Lato — Hotel in Municipality of Agios Nikolaos

If you are just browsing through the reviews, there are a couple of things to be aware of.||||1. The hotel's up a blinking steep hill and even though they now have a lift, there are a few steps to negotiate. While, strictly speaking, you wouldn't have to climb any steps, I wouldn't recommend this hotel for wheelchair users.||||2. You are a fair distance from town. 30mins for a brisk walker, more likely an gentle 45 minute stroll into Agios.||||3. The all inclusive menus are available at specific times only. In the afternoon there are biscuits but don't expect food throughout the day. The all-inclusive drinks are available 10am-11pm and are frothy halves of lager and local wines and spirits. Don't moan, it's all-inclusive.||||OK if you are aware of those factors and don't believe them to be an issue, then you should really enjoy your time here. I'll tell you why:||||The transfer from Heraklion really depends on how many drop-off you have. I booked everything separately and I wasn't sure about the transfer so I posted a thread on the tripadvisor forum. Someone recommended resorthoppa and what a fantastic recommendation it was, I paid £24 for a return transfer to the hotel and when I arrived, since I was the only traveller, the transfer company arranged a taxi. I got to the Lito in 45mins but on a coach, you are probably looking at 1hr10 depending on whether you are the last person dropped off, which I always seem to be. One of those faces, I expect.||||When I arrived, I was welcomed by George. He showed me my room and, well, the rooms are pretty basic to say the least. I was already concerned I'd be writing a 2 star review on the back of the room alone. They were, however clean as a whistle and there was a nice big fridge. There are no safes in the room and are located opposite the reception desk at the cost of 1€ per day. The bathroom was clean but very small. Basically a shower room with a loo in it. The shower was old and had one of those curtains which sticks to you and does it's best to prevent you from washing yourself by wrapping itself around you. Oh yeah, you aren't supposed to flush loo roll away. Hmm.||Anyway, I was lucky to have a nice view of the sea from my room, and the balcony is nice and big but there isn't much separating from you and your neighbours.||||So After unpacking, I had sort of got used to the basic surrounding and made my way to the bar area. You will find that there is one member of staff running both the reception and the bar amongst other things, so you won't get immediate service but that's no problem for me. Wait a few moments and someone will show up. It's only a small outdoor bar with local drinks available on the all-inc deal. You can splash out on other 'brand name' bevvies but being tight, I didn’t.. And why would you? (Apart from the wine, that was a bit... I want to say vinegary, not sure that's a word).||||I didn't have an issue with the climb up to the hotel and as I mentioned, there is now a lift which takes you up to reception. The benefit of being up this high, is the view. I don't want too sell it too hard but it was astonishing. It was practically a 360 degree panoramic marvel, looking up to the mountains, over the coast and down onto Agios Nikolaos. The pool area is small and you may have to get in early for your favourite sun bed but I'm not a sun-worshipper, so I was happy on one of the seats nearer the bar area.||||The food was fairly basic but very nice. It's all buffet style but cooked very well. I really enjoyed it and certainly got my money's worth each meal time. Lots of meats and salads and what have you. I don't really know what else to say. If you are used to gourmet restaraunting, then hard luck. I guess you wouldn't be staying here, if you were. If you love a good bit of tucker, then you are in.||||The service was very relaxed but very friendly. The week I stayed, we had George, Angela and Maria looking after us, all of whom were outstanding in terms of friendly service, conversation, help with the area and queries during the stay. I can't thank those guys enough for making my stay very pleasant and it's what bumped this rating up to a 4 star (circle?). These guys aren't over the top and you will only really find out how excellent they are if you make the effort to have a chat with them.||||Finally, the town. As I mentioned, a 45min walk on average. Taxi will cost you 6/7€ The port of Agios is fantastic. Sadly I didn't make it in the evening but I did a few shopping trips during the day. It's nothing like the tacky run-down tourist ports you may find on other islands or the Canaries or Spain. You don't get hassled or harangued. It's a beautiful port and having a morning Greek coffee overlooking the lake is pretty much as good as it gets. There are a few decent municipal beaches on the way into town, too.||||Overall, A great stay. Beautiful views, fantastic relaxation and grand service. Basic rooms prevents a...

