Haridimos Apartments

1 reader found this review helpful

just stayed there for a week 70th battle of crerte it was brilliant katerina gave 100% she and her mum work so hard they do deserve medals. and not forgetting harry katerina,s husband what a chap. i would recommend this to be a quiet place for couples not for children .and if you have any trouble in walking then its not a place for you . you have to walk 3 quaters of a mile to the nearest bus stop . all the family are wonderful and make you feel like its your place too, the food katerina puts on is very very good but i do have to say its also very expensive

1 reader found this review helpful

Great location Katerina wonderful hostess. Good atmosphere on Thursday Greek Nights plus all other evenings/days, relaxed.
A real family feel, a place you will want to return to.

7 readers found this review helpful

Come here if you want a holiday that has a perfect mix of relaxation, excellent food and customer service second-to-none. Stay away if you want nightlife and/or self-catering with all the mod cons. Take my advice - eat in most nights.
You'll go to nowhere better to enjoy leisurely meals with excellent food and good companionship - Katerina's specialities.
As a family of four (with two teenage boys), we've been for the past 2 summers. It's so good, my wife is now back there again on her own for a week - it's just that kinf of place that makes you want to go back !!!

4 readers found this review helpful

Just spent 7 nights at the Haridimos Apartments; exclusive to Olympic.
Olympic advertised these apartments in their 2010 brochure as a ‘lively pool bar serving snacks’. This is not just a pool bar serving snacks! This is a restaurant (not snack bar) that serves all day and night. It does not just serve the 15 apartments but also serves the local population of Cretans and ex pats. The restaurant and bar stays open until the last person leaves even until the early hours.
As Olympic advertises that the apartments are ‘ideally located in a quiet position’ is true it is also true that the restaurant and bar are not.
Olympic need to keep an eye on the ‘self catering’ facilities because they have advertised these apartments having a ‘kitchenette with cooking rings’. Ring(s) plural means more than one. There was only one cooking ring, no knives but plenty of forks, no basic pans for cooking in, and no tea towel, etc.
Yes the apartments are very basic, the pool is clean, the owner friendly and a very good cook. The beach is approx. 50 metres from the apartments but definitely not a sandy beach but very stony.
Make sure that when you are looking for a self catering apartment that the apartment is really self catering!

6 readers found this review helpful

I have just returned from a fortnight at the apartments and cannot understand any negative comments aimed at this establishment, Katerina could give lessons in hospitality,I was in a family party of 13, all of the rooms rented were in good order, maybe tired, but I went to Crete not to a room, but for the experience, the surrounding area is lovely, the sea is warm and clean, the welcome is how I remember Crete in the 90s.
The island is being over-developed with hotels and tourist centres but there are still a few jewels in the crown and I rate Tavronitis as one, Katerina's love of her guests was apparent even to checking passports for birthdays and organising a suprise birthday party for my 40 year old nephew.
I could easily have gone all-inclusive and probably saved money on eating locally , yet there must be a responsibility to support the local economy to preserve the culture and give a bit back.
If you want to go clubbing give it a miss, if you want a holiday..give it a try.

9 readers found this review helpful

Cant understand what some people on here are on with, we have been all over the world it was our first time on crete but we new that the haridimos was out of the way and only basic, so people should read where there going before they go and they might know what there going to get. What we got was the greatest welcome anywhere I have ever been katerina and her family go out of there way to make you feel part of the place the meals are the best I have ever eaten,for better than some 4 and 5 star hotels I have stayed in, its small personal met some great people,and the walk to the village takes 10 mins in 95 f not 30 like some say , apartments are typical basic but clean apartments that i have stayed in all over the med, but never have we had such a fantastic host , we will be back thankyou Katerina,kev alison callum and kyle rotherham

5 readers found this review helpful

We have just returned from a FABULOUS 2 week holiday at the Haridimos Apartments. The welcome we received was outstanding, friendly and the best we have ever had from any resort. Throughout the whole 2 weeks Katarina & her family were friendly, welcoming & always happy to try to ensure ourr holiday was what we wanted. The accomodation was clear, tidy & just what we would expect from a Greek self catering 2* apartment. Cooking equipment was the usual 2 electric rings, kettle and fridge. The food prepared by Katarina & her mother was excellent a good choice of daily specials, menu selection & individually prepared meals available. The price & quality of the food meant that we chose not to eat out anywhere else although other tavernas were within walking distance. There are cats around the apartments but if people do as asked and don't feed them then they are not a problem.We will be going back for more of the same.

