Ourania Apartments

2 Adults, children 5 and 2. We holidayed at the Ourania 5th -19th June 2007 having booked with Libra. On arrival the place seemed a little remote and very quiet. We were shown to a large 2 bed ground floor apartment, which smelt a little damp, but looked pristine. We then learnt that the apartments had only been open 3 days and the damp was paint drying. After a couple of hours all was dry and immaculate, we being the first people in. The whole place has been refurbished, and re landscaped. Alot of ther older plants had been cut back, but you could see that with a bit of growth the place would be very pretty. The site was also full of mature olive, apricot, orange and pomegranate trees. The rumour is that Thomson have taken it back for the 2008 season. We then found that all was not so quiet, as the apartments are right under the flight path into Heraklion, but then so is all that stretch of coast. The noise went on at all times of day and night, but the rooms are double glazed (and air conditioned) so no problems there. The bar is okay, but expensive, and the food is typical English orientated stuff. From the apartments it is a 5 min walk to the sea front and supermarket. This via a small gravel track and tarmac road. Easily manageable, even with a buggy. Nearest beach is grit sand, but 100m on there is a lovely sandy beach for kids. Loads of beds, but it could be over busy in peak weeks. Same distance to a selection of about 10 tavernas/snack bars. Didn't have a bad meal whilst we were there, although the Oasis was our favourite (play area for kids). The apartments are definitely at the better end of Gouves, which is quite spread out. It is a good area to base yourself to explore the island, there being a load of care hire places, and the bus stop is about 300m away (Heraklion-Ag Nik). The website is being updated to show new pics (my family should be in them) available July onwards. In all a very good relaxing place, a nice pool, but no baby pool, and very friendly staff.

My boyfriend and I booked a week's stay at the Ourania with Libra Holidays (word of advice- don't EVER book anything with them- out of a coachload of 45 people from various hotels travelling back to the airport at the end of the week- not one had a good word to say about the company). Had read the reviews on this site- and was looking forwards to what sounded like a good standard of acommodation. WRONG! The apartments are a fair size, but the beds are tiny and extremely uncomfortable. Even though the apartments are self catering, we weren't planning on doing any cooking, and it was just as well! There was no possible way that you could cook anything there. The cultlery (what was left of it) was flithy, and the fridge needed a good clean too. And there was one saucepan?! So, if you're looking for self catering- don't come here. Also, if you don't enjoy cold, no make that freezing, showers- then this really isn't the place for you. After 3 days of suffering, we complained- and were told (very rudely) that the water is heated through solar power (not a problem you might think considering all the sunshine!!) and that hot water was only available after midday and before four. Exactly the time that everyone is either out sightseeing or relaxing on the beach! The apartments were also supposed to be cleaned twice a week- ours were cleaned once- although, for some reason- the maid didn't bother to clean the bedroom, or leave clean sheets. I totally agree with a previous post on this site about the attitude of the young English girl running the bar- she was nothing short of rude, as were the majority of the staff. It really did seem as though taking time out of their day to speak to you was far too much effort. All in all- a really disapointing week. We would never book here again!

Read some of the posts here and , well cannot beleive what all the moaning is about !!! me and my g/f just returned from a week here.and as it was my first time in greece/crete, i was well surprised, cos i have heard some horror stories... firstly , the property is of the main road, about 300 mtrs, but that adds to its quality. if you want non stop full onn entertainment , dont go to greece, try benidorm !!! the place is like a mini 'village' of 2 story apartments.there is a small pool , which was always well populated. the bar is 'manned' by a english girl called Jess. she looks after everybody and does a good job.if you want anything , jess , bob or costas will sort it.there is air con which is a must at an extra 35 euros per week. this is a quiet resort, and the properties and locals refelect that. agreed , that Mylos is well worth a visit and helena is always smiling , but nothing is rushed... i must mention a bar called 'bar maria', just down from mylos.it is just a bar run by 71 year old Janis.the is a true character, and will play you the mandolin...the type of place you can sit and chat, and hear yourself ..!! if you are wanting a chilled , no hassel no rush holiday this is the place..!!!!

We had a 2 bed apartment in the Ourania apts for a family of 5. Got there to find essential items such as cutlery and crockery missing. The attitude of the young english girl who runs it is nothing short of ignorant. She had a couldnt care less attitude when we asked for these extras.We asked for a kitchen bin and got told to use a carrier bag. The apts are not well equipped at all. The 'kitchenette' consists of a kettle and a one ring plug in electric stove plus a fridge that didnt work properly and had cracked shelves. Dont ask for a toaster as you get laughed at. If your after the self-catering option in case you feel like cooking a meal then forget it. The apts are clean enough, towels are changed twice a week and bedding once a week. The pool is small but clean and there is a pool table. Its a 5 min walk along a track to the beach and a choice of restaurants/supermarkets. there are 2 ways you can go...turn left where the track splits..it seems shorter than the other way..we found a lovely place to eat at the bottom of this road called diogenis palace on the sea front..a large beer there is 2.50 euros plus we used their pool as its bigger...bear right at the split and follow the road round and you come to mylos restaurant...food is excellent and you get free raki at the end..there are some shops/ other restaurants and car rental places further past mylos then you come to the beach. its not that big but if you go right at the end of the road and walk along sea front past a little chapel and diving school you will find a bigger beach..2 sunbeds plus parasol is 6 euro for the day. we hired a car from intercar rentals along the above road..citroen c3 was 125 euros for 5 days. all in all the resort of gouves is lovely with comfy setees and hammocks in the sea front bars but the apts are not of a high standard.

