouzo lucky boy." Also was reminded that Greece is a land of Mythos. Very smartly designed well kept hotel which is always spotless in equally well cared for grounds. The owners and staff make the hotel worth more than 5 star because, like the vast majority of Greeks I have met, they are so friendly and helpful. Breakfasts were always very good and Maya's cakes exceptional. No evening meals which is no problem because Ag Nik is packed with restaurants to suit every taste and many are very good. Had a lovely meal this year at almost next door KriKri. Next door the Galley is great if you want to watch sport and like UK food. (Of course remember that if you go to a posh taverna with a huge selection of almost instantly available food it will be microwaved and may have come from Granny's food factory in Thessaloniki..... posh tavernas have de pinged microwaves} Turn left and walk past Ormos Beach and in a couple of hundred more yards you will find Stavros taverna on the right and the delightful Maria Lovely Jubbly. Turn right, pass a small supermarket, and there are good tavenas past the mini roundabout just after Ammoudi beach, the nearest beach and very safe for swimming. Be warned that if you like obsequious bar managers/lunch treat providers you have chosen the wrong hotel. Jeanette aka Shirley Valentine puts a great vibe in to the bar. Her house used to have a pebble drive though these are now spread world wide with many still in rude health. Tortoise and ducks adorn the front of our house and a sea urchin is by me as I type. (beware of sea urchins if swimming off pebble beaches or where there are submerged rocks. I well remember a Jeanette unintended mystery Greek night. A fleet of taxis was ordered. We had assumed the driver knew our destination a taverna in a small village in the Lakonia valley. My wife and I had visited it several times and passed it even more en route to the Lasithi plateau but could not recall the name (I now know why, it has not got one) I told the driver the one with the big bouganvillea and finally I told him that Isabella worked there. That solved things. Apparently it is known as Stavrakakis'. The dining room turned out ot be the street where a lot of tables had been joined in to one long one. Great craic and unlimited food and drink. Be warned if you use the sun roof you will be unlikely to have a drink brought up as Jeanette is no dumb waiter. Do not make the mistake of shouting down for a drink as consequences could be dire. A warning to men to not wear white socks as these are bantered. (unless you are thick skinned enough to take the consequences). Jeanette plays mood music. Dear help you if you put her in to a bad mood. Plenty of parking at the hotel so hire a car and see more of the island (it is so large it scarcely deserves that description) and of course The Island, Spinalonga. We would always take the local bus to delightful Plaka and take one of the very frequent ferries. When driving you will quickly find double white lines have no meaning whatsoever and, generally, do not attempt to turn directly left when on a main road. Also keep well over to the right on main roads when you see an overtaker coming up behind. Delay moving off the split second the green light appears (straight from red of course not like UK) and you will discover why vehicles have horns fitted. With a car you can access the English supermarket and Lidl both on the Kritsa road.

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