Escape to Paradise: Dimitris Resort, Crete's Hidden Gem
Escape to Paradise: Dimitris Resort, Crete - My Honest (and Slightly Disorganized) Breakdown
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans on Dimitris Resort, Crete's "Hidden Gem." (And believe me, after this, you’ll know if you consider it a gem or a… well, let’s see, shall we?) This isn't your typical travel guide babble. This is real talk, with all the messiness and emotional baggage of a seasoned traveler.
First Impressions and Getting There: A Slightly Hairy Proposition
Okay, so accessibility first. And here's where things get a little… well, nuanced. Dimitris technically offers facilities for disabled guests. They say it. But "facilities" can mean a ramp and a prayer, you know? I didn't have mobility issues on this trip (thankfully), but I poked around. Elevators? Check. But some of the pathways seemed a bit… tight for a wheelchair. So, call ahead, folks. Really call ahead and get the specifics. Don't just take my word for it, or the brochure's.
Getting to the resort? Airport transfer is an option, and a smart one. Because Crete's roads? Let's just say they're "characterful," and someone else driving is a blessing. Plus, free car parking is a huge win, even if the parking itself felt a little… "organized chaos" at times. Valet parking is also an option - but I never did that.
The Rooms: Cozy, with a Dash of "Don't Expect Perfection"
Let’s dive into my room. (And let’s be honest, that’s where you’ll spend most of your actual time, yeah?) My room, it was pretty spacious. A double bed. Check. Air conditioning, of course. Double check. A mini-bar – always a plus, even though the prices inside were a bit… well, premium.
The free Wi-Fi? YES! And they actually mean it. Wi-Fi in all rooms and in public areas. That’s a huge win. I'm a workaholic, and the constant connectivity saved me. Thank god for the free Wi-Fi, I could actually work even if it was a bit slow. The free bottled water was a nice touch, too.
But, and there's always a "but," right? The décor? A bit… "Mediterranean Grandma." Think floral bedspreads and maybe a little bit of aging woodwork. The balcony offered a view, but it wasn’t the "jaw-dropping" kind. Just… pleasant. Let's call it "charmingly dated." And to be honest, I enjoyed that.
They do offer non-smoking rooms, which is fantastic. And there are also interconnecting rooms if you’re traveling with a family or large group.
Cleanliness and Safety: Safe Enough…
OK, Safety now. The resort seems to take it seriously. Security [24-hour] is a plus, and there were CCTV cameras dotted around. Smoke detectors? Check. Fire extinguishers? Check. The rooms are sanitized between stays, a post-pandemic must. Hand sanitizer was everywhere you looked, and they had staff trained in safety protocol. Felt very safe. Room sanitization opt-out available - if you're paranoid!
Food, Glorious Food (and Some Minor Gripes)
The food at Dimitris? Mixed bag, honestly. The breakfast buffet was decent, with the usual suspects – eggs, bacon, pastries, fruit. Nothing to write home about, but it filled the hole. They served Asian breakfast that I didn't dare try. However, there's also breakfast in room (extra cost, I guess?).
The restaurants… well, there are several. Restaurants, restaurants! A buffet in restaurant for casual dining. A vegetarian restaurant, which is good. There are more restaurants, and they serve international cuisine in restaurant. A poolside bar and a Bar is the perfect place to relax!
The A la carte in restaurant was a bit of a hit or miss, the salad was great, the soup was bland. The desserts were divine! The happy hour was a good deal. Room service [24-hour] is a blessing, let me tell you. They also served coffee/tea in restaurant. There's even a coffee shop.
Ways to Relax: The Spa: Where the Magic Happens (Mostly)
Alright, let’s talk relaxation. This is where Dimitris truly shines, and where the "Hidden Gem" label might actually stick. The Spa is a godsend!
I booked a massage, and let me tell you, it was transformative. Forget the stresses of work, