Hotel Almyrida Residence

The hotel is located in the small fishermen's village of Almyrida converted to tourism in 2001, approximately 15 mi from La Canée, which, with its international airport, is a good alternative to Heraklion. Drivers need to leave the new express road which follows the coastline and join the small country lanes of Cretan hinterland to get to it. Nestled in a secluded spot surrounded by mountains, providing the perfect environment for hikes or bike rides, the little village is peaceful, facing the sea.
A long way away from the large hotel complexes invading the north coast, this could unfortunately change due to some ongoing construction planning. Besides, a lot of the old houses bearing witness to this place's history have already disappeared but the atmosphere has managed to remain friendly and human in character. The small village has long adapted to its seasonal clientele, which explains the presence of many shops, supermarkets, restaurants and bars forming the close environment of the hotel. You won't find any night clubs in the close vicinity though. The beaches, framed by the cliffs of the wild Cretan coast, are somewhat small and dull.

The town of La Canée, probably the most beautiful on the north coast, blends several influences that derivce from its rather stormy past. We recommend you pay it a little visit, as it is so close to the hotel.

You can't miss the building of the Almyrida which really stands out from the other hotels around it - it is the only one of its kind facing the beach, with a massive and modern kind of architecture, displaying simple and straight lines, stretching towards the sea. It was designed as a 'boutique hotel'. The concept consists of a limited number of rooms, an intimate atmosphere and a contemporary approach to hospitality. Outside, a long pool will catch your eye, as well as a roofed terrace, sheltering those wanting to have a drink out of the sun. Then comes the lobby, bright and airy, divided into several areas: a pretty little lounge decorated with a contemporary red leather sofa and a low chandelier, a bar open from 8:00am to 12:00am with some tables and chairs, an internet station, a coin-operated pool table and a rare feature: a bowling alley. The alley is brand new, beautifully lit from 4:00pm to 11:00pm. The common areas are pleasant, uncluttered, with a few pretty recesses nicely arranged with fashionable furniture and floral compositions. This hotel's main asset is to be found on the roof: Well equipped, it offers a splendid and unrestricted view. Some sofas, tables, a restaurant, a bar open from 10:00am to 1:00am and an overflow pool with a view of the sea complete its classy decor.

The hotel has a total of 44 guestrooms, divided in the following categories: Superior, Standard, Maisonnette with two bedrooms set on two floors, Suites and Studios fitted with a kitchen. The room we visited was a Standard one - it was spacious, with an approximate surface area of 23m². In accordance with the rest of the building, the guestrooms are also decorated in a modern way: the natural materials chosen, such as wood against white walls and granite flooring, fit in perfectly with the general ambiance of the hotel, as do the elegant lighting fixtures, the colour schemes, etc. A lounge area is set up in a corner of the guestrooms, including a double sofa-bed and a table. Amenities include individual air-conditioning, a fridge, a small flat screen television broadcasting a few international channels, a safe available for a fee and a coffee machine obtainable on request. Wired internet access is free of charge. All guestrooms have a balcony with a view of the sea or... of the car park. What a shame. The spacious and clean bathrooms are elegantly decorated. They are equipped either with a shower or a bathtub, some quality hospitality products and a hairdryer.

The hotel has two restaurants. One of them is on the ground floor, behind the curtain separating it from the lobby. It is pleasant, as are the decoration of the tables and the large bay windows letting in plenty of natural light. In this restaurant, breakfast and dinner only are served as a buffet offering both local and international specialities. On the roof-top and partly covered by a pretty and modern pergola, the second restaurant serves gourmet a la carte dinners, as well as snacks for lunch. On the menu: international cuisine.

The beach has proudly been displaying its Blue Flag for several years, like every other Cretan beach of the north coast. The hotel is not quite on the beach, but it does face the sea. All you will need to do is walk across the small road which runs along the coast and cross through the village, to get to it. All Cretan beaches are public, so hotels have to pay concession fees in order to place deckchairs and parasols on them. The setting is pleasant, without being fantastic, although its small size maintains a kind of intimate atmosphere. This beach is exposed to the wind, its sand is fine but not white and its water is clear enough to see the clear bottom of the sea. At the end of a small peer stands a rescue observation post used by life guards to monitor the beach.