Crete is one of the most popular centers of world tourism. The historical monuments of Ancient Greece, the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea and the developed entertainment industry attract many travelers, for whom a wide variety of hotels are open - from fashionable five-star palaces to modest budget hotels.
This article tells about the Ntanelis 2 hotel in the small village of Analipsi (Crete).
Crete
Crete is a wonderful island at the sea crossroads between Asia, Africa and Europe, the birthplace of the most ancient civilization.
Five thousand years ago, it was here that Zeus was born, Europe appeared from the sea on a snow-white bull, the legendary Icarus flew into the sky, and the beautiful Ariadne helped Theseus through the Labyrinth to defeat the terrible Minotaur.
Now hang gliders fly over the rocky shores of Crete, and tourists from all over the world can be found in the labyrinths of shopping centers, living in resort villages such as Analipsi.
Analipsi
The tourist village where the Ntanelis Hotel 2 is located is located oncoast of the Mediterranean Sea, not far from the capital of Crete - the city of Heraklion (24 km).
In the 19th century, the Ascension Church was built here, on which it is written in Greek: "Analipsi", that is, the Ascension. So the village got its name.
The resort industry began to develop here later than in other cities of Greece, so this village still has many traditional gardens and old cobbled streets, where women gather on benches with needlework and children play in the evenings.
But closer to the center you can already feel the breath of progress - hotels, travel agency offices, restaurants, boutiques and so on.
Sometimes the village is called Analipsi Hersoniss because of the proximity of the popular resort of Hersonissos.
Interesting places
In Crete, you can look at the archaeological excavations of the famous Labyrinth at Knossos or the ancient temples at Phaistos, visit the cave of Zeus or the Venetian castle in Rethymni, make excursions to the Samaria Gorge, see the unique lake of Kournas, the islands of Gramvousa and many other interesting and very scenic spots.
Tourists staying at the Ntanelis 2 hotel can go to the largest cities of the island - Agios Nicolas, Rethymnon, Chania and, of course, Heraklion, where the treasures of the Minoan civilization are stored in ancient museums.
Climate, sea and beaches
The Mediterranean climate in Crete is characterized by mild winters and warm summers (+20-30 °C).
It rains mainly in winter, and in summer the humidity is felt only close to the sea.
Bath seasonhere from April to October. It is still warm in November (+20 0С), you can walk, travel by car around the surrounding cities.
Many tourists are attracted by the clear sea, diving, windsurfing and water parks that Greece is famous for. Ntanelis 2 is located near the city beach, which can be reached along a special road among many shops and cafes.
The city beach offers free umbrellas and sunbeds. The bottom is quite rocky, sea urchins are often caught. But near the neighboring hotel there is a beach with a sandy bottom - admission is free (but you have to pay for sunbeds and umbrellas).
Crete is a crossroads of winds, located between three parts of the world, so there are often waves on its coast. Especially windy weather happens in August. Many people like it, for example, windsurfers.
For those who prefer swimming in calm waters, nature itself has created small bays - in particular, on the right side of Ntanelis Hotel 2.
Description
Ntanelis 2 Hotel (also known by its old name - Danelis) is located on the second coastline, three hundred meters from the sea coast, consists of two four-storey buildings with an elevator, built in 1990 and 1999 (in 2009 the hotel has been refurbished).
The hulls are finished in white and blue tones, a combination of colors characteristic of Greece, symbolizing the waves of the sea.
The following is a list of services offered at the hotelNtanelis 2 (Crete). The photo shows a general view of the hotel.
The hotel has an exchange office, restaurant / cafe / bars, conference room, car rental, TV room, parking. Free internet in the lobby.
The following paid services are provided:
- billiards;
- room service;
- laundry;
- dry cleaning;
- taxi services;
- first-aid post.
On the territory of the Ntanelis 2 hotel there is an outdoor pool with fresh water.
Food is organized on the principle of "all inclusive" and "half board". Special baby chairs are available at the restaurant.
Surrounded by a green garden, the hotel is peaceful and quiet.
Ntanelis 2 is conveniently located near the major resort of Hersonissos and the capital of the island of Heraklion. There is a bus stop nearby (400 m), from where you can go to any city in Crete.
Numbers
The hotel has 115 standard suites.
The decor of the rooms is simple and modest, typical of economy hotels.
The rooms are small, but cozy, equipped with everything you need. Each room has a balcony, a bathroom (including a shower), a TV with Russian-language channels (fixed unusually high), a refrigerator and a telephone. There is no hair dryer in the rooms.
The rooms of Ntanelis 2 (Crete, Analipsi) are thoroughly cleaned every day, bed linen is changed every three days, towels are changed every day.
Air conditioning available for a fee.
Hotel staffspeaks Greek, English and Russian, always ready to help in solving any problems.
Food
Breakfast includes bread, vegetables, one cheese and sausage, yogurt, plus scrambled eggs, marmalade pancakes, cereal, milk, coffee, cocoa and tea.
For lunch, one meat dish and several types of side dishes and salads are served.
Dinner consists of 2-3 meat courses, steamed vegetables, fish and various casseroles.
Fruit set - watermelon, melon, oranges (one thing for every day).
Drinks - water, sprite, cola, beer, wine. No juices.
For All Inclusive guests, all drinks are free from 8.00 to 23.00.
Half board program does not include free drinks - so you have to pay for everything, even water.
Meat dishes are prepared from chicken, lamb and pork. There is no beef. Seafood is also not included in the mandatory menu - dishes of mussels, shrimp or squid can be ordered separately.
Greek cuisine is characterized by the heavy use of vinegar and olive oil - this should also be taken into account.
Leisure
No animation, discos are rare. A wide range of entertainment can be found in the neighboring resort town of Hersonissos, which is a recognized center for youth recreation.
At the hotel you can buy sightseeing tours to the Samaria Gorge, to the islands of Santorini and Balos, as well as to the museums of Heraklion.
An excellent form of leisure is independent trips in a rented car. Many tourists go to the beach in the morning and in the afternoongo on car rides, returning to the hotel in the evening and leaving the car in the parking lot.
You can drive a car under the usual rights of the Russian Federation.
Available excursions
There is a bus stop next to the hotel, from where you can go on independent excursions (both cheaper and freer). Here are some bus routes:
- 10 – Apolitos ethnographic village near Heraklion (Cretan evenings on Wednesdays);
- 13 and 14 - Doouloufakis Winery (with tasting available by calling +30 2810 79 20 17);
- 15 and 16 - Pitarokilis ceramic workshop (you can do something with your own hands);
- 18 – Lychnostatis Ethnographic Museum;
- 18 - Labyrinth Park (game labyrinth, archery, mini golf and more for adults and children).
Prices
The cost of living in Ntanelis Hotel 2 is small (from 13,500 rubles for two for seven days). However, it is difficult to give an exact price, as it depends on various factors: time of year, charter flight schedule, room occupancy and overall demand for trips to Greece.
More precisely, we can talk about the cost of services, products and travel.
Air conditioning in the room - 6 euros.
A liter bottle of still water in local stores - 0.5 euros.
Lunch in a tavern - 5-10 euros per person. A cup of great coffee - 1 euro.
Buses (single passenger ticket):
- 1, 6 euros to Hersonissos;
- 2, EUR 4 up toHeraklion;
- 4, 2 euros to Ayios Nicolas.
The cost of car rental depends on the brand, insurance, mileage and so on. For example, renting a Peugeot 107 car costs 120 euros for 5 days.
Many tourists with children come for sea bathing in Crete. Ntanelis 2 is located next to the city beach, but it is better to swim in the territory of a neighboring hotel, where umbrellas and sunbeds cost about 6 euros.
Reviews
When planning a trip, it is always useful to know the opinion of tourists who lived in the Ntanelis 2hotel. Reviews are different depending on the characteristics of the character, individual requirements for the level of comfort and so on.
In any case, do not forget that this is just a two-star hotel designed for a budget holiday.
The island has a very hospitable atmosphere, the locals are sociable and friendly, tourists are treated kindly and respectfully, not considering them only as a source of income (as in Egypt, for example).
Many people speak Russian. Therefore, Russian tourists feel great in shops, restaurants and museums.
The beaches of Analipsi are not as crowded as other more famous resorts. There is more space in the sea, and more space on the sand.
It is important to know the information about the living conditions at the Ntanelis 2 hotel. Reviews are mostly positive about him. The rooms are kept clean, daily cleaning is carried out in full, bed linen is changed twice a week.
The pool is not very big but also very clean. In the area around the buildingsa lot of greenery, pomegranates, firs, ficuses and flowers grow.
The windows of the restaurant overlook the sea. The food here is delicious and fresh.
It is necessary to note the good location of the Ntanelis 2hotel (Crete, Analipsi). Reviews prove the successful placement of the hotel in a quiet and peaceful place, but at the same time close to the airport, the sea, shops and major resorts and cities.
Many tourists note that if they plan to travel a lot around the island, then it makes no sense to pay for an expensive hotel to which they will return only at night. Therefore, Ntanelis 2 is a perfect example of an excellent combination of price and quality.
Some tourists did not like staying at the Ntanelis 2 hotel (Crete). The reviews contain complaints about the monotonous food and the lack of cakes.
In addition, there are high waves and a rocky shore on a free beach.
Tourists often face the fact that there are a lot of mosquitoes in the rooms and on the territory.
Many are not satisfied with poor soundproofing - you can hear every word from neighboring rooms.
Young people don't like the too quiet atmosphere of the Ntanelis 2 hotel. Reviews include complaints about the lack of animation and discos.
There are problems with internet access, which is only available in the lobby, so it is very difficult to connect when there are a lot of people in the lobby (insufficient bandwidth).
Tourist Tips
When going to Analipsi, you need to take the following with you:
- mosquito repellent;
- tea and coffee bags;
- laptop and flash drive with movies,books and games;
- special shoes for the beach;
- beach towels (not provided by the hotel).
To diversify your food, you can dine in cafes and taverns, as well as buy fruits and sweets at the local market or in large stores (there are cheaper). There are many small shops in Analipsi especially for tourists (with a corresponding mark-up), but not far from the bus stop there is a Europa supermarket with a large assortment and affordable prices.
You don't have to pay for air conditioning - it's better to do without it. After 1-2 days, the body gets used to the ambient temperature, so the heat is no longer felt. In addition, air conditioning often contributes to colds.
Don't buy excursions from tour operators. There are many local agencies along the embankment where you can buy the same thing several times cheaper. They will also advise a good guide who speaks Russian.
Renting a car is a great opportunity to organize leisure activities on your own and reduce excursion expenses. You can rent a car not only at the hotel, but also at many points along the coast.
It is not recommended to book a car on the Internet (corresponding by e-mail with some local agency). It is better to come and take the car on the spot.
Conclusion
Ntanelis 2 hotel is hardly suitable for those who are used to relaxing in five-star hotels. It is designed for budget holidays and active tourists who can entertain themselves on their own, and therefore prefer to spend money on travel and new experiences, andno silk sheets and animators.
In general, the hotel complex Ntanelis 2fully justifies its two stars. For relatively little money here you can get the necessary level of service and the opportunity to see a lot of interesting things.
