Escape to Paradise: Sunrise Apartments, Crete!
Escape to Paradise: Sunrise Apartments, Crete - My Unfiltered Truth (and a Whole Lot of Wi-Fi Rambling)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to spill ALL the tea on the Sunrise Apartments in Crete. Forget the glossy brochure, I'm giving you the real deal. Think travel diary meets slightly unhinged hotel review. And yes, I will be talking about the Wi-Fi. A lot. Don't judge.
SEO & Metadata First (Because I Have to, I Guess)
- Title: Sunrise Apartments Crete Review: Paradise Found (or Almost!) - Accessibility, Spa, & Wi-Fi Woes
- Keywords: Crete, Sunrise Apartments, Greece, Hotel Review, Accessible Hotel, Wheelchair Accessible, Spa, Swimming Pool, Wi-Fi, Internet, Restaurant, Beach, Family Friendly, Crete Hotels, Heraklion, Luxury, Wellness, Crete Travel, Family Vacation, Solo Travel
- Meta Description: Honest review of Sunrise Apartments in Crete. Details on accessibility, spa, restaurants, Wi-Fi (the ultimate make-or-break!), and everything in between. Is it paradise? Well…
The Arrival: Promises and Pre-Coffee Chaos
First impressions? Stunning. Seriously, that view from the apartment… breathtaking. The turquoise Aegean sea practically begging you to jump in. I swear, I nearly choked on my coffee – or what would have been coffee if the in-room coffee maker wasn't trying to audition for a role in a silent film. (More on that later.)
Accessibility - Can Granny Get Around? (and Me, After Too Much Raki)
Let's talk accessibility because, frankly, it's a HUGE deal. And thankfully, Sunrise Apartments gets a decent score here. Elevator? Check. (Hallelujah!) Facilities for disabled guests? Present and accounted for. The website boasts a "wheelchair accessible" rating, and from what I saw, it seemed pretty legit. Ramps, wider doorways… they'd clearly put some thought into it. Now, I didn't personally test the wheelchair situation (thankfully! I'm more of a "stumble into things after too much wine" kind of disabled), but I observed a few guests navigating the common areas and the pool with relative ease. Kudos to them!
Rant Alert #1: The Bathroom Situation Okay, the bathrooms. They are… compact. While the description lists the separate shower/bathtub, I found the shower had a very small area, and the toilet area, if one is looking for some extra space, does not have it! It would be great if they were slightly more spacious… just a thought!
Cleanliness & Safety - Sanitizing the Soul (and Surfaces)
I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so the whole "post-pandemic travel" thing has me on high alert. Sunrise Apartments seem to get it. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Double-check. They were taking things seriously, and that gave me peace of mind. They made sure that there were Hand sanitizers at every corner. The staff was clearly trained in the safety protocols, so you do not need to worry about your health!
Rooms: The Good, the Bad, and the Coffee Maker Tragedy
Now, the rooms themselves… They are pretty well-appointed. Air conditioning? Yes! Free Wi-Fi? (We'll get there.) Comfy bed? Yep. Blackout curtains? Essential for daytime naps! They have everything you need to relax and chill!
The in-room safe box was a godsend, and the mini bar (albeit a bit sparsely stocked) was a lifesaver after a long day. The desk, laptop workspace and desk were very helpful, and the daily housekeeping was a godsend. I would also like to add that the bathrobes were super plush and the slippers comfy!
The Coffee Maker Saga (and the Internet Access – We're Coming to It, I Swear!)
Okay, so about that coffee maker. Picture this: you've just woken up, craving caffeine. You meticulously follow the instructions. You fill the water reservoir. You add the coffee. You press the button… and… nothing. Crickets. Silent film vibes. I wanted to scream! Luckily, I had packed some instant, which is now my best friend.
But really, the coffee/tea maker was a big letdown, especially since I saw the complimentary tea that I couldn't even make!