Before visiting the Lito Hotel I read the various reviews. Having said that, I've done the same when visiting other places, and, frankly, take much of what I see with a generous pinch of salt, good and bad. Based on that, I'll try to give an honest opinion of my experience (which you are welcome to ignore!)||||Where to start? Well, the hill gets a few mentions, so let's get that out of the way. It is, without doubt, pretty steep, and I have something of a walking problem. Of course I was a tad worried about this, but I can report that I managed it a number of times, admittedly taking it in stages. A visitor to the Hotel, young and fit, struggled a bit, but she was pushing a baby's buggy complete with baby! All I can say is, if you're fit, it's not a problem; if like me you have moderate walking problems, you should still be able to manage. The new lift is welcome, saving the last bit of walking, up the steps. ||||Food - varied. Always fish, and pork, veal, rabbit, chicken are regulars. (OK, I'm not a veggie!) Plenty of salad, chips, even burgers once, and fruit. As has already been mentioned, the meals are at set times, but these times allow for a certain amount of flexibility. Afternoon tea, coffee and cakes.||||Accommodation - yes, it's pretty basic, but sufficient for our humble needs, which were equally basic: somewhere to shower and sleep. Very clean, though, and linen/towels changed daily. I didn't use the TV. Our room was at the back, ideal for afternoon sun and not at all a bad view.||||Staff - like most places I've visited, getting to know the people is helpful, and the small amount of effort entailed pays dividends. Maria, Angela and, of course, George, were most helpful and friendly. One of the young ladies treated my wife's infected foot, which was really kind. Bearing in mind it was quite early in the season, I'm guessing that, when it gets really busy, there may be more staff employed, but for us it meant a short wait to get a drink, or attended to at reception. Not a problem for us - we're used to Spain! "Two minutes!"||||Bar - I have nothing much to add. The All Inc isn't what may be expected, based on some other places, but was more than adequate for this confirmed beer drinker. Mind you, I had a glass or two of the red wine, which was perfectly drinkable. Too good to put on chips, anyway.||||Overall - I liked this Hotel. I've stayed in "posher" places and felt very uncomfortable; here, I just felt relaxed. I suppose it boils down to what suits. The Lito doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is - small and friendly.||||That's it, then. Would I go back? ...

1 week holiday with our son 7th june 2012 all incl at the lito hotel||i stayed here in th 1980s when it was just built.||i will start of with the not so good. not a lot has changed inside so what was classy in the 80s is a little jaded now but all is still clean, also the staff are now dressed casually so this takes a bit of shine from what is still a nice classy hotel all be it a little dated||the 15 to 20 min walk to town. witch was no problem for us with a buggy and was very enjoyable for the most, apart from the foot path along the road was over grown and needed pruning back we had to keep on going on the road witch is very dangerous there. with some sheers i could do it my self in half an hour||now onto the good points||the chef was great, to be quite honest i was not expecting much quality to the food from such a small hotel, the chef was fantastic he got almost every thing spot on witch takes great effort. the food will only be enjoyed by the people who like to try something different, witch is what i always want abroad. but i do understand that a lot of brits want brit food away from home but your not going to get it here||the staff are fantastic one example we came home from a night on the town and our son woke up and was saying he was hungry my wife being cheeky ask one of the staff for something for him and she smiled and said no problem, and prepared him a midnight snack||and to be honest all the staff were just as helpful witch made our holiday very special,||the garden and pool, together with the views and quality out door furnishings made it a great place to chill with a drink, and our son just loved the pool ||the bar with a help your self bar and icy cold glasses from the freezer and lovely cold beer, ||plus fizzy drinks and tee or coffee 24 hours.||The sand and stone beach at the bottom of the hotel has some of the best snorkling in agios||we were a little worried about going to the lito with our child, as we though it may have been a bit of an anti children hotel, and this was not the case our son absolutely loved it and had one of the best holidays ever||we also made some great friends who also made our holiday very special who we will defiantly keep in touch with||over all we had a great time and we defiantly want to go back next year||a big thank you to all the staff and the very hard working chef and the coach driver for the free lift back from town when ever he was passing||||A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF AND THE HARD...