Heraklion's Hidden Gem: Ibis Styles Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Heraklion's Hidden Gem: Ibis Styles Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!) – Seriously, I'm Still Processing It!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I just got back from Heraklion, Greece, and I have a confession: I stumbled upon a hotel. No, scratch that, This hotel stumbled upon me, and it wasn’t just any hotel, it was the Ibis Styles Heraklion Central. And the thing is, I’m still trying to figure out if it was pure, unadulterated sunshine, or if they secretly hired a team of incredibly well-trained (and probably somewhat mischievous) Greek gods to control the experience.
Let’s dive in, shall we? Because honestly, trying to remember everything is a bit like trying to herd cats hopped up on espresso. This is going to be messy, imperfect, and hopefully, hilariously honest.
First Impressions (and the Maze of Arrival)
Getting to the Ibis Styles was… an experience. Taxi from the airport? Smooth. The location, nestled away from the immediate tourist throngs, sounded perfect. But the actual finding it? Let's just say the GPS and I had a disagreement. Seriously, I circled what I thought was the entrance about three times before finally spotting a discreet sign. Pro-tip: Look for the cute, colorful building; it's a dead giveaway.
The entrance itself is… unassuming. But then you walk inside, and BAM! Color explodes. Think super-chic meets slightly whimsical. It’s like a modern art gallery decided to throw a party, and the theme was “How can we make this hotel instantly Instagrammable?” They succeeded.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (But Mostly Good!)
Okay, so, this is IMPORTANT. I'm not a wheelchair user, but I paid close attention. The good news: The lobby, restaurants, and some rooms are easily accessible. The elevator worked perfectly. Things to note: I'm not sure about every single room. Check specifically when booking.
- Wheelchair accessible: Check (in many areas).
- Elevator: Yes!
- Facilities for disabled guests: They seem to offer some! Again, confirm specific needs.
The Room: Clean, Comfy, and Could We Talk About Those Blackout Curtains?!
My room? Spotlessly clean. Like, "I could eat off the floor…but I won’t because that's weird" clean. The bed? Heavenly. And the blackout curtains? Oh. My. Gods. Seriously, they banished ALL light. I may have slept for a week. Here's the breakdown:
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, alarm clock, bathrobes (yes!), bathroom phone, bathtub, blackout curtains (PRAISE THE GODS!), carpeting, closet, coffee/tea maker, complimentary tea, daily housekeeping, desk, extra-long bed, free bottled water, hair dryer, in-room safe box, internet access – wireless (more on that later), iron, laptop workspace, linens, mini bar, mirror, non-smoking (HEART!), on-demand movies, private bathroom, reading light, refrigerator, safety/security feature, satellite/cable channels, scale, seating area, separate shower/bathtub, shower, slippers, smoke detector, socket near the bed, sofa, soundproofing, telephone, toiletries, towels, umbrella, wake-up service, Wi-Fi, window that opens.
- Additional notes: The Wi-Fi? Free and fairly reliable. I did have a couple of moments where it went wonky, but the staff were super quick to fix it (more on the staff later).
Internet, Oh Internet, How I Love Thee (Or Sometimes Curse Thee)
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Yes! Yay!
- Internet Access (Generally): Pretty good.
- Internet [LAN]: I didn't personally use LAN cable, but I believe it was available. Check with booking if this is a must-have.
Food, Glorious Food (and the Unforgettable Breakfast)
This is where things get really good.
- Restaurant(s): Yes!
- Breakfast [buffet]: Oh. My. Zeus. This was the star of the show. Forget your sad continental breakfasts from chain hotels. This was a feast. Seriously, pastries that practically melted in your mouth, fresh fruit, eggs cooked to order, Greek yogurt, and enough coffee to power a small nation. I'm still dreaming about it.
- Breakfast service: Yes.
- Buffet in restaurant: Yes.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes. Coffee, lots of it!
- A la carte in restaurant: I believe so!
- Desserts in restaurant: Tempting, I will say.
- Vegetarian restaurant: I didn't notice one specifically, but there were tons of vegetarian options at breakfast and other meals.
- Asian breakfast: Not entirely, but there were some Asian-influenced elements (like some of the pastries).
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: No, not specifically.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Yes!
- Western breakfast: Yep!
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Yes!
- Snack bar: I think so!
- Room service [24-hour]: Yep.
- Poolside bar: Yes!
- Bottle of water: Provided!
