Крит надо посетить хоть один раз в жизни Crete must be visited at least once in a lifetime

I want to say right away that Crete is not a place of luxury hotels.
I'll start from the beginning.
We went with the Test Tour. Many thanks to the guys from the Test Tour, the organization of the trip was excellent.
We are travelers to Heraklion, the place is amazing. The airport is located on the seashore. Within 10 minutes after receiving the luggage, we went to the hotel. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the hotel, but you don't notice that around it is unusually beautiful. On one side there is the sea and on the other side there are mountains. When they started to drive up to the hotels, they were a little wary, the hotels are all 2-3 storey and a little "shabby" even 5 *. Of all the hotels, it was more or less (unfortunately I don’t remember the name), but it was in the middle of the road and there was nothing around.

Arriving at our hotel, we were met near the bus by a boy who took our luggage and took us to the reception. At the reception there were already 4 cups of juice (we were a family of 4) for us. We filled out a very "easy" form, drank some juice and a Russian speaking girl (with a very sad face) took us to our room.
When we entered the room, we wanted to cry. Last year we rested in Bulgaria in the "Admiral" where everything is just chic. We expected something like this, but alas. The room was quite small, but clean, there were fruits on the table. The room had everything that is described, but everything is very in the economy class. The bathroom was very good, but we had an ordinary bath and without a curtain, it was a little annoying, we like to take a shower, but the floor in the bathroom was heated and the water quickly disappeared. We were cleaned every day and it was impossible to persuade them not to clean. Bed linen and towels in the room were changed every day. Beach towels can be taken on the beach and changed every other day. The beach is across the road. But it doesn't bother. There were always enough umbrellas and sunbeds (for 4 people we always lay side by side). On the beach they carry water for free. The beach is cozy (without luxury). We did not go to the pools (children 16 and 10 years old are not interested in the pool either).
Now food. We only had breakfast which was very good. The breakfast was "American". Both in Bulgaria and in Crete, sausages are simply terrible, cucumbers, tomatoes in Ukraine are also tastier. Saved by yogurt. They have it thick like sour cream and there are a lot of all kinds of jams and liquid chocolate. We dined in the room. After 12, the heat was very strong, I didn’t want to go anywhere. We went to a supermarket the evening before (green, something like "Papandopolos" is called) there is a choice and prices are slightly cheaper than in the nearest supermarkets. We took oranges (0.65 euros per kg). Lavazza coffee and bread for toasters and croutons (like small toasters). Olives (very tasty but a bit salty) and they have olive paste very tasty. The room had a juicer, coffee maker and toaster. 2 oranges made 250 ml. juice. We had enough to eat. For dinner we went to La Mare and only there. I have never seen such service anywhere. There are 4 waiters working there. They don't have 1 waiter serving you while others are messing around. Who is free and serves (moreover, one can take the order to bring the second order, calculate 3, etc. ). My daughter is left-handed, so they gave her instruments for left-handers. Service is fast. They bring it to everyone at once, and not so that one is there, and the other is licked. The portions are very large. If it's a salad, it's a bowl of lettuce. If it's a steak, then it's A-5 format + french fries, etc. Basically a meal. On average, the cost of one dish is 6-6.5 euros. From drinking orange fresh (there are no packaged juices in the cafe) 2.5 euros and a mix of fresh 3 euros. Coffee from 1.5 to 5 euros depending on the coffee. Local wine glass 3.5 euros. Along with the bill, they bring watermelon and raki or ouza, and the waiter drinks with you. On Tuesdays and Fridays, there is something like folk art (Cretan). Be sure to visit it is very interesting, everything is easy and not forced + you participate in all this.
Now excursions. Tours are very expensive. We went only to one, but as if to a VIP - this is a bus for 21 people and this tour includes 2 excursions. These are the Palace of Knossos, the cave of Zeus + Lossiti + a pottery workshop + a monastery and a magnificent guide Tatiana. I do not advise you to go to the Palace of Knossos without a tour. Such an excursion costs 165 euros for adults and 119 for children under 12 years old. We did not go to Santorini, the prices are the same.

We took a car and went to the water park and the aquarium really liked it. Worth a trip. The car was taken on the waterfront. I will say right away you can safely take a convertible or without air conditioning. Their air is excellent, the most dead cars do not smoke. Gasoline is almost 1.8 euros.
In general, we arrived almost with tears and left with tears.
I really liked it, even with all the shortcomings. More than in "Admiral". If we go to Crete, then only in THIS HOTEL. That's because it's not strange. But also a big thank you to the guys from the Test Tour, they are really great.