Internet Access: The Wi-Fi Whisperer's Lament
Alright, alright, let's address the elephant in the room: the Wi-Fi. The website screams: "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" YES! Music to my travel-blogging ears!
So, the reality? It works… sometimes. In my room, the Internet access – wireless was spotty. I'm talking dial-up in the early 2000s kind of spotty. I'd be mid-sentence in an email, and poof – gone. My Instagram stories? Forget about it. The most consistent connection was in the lobby, where I saw others, also looking for a good signal, huddled around like pigeons fighting for a breadcrumb.
Rant Alert #2: The Wi-Fi's Achilles Heel
But the slow wi-fi was a real problem for me! I wasn't able to finish some urgent work, and the internet was too slow to stream some of my favorite shows. I do hope they are able to fix this issue soon because I really loved everything else!
So, the Internet access – wireless I was searching for was only working sometimes, and the Internet [LAN] was not available either. I should have probably considered the Internet services offered, and I have to say it was somewhat below average.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - A Culinary Adventure (Mostly Good)
The food at Sunrise Apartments? Generally, pretty good. The breakfast [buffet] was decent – lots of fresh fruit, yogurt, and pastries. The Asian breakfast was also really good! I was able to pick up some tasty Asian cuisine in restaurant!
I'd suggest going for the Breakfast service and for more options, there's also the Buffet in restaurant.
The restaurants offered delicious dishes with lots of variation! The salad in restaurant, soup in restaurant, desserts in restaurant, and dishes with International cuisine in restaurant were some of the best!
Now, the coffee/tea in restaurant was a great addition!
The poolside bar? Essential. Especially during Happy hour. That was my absolute favorite!
Things to Do & Ways to Relax - Spa-riffic!
Oh, the spa! This is where Sunrise Apartments really shines. The Spa/sauna was heaven! The sauna was great and the steamroom helped a lot - it relaxed me!
The Fitness center was well-equipped, and the gym/fitness was fantastic.
Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath… I indulged! I even got a Massage – a truly transcendental experience after a long day of, you guessed it, trying to find decent Wi-Fi.
And the swimming pool with a view? Unforgettable. I spent hours lounging there, sipping cocktails, and soaking up the sun.
For the Kids & Families - Happy Campers?
While I was traveling solo, I noticed a lot of families. Family/child friendly? Definitely! They had kids facilities, and there were a couple of babysitting services as well.
Services & Conveniences - The Little Things That Matter
Sunrise Apartments offers a ton of services to make your stay easier. Daily housekeeping? Check. Concierge? Helpful! Currency exchange? Handy!
The Convenience store was perfect for grabbing snacks and essentials. The Laundry service was a lifesaver. And the Airport transfer was smooth and efficient. They also offered a Taxi service, which was good!
Getting Around - Exploring the Island The Car park [free of charge] made my vacation easy, and the Car park [on-site] was just great!
The Verdict: Paradise Found (with a Wi-Fi Caveat)
So, is Sunrise Apartments paradise? Almost. The view is stunning. The spa is divine. The staff is friendly and helpful. The accessibility is a big plus. The food is mostly delicious.
But the Wi-Fi… ugh. It's a frustrating blemish on an otherwise fantastic experience.
Overall Grade: 4 out of 5 stars.
Would I go back? Absolutely. As long as they upgrade that Wi-Fi situation!
Augusta's BEST Downtown Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review!
Okay, buckle up buttercups. This isn't your glossy, perfectly-edited travel blog post. This is me, brain-dumping my Crete adventure, warts and all. Hold onto your sun hats…
CRETE: SUNRISE APARTMENTS & Utter Chaos (A Messy Adventure)
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Dread (Plus Deliciousness)
Morning (Like, REALLY Early Morning): Athens airport. Ugh. Flight delayed, naturally. Already questioning every life choice that led me here. Why did I think a "relaxing getaway" was a good idea? I'm basically a walking stress ball. Finally land, sweat dripping, and desperately crave a caffeine fix. The sun is like a nuclear bomb. But hey, at least it's not raining, right? (Famous last words, I’m sure).
