Hania, Crete lodgings
 

Have read some posts here and elsewhere. Thought Casa Delfino would be THE place to stay in Hania, but some have stated tiny and yukky showers/bathrooms; reservations confirmed but not honored; a lot of $$ for what it is, etc. Others have raved about Casa Leone. What do YOU think? We'll be there for several nights midOctober.
thanks!!!

My husband and I stayed at the Neli Studios in September 2006. This is not a fancy place, and some rooms are bigger and more comfortable than others (we stayed there two different times and had two different rooms). It is well located near the harbour,and restaurants and shopping. The air conditioner did work and, we stayed nice and cool. We did not find it noisy. The family who owns the studios are all very nice, and most speak English. The price is very reasonable. I contacted the owners directly and would recommend that you do that also. You can then request one of the larger and remodled rooms.

In Sept 2006 we stayed 4 nights at Casa Leone and really liked it. We stayed in a nice-sized room upstairs with a large loge overlooking the harbor. It was a great location right on the harbor and quiet at night. Antonia, the manager, was fabulous and couldn't do enough for us. We had looked at Casa Delfino, but decided to take a chance, save considerable $$ and stay at Casa Leone and were very glad we did.

Casa Leone should be just fine in October -- only noisy time would be July-August. Another option is Hotel El Greco on charming pedestrianized Theotokopoulou Street, parallel to harbor (see a good map).

IMPORTANT NOTE-- if new to Greece, u should know that for people who know only USA hotels, ALL GReek bathrooms are small. And except for 4-star or 5-star luxe hotels almost all showers are "telephone" showers you hold in yr hand to use... and shower "stalls" are in corner of room with low surrounding ledge instead of 3 walls.

This is not "yukky" just different. Most Walls/floors are marble -- how many US baths can say the same? And maids each day use shower-spray all over the room to keep bathrooms sparkly-clean.

I meant to be clearer in my description of bathrooms... the shower is in the corner of the BATHROOM, not the hotel room (!!).

We had reservations at Pandora Suites last October but switched to Casa Delfino. It was a perfect location with lovely rooms, a great breakfast buffet, and very nice staff. I would definitely stay there again.

We stayed at the Casa Delfino a few years ago and would definitely go back. Our first room was a little small for the four of us so we visited several open rooms as it midweek in late November and not crowded. The room we ended up was huge with 2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms and three levels. None of the bathrooms we looked at were small, especially by European standards.
Nice people, great location and good breakfast.

mjs, we are considering a trip to Crete next September, including a stay in the 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit at the Case Delfino. Could you describe the unit in more detail? What rooms were on each of the three levels? What were the bathrooms like, especially the one with the shower? Was the unit light? Was there a terrace?
Thanks!

You might also try Palazzo di Pietro, a lovely renovated Venetian townhouse just a block or two from the harbor, very close to the Metropolitan Church. We really enjoyed our stay there last summer.

I just looked at the Casa Delfino website. We stayed in both a one bedroom ground floor room and the Honeymoon suite. We arrived in Hania via Athens and Frankfurt from San Francisco. Met at the airport by Taxi arranged by Hotel. Exhausted. We found the ground floor one bedroom to be a little small for a family of four and if I remember correctly it only had a shower and no bath. We looked at several other rooms including one with a ladder in the living room which leads to a very nice roof terrace which overlooks the harbor.
The Honeymoon suite is huge and on several floors which are connected by stairs. The bottom floor has a king size bed room with a large bathroom with a jacuzzi tub.
The next flight up has a bathroom with a shower. Going up another flight of stairs brings you to a living room with a kitchen type table and chairs and sofa.
Another flight of stairs brings you to the second bedroom with another bed. Most stairs with 2 to 5 step. Very open design. Bedrooms are not private and are separated from the rest of the suite by wooden panels. Would not be good for two couples but fine for a family. Very very clean with lots of marble and wood. I would not say that this suite was light as it was my impression that it was designed to be cool in the summer without AC. (They do have Ac but the building was built in the 17th century) There was no terrace for this room. There is a very nice central courtyard with trees and tables and chairs to sit in the outside with drinks.

I haven't stayed there, but I've peered in the door. I love the style and location. Haven't seen the rooms.

My ambition is to stay at Pandora Suites; it's a bit more off centre, but it has wonderful views.

We had 4 nights at Pandora Suites in early October and loved it. Our room had a terrific view of the harbour and surrounding restaurants, breakfast was served on the roof terrace which had the same view.

English was spoken and we found the owners helpful, giving us a very late check out when we discovered our ferry departure time had changed. The hotel is about 3 or 4 mins walk to the harbour where all the shops and restaurants are.

The room was spacious, loads of natural light, the bathroom was small but adequate. It had a bath with shower over it, with a basin and toilet. Not 5 star but fine.

We would go back there again.

http://www.clickhere.gr/hotels-greec...pandoraeng.htm

Kay

Thanks very much, mjs, for that additional information--it really helps to get a word picture of the rooms. Thanks, too, Weadles, Sheila, and Kay--I'll check out Palazzo di Pietro and the Pandora Suites.

Sorry, but not all Greek hotel bathrooms are small. I have stayed in hotels with HUGE bathrooms. For example, the bathrooms at the Athen's Intercontinental are enormous.

Thingorjus

Check out Ammos resort, a short distance from town but a wonderful place.