Hotel Elounda Akti Olous

The Elounda Akti Olous is located in the heart of the Elounda seaside resort, 5 miles from Aghios Nikolaos. Heraklion airport is 43.5 miles away. Count a little over an hour for transfers.

To enjoy the seaside even more, go to the Elounda public beach, 492 feet for the hotel. On this fine sand beach, you can ride a pedalo or a ringo. Motorised water sports are more dangerous here, and largely depend on the presence or absence of the beach attendants who offer them.

Built in 1980 and renovated in 1998, the Akti Olous hotel is a 4-storey building lost in the city's anarchic buildings. It is directly accessed from the coastal road, or from the city through a pretty, picturesque alley lined with fruit trees. In the hotel, practicality prevails over decoration, which is in the 'seventies' style. The ground floor includes a small lobby and a dining room. On the 4th and last storey, on a panoramic terrace, are the fresh water swimming pool (968 feet²) and the solarium, partly covered with green synthetic fitted carpet (!). On that floor, you will also find a tiny playground for children, a ping-pong table, a pool table, and a few fitness machines. The first floor also has a solarium terrace.

Double rooms are very simple, tiled, with grey painted furniture. They have a very small bathroom including toilets, sink, and shower or tub (to be specified upon reservation). Small balconies with a table and two patio chairs allow you to sit outside. Most double rooms have a view of the sea (front or side), but we want to stress the fact that the urban environment is rather unpleasant (satellited dishes, solar panels, breeze blocks, etc.). The French door opening onto the balcony is narrow, and the rooms are rather dark. For comfort, you will find a hair dryer, telephone with direct international access, television, and refrigerator. For an extra fee, you can have air conditioning and safe.

The hotel's main restaurant is on the ground floor, next to the lobby and almost part of it. A very small buffet offers a limited choice of food, whether for breakfast or dinner (only 2 main courses for dinner). The à la carte restaurant (snack) offers more good surprises. Even though it is located along the coastal road in front of the hotel, the decor is pleasant, because the tables are arranged along the beach and by a deck over the Mediterranean. The menu offers a decent choice of local starters, salads, omelettes, pasta, and pizza. Count around 3.5 pounds for one course. The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner.

The hotel beach is, actually, a tiny rocky area, barely 753 feet², on the other side of the coastal road which is in front of the hotel. The few deckchairs and parasols offered there free of charge are the only amenities you will find on that beach. However, the water is clear, and the view of Spinalonga peninsula is nice.