Midday: The drive to Sunrise Apartments. Google Maps swore it was a 30-minute jaunt…it was more like an hour of white-knuckle driving along the coast. The rental car? A tiny, sputtering Fiat that sounded like it was perpetually about to give up the ghost. And the roads? Prepare for sheer cliff drops on one side and the other side you'll be dodging stray goats, and elderly men who seem to have a divine right to stroll in the middle of the road. I'm pretty sure I aged a decade in that drive.
Afternoon: Sunrise Apartments! Okay, pretty damn cute. The photos weren't lying. The balcony overlooking the sea is glorious. The pool? Sparkling. Immediate sigh of relief. The owner, Maria, is a tiny hurricane of energy in a floral dress. She hands me the keys, speaks a mile a minute in Greek (I understand about 5% of it). And I am so hungry, I need to die.
Evening: Dinner at a taverna in a tiny village a few minutes stroll from the apartment. Ordered the "special of the day" (suspect it's always the special). Turns out to be the most gloriously simple, perfect grilled octopus I've ever had in my life. This, friends, is why I travel. The sheer, unadulterated joy of a perfectly cooked tentacle. This is what it's all about. I ate about 3 plates and thought I was in heaven. The wine, a basic house red, was just… chef's kiss. Now I'm in a food coma, contemplating the meaning of life with a belly full of octopus and a slightly tipsy brain. This trip…might not be so bad after all. I can't believe that food. I am so grateful.
Day 2: Beaches & Beached Whales (and Sunburn)
Morning: Attempted to be a "morning person". Woke up, bleary-eyed, and tried to locate the infamous supermarket. After a 15-minute search, gave up and bought some cereal and milk… from a vending machine, near the pool. Not quite the picturesque, farm-fresh breakfast I envisioned. Sigh. Headed out to a beach. Forgot the sunscreen. Classic.
Midday: Beach time! Found a secluded cove that was supposed to be "untouched." Well, it was relatively untouched, except for the occasional rogue jellyfish and the throngs of tourists who'd also heard about the "untouched" cove. Gorgeous water, though. Swam, frolicked, pretended to be a mermaid. Bliss. Then I remembered the lack of sunscreen.
Afternoon: Sunburn from hell. My arms are now the color of a cooked lobster. Spent the afternoon slathered in aloe vera, cursing my idiocy, and watching daytime TV in Greek (which, unsurprisingly, I don't understand). I now look like a peeled tomato.
Late Afternoon: Okay, let's talk about this. The sunburn… yeah, it's bad. Really bad. I can barely move my arms. But do you know what’s worse? The itch. Like, the kind of itch that drives you to the brink of insanity. And I made a rash decision: I scratched. Now, I'm covered in welts. This is not how I imagined my beach vacation.
Evening: Another taverna. I attempted to order, my burnt face and limited Greek made this a whole adventure: My first foray into ordering food after the sunburn episode went… poorly. I tried to explain I needed something soothing and light. Ended up with a massive plate of fried calamari. At least I was in agony while eating it. I guess this is my punishment for forgetting the sunscreen and my inability to communicate. At least there was beer.
Day 3: Knossos, Culture…& Another Screw-Up
Morning: Determined to embrace the culture. Decided I would see the ruins of Knossos. Found myself getting utterly lost again on the way there because I forgot to download the offine maps. This fiat is an absolute death trap.
Midday: Knossos. Okay, impressive. The mythical home of the Minotaur. A bit crowded. The history is fascinating, but the heat is brutal, I am sweating through my clothes, and I realize I really should have brought water. I'm pretty sure I was the most flustered tourist there, waving my hands at the sun, while desperately trying to retain some historical knowledge.
Afternoon: Back at the apartment. I had ordered some things online, and expected them to arrive. Did… not. Messaged Maria. Weird, hilarious mix-up. Turns out the delivery driver had left the package with the… wrong neighbor. (It went to someone’s house at least 10 minutes away). Now I have to walk to their house. I’m pretty sure my sunburn is going to explode.
