Aldemar Knossos Royal

Aldemar Knossos Royal is patterned after ancient Minoan palaces, as evidence by the two-story, whitewashed buildings with columns bracing balconies and roofs, triangular pediments, and an overall blocky feel. Visual interest is added with red columns and the occasional blue wall. Grounds are lovely, with stone tiled pathways lined by trim shrubbery, flowering plants, and many trees, plus multiple pools and vantage points of the ocean. Interiors are generally attractive, such as the lobby's inlaid ceiling and the Fontana Amorosa Restaurant's wood-beam ceiling and panoramic windows, though the seafoam-green couches at reception and bright-red chair cushions in the main restaurant could use an update. Families and couples don't seem to mind, however, as the extensive facilities and sandy beach make up for any old-fashioned decor. 

Aldemar Knossos Royal is on the northern coast of Crete, about 30 minutes east of Heraklion, in the municipality of Hersonissos. The hotel is on a bit of land that juts out into the ocean, so there are beautiful ocean views to both the north and the west. It is in an area packed with hotels, but there’s a Greek restaurant with seafood specialties a six-minute walk away. A bus into Heraklion stops in front of the hotel in the morning, but there isn’t public transportation with local stops. In a car or taxi, guests can reach the bustling village of Hersonissos in 10 minutes. The 18-hole Crete Golf Club is a 16-minute drive from the hotel, and it has a fun water park next door. Knossos -- the archaeological dig site of the oldest city in Europe -- is a 31-minute drive away. Heraklion Airport is a 25-minute drive from the hotel.

Comfortable rooms are warmly decorated with neutral tones and wood furnishings, and subtle touches of color are added in wall art and/or the duvets. While pleasant, the overall look is a bit dated and could use a refresh. Twin beds may be pushed together for a double, and all rooms have satellite flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and free safse, plus free Wi-Fi with a limited amount of data. Small balconies and terraces have a table and chairs, some with sea vistas. Small bathrooms have some detailed mosaic tiling, shower/tub combos, little counter space, hairdryers, and free toiletries.

Family Rooms have separate sitting areas with one or two twin beds and extra tables, and shared bathrooms. These have shower stalls in addition to tubs. VIP Sea View Rooms are small, but offer some notable extras: Access to a private pool is the highlight, plus there are minibars, beach towels, robes, and slippers. Both upgraded rooms include kettles. 

Features at the Aldemar Knossos Royal are extensive and suitable for both families and couples. Five restaurants offer a variety of dining options, for all-inclusive, half-board, and breakfast-only guests. The main buffet offers a good variety of quality food in a pleasant space. The other restaurants are all well-reviewed, with different settings and specialties. A beachfront restaurant serves lunch and drinks, and a specialized breakfast restaurant has sumptuous morning meals. Fontana Amorosa serves Mediterranean dishes in an upscale wood structure on stilts over a shallow pool. 

A long stretch of beach offers free sunbeds and a lifeguard, but the sea is rocky. Multiple pools are dotted around the hotel with plenty of free loungers and umbrellas. The main pool has an island where music is sometimes played. There is a second pool just downhill from the first, with a 150-foot (46-meter) waterslide between the two. Kids have a few wading pools to choose from, a nice playground, and an cute indoor activity room for supervised activities. A game room with billiards tables and video games appeals to older kids and some adults. Sports facilities, organized competitions, and dancing or cooking lessons, and more are available for adults to find entertainment. The large, well-equipped fitness room has a full array of weight-training equipment and some cardio machines.