Hotel Aldemar Cretan Village

If you are planning holidays with children (I traveled with a son, 5 years) or just not a fan of hours-long car journeys it is an important factor that hotel is locating not too far from Iraklion (the main city of the island) where most of international flights are usually landed. The transport network in Crete is very well-developed. So you will spend not much 30 minutes to reach the hotel independently of carrier.

Service is a special reason why I recommend you to set your choice on Cretan Village. During all our staying at the hotel (from the first minutes on the reception till the departure moment) we felt ourselves totally surrounded by attention of friendly staff. In spite of a high season (last weeks of August) we spent not much 15 minutes on the reception (enough time to fill the registration form and take a key), then driver on a club car delivered us to our bungalow. The little white cars (“club cars”) are a very nice idea, because you don’t need to go for a walk with all your luggage across the hotel’s territory (which as I already wrote is large) to your apartments.
If you came from not-English-speaking countries (for example we are permanently live in Russia), a nice surprise is that there is a multinational staff there. Guest relatives speak English, French, Italian, German, Russian etc. So for sure you will find somebody who is speaking your original language and you will be “understanding”. By the way, feel free to question and ask any assistance if you need something. The girls in guest relative’s service and others will do the best to help in any your needs and little troubles which usually appear when you are out of home (for example, to find a suitable adapter, instructions how to call home or where to buy a porridge that you child like to eat in the morning).
Need to mention that attention of the staff is very friendly, but not intrusive. For me it is very important when you can have your service in time and case when you really need it. And polite consideration of CV staff really pleased me.
Other services are on a very adequate level. Early in the morning workers clean the territory (I saw it when once woke up earlier than usually), wash the floor, water flowers and grass. You will not find any sighs of yesterday party or national gathering which sometimes take place in main bar in long summer evenings. Incidentally the restaurant and bar service also very good. Even in “hot” period like the end of July and August staff will help you very quickly to find a place for dinner in main restaurant and you will need just few seconds to get your cocktail in bar. Very fussy work, but these guys really make it!

There are a numerous kind of dishes for all tastes: fruits, vegetables; cheeses, yoghurt and dairy products; every time meat, poultry, fish and sea-food; sweets, baking and different kinds of ice-cream. Plus local wines, traditional Greek and international drinks, various cocktails in bars, juices, hot beverages. Also every day on the diner you will find a “Greek corner” in main restaurant with traditional dishes such as “mousaka”, “tzatziki” and delightful sweets (“baklava” etc.) Everything is finger-licking good! There are also special national dishes (Italian, Russian etc.). For example we were very happy to have traditional Russian pancakes for breakfast.
All inclusive system which Cretan Village offers us is a very good solution if you are traveling with children. For example my son doesn’t like to eat “to time”. When on holidays he usually eats some snacks near the water pool and ice-cream later after the dinner. Also when you come back after an all-day excursion (for example, from Santorini) you can find cold and hot snacks, baking, fruits and beverages at the “Dionyssos” snack bar downstairs the main building which is open till the midnight. All inc. system can really save your money and gives a possibility don’t be fastened to food timetable.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in main restaurant which has a nice veranda with panoramic windows and inimitable sea view. But be ready to be prompt if you really want to enjoy a picturesque view, because there will be many with the same ideas to see a wonderful Crete sunset.
Also there are some thematic restaurants with a required reservation for lunch or dinner. During our staying in Cretan Village we had a dinner in Taverna “La Pergola” (nice cozy restaurant with life music, self-service starters buffet, main dish and dessert are served “a-la card” by waiters) and once had a lunch in café on the beach. Ones a week you can go to a “lobster dinner” (for additional payment). We did not go, because my son is a not great gourmet :) By the way, there is also a special restaurant for children (“Aldy”). What about my son, he preferred to have dinner with me in main restaurant, like a “grown-up” :)
Recommendation: if you will come to Cretan Village in high season and planning to have a dinner in some of thematic restaurants, please be concerned with booking a table straightly after the arrival, because space at restaurants are limited and it physically can’t received all guests at the same time! If you are planning to go to the excursion, ask about "breakfast backet" (inc. sandwiches, chips, fruits, water, juice etc.). Note: you need to do it strictly untill 7 p. m. the day before your excursion.

There are many ways for fun and relaxation in Cretan Village. If you are a follower of quiet rest on the sea and a bit lazy, there is a shingle beach with beach chairs and umbrellas (free of charge), few water pools inc. pools for children (beach towels you can take in Mini-market for a little returned guarantee, 15 euro per one). Note: the entrance to the sea is rocky, so don't forget to brind a special foots with you (you can also buy it at nearest supermarket).
For activists there is a gym, field for mini-golf, water-sports center. Animators organize a daily sport program such as water volleyball, morning exercise in pool etc.
Animation team is a particular story in this hotel. Senor Claudio and his team really the best I ever saw. Every night they presented new show, musicals, sketches etc. During 2 weeks there was not any repeating, every night a new performance, funny, with a good share of humor, sometimes a little bit provocative, but not vulgar and every time very amusing. Evening entertainments includes 2 parts: from 8. 30 p. m. there are a mini-disco (with my son like a lot!) and a program for adults after 9 p. m. So provide yourself with fresh juice and cocktails that don’t miss anything interesting.
Besides regular evening shows, ones a week there is a Greek party near the main water pool with life music and obligatory execution of “sirtaki” around the pool. If you like dance like me, it will be a good possibility to please yourself and enjoy dancing with a pleasant partner.

If you are looking for a luxury and pretentious accomodation, Cretan Village is not for you. The most chic and stylish hotels are situated in Agios Nikolaos and Elounda area (Mirabello bay). But if you would like to find a nice and comfortable place for a quiet rest and relaxation Cretan Village is the best choice. The hotel builds in traditional style of Greek village, bungalow with a simple, but enough comfortable furniture, painted in blue, green and red color). There are rooms with gardan or sea view, family apartments (with 2 adjoining rooms). All rooms are air-conditioned and have everything you need for a comfy living.

If you are an inquisitive discoverer or just a little bit tired from nice pastime at the hotel you can go to one of many interesting excursions (Lasithi Valley, Spinalonga fortress and especially Santorini island are really worthy to see). Santorini is absolutely wonderful place. But my opinion – don’t go to Santorini with children under 6-7 years, it could be tiring for them and you, because of at least 2 hours you need to spend on the catamaran to reach the island and then another some hours in bus if you will book a sightseeing tour. Shopping-loves can visit a nearest town Hersonissos (locating approximately 2 km from the hotel, taxi service – 7 euro, free bus form the hotel once a day) or go directly to Iraklion, the capital of Crete with numerous shops, boutiques, café, restaurants etc. For yuppie I recommend to assign a day for visiting one of 4 main cities of Crete – Agios Nikolaos, where all international brands fashion brands such as Gucci, Versace etc. are presented. And the last recommendation concerns the duration of staying at the Cretan Village. We spent 2 weeks in CV and I’m sure any duration you will spend there will be an amazing time. IMHO: one week is still not enough, 10 days is OK, but 2 weeks is really the best duration, and even after you will not want to leave it. For me absolutely no doubts which place we will choose for our holidays this summer – of cause Aldemar Cretan Village!