Evening: Okay, I’m officially a disaster. Went to the door of the neighbor, knocked. A kindly old woman opened the door. (Again, I don't speak Greek, and she probably doesn't speak much English). She beckoned me inside, offered me a shot of some fiery liquor that tasted like gasoline but was actually quite tasty. Then she gave me about 5 different kinds of cheese, which I was told was to help the sunburn. I was so overwhelmed with kindness, I somehow left my keys behind when I left. The next day, I will have to figure out how to get in.
Late Night: Found a store late at night and bought water and some chocolate: This is my attempt to salvage the day. I feel a strange peace.
Day 4: More Beaches, More Chaos
Morning: Managed to retrieve my keys from the neighbor.
Midday: The weather is beautiful. I decide to try another beach! I’ve decided to be positive about the whole thing.
Afternoon: I met a new friend, who is a dog. After wandering around the beach, it found me, and it didn't leave my side. I was able to wander around and see the town… while I was also running after the dog. It got a whole lot of attention, and I was feeling really good about everything.
Evening: I made it back to the apartment. I fell asleep!
Late Night: I have to leave tomorrow. I don't want to. I had the best time.
Day 5: Departure & Bittersweet Goodbyes
Morning: Packing. Sorting the sunburned body. Cleaning up the apartment to make it look like I wasn't a complete disaster.
Midday: Gave Maria a big hug. She laughed and gave me a box of homemade olive oil soap and a bottle of raki (again). We may not have understood each other, but I think we had connected! Bye Sunset Apartments!
Afternoon: The drive back to the airport. This time, I knew the roads. Didn't drive off any cliffs (miraculously). The Fiat made it. I’ve never felt more grateful to see a plane.
Evening: Athens airport. Delayed flight (surprise, surprise). Waiting. Reflecting. Yep, Crete was… chaotic. Sometimes painful. Often hilarious. But, it was real. It was imperfect. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Especially not that grilled octopus.
Final Thought: Go to Crete. Embrace the chaos. Forget the perfect Instagram photos. Get lost. Get sunburned. Eat the octopus. And most importantly, laugh at yourself. You'll come home with stories you'll be telling for years. (And possibly, several new friends and a mild addiction to Greek cuisine). Now, where's the next adventure…?
Escape to Paradise: Unveiling HOTEL LA CASA DE LAS CAMELIAS, Valdés, Spain
Okay, spill the beans! What's the *actual* vibe at Escape to Paradise: Sunrise Apartments? Is it REALLY paradise? (Because, let's be real, brochure promises are usually BS.)
Alright, alright, settle down. "Paradise"? Look, it's not *literally* the Garden of Eden. I didn't see any snake charmers or talking animals (thankfully). But, and this is a big but, it’s pretty darn close. I’m talking about mornings that just… *hit different*. You wake up, bleary-eyed, drag your carcass out onto the balcony, and BAM! Sunrise painting the Aegean Sea in colors you didn't even know existed. Pink, orange, purples… It’s like nature's throwing a party just for you.
It's more "Paradise Adjacent." Think less perfectly manicured lawns and more… rugged, beautiful chaos. And honestly? I kinda prefer it that way. My coffee never tasted so good – probably because I was still half-asleep and slightly hungover from the amazing dinner the night before...
The website says "stunning sea views." Is it just hyperbole, or can you actually see the sea? Is it all you *can* see? (Because honestly, I kinda need a break from the sea sometimes.)
The sea views? Oh. My. God. Stunning doesn't even *begin* to cover it. It's like the sea is just... *there*. Dominating everything. Literally. From both balconies. And the roof. Just sea. Blue, glistening, hypnotic... You can practically *taste* the salt in the air.