7 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from a brilliant holiday at the Haridimos appartments. I think the people who had a bad time were really unfortunate. The place was spotlessly clean, Katerin and her mother always willing to make something to eat, always delicious, so self catering was not necessary although some people did do their own cokking successfully. Met some great people - easy to make friends as small complex. The Greek evening was great like a real greek family gathering - people came from other accomodation and had a great time. A little noise one night but were happy to keep it down so no problem. The first beach was stoney but a further, lovely, walk bought you to more accessible beaches and some good tavernas. About 10 min walk into village where you could catch buses easily. could hire a car or maybe a bike. Katerina made us feel very welcome and part of her family. We all want to come again next year!

1 reader found this review helpful

Have just returned home from Chania......we arrived at haridimos on 22nd June and knew immediatly that we could not stay there for our 2 week holiday, the self catering was none existent, as there was 2 small rings one of which did not work, and the room was dirty, with plastic sheets covering the 3 windows, and the bathroom window we could not open at all, with the window sill covered in ants. The greek night held the night before we were transferred to a much better place, consisted only of Katerina the owner of appts screeching and jumping into the pool fully clothed. The place was a mile or more away from anywhere, no local supermarket or tavernas, and the beach that was close by was just full of huge rocks, luckily we were transferred 2 days after arriving to a by far much cleaner and much nicer appts in the center. Would not advise anyone to go here unless they want to be in a remote spot, and do not want to self cater....Awful

4 readers found this review helpful

Firstly, sorry I'm a year late doing the review.
First impression was one of awe, weather and location fantastic. The rooms although very basic were indeed sufficient, who spends all their time in a room anyway.
We were a party of five (2 x 70 year olds, 2 x 40 year olds and a 5 year old) visiting here on the understanding it was a quite location, although I've done the Ibiza 18-30 thing, this is by no where near, but don't be fooled with the rooms being located near to the pool and bar area you will be lucky to take an afternoon nap or an early night.
The location was a little isolated, so if you aren't too clever on your feet you will need a car as the nearest village is approximately a mile away. There are several shops and Tavernas in Tavronitis if you fancy a change, with a reasonable bus service to and from various locations.
Pool area is well maintained and being that there are only 16 apartments, you won't be fighting the Germans to the sun loungers, my daughter actually learned to swim within the 14 days we were there.
The food is fantastic, probably the best I have ever experienced going abroad, all the produce is grown locally by the owner Hari and expertly cooked by his wife Katerina. She is the hostess with the mostest and Hari is free and easy with his home made Raki, but boy it will give you a bad head in the morning, especially after the Greek night. My daughter had her 6th birthday here and Katerina went to the great effort of supplying a birthday cake, a truly memorable experience for us and her.
The beach is literally a stones throw away from the apartments, although pebbly, I purchased some flippers in Tavronitis and had my goggles and snorkelled in the sea and it was very relaxing and enjoyable providing it isn't too rough.
The only minuses, firstly, mainly for my wife and mother in-law was the noise, unbeknown to us, the night we got there, there was I believe a birthday party with speakers booming out to the early hours, which probably set the tone for my other half for the entire stay, five days later this was followed up by an engagement party, which although invited was another night of extreme noise although under protest Katerina moved my wife, mother in-law and my 5 year old daughter to another nearby location for the night. The aftermath saw the pool out of action for pretty much a day, which was a big disappointment and glass was still being pulled out days after.
Secondly, very disappointed with Olympic, we booked several excursions, including Knossos and the museum at Heraklion, Samaria Gorge and The Water Park. The bus never turned up for the water park and despite Kay saying we would get a refund it was never issued. The museum was closed for refurbishment and Samaria Gorge my wife was refused for incorrect footwear. Unless you have plenty of cash to spend, avoid most of the excursions as it is a hell of a lot cheaper to hire a car and do it yourself.
Despite the moans at the end, there are more positives than negatives at this venue, hope this has been a help.