Ourania Apartments

This holiday far exceeded our expectations for a family with a 12 year old and a 16 year old. Gouves is a quiet resort close to some busy tourist areas and we were very pleasantly surprised to find how tranquil it was. The apartment was basic but sufficient for our needs and very clean. As expected, the kitchen area was minimal and it would have been difficult to cook a meal for 4, but the bar snacks were good, and with so many tavernas nearby, this was not a problem. The pool was busy at times, but we always managed to get a dip, and only failed to get sun loungers on our last day. The staff were all very friendly and helpful as were most of the other guests and the cats! There are 3 beaches within easy walking distance and the sea is wonderful for swimming and floating in. We visited the nearby Water City at Anopolis which was a great day out - very well run and lots of different rides. Altogether a wonderful holiday!

Just returned from Ourania Apartments, the apartment was basic but fine limited cooking equipment but who wants to cook when you have delicious Greek tavernas. The setting of the Ourania is really nice all apartments are different the gardens are lovely.
Some good Tavernas nearby Oasis was very nice.

Read previous reviews about the dreaded trek from the coach drop off point to the apartment's themselves, and what a load of exaggerated cobblers that was. Apartments are quit basic but clean, and the Cretan people are very friendly, and besides when you go on holiday surely you don't want to spend all day in your rooms? The apartments are located really quit well, but quite at night, but then night life is only a cab ride away! In my opinion you have the best of both worlds. Entertainment is non existent , but as said before you can easily go to were the entertainment is. Would certainly not discourage anybody from using this resort/accommodation just remember you get what you pay for!

great welcome from costas and bob .small and friendly appts basic but spacious .pool area spotless plenty of sunbeds 5 mins to beach 10 to town -paul and sally -south wales

Not the holiday you would want, sounded better when travel rep spoke about it. Can't complain about either as it was so hot couldn't sun bath at times, but when you get about as much help as a homeless person in london from tour operator, makes holiday a bit difficult but dont be put off but you will be on your own in the nice apartments.
Bar staff are friendly when your spending money and shops have nice people just make sure you know about dirt track at bottom which is a road, not the best night life as we only found 2 decent bars and these are for all ages so young couples beware we found it difficult at times to enjoy the night life. Gorgeous place cant knock the day time as very very hot, pool not the biggest but ok as long as not all guests in pool. Was a very nice holiday as long as you're not put off about holiday reps only interested in making money off you, so make your own plans.

Warning - DO NOT ever use Libra holidays if you want a nice time!!
Libra, well what can I say you come out of airport to find a post pointing the way you go down and get on a moody coach, a rep gets on tells you to listen to a cd then gets off coach and your on your own, we got dropped off at top of road as coach couldn’t get down but its 200m down this badly lit bendy road and if you never been here before its not to nice.
Rep turns up late and is only interested in selling you day trips, that are a rip off its cheaper to go to shops which operate the same facilities, word of warning did book one trip with Libra was told to wait in the wrong place was standing on the main road in the blazing sun with no seating and after half an hour went back to hotel to find hotel trying to charge us to phone the Libra office, once we got in touch the rep told me sorry but I’m not your rep speak to your rep when she turns up the next day but this wasn’t the case 2 days later and we was greeted with an angered look after we asked for money back as 65 euros for trip to water park isn’t cheap, this also happened to another couple a few days later. So we didn’t use Libra again or even turn up to next meetings with the rep.
Apartment was basic but didn’t expect the Ritz, there was only 3 glasses in the apartment to encourage you to go to over-priced bar, the only entertainment in bar was on a Monday night when there is a karaoke. There is a strip of pubs about 15 mins walk away which we found were ok but make sure you keep track of how much your bill is. Also beware air con is 45 euros a week and can’t be left on while your out as your key has electric fob. Safe is 10 euros a week and late check out is 25 euros so watch out for hidden extra costs. There is 2 pcs for internet access but is 1 euro for 15 mins.
Pool area is ok make sure your up early to get a sunbed as these are snapped up quick early in the morning, the is a family of cats by pool toilet but these get ride of most bugs and insects, there is also a noisy bunch of grasshopper type insects that sound like birds which can get louder and louder but you learn to block them out as these are all over the island.
One last time DONT USE LIBRA!!

I agree that the apartments were very basic - but they were also very close to the beach. I went there with my partner and we would rather have to walk a bit to the main town than have it on our doorstep, so Gouves was fine for us.
Saying that, Goves itself is pretty small and you could get quite bored in the evenings there after a while. However, the bus service is very good and it is a short bus ride away from places like Hersonnisos, Kokkhini Hani, etc (we regularly walked to Kokkhini Hani for the evening). Don't feel you have to stay in Gouves each night.
One thing I should say about the apartment is the noise. We were on the ground floor and our neighbours upstairs were very noisy. It sounded like they were moving furniture around every night - and they woke us up almost every night we were there. I think it is the common problem of buildings being cheaply put together - the noise travels very badly. PLEASE remember this if you are staying on the first floor!!!!
We didn't use the pool or bar once. We tend not to use them much anyway, but really didn't like the look of this one. I think everyone in the hotel was English - and the bar and food on offer had a very English feel to it - which did not appeal to us - not while on holiday at least!
As with many of these places, there are a lot of stray cats around, some of them quite badly injured. We fell in love with a family of cats that were in quite a bad way. You might not want children to see this though? It can be pretty depressing, but not unique to this hotel, I'm sure.
Also - in the 2 weeks we were there, we only managed to have a warm shower 3 times. We had around 17 freezing cold showers each, which got very annoying!!!!

1 reader found this review helpful

Well I will have to disagree with the first review! Myself and my girlfriend went here for a week at the end of July 2006.
The apartments are well presented, and set out in a great way. The pool, maybe small, but count yourself lucky that you have a pool in Greece. Inside, they are clean , and the maid changed our room 3 times in the week. There is Air con which is a must, but an extra payable locally.
The apartments as I say are basic, but you don’t expect a fully fitted kitchen on your holidays. There are plenty of restaurants and bars that cater for all needs, so why do you want to cook? What with Mylos restaurant just around the corner!
If you want an action packed, fun filled, loads to do holiday, where there is plenty to do for young children, then don’t go to Gouves. Life here has 2 paces, dead slow and stop. I have had the most relaxing and chilled holiday ever at these apartments, and Gouves. I will be going back.