If you are lucky enough to have a room in the new modernized part - great - if like us - you pay over the odds to be roomed next door to the staff quarters! - in a room with 'a NASTY' garden view (check out the picture) and a toilet that smells NASTY too of urine - unlucky! every time upstairs went to the loo, we got a nasty smell and could hear everything! We asked to move several times, to be told no rooms left - totally not true as on the first night,. they checked another couple into our room, so at 1am I was awoken to an equally startled couple in our room! They were then put into the main part of the hotel - very nice room too! The photo of the nice lounging area on the sea - wasn't there - it is the restaurant only! All restaurants are equally priced in Elounda ( a couple more pricey) with similar menus - feebies usually given at the end of a meal too :-) but watch out for bread - they bring it & you pay - a polite no suffices.

Pool was nice, food in restaurant was lovely, beach - OK, tiny with 12 sunbeds taken by 7am! and when I mean taken - by towels all day - you need beach shoes though as it's shingle!! Staff friendly enough. But would I return, NO, for the same price and an earlier booking I could go into a 4* in the next town up which is a bit more happening - Elounda is pretty but very quiet. A visit to Spinalonga is worth a few hours of your time though.. took 90 mins from the airport via transfer.

taxis are expensive but buses are cheap and on the hour usually but stop too early in the evening to go anywhere - aghios nikolaus is a beautiful town 10km away and a bit more happening with lovely shops - albeit expensive!

Lovely family run hotel. Very welcoming and helpful. I notice previous comments regarding breakfasts being a bit poor but I can say that they cater for a wide variety of tastes (and the new toaster is brill!). Only negative comment is that sometimes the hot food wasn't - but that apart from that no complaints. I ate in their restaurant most evenings and found a great variety (something to suit most tastes). My room was adequate for my needs, the small balcony had a side view of the sea (with Spinalonga Island and Plaka in the distance) with a welcome breeze coming off the water. Plenty of storage, shower room and comfy bed I can't complain about any of that. I will admit the room could be classed as a small double but as I was on my own suited me just fine. I was invited to one of the garden view family rooms and they were much larger (both room and balcony). A bonus was the fridge in the room to keep drinks etc cool.
Roof terrace, swimming pool and Sky bar were fabulous - a sun trap so be careful and apply plenty of sun cream!! One thing to beware is the pool is deep (1.8 metres all round) no shallow end for youngsters - so parents please take care with your little people.
All in all very pleasant experience and would definitely come back again.

One thing I will say is the transfer time from the airport to the hotel was nearly 2 1/2 hours and after a 4 hour flight from/to the UK it makes it a very long day - don't let that put you off as Elounda and surrounding area is fantastic.
“Top Tip: I didn't do much in the way of trips but a boat to Spinalonga and the 3hour Happy Train trip to the mountain villages are well worth the money.

Blue Sea & Melissos restaurants were great. But I would like to give a special mention to Nikos and his Katafygio restaurant at the end of the promenade were fabulous, they couldn't do enough for us when we ate there and their hospitality was second to none.

If you miss your english cup of tea try the Oasis cafe also on the way to the sunken village of Olous - it will hit the mark especially with the warm Welsh welcome and home made cakes!

Not a 4 Star - does not pretend to be - so if you're looking for "bells and whistles" - don't bother but if you are looking for a perfect 3 star hotel (where your bed linen is changed every day) this is the place for you as the Akti Olous is exactly what it says it is.

I had seriously considered NOT telling anyone about the Akti Olous for fear of too many people becoming as enchanted as we were.

However, as an almost unspoilt small Greek town Elounda (and the Akti Olous) were wonderful.

This is the kind of holiday where one goes for 2 weeks and comes home feeling as though a month has passed - very pleasantly indeed.

We stayed at the Atki Olous late August for 2 weeks with friends who recommended the hotel and area, we booked with Jet2 from Manchester total cost was around £1,100 for 2 persons B&B, basis with a garden view, including transfers.
Firstly, Jet2 online booking and on line check in was trouble free and very efficient, flying from Manchester terminal 1. The flight was on time with pre booked seats and 22kg of luggage allowance each. You definitely had more leg room than Thompson and the seats are fixed (no one reclining seats into your face)
On arrival at Heraklion you made your own way to the coach park where we found a small Jet2 sign, which was a bit confusing as there were many other tour operators milling about, Jet2 used a local tour operator. The journey to Elounda was about 2 hours and not very good at all, stopping off at various towns and villages, Elounda being last stop.
On arrival at the Atki Olous we were given a first floor room which was small clean and slightly outdated but that was no problem, the balcony was small but overlooked the infamous wall of the building next door, which hardly let any light into the room at all. Next morning we requested a room change to a higher floor and were given a room next to our friends on the second floor overlooking the scrubland sorry garden area, this was much better, as there was a cooling wind coming through and had a very light and airy feel.
The hotel swimming pool and roof bar is brilliant with fantastic views and a constant cooling breeze, no need to go into detail as many other reviewers have done so already. The staff are excellent friendly informative and fun. The best of the Akti Olous is the location and the stunning views from the pool and bar.
The restaurants of Elounda are realy good, choice of dishes and quality were excellent, you could eat as cheaply or expensively as you liked, the one thing in common was the good quality cleanliness and friendliness of the staff, prices were very competitive between restaurants and prices of all dishes clearly displayed. The hotels own restaurant we found to be extremely good and reasonably priced a meal for 2 with starters was around 22 euros with a sweet and bread and small bottle of Raki as free. The thing is, there are so many restaurants, over the 2 weeks we visited many, the Tryst was the only restaurant we visited twice, but would of returned to many of the others.
Location of the Akti is really good for exploring, a short walk over the causeway, follow the white dirt road over the hills you pass many small coves for swimming and snorkeling over the ancient sunken city of Olous, carry on and you arrive at the small beach of Kolokitha, 2 small fine white sandy beaches, with crystal clear waters. Only go to this beach early before 11 o'clock or later after 4 o'clock, as it is chocked full of large boats stopping off from Spinalonga from 11am to 4pm.
The Akti is only a 5 minute stroll to Elounda village center, the night life was quiet but lively\chatty and friendly not loud, our favorite places were Eden bar and Friends bar, drinks were not expensive around 3 euros for a cold pint of mythos 2 euros for a cocacola, most places charged around this price a few were only 2.50 for Mythos and some 3.50. Local red wine was ok and pleasant, 3 euros for a large glass or 5 euros for a half litre just beware of the local 60% brewed Raki, rocket fuel!!!

Overall we liked the Akti Olous for it's location, cleanliness and friendliness, the downside as many reviewers have noted was the 6 euros a day charge for the aircon. CON being the main word, and 2 euros for the safe, there are no kettles in the rooms, so bring your own travel kettle.
Yes we would return to the Akti and definitely Elounda, but saying that, there are many many good small hotels in the area, at reasonable prices.