The restaurant itself? Bright, airy, and the staff were incredibly friendly. Okay, I'm going to tell you a little secret: I may have gotten a little hooked on the Greek salad. Don’t judge me.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Sort Of…)
- Swimming pool: Outdoor, and gorgeous! It has a stunning view, but I didn't find time to go because of the overwhelming desire to sleep.
- Gym/fitness: Yes!
- Sauna: There is one.
- Spa/sauna: Yes.
- Steamroom: Yes.
- Pool with view: Hell yes!
- Massage: Unavailable at this time
I had grand plans for the spa. I envisioned myself draped in a robe, sipping herbal tea, getting a full body scrub and wrap but I was so comfortable in my room, I stayed there instead!
Cleanliness and Safety: They Take This Seriously!
In the current climate, this is crucial. And the Ibis Styles? They’re on it.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Yup.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Hygiene certification: Appeared to be present
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yep!
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Enforced.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Yes!
- Safe dining setup: Yes.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Definitely!
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They were friendly but serious about safety.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (More Food!)
Beyond the incredible breakfast, the Ibis Styles has you covered:
- Bar: A cozy, chic spot. I may have enjoyed a pre-dinner ouzo there… or two… or three.
- Coffee shop: Available.
- Happy hour: Yes!
- Poolside bar: Essential for those sunny afternoons.
- Restaurants: Multiple!
- Snack bar: I was too busy eating the breakfast buffet to notice the snack bar, but it's there!
Services and Conveniences: They Thought of Everything (Almost)
- Concierge: Super helpful.
- Currency exchange: Yes.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent.
- Elevator: Yep.
- Food delivery: They can arrange it.
- Indoor venue for special events: Yes! (Though I didn't attend any).
- Laundry service: Available.
- Luggage storage: Check!
- Safety deposit boxes: In the rooms!
- Smoking area: Yes.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Yes.
- Check-in/out [express]: Yes!
- Check-in/out [private]: Maybe, if you wanted it.
- Doorman: Available
- Front desk [24-hour]: Always someone there to help.
- Hotel chain: Yes (Ibis Styles).
For the Kids (Family Friendly, Indeed)
- Babysitting service: Available!
- Family/child friendly: Yes! Kids are welcome!
- Kids facilities: Didn't explore these in depth, but it seemed like there were options.
- Kids meal: Yes.
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer: Available.
- Car park [free of charge]: Yes!
- Car park [on-site]: Yes!
- Taxi service: Easy to get.
**The Quir
Luxury Guangzhou Getaway: Echeng Hotel's Zhujiang Charm Near Jinan University
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause this ain't your grandma's neatly-packaged travel itinerary. This is… life. Or at least, a few messy, glorious days in Heraklion, Greece, starting from… well, starting from a total scramble. I'm staying at the ibis Styles Heraklion Central. Let's see how this disaster… adventure, unfolds.
Day 1: Arrival, Disorientation, and the Quest for Sustenance (and Maybe a Nap)
Morning (aka "Wake Up, You Fool!")
- 06:00: The alarm blares. I swear, that thing's programmed to sound like a thousand angry cicadas. My flight got in late last night, and I'm already running on fumes, the kind fueled by stale airplane coffee and the lingering guilt of eating that third tiny pretzel packet. Ugh.
- 06:30: Stumble out of bed, nearly tripping over my own suitcase. The ibis Styles lobby is… clean, I'll give them that. It's also remarkably beige. Almost… soothing? Maybe too soothing. It's like being hugged by a giant, inanimate oat.
- 07:00: Breakfast at ibis. Buffets, man. A beautiful, terrifying, glorious free-for-all. I piled my plate with what looked… good (fruit, yogurt) and some things that didn’t (sausage, pastries). I may have added some Nutella to my yogurt. Don't judge me! I needed those calories. It set the bar for everything.
Mid-morning (aka "Lost in Translation and Hangry Dreams")
- 09:00: Wander out into Heraklion. Okay, so maybe "wander" is a polite way of saying "get utterly and completely lost". The city's a maze, a delightful, chaotic, sun-drenched maze. I swear, every other sign is in Greek. I had to rely on the kindness of strangers (aka a very patient, elderly woman who probably thought I was a total idiot).
- 10:00: Finally find the Venetian Harbour! It's stunning. Absolutely breathtaking. And also, makes me realize I'm ravenous. Like, "I could eat a small donkey" ravenous. Where's food? Must. Find. Food.
- 11:00: Found a small taverna along the harbor. Ordered the "mixed grill" (thinking, you know, a little of everything. I received a mountain of meat. A glorious, greasy, perfectly cooked mountain of meat. My body rejoiced. My arteries, maybe not so much. Best. Meal. Ever.