I spent a solid two hours just staring at it one morning. And I mean *staring*. It was like the sea was whispering secrets, and I was utterly captivated. But, yeah, there's *also* a charming little town nearby if you actually want to tear yourself away from the aquatic seduction. You know, for a coffee, a bite to eat… to remember you're still, well, you. Which is important because it's also possible the sea gives you a little wanderlust – you've been warned.
What about the apartments themselves? Are they actually *nice*? I'm not asking for a palace, but I don't want to sleep in a damp, bug-infested hovel, either.
Okay, the apartments. Forget "hotel-clean" - that's not the vibe. These are more like "lived-in, loved, and well-cared-for." Expect a little Cretan charm, which can mean a slightly wonky tile here, a charmingly mismatched throw pillow there. But they’re comfortable. Spotlessly clean. Actually *spacious*. I had an apartment with two (count 'em!) *two* balconies. Balcony one for morning coffee, balcony two for sunset cocktails… pure bliss.
The kitchen was small but perfectly functional - I cooked *one* meal, which I consider a personal victory, and the bathroom, bless it, was clean and worked. Everything worked! The air conditioning? Yes! The hot water? Also yes! The internet? Okay, sometimes a little iffy, but honestly, it was a blessing in disguise. Forced me to *actually* relax and not mindlessly scroll. That's the real win, right?
Is it walking distance to bars/restaurants/beaches? Because I'm not a fan of spending my entire vacation in a car.
Okay, this is important. It's *almost* all walking distance. The beach? Maybe a five-minute stroll downhill (uphill back, which is a bit of a slog after a day of sun and swimming, I will admit). Restaurants? Loads of them, all within a comfortable walking radius. Bars? Yes, yes, and more yes. Don't be shy about asking for recommendations from the host, they know all the best spots (and the hidden gems!).
The only slight hiccup is the grocery store. It's *technically* walkable, but I'd recommend a taxi or rental car unless you're planning on carrying back a month's worth of supplies. I tried the "carry everything back in one go" approach on day one and ended up looking like a pack mule. Learnt my lesson. (Pro Tip: Take advantage of the smaller local shops for daily essentials!)
What's the deal with the host? Are they friendly, intrusive, or just...there? I've stayed in places where the host feels like they sleep in your closet...
The host? Okay, this is a gold star situation. Seriously, the host (I'm not naming names, gotta protect their privacy!) is an absolute *gem*. They're the perfect blend of friendly, helpful, and "invisible when you need them to be." They're there to offer advice, point you in the direction of the best tavernas, help with any issues (which, thankfully, I didn't have), and they're genuinely lovely.
This isn't a "hovering-and-judging" kind of host. They're the kind who'll leave you a welcome gift (a bottle of local wine? Yes, please!) and then let you get on with enjoying your holiday. They’re also great with recommendations, so if you haven’t researched all the restaurants, don’t worry! They've got you!
Did you have any issues? Anything at all that was less than perfect? Because no place is truly perfect, right? Spill the tea!
Okay, honesty time. Nothing's *perfect*. There was one tiny, tiny thing… The internet at times. It could be a little patchy. But honestly? I consider that a *feature*, not a bug. It forced me to disconnect from my phone and *actually* relax. (Yes, I know, I've already said this, but it was important!).
There was also a minor incident involving a rogue ant. I didn't realize I had to be so vigilant about crumbs. But it's Crete! It comes with the territory! And honestly, it was my fault. Don't leave food out, people! And if you do, expect a little ant activity. That's just nature doing its thing. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Okay, the food! Crete is famous for its food. Was it as good as the hype? And did you gain five pounds? (Asking for a friend...)
The food. Oh. My. God. Yes. The hype is *justified*. (And yes, I gained at least five pounds. Possibly more. Don't judge me. I worked out *once*!).
Fresh, vibrant, flavorful... I'm talking about the simplest dishes – a Greek salad bursting with juicy tomatoes, creamy feta, and the best olive oil I've ever tasted. Grilled octopus that melted in my mouth. Moussaka that was pure comfort food heaven. And don't even get me started on the pastries. I walkedWhere To Sleep In
