the downside is yes, but we didn’t get hung up on this at all. We liked the peace and quiet. We weren’t pleased with the lack of free internet. It doesn't exist at all. You have to pay 5-10 euros
for 90-200 min. This is perhaps the only drawback of the hotel.
Weather. It was so diverse that we got the impression that Crete decided to show us everything he had in stock. There was a storm, there was a dry storm with sand, there were gorgeous sunny days, there were thunderstorms, it was hot, it was cool... And that's all - in 9 days! The sea is clean, not cold (for me) - 21 degrees. Those who come from the Baltic States will understand me.
Very salty. The beach is excellent. For Crete - chic.
Tour operator - Millennium. The service is unobtrusive, the guides have been working for many years, they don’t bother with offers. If you want - take it, if you don't want - don't take excursions. We rented a brand new Volkswagen Polo from the parking lot next to the hotel. Immediately for 9 days, and never regretted it. Themselves masters, traveled the entire island far and wide. We got a lot of pleasure and adrenaline by riding the serpentine, though for those who are going to go to the extreme west to Sfigna, it’s good advice to think about it. The serpentine there is the most difficult, and Crete will not joke with you on it. If you go - know - there is no turning back. You can only go forward. We advise you to go to Sisi - a fishing village, only 30 min. from hotel. We liked everything there, including fish restaurants. And about everything else - read on the internet and choose whatever you like.
Yes, I want to warn you that there are terrible queues at Heraklion airport, both for entry and return... Prepare for this in advance and approach it philosophically. Everything ends sometime. . .
In general, we are satisfied with the rest.
The second is not a pleasant moment, we went to an all-inclusive hotel, we don’t need alcohol, but we didn’t think that there would be a problem with water. In the hotel you can drink water without any problems in the restaurant, if you ask, they will bring it to you, they will pour a glass at the bar near the pool, and if you need to drink or take a pill in the evening at night, take a glass and run the bar. People sit, drink and you with a glass of water. I read in the reviews that the hotel has water coolers, so I can say - they are NOT. They say that last year they were right, but this year I approached the Russian-speaking girls and they said that water is only in the bar and restaurants. Maybe this is a trifle for someone, but if you are with a small child, this trifle develops into a problem. We ran to the store and bought water.
The third not pleasant moment is the beach. The beach itself is large and we really liked it. Sunbeds and umbrellas are free, there is an ad on the beach in three languages, except for Russian, that sunbeds and umbrellas are for hotel guests. The hotel has a bracelet system, so vacationers with blue bracelets can be seen immediately. But vacationers from neighboring hotels, where everything on the beach was paid for, gladly came to our sunbeds and under our umbrellas and did not hesitate to take their places, but there were often not enough for our places. And our people huddled where necessary. The most interesting thing is that no one followed this, but it should be.
Everything else left only positive impressions. The territory is immersed in greenery, everything is clean, trimmed. The rooms, although modest, are quite decent, well-cleaned. There are no complaints about the food either, for 4 stars everything is very decent. Every day, something from seafood, several types of meat, 1-2 types of fish, vegetables, fruits, ice cream, pastries and cakes for dinner and tea. You won't be left hungry. In the evening you can take a walk along the embankment. Once you can relax.
The hotel area is not very large, but very green and pleasing to the eye! Around the pools are green well-kept lawns, on which there are many sun loungers.
The beach is quite spacious and sandy. Entry into the sea is convenient, there are no large stones. Although in the territories of neighboring hotels the beaches are terrible in this regard..... solid stone slabs. At the entrance to the beach, berries and fruits are sold daily from a small van. Strawberries in Crete are amazing: firm and sweet! Cherries and apricots are delicious too.
The sea in Anissa, of course, is not so picturesque... It often worries and becomes cloudy from this, and when it is calm, the water is very clean and transparent. If you have the opportunity, go to STAR Beach right behind Hersonissos. There is such beauty! And for children there are free water slides, in fact a small water park.
The food at the hotel is beyond praise. Everything is very tasty and varied! Amazingly cooked meat and stuffed vegetables. Every evening there is a puree soup for children. Breakfasts are of course monotonous: scrambled eggs, fried and boiled eggs, bacon, toast and "dry breakfasts" with milk. Why is there no baked goods for breakfast? Well, lunches and dinners are wonderful. Wine is served in bottles - red and white, the taste is very pleasant.
There is a lot of fish and meat, 2-3 times a week there were seafood: squid, mussels.
Well, very tasty ice cream....like in childhood. They also ate watermelons. They are so sweet and juicy!!!!!!
1 or 2 times you can go to the Tavern for dinner (by appointment). But to be honest, we were disappointed with the trip there. Firstly, there is practically no difference compared to a general restaurant. Moreover, everything from there is brought on plates, but at the same time you are deprived of a choice of dishes. Wine and other alcoholic drinks in the tavern are PAYABLE and not at all cheap. When the plates were brought to us, we were a little shocked. On the plate is a set of completely non-traditional snacks that do not go well with each other. And for the children, they brought a mountain of french fries in general !!!! ! Then they brought a Greek salad, and then only we smelled the smell of fried meat, which only saved our mood.
About the rooms - the rooms are clean but no frills. We are really not picky in this regard, so everything suited us. In the bathroom, apart from soap, there are no soap and ryol accessories. There is some kind of shower and head foam in the tank under the shower but we hardly used it. Cleaned quite regularly, left the maids on Eureka. The staff is generally friendly, especially the children are friendly.
Good animation team. Evening programs were quite interesting. And for children every day there is a children's disco, children go to it with pleasure. There is a kids club, but I can't say anything about it....we didn't use it. But I saw that some competitions were held there with children.
Well, that seems to be all. I hope someone will be useful.
The territory is reading, well-groomed, huge, all green, in palm trees, cacti, geraniums (a strange combination, but there is an explanation for everything), in some places there is where to get lost : )
The beach is through a narrow path from the hotel, clean, with paths, small pebbles with sand, with many sun loungers and umbrellas (all free).
The food is always fresh, the assortment is not large, but everything is delicious (although for an amateur), soups are served for dinner, champagne for breakfast on Sundays : ). Lots of vegetables, feta, olives, hard cheese . . in general, no one left hungry. we collected lunch ourselves, for dinner they brought in bottles - white and red, beer in glasses, I didn’t try juices, except for tomato - very tasty, orange fresh - 2 euros 250 ml
The contingent, upon arrival on April 30, there were no more than 30 people in the hotel, because the season in Crete begins in mid-April, out of 30-20 Slavs and 10 Germans... then, of course, ours decreased, but the Germans drove in a huge crowd, while everyone is aged to put it mildly : ). Apparently they were not there for the first time, because they happily hugged the waiters at the meeting. from May 8 to May 10, almost all the Slavs left (the weekend was over) and the animators suffered, whom they now entertain, more precisely with whom: )
Animators-there were 4 + chief animator-Italy, Hungary, Ukraine, Greece and Slovakia, so the approach was to everyone, there was no language barrier.
The host was the Millennium Travel RESPECT and RESPECT... due to pathological laziness : ) and unwillingness to strain and take a car, we took 3 excursions - I really liked the organization and the guides and drivers : ). Whoever eats for the first time I recommend not to lie on the beach all time, but to see the island, there are interesting places, especially the city in the South of Matala, a place where hippies still live
In general, 10 days flew by quickly and pleasantly, I recommend it to everyone !! !
Territory. The hotel has a wonderful large, well-groomed, green area. There were no problems with sunbeds on the beach or near the pool, on the contrary, we really liked that they were standing everywhere on the territory, especially on lawns, in soft and fluffy grass!! ! They stand quite far from each other, so the neighborhood does not bother you, complete relaxation!! ! A huge plus is that, unlike the bulk of the Cretan hotels, the territory of Anissa is closed and guarded!
Food. Five stars, delicious, varied. Would like to go for lunch and dinner. We met a waitress from Latvia, she told us that all the food that was for distribution is thrown away, even untouched fruit. No, salads for lunch from morning sausages) It pleased. Everything is really delicious. And the kitchen is open so you can see how they cook. Everything is clean and tidy.
Alcohol. We collected a set for 14 days with us on vacation))) brought it back, everything was there. Whiskey, tequila, baileys, rum, gin. I read that people had problems with water, so you are in Greece, and not in Egypt or Turkey, where they put water in your bar every day. There is a market with normal prices on the territory, 1.20 euros for 1.5 liters of water, and there are no problems.
Staff. These people generally pleased me, they were so good-natured and attentive, I did not expect. Everyone is happy to see you, and sincerely. Especially the bartender who works near the pool, Janus, it feels like he has ten arms)))
The only disappointment was the guides, the millennium. Zero attention, only they were interested in excursions. Do not see their stories about car rentals!! ! We have been renting a car in the city for two years in a row and there are no problems. Contracts in Russian, full insurance, after returning the car, no one sniffs, does not look for scratches. The first time left in the hotel parking lot, the keys at the reception, the second year the same. Take a taxi to Hersonissos, and there is a rental there.
Anissa is a great hotel.