If you’re planning to travel to Crete and want to stay in one of the island’s best hotels, the Athina Palace needs to be on your list.
Location
This luxury five-star resort is built into a cliffside and boasts stunning panoramic sea views. 17 km from the airport and 15 km from Heraklion, it is situated in a peaceful location where you can truly relax and unwind.
Style & Character
Striking, modern architecture and pastel colors define this hillside resort. Built over several levels, with many steps, its most enviable feature has to be the breathtaking views it commands over the Mediterranean Sea. With a magnificent swimming pool area, beach, spa, and a choice of restaurants and bars, everything you could wish for on a relaxing break is at your fingertips.
Rooms
The Athina Palace offers a range of accommodations, including double rooms, family rooms, and suites. All rooms have air conditioning, a mini-fridge, flat-screen satellite TV, and a balcony or terrace with table and chairs. Ensuite bathrooms are equipped with bath/shower and hairdryer. Room Tip – Not all rooms have sea views, so if you want one, request one when you book specifically. Rooms in the middle of the hotel close to reception have particularly beautiful views and require less walking up and down steps!
Service & Facilities
The magnificent active pool has plenty of space for the whole family to splash around in and has a pleasant sunbathing area with lovely sea views. There’s also an additional freshwater pool for children, two relaxation pools for adults only, and a small sand and pebble beach. The spa offers various treatments, including facials, massages, body treatments, manicures, and pedicures. The hotel has various activities to take advantage of, including tennis courts, a kids club, water polo, and aqua aerobics. Beyond the resort, a twenty-minute drive will take you into the capital Heraklion, where you can enjoy shopping and restaurants or visiting museums and ancient sites – or a bit of both!
Food & Drink
Guests can choose dining at the more relaxed Zeus main theme restaurant or, the smarter Hera a la carte restaurant. Zeus serves an American-style breakfast buffet in the mornings and a varied Mediterranean buffet, with show cooking, in the evenings. The large veranda overlooking the sea is the perfect spot for dining. For a slightly fancier occasion, Hera offers an a la carte menu and is an experience not to be missed, especially if you take advantage of special nights with live Greek music and dancing. The Ermis snack bar is ideal for lunch and snacks, offering show cooking on the grill as well as fresh salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and traditional gyros. As for bars, you can take your pick from the Ermis and Artemis pool bars, the Poseidon beach bar, and the lobby bar. All serve a selection of local spirits, wine, beer, and cocktails as well as soft drinks, teas, and coffees.
Experiencing the picturesque little cove beach, a mix of sand and pebbles is highly recommended, as is a late afternoon drink at the beach bar. The walk down from the hotel to reach it is quite steep, but you can also take advantage of the free shuttle service provided.
Conclusion
The Athina Palace is the perfect spot for a relaxing holiday in the sunshine, with unrivaled views of the Mediterranean.
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