Aldemar Knossos Royal Village

As with most hotels, the Royal Knossos attracts wildly varying reviews and I can only express my own experience. Travelling as a 40+ couple, towards the end of the season, I would firstly recommend the hotel on this basis. I have no doubt that the quiet and relaxed atmosphere would be entirely different at the height of the season - as with any popular holiday destination.

We stayed on a half-board basis, in one of the VIP Sea-View rooms. The room was exactly as promised and, whilst I would have preferred a little more space, this was as described in the brochure.

We were allocated one of the ground floor rooms, which meant we had our own small, furnished terrace and a beautifully kept, salt-water pool which was for the exclusive use of guests within the block. On the far side of the pool was the sea. Housekeeping was of a good standard and the maids were polite and discrete. We appreciated the inclusion of a fridge in the room rather than the usual mini-bar. This was far more practical and the contents a whole lot more affordable!

The main, buffet restaurant offered an astonishing choice; nobody could leave feeling hungry. The atmosphere cannot be described as intimate but the restaurant is designed to serve a large number of guests. Breakfasts were enjoyable but it's well worth paying to use the a-la carte restaurant for dinner on a few evenings in order to get a true 5-star feel. This offered fabulous, friendly service and an excellent menu - even for an awkward vegetarian like me!

Hersonissos is within easy walking distance if you are relatively mobile! The town has a good variety of shops and attractions. We didn't visit during the evening...

Our overall experience was excellent. This is no city boutique hotel but all realistic expectations were reached and often exceeded. I have no hesitation in recommending the hotel and have already booked a return visit.