Daskalakis Apartments

1 reader found this review helpful

The Daskalakis Apartments were brilliant! The location was ideal as there was a shop opposite and the bus stop out the front of the apartments. The location of the aprtments mean that you have to walk to the larger super markets and taverners but this only take 10 minutes, so it isnt really a problem. Platanias was the next largest town where all of the tourist shops, club, taverners and resturants are. Even at 4am, a taxi back cost only 7euro. If you werent content with the pool and pool bar the local beach was only a short stroll away(5, maybe 10 minutes. The weekly BBQ was amazing! As we were there for two weeks, we went to two! It was so lively and carried on into the morning. The food was great, as was the atmosphere. It really gave everyone staying at the apartments a chance to get to know each other properly. Ilias, the manager, Stella(his wife) and Geno(his oldest son) were all very friendly and welcoming. I plan to go back next year! :D
Laura,15

1 reader found this review helpful

we returned from a weeks holiday about just over one month ago. and what a holiday it was. it was absoloutely brilliant. we stayed from the 7th - 14th july 2009 and it was baking hot 46 degreese plus it reached. but it did cool down which was a binus compared to last year in zante where it was 50 degreese all day and then about 45 at night haha. anyways... the hotel is lovely the rooms afre basic but thats greece for you. some people describe it as awful but its far from that. our rep zie was absoloutely brilliant and would do anything for you. the owners ilios and his wife stella and there son re-geno are brilliant. the humour and personalities are brillaint. there weekly barbacue was fantasic the food and everything including greek dancing was fantastic. it carried on till 5.30 am great time! allthough some holiday makers didnt take part they missed out im sorry to say. we made so many great friends who we are all meeting up with very soon were fantastic. the bus stop is next to the hotel but the bus does come and goes very raely but it does come haha. the sup[ermarkte over the road sells the bear essentials but the supermarket in maleme a short 10 minute walk is close by with a cash machine. maleme i recomed the resturante the bl;ack lanten run by grayham. the food oh my god what can i say its amazing!!!. a taxi to platinias is 9 euros and thats where eveerything is going on. clubs bars discos and lots of shops and bars which we loved. for 8 people aging from 18 - 48 we all had an amazing time. the beach is nice very quiet tho but that didnt spoil it for us. i would recomend but the only down is the little short walks to places. also around is a little shop selling the local crafts and the usual gifts for those back home. and a supermarkte a little furthjer away which sells fags and beer. you make your own fun but you onbt need to with illios and his family and the rep zoe around there amazing!!!!! i also recomed the boat trip to blue lagoon from kissamos port.

2 readers found this review helpful

this holiday location is very isolated bus fares expensive tavernas a total ripoff beach is crap no sand the bar staff will do anything for money ie serve anybody anytime music full blare regardless of other guests 2 3 4 5 o clock in the morning is normal if someone is spending sleeping was impossible never again be warned

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just returned from our second visit to the Daskalakis Apartments. We first went in June last year-the review can be read below. Well not much has changed! It really is a wonderful place to stay. The bar is now run by Elias and his wife Stella, together with his brother in law Pavlos. They are marvelous people-so friendly, and so willing to please.The weekly BBQ is still good. So much to eat, and still a great night to get to know other guests. How happy we were to be there again! The Olympic Rep Zoe was very helpful, and together with her collegue Sharon they both helped to make our stay one we will never forget.Needless to say, we will be returning there again for a third time next year.Maria and Michael Millard, Margate,Kent.

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just come back from a fortnight at these lovely spacious apartments. Effy and her grandfather could not have made us more welcome. The place was spotless all the time and they never seemed to stop cleaning and tidying the pool area. They arranged a wine making afternoon whilst we were there and a lovely BBQ evening on our last night.
Kay our rep was always smiling and helpful and nothing was too much trouble for her.
We were unlucky with the weather which, for September in Crete, was very changeable but we managed to enjoy even the worst wet days in the company of some great people from Liverpool and Surrey.
Regarding previous reviews on this page, we do live opposite a cemetery and the traffic etc., did not bother us at all. We were in Apt 4 which is not too far from the road.
I would definitely recommend these apartments to anyone considering staying there next summer. Not really a place for young children but very enjoyable for us wrinklies!! Thanks again Daskalakis.

