Aristea Hotel

“Simple but Greek”

We stayed at Hotel Aristea in Elounda in June and had a really enjoyable and relaxing break overall. We booked a sea view room and it was absolutely worth it. The view across the bay each morning was stunning — sitting on the balcony watching the boats and the calm water was one of the highlights o… more

We stayed at Hotel Aristea in Elounda in June and had a really enjoyable and relaxing break overall. We booked a sea view room and it was absolutely worth it. The view across the bay each morning was stunning — sitting on the balcony watching the boats and the calm water was one of the highlights of our stay. The room itself was basic but clean and well maintained, however there was no tea making facilities, which fortunately didn't bother us. The only downside for us was the mattress, which we found a little uncomfortable. However, when we mentioned this to reception, they were very helpful and promptly provided extra bedding to make it more comfortable, which we really appreciated. It’s always reassuring when staff respond positively and try to resolve any issues quickly. Breakfast was simple but fresh and tasty. There was only a small selection to choose from but the quality of the food was good. With a little more attention to presentation it could feel more special, but it certainly set us up well for the day. The location is where this hotel truly shines. It is perfectly positioned right on the waterfront, with restaurants, cafés and shops literally on the doorstep. This was particularly important for my mother who struggles with walking, as we didn’t need taxis or long strolls — everything was within a few steps, which made the whole holiday much more relaxed and accessible for her. Overall, Hotel Aristea offers excellent value in a beautiful setting. With its unbeatable location, stunning sea views and helpful staff, we had a lovely stay and would happily return to Elounda again.

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“Lovely location, poor breakfast, rude staff.”

Things we liked - The room was nice and the beds comfortable. Nice that they'd thought about including a full length mirror and a magnified make-up mirror on the dressing table, too.  - Air conditioning and TV included.  - Location was lovely with a sea view which was also quiet. - Outsider cou… more

Things we liked - The room was nice and the beds comfortable. Nice that they'd thought about including a full length mirror and a magnified make-up mirror on the dressing table, too.  - Air conditioning and TV included.  - Location was lovely with a sea view which was also quiet. - Outsider courtyard area for breakfast is pleasant. - Clearly a family-run establishment which was nice to read about in the comment books from the 1980s!  - Nice of them to celebrate its history with the older touches such as the telephone in reception and the tapestry along with family photos.  - WiFi, air conditioning and TV included at no extra cost.  - We were clearly very lucky to get a sea view! Things we didn't like - Bathroom needs updating. - Stained curtains which looked like blood.  - Lack of tea/coffee/kettle facilities in the room.  - Communally, it could have been cleaner.  - The breakfast was VERY limited and lacking in choice. There was coffee but only green tea with one choice of cereal and warm milk (bleurgh!) - The unrelated staff member on reception was incredibly rude and miserable.  - Only one English channel but that's to be expected in a small, family run establishment. 

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“Second stay - disappointed”

This is my second stay here, and I’m sad to be disappointed this year. The location is excellent and the biggest draw to stay here, but having stayed last year, I made sure to email 6 months & 3 months in advance to ask if this year I could have a sea view room, both emails acknowledged & yet I’m … more

This is my second stay here, and I’m sad to be disappointed this year. The location is excellent and the biggest draw to stay here, but having stayed last year, I made sure to email 6 months & 3 months in advance to ask if this year I could have a sea view room, both emails acknowledged & yet I’m in a roadside room again. Manager couldn’t be less interested, or more dismissive if she tried when I politely asked about a change. It would seem solo travellers are less priority for a view, so something to bear in mind if you’re travelling alone. Sheets are clean but have a lot of holes. Drain is broken in the bathroom (reported) but right by the toilet so a hazard. Toilet is almost in the shower! Only one available socket. WiFi intermittent on the 2nd floor. Luckily I didn’t plan on spending too much time in my room - and it will be even less now.

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