Afternoon (aka "The Nap That Never Happened… Yet")
- 14:00: The Knossos Palace. Holy freakin' Minoan civilization, Batman! This place is ancient, and impressive, I can barely wrap my head around it. They tell you to visit, like it is a chore you MUST do. Okay, I’ll go. Oh, I will visit. The architecture is gorgeous. And the stories are even better. Tour guides everywhere. Try to find a good one before you go. I felt like I was walking through history.
- 16:00: Back to the hotel. Nap time, finally! Nope. Room cleaning. Great. No need for a nap, guess. Time to hit the beach.
- 17:00: Walk to the beach. This time, I am ready for it. I had my new sunglasses, my beach towel, my summer is ready. I spent hours there watching the sun setting.
Evening (aka "Pasta, Wine, and the Uncontrollable Itch to Shop")
- 19:00: Dinner at a local restaurant (recommended by the eternally helpful hotel staff). I ordered pasta. Simple, right? Wrong. It was the most delicious pasta I've ever had, swimming in a sauce that tasted like sunshine and… well, I don't know what else, but it was divine.
- 20:30: A glass… okay, two glasses, of local wine. It's cheap, it's fruity, and it makes my shoulders relax. I need that.
- 21:30: Browsing the shops lining the streets. I'm the kind of person who thinks they don't need anything, only to end up with a basket full of handcrafted jewelry, a weirdly adorable ceramic donkey, and what I'm pretty sure is a genuine Cretan olive oil soap. I have no regrets.
- 23:00: Back at the hotel, slumped into bed. So. Tired. Tomorrow? More adventure? More food? Definitely more wine.
- 24:00: Fall asleep.
Day 2: Digging Deeper, Getting Weirder
Morning (aka "The Sea's the Limit")
- 07:00: The alarm… you get the idea. Same cicada-y sound. I really need to figure out how to change that.
- 08:00: Start the day with a trip to the Archaeological Museum. A good place to enjoy some time and get educated. The Minoan artifacts are incredible. But after a while I was so exhausted I just could not.
- 10:00: Rent a car. I wanted the freedom of exploring the coastline. Driving in Greece is… an experience. Let's just leave it at that.
- 12:00: Travel to a secluded beach. Found it! The water was crystal clear, the sand was warm. And me. I was happy. I swam. I sunbathed. I actually felt myself relax. I needed that.
Afternoon (aka "Eating All the Greek Food, Maybe More")
- 15:00: Head to a local taverna. Lunch, of course! The menu had the usual things, but I took a chance on a dish I'd never heard of (don't remember what it was, it's a blur of deliciousness). Another meal to die for.
- 17:00: Stop by a local shop. Bought so much, and I really don't need it. I don't care, I love it.
Evening (aka "Revelations and Rethinking Everything")
- 19:00: Dinner. I just wanted something light. You know, just the usual. But it was so tasty.
- 20:00: I found a spot with a small bar. Watched the sunset. The world seems beautiful, even if it is messy.
- 22:00: Back in the hotel. Writing in my notebook. Something about Heraklion. Something about happiness. It is all about finding happiness.
- 23:00: Sleep
Day 3: The Grand Finale (Which Probably Involves a Train Wreck) and Departure
Morning:
- 07:00 - 08:00: Wake-up.
- 08:00 - 09:00: Breakfast, I would like to try a new breakfast. I am tired of the greek yogurt!
- 09:00 - 12:00: Check-out of the hotel. Final walk around the city.
- 12:00 - 13:00: Lunch with my friend (not a local, but a tourist too).
- 13:00: Departure.
Final Thoughts:
This trip? It wasn't perfect. There were moments of sheer panic, moments where I got monumentally lost, and moments where I probably made a total fool of myself. But you know what? It was real. It was messy and loud and sometimes completely overwhelming, but it was also filled with the most mouthwatering food, the most stunning sights, and the kind of unexpected moments that make life worth living
And the ibis Styles Heraklion Central? It was a comfortable base camp, a clean and (mostly) quiet oasis in the midst of the beautiful chaos. Would I go back? Absolutely. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find that ceramic donkey a friend.
- Post-Trip Note: Still haven't changed the alarm. Guess I'll just learn to love the cicadas… or maybe buy earplugs. And hey, the Cretan olive oil soap? It's amazing.
Heraklion's Hidden Gem: Ibis Styles Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!) – FAQ & Rants
Alright, is this place *actually* a hidden gem? I'm skeptical. Spill the tea!