1 reader found this review helpful

We've just come back from an idyllic 2 weeks in the Daskalakis, contrary to some of the other reviews the road outside is not busy (not by London standards anyway!) We were in the apartment 3rd nearest the road and slept with the balcony doors open every night. The staff are friendly and helpful and we saw the rep Kay twice a day on most days. We had a one bedroom apartment which had 2 loo/shower rooms, a balcony and a small terrace area. The apartment was incredably spacious and kept very clean by the cleaner who was there every couple of days. The kitchen facilities were quite basic but functional with a 2 ring cooker, fridge, sink and kettle with a good range of utensils, cups, plates saucepans etc.
The lack of aircon was a concern at first but after a couple of days you aclimatise and don't have too much difficulty sleeping.
I would agree that the beach isn't wonderful but Platanias is only a short bus ride away and the beach there is beautiful.
There isn't a nightlife in Pirgos or Maleme but not everyone wants that and having 2 kids (7 and 9) we didn't want to be out until all hours of the night so going out for a walk to a restaurant and then a gentle stroll back suited very nicely thankyou.
The local restaurants are on the whole very nice and we thought some of the best food was at the East of Eden, other places are the Maleme tavern which was very good with a good playground for the kids the Albatross is also good.
There isn't much that could beat eating on the beach at the East of Eden on our last night watching the moon rising over the twinkling lights of Platanias in the distance, paradise!
Again for the night owls Platanias isn't far.
I'd recommend the Sunday night BBQ at the apartrments it is a graet oppurtunity to talk to your fellow residents, one of my very few criticisms would be that the BBQ should be on Thursday so you can use it as a meet the fellow residents night early on in the holiday.
The apartments are run by a Grandfather and his Grandaughter Eftatika (or something like that) and are apparantly up for sale at present, hopefully whoever takes them doesn't change them too much as it would be a shame to spoil the charachter of the place.

1 reader found this review helpful

We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday at these apartments. They were very clean and the staff helpful. The pool was superb, although we loved the beach as it was never busy.
For eating out, we would highly recommend the restaurant 'Traffic' which is just along the main road at Maleme. It is run by Sophie and Christian,their meals are excellent and they go out of their way to be helpful.

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just returned from a 2 week stay at the Daskalakis Apartments, and have nothing but praise for the establishment. Contrary to previous reviews, regarding noisy traffic going past the apartments, unless you live next to a cemetery, believe us - there is no problem! The family Daskalakis that run the apartments, especially Eftichia and her grandfather, Eftichios were always so kind, helpful and friendly. The bar menu was fine, considering it is not a recognised restaurant, and the Sunday BBQ was great for bringing guests together. The apartment's location was more than satisfactory for us and our rooms were always kept clean and tidy. If you want a good, quiet base for your holiday in Crete, where good restaurants can easily be found within a short walk or a few minutes bus ride ( if you have no car ) then the Daskalakis apartments are ideal. Good excursions are available from the very helpful Olympic Holidays Reps. or if it's just a quiet, peaceful time you are looking for then this is the place. We shall be back next year, that's for sure!! From Maria and Michael, Margate, Kent, UK.

1 reader found this review helpful

We had an extremely pleasant two week holiday at Daskalakis Apartments. The rooms are spacious and very clean, the pool area is great with plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. The food at the pool bar is limited, but of good quality considering the size of the "kitchen". Yes, there is some road noise but nowhere nearly as bad as some other reviews suggest.
The nearest beach is 5 to 10 minutes walk away and although it's pebbly at the edge it's sandy further out. A few metres west of the "East of Eden" restaurant (which serves rather poor food) there is an excellent beach cafe - a hexagonal timber structure in a very pleasant garden with shady trees. Here 2 sunbeds and a brolly cost 5 Euros per day, Mythos is 2 Euros for 500 ml and Greek salads (the biggest we found anywhere) are 3.50 Euros. By the end of the fortnight we were treated like part of the family!
Evening eating is quite limited within walking distance of the apartments. We thought the best food in Maleme was at the Albatross Hotel - a friendly welcome with real home cooking at sensible prices. The house red at 6 Euros per litre is superb value! We thoroughly recommend hiring a car for at least part of your stay. The countryside in the centre of the island is breathtaking and a visit to a beach on the south coast is well worthwhile (we went to Paleochora). Stavros beach at the northern tip of the Akrotiri peninsular is also worth a visit (especially if you remember the last scenes of "Zorba the Greek"). We booked our trip with Olympic Holidays about 2 weeks before departure and got it at roughly half price. What a bargain!

The Daskalakis Apartments are not as the Olympic website states in Gerani, but are situated in Pirgos Psilonerou which is close to Maleme. This was a major disappointment for me it was a good 30 minute walk to the outskirts of Gerani.
The website and brochure both state the Apartments are in a quite area as there are no other hotels or apartments near by, but the apartments are situated only a few meters off the main coastal road so you often hear the traffic from very early to very late.
Yes the local bus stop is only a few yards away but it is hit or miss how often the buses run.
The block of twelve Apartments do look very lovely and are clean, up to date, but basic. Half the grounds are taken up by the pool and the other half is what I can only describe as an allotment.
The pool is not suited for children as it drops off from a few feet down to over eight feet in a very short distance.
As the Apartments are self-catering, the local supermarket were the nearest cash point machine is situated is in Maleme which is a fifteen minute walk away. You need to go a bit further to reach the local bars and restaurants.
The local beach is also a 15-minute walk away, which is covered in pebbles; you will have to visit Platinas or Agia Marina for a sandy beach.
The bar staff are not very helpful with information on what is going on and as the apartments are only for Olympic customers you will need to know great savings can be made on their trips.
For boat trips just visit the harbour in Chania/Hania/Xania (a few Euro’s on the bus) were you just pop on one of many boat trips from one to five hours for up to fifteen Euros.