Отдых удался! Vacation was a success!

Hello!
Just got back from Crete! If you are ready for an active holiday, then this review is for you! Be patient to read it to the end, because I will write in detail, because. I love reviews with "details".
On May 27, we flew out of Odessa by a plane of the Windroze company (aka UIA). Flight time 1 hour 50 minutes. In Heraklion, we checked in pretty quickly, went to the Pegasus counter, and we were taken to the bus. It takes a little over an hour to get to the hotel (provided that other tourists will be dropped off at hotels closer to the airport along the way).

And here is our hotel! The first impression is beautiful and well-groomed! What was somewhat surprising was that the guide did not take us to the reception, they just "unloaded" us at the bus and that's it... We were lucky at the reception - there was a girl Anna, who explained everything to us very quickly and clearly, we filled out the registration card, signed up for Thalassa restaurant and bar Dionissos (a la carte) and went to the room.
The room slightly disappointed us with its size and remoteness. We booked a Family room in the main building, and we were settled in a bungalow. We clarified this issue at the reception - we were told that the room we ordered would be free in 3 days, and the bungalow is more expensive, so we're better off. In general, we did not argue further, given that you only come to the room to change clothes and sleep (if this is a matter of principle for you, then it is very important to discuss it with the travel agency). Leaving our suitcases in the room, we went to dinner.
I will go into detail on nutrition. It is more than varied! Poultry, beef, lamb, pork, seafood (not always) were in several options. And of course side dishes, vegetables, cheeses, olives, fruits and fantastic desserts. For breakfast, incomparable yogurts, pancakes, waffles, pastries, omelettes, milk, cereals, vechtina, sausages, cheeses... From fruits there were apples, oranges, tangerines, watermelons, melons, bananas, sometimes cherries, peaches, apricots (apparently, the season just started).
Closer to 8 pm went to swim in the sea. I read reviews that the water in 3 bays stagnates. We didn't see it. During the week of our stay at the hotel, there was literally no wind for several days, on the rest of the days there was a storm at the sea - and just in these bays you could safely swim in clear water. The entrance to the sea is sand with pebbles, you can safely walk without slippers without fear of getting hurt.

On Tuesday, we had a scheduled meeting with hotel guides (the time was called at 14.00, somewhat strange, usually meetings are held in the morning). As it turned out, 3!! ! hotel guides are in the nearby Panorama 3 hours a day and in the evening the same 3 hours in Creta Marina. Why not separate into hotels and sit one person in each hotel remains incomprehensible to us? Because there are few Russian-speaking staff and we had to run around looking for someone to ask our questions. At the meeting, the guide, in the voice of a strict teacher, told us something about the hotel (it can be a little simpler) and proceeded to the most "fascinating" part of the conversation - excursions. They are expensive! The cheapest - the Palace of Knossos - costs either 42 or 52 euros / person (children - half price) + entrance tickets - 6 euros / person. Santorini Island - 140 EUR/person
In the evening the wind picked up again, and we decided to go to the neighboring village of Panormo (3 km from the hotel). We went to the stop and got on the bus going in that direction - tickets 1.6 euros / person. We walked around Panormo. Almost all shops were closed (Greeks are open until 14.00, as well as banks). We decided to return to the hotel by "train" (2 euros / person) - the children really liked it.
On Wednesday morning, the wind did not subside, so we decided to postpone the trip planned for Friday to today. As for travel. . . if you are going to take a car, and not go with a tour operator, then it is better to make an itinerary at home so as not to waste time later. And most importantly - take a navigator with you. My husband had a navigator in his phone (he uploaded maps to it at home), which worked without the Internet (but we didn’t find out about this right away, so we got lost on this trip).
Thursday. Rethymno (gypsy market) - about. Kournas - Argyroupoli. I read a lot about the gypsy market in Heraklion, but we were advised to go to it on Thursday in Rethymno. I was a little disappointed, because I didn’t see the local color, which I read about the market of Heraklion (it takes place there on Saturday). Fruits and vegetables there are expensive compared to our prices, but things can be bought 2-3 times cheaper. For example, good quality T-shirts - 10 euros for 3 pieces. After wandering in the local park, we went to see Fortezza and then went to Lake Kournas. It has three colors of water - and from the mountain it looks just amazing! We took a water bike - 7 euros / half an hour, 12 euros / hour. Then we decided to have lunch at a local tavern. Lunch - Greek moussaka, pasta bolognese, Margherita pizza and a portion of something from shrimp (I just don't remember the name) + plus a bottle of water and a glass of beer - cost us 30 euros. The next destination is Argiroupoli - the village of waterfalls. Each waterfall was "chosen" by one of the Taverns. No one is allowed to watch or take pictures.