We stayed with our two kids at these apartments 10th july for one week, the 2 bed apartment was spacious and the surroundings are great for families. Safe for kids and small play park, the food on site was cheap and british for those that like their traditional breakfasts. The maid service was poor and we had to empty our toilet bin several times due to the lack of cleaning and with the plumbing poor in Greece this is no good for a family of four. We got the deal last minute and thoroughly enjoyed visiting a different part of crete. We hired a car and went to the water park in Anapoli that was brill... good value for family of 4 it cost about 10 pounds each. The town of Gouves has loads of really good restaurants including the Oasis which serves the best stifado.

One of the best apartments i have ever stayed at in greece, very large and well worth the money we paid for it. I am a travel agent and this complex is excellent for families and couples who want a quiet holiday with a short stroll to the beach. Only down side was it is a little far from the town centre, but there r plently of beach bars and supermarkets on route.

I stayed at the Ourania apartments for a week in June with my husband on a late deal and we had a wonderful time. The apartments form a small village set back from any main roads and within 5 - 10 minutes walk to the beach, restaurant and shops. The apartments are all in little white houses with their own balconies or outside seating area and little paths linking the houses. The whole site is beautifully presented with flowers and olive trees dotted around the site. The apartment itself is of a good size and has air conditioning in the bedroom for a weekly charge of 35 euros (well worth the money for a good nights sleep). The kitchen/living room has a table that you can sit at, a TV and a settee. The kitchen section is very basic but as eating out in Crete is so cheap this isn't a problem - we really just used the fridge to store drinks and fruit. The bathroom has a shower and is kept very clean - twice weekly visits from the chambermaids to provide clean towels and tidy up. The is a lovely pool at the site with plenty of room for people and sun loungers available to use. No need to get up early here to lay out your towel! There is also plenty of shade if you don't want to bake in the sun. There is a lovely terrace overlookng the pool where you can get a great breakfast or snacks throughout the day. The drinks are also very reasonable here too - a carafe of drinkable white wine (containing 1 litre) for only 7 euros! When we were there a couple of English girls were working at the bar who were very friendly and looked after everyone really well. There is internet access here as well and a pool table and a large screen that showed sporting events - crucial for during the world cup! Gouvres itself is fairly quiet and so the apartments are probably more suitable for couples looking for a relaxing break although there were some families there during our stay and there are air conditioned coaches which act as the local bus service which run to other towns with more nightlife. These towns are fairly close and I think the bus services run until nearly midnight. The beach at Gourves is nothing special and gets very crowded with sunbeds which need to be paid for. Its nice to walk along the beach front at night though. The restaurants tend to cater for a more english palate adding chips to nearly every meal which is a shame as Greek food is so lovely. I'm sure if you asked at the aprtments though you could find somewhere a bit more traditional. We went on two trips whilst we were there. The water city one was well worth the money. 25 euros for a coach there and entry (which is 17 euros on its own). the park is great fun and plenty to keep you occupied. We also went on the Knossos trip but I definately wouldn't recommend this one. You get taken to a wine co-operative at 10.30 in the morning to watch a video and taste their wine which isn't even on the route to knossos. You then only get an hour at knossos when its really crowded with our tour groups before being taken to Heraklion for a visit to a museum. If you want to visit Knossos I would recommend that you take the bus into Heraklion and visit the museum first which has a model of Knossos as it would have looked and has loads of artifacts and treasures that were rcovered there. This was you get a feel for what the palace was like before you visit it which makes it become more real. I would then get a taxi to take me to the palace and try and time it for later in the day when it would hopefully be quieter and less hot - the palace stays open until 7.30. You can get a combined ticket for the palace and the museum for 10 euros. To summarise, this was a lovely place to stay for a relaxing week away and I came home with my batteries recharged and having spent very little money. I would definately recommend Ourania and hope to go back there again next year.

Having just got back from a holiday in the Ourania apartments I can't praise them enough. I worked in Crete for a year as a rep many years ago and have visited Crete many times, these are some of the best self catering apartments I have seen on the island, our 2 bedroom apartment was spotlessly clean and very spacious, The grounds were lovely, the pool very clean and the staff alway friendly, its a five min walk to the beach along a county lanebut I see that as a positive thing as there was no noisy traffic. Perfect for families and couples

absolutely brilliant, apartments superb and cleaned regularly, good food and bar,clean pool, good area close to all amenities.

The apartments are very pretty, set out in a mini village style. The bar is open air and absolutely gorgeous with all manor of olive trees and flowers. The pool is a decent size and the apartments basic, but clean. 10 minute walk to the town, bars and shops. Gorgeous tavernas selling lovely food. Everybody so friendly. I always say I'll never go back anywhere twice because I want to see the world but already know when I want to go back here next year! A brilliant holiday!