Anastasia Hotel

Anastasia Hotel is a quiet hotel enjoyed by couples and families for the friendly staff and clean, comfortable environment. Decor throughout the hotel is simplistic but functional and all areas are well-maintained. The lobby is done in shades of ivory, with a striking black marble countertop at the front desk. A couple of cushy, taupe couches offer the only seating. The central space is open, but the perimeter feels cluttered with racks of books, postcards, and signs. Upstairs, the lobby bar has a similar design with ivory chairs clustered around small tables. Wood furniture predominates, and there is little color in the bland, but comfortable room. Outdoor spaces have more charm, with beautiful gardens and large shade trees enhancing the design. Cobblestone paths and patios are lined with large trees and well-tended flowers and shrubs, making for a relaxing, enjoyable atmosphere.

Anastasia Hotel is near the northern coast of Crete, just off a main road, about 30 minutes by car east of Heraklion. The hotel is surrounded by open land and feels a bit isolated, but a seven-minute walk will bring guests to a road catering to tourists with many restaurants and some shops. It's a 10- to 15-minute walk to a pleasant stretch of sandy beach. A local bus stops a five-minute walk from the hotel. It is a nine-minute drive to the bustling village of Limenas Chersonisou, with many restaurants and shops, plus family entertainment and beautiful beaches. From the hotel, it is a 15-minute drive to Crete Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course, and the neighboring Acqua Plus water park. Heraklion Airport is a 27-minute drive from the hotel.

Standard rooms are bland, but functional and spotless. Tile floors and white walls are warmed with wood furniture and a touch of color in the checkered bedspreads -- usually yellow and green -- and matching drapes. Small balconies or terraces are furnished with plastic patio furniture. All rooms have twin or full beds, an LED or tube TV with satellite channels, and a mini-fridge. There is a fee for use of the safe and kettle. Bathrooms are simple with a curtained tub/shower combo and a wall-mounted hairdryer. Free hand soaps are provided, but no shampoo or body wash. Upgraded rooms allow space for extra beds, sometimes a bunk bed or sofa bed, and some family rooms have adjoining bedrooms. A couple of two-story suites have more space and come with both a balcony and a terrace.

Breakfast and dinner are included in half-board meal plans, and are served buffet-style in the restaurant. If enough guests buy in, a simple buffet lunch can be purchased as well. Guests report tasty meals with a good amount of variety, and generally find dinner to be the most scrumptious. The snack bar by the pool also serves an a la carte lunch for those spending the day on site. 

The two pools are on the small side, and there is a little wading pool for kids near the bar. All three are surrounded by sunbeds, some of which have umbrellas. The main pool is generally more active and has inflatables and sometimes kids’ games. A simple kids’ club and playground provide supervised activities, and a small mini-golf course may appeal to younger guests. The mini-market consists of vending machines offering snacks and drinks to take back to rooms, but not for public spaces such as by the pools. Evening entertainment is provided in the form of bingo and karaoke, and sometimes a live show. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby, but does not reach all areas of the hotel.