Okay, okay, I get the skepticism. "Hidden gem" gets thrown around like confetti. But... yes, in a slightly chaotic, wonderfully imperfect way, the Ibis Styles Heraklion *kind of* is. Listen, I'm not going to lie, I was expecting a cookie-cutter hotel. You know, the kind where everything's beige and the only personality is in the price tag. But this place? It had... *character*. And let's be honest, sometimes character is exactly what you need after a long flight.
What's the vibe? Is it Instagram-worthy? Asking for a friend (who is me).
"Instagram-worthy" is a battlefield, isn't it? Look, it's not the influencer's paradise. There aren't meticulously crafted floral arrangements in every corner. What it *does* have is a kind of lived-in charm. Think bright, slightly quirky colors—I swear, my room had a lime-green accent wall, which I initially balked at, then grew to *love*. There's a breezy, relaxed atmosphere. Less "filtered perfection," more "Hey, come on in, have a coffee, and feel at home...ish." Which, let's face it, can be a LOT more appealing than a perfectly curated, soulless hotel.
Tell me about the rooms! Are they clean? (Because honestly, that's all I really care about sometimes!)
Alright, deep breath... the rooms. Yes, they're clean. *Mostly*. Look, I'm a clean freak (don't judge). I did a thorough check upon arrival. The bed was crisp, the bathroom was sparkly. There's that initial, "is this truly clean?" moment we all face, and I can report, yes. The basics were absolutely on point. However... (and there's always a however, right?), I *did* find a tiny, rogue hair in the shower one morning. Not a dealbreaker, but it did set off a brief, internal dramatic monologue about the existential nature of cleanliness. So, 95% squeaky clean. Which, for the price, is seriously impressive.
The breakfast... give me the lowdown. Is it worth waking up for? (I value sleep.)
Ooooh, the breakfast. This is where things get interesting. Look, it's not the legendary, spread-of-a-lifetime buffet you might find at a luxury resort. But it's GOOD. Really good. Think fresh pastries (hello, spanakopita!), yogurt, fruit, and a decent selection of hot options. The coffee was surprisingly strong – a crucial factor, let me tell you. They also have a chef that makes the best omelets I have ever tasted. It was so good that I went every morning. I almost skipped one morning, then I ended up regretting it the whole day. It's absolutely worth sacrificing a bit of sleep for, especially if you're planning a day of exploring. And honestly, what's a vacation if you're not at least *slightly* disrupting your sleep schedule, am I right?
What about the location? Is it easy to get around?
The location? PERFECT. Okay, that's a strong word, but it's pretty darn close. It's not right in the absolute thick of the tourist chaos, which is a HUGE plus in my book. It's a short walk to the city center, the shops, and the Venetian port. You’re close enough to the action without being overwhelmed by it. Plus, there were some amazing little tavernas *nearby*—I had the BEST grilled octopus at one of them. Seriously, I'm still dreaming about it. Public transport is accessible. So, yep, location-wise, it’s a winner.
Did you have any problems? Be brutally honest!
Brutally honest? Okay, here we go. There was a minor issue with the air conditioning one night. It wasn't *terrible*, but it did take a call to reception to fix. And... (deep breath)... the elevator was a bit… temperamental. Sometimes it worked perfectly, other times it seemed to be having an existential crisis of its own. On one occasion, I had to take the stairs (which, admittedly, wasn't the end of the world, but still!). Look, it’s not a polished, flawless experience. But that, for me, is part of its charm. It's real. It’s human. And honestly, a little bit of wonkiness builds character.
Speaking of wonkiness, the staff? Are they helpful?
The staff. This is where this hotel REALLY shines. Seriously, the staff were an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT. So helpful, so friendly, so genuinely welcoming. The person at the front desk remembered my name, they gave me recommendations for restaurants that weren't just the typical tourist traps, they went above and beyond. I think the staff made the biggest impression. I was having a bad day once, and the front desk guy offered me a shot of raki! It cheered me up instantly. They weren't just employees; they were genuinely invested in ensuring I had a good time. That kind of personal touch makes all the difference. They're the real hidden treasure of this hotel.
Okay, final verdict: Would you recommend it? Hit me with the juicy truth!
Okay, the juicy truth... YES! Absolutely, unequivocally YES. If you're looking for a sterile, ultra-slick hotel experience, this might not be for you. But if you want a place with character, a great location, friendly staff, and a delicious breakfast, then absolutely book this hotel. I already want to go back. Consider this my official Heraklion hidden gem endorsement. It wasn't perfect, but it was *memorable*, and sometimes, that's all that really matters. Go, and enjoy the omelets!