We didn't go anywhere on Friday. Dinner was planned at Thalassa a la carte restaurant. This was probably the biggest disappointment of our holiday. Menu - tomato soup with smoked bacon, seafood risotto, grilled vegetables with goat cheese, swordfish (solid dry meat), well, Napoleon pleased for dessert. The children naturally left hungry. Therefore, before going to a restaurant, read the menu. One Ukrainian family, having come for dinner and read the menu, took the children and went to the main restaurant. We regretted that we did not do the same, because. that evening there was a Greek evening in the main restaurant. . .
Saturday. Aquarium - Museum of Dinosaurs - Palace of Knossos. The aquarium is located east of Heraklion in the village of Gournes. Beautiful! Lots of different animals. Then the children themselves went to the Dinosaur Museum (6.5 euros/child, 8.5 euros/adult). They were absolutely delighted! Dinosaurs moved and roared. The kids said it was even a little scary! The final stage is the Palace of Knossos. We wandered through the ruins and went to the hotel.
Sunday. Rest, buying souvenirs, collecting suitcases. There are two shops near the hotel. There you can buy everything for yourself and as gifts - honey, oil, Metaxa, sweets. Prices are cheaper than in a hotel and even in large supermarkets.
I would like to say a few words about animation. The kids have been to the mini club several times. Girls animators do not speak Russian, only French and English. We communicated with our children with gestures. But we still liked it.
Adult animation is something!!!! ! Guys are smart! This one team! Martina, Lubo, Krasi and the rest (sorry, I didn’t remember all the names), thank you very much for not letting me get bored and at the same time not being intrusive (as you showed a sketch about this on one of your shows)!! ! Aerobics, water polo, water volleyball, yoga, step aeroica, darts, boccia, archery, salsa - it was interesting with you everywhere!
I would also like to say that Crete Marina has a common territory with Panorama. As we were told that upon request at the reception, you can go to the Panorama for a meal.
The drinks. I read reviews of other hotels in Crete - they all spoke badly about coffee and beer. In Creta Marina - in any bar you could drink espresso, frappe of decent quality! Very tasty champagne, Metaxa, various cocktails - this is not a complete list of what bartenders spoiled us by the pool and in the lobby!
Many thanks to Galina, who met us every lunch and dinner at the entrance to the restaurant, and to our waitresses in the lobby!

It was nice to see that the personnel manager of the entire hotel and the head waiter took an active part in laying and cleaning the tables, if the waiters were "sewn up"... and they would bring water, pour wine and just say hello to you.
I forgot to write about the territory of the hotel! Very beautiful, a lot of different greenery - everything is well-groomed and trimmed!
Monday. Rise at 5 am. The shuttle arrives at 6.15. If you leave so early, then you need to warn the reception in advance to have breakfast.
Learn a few words in Greek and then your communication with customs at the airport will be less official. We said "Calimero" at check-in to the customs officer, he smiled and asked us in Russian "How did you rest? "
Suitcases. We were told that the weight of one suitcase should not exceed 32 kg, then we were told that it should not exceed 23 kg. So we never knew how much. Therefore, it is better not to take risks and not exceed 23 kg, because there is a rather large overpayment for overweight. In the hotel for 1 euro you can weigh a suitcase. We were also told that one suitcase should contain no more than 4 liters of liquid (oil, alcohol, etc. ). As a result, no suitcase was seen through.
Once again I would like to thank all the hotel staff for their hospitality and attention, which made our stay truly unforgettable!