Ibis Styles Heraklion Central

I absolutely LOVED this hotel! When we first walked in, I was taken aback by how SPACIOUS the room was. And the thoughtful design and finishes! I was in awe. We had stayed at a 5-star resort before this, and it was nowhere near as clean, updated, or inviting as what we got here. It was bright, modern, airy, and impossibly inviting. I always felt lighter coming back to our room after a long day outside.

You won't be stepping over/around your suitcases while walking around the room here, and there was plenty of storage space too. I was beyond excited when I discovered the reading pillows which were neatly arranged by the extra blankets! (Yes, I was inspired to pull out a book I had with me.) The beds were a dream, the sheets were crisp, the bathroom was spacious and perfectly lit. It was a bit dark in the shower, but that was such a minor thing, compared to the generous water pressure which turned a routine thing into a refreshing experience. The "parents" beds were individual beds pushed together, which was perfect because there was no fight over the blanket and I selfishly enjoyed my own space. The air conditioning worked well and cooled the space down quickly. The room also had blackout curtains so kiddo could sleep in. The breakfast buffet was very good with a lot of options, and there was plenty of seating available.

One element that would have been nice is the addition of a nightlight in the bathroom for nocturnal trips, instead of shocking your system with the big bright lights when you're half asleep. But like the light in the shower, this is a small detail.

The location was ideal for us, and made everything we wanted easily accessible: restaurants, museums, the meeting point we were given for a guided tour we had booked... And despite just being on the second floor, there wasn't much noise; just folks chatting and laughing around 10:30 on a Sunday night, and then it was quiet.

The staff was wonderful and made the check in/out process go very smoothly. They held onto our luggage after we left our room until it was time for us to head to the airport, and they arrange to have a taxi come get us (it arrived within 5 minutes).

The one thing to note is that we had a lot of trouble finding this hotel at first. Our driver circled the area a few times before we found the sign for the hotel, and realized it required going up a set of escalators that were not in operation. Once we made it, everything was smooth sailing.

Honestly, it's been nearly a month since we spent two nights here, yet thinking about that room still makes me smile.

I have stayed at ibis Styles Heraklion Central several times, so my opinion is based on more than just one visit. The hotel’s biggest advantage is its location. The city center, the port, and many of Heraklion’s main attractions are all within easy walking distance. The free underground parking is also a huge plus for anyone traveling by car. The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and spotlessly clean, and the hotel consistently maintains a high standard. The breakfast is good and offers enough variety, although it isn’t the highlight of the stay compared to other hotels in the same category. Overall, this is a hotel I keep coming back to because of its excellent location, cleanliness, and convenience. I would happily recommend it to anyone visiting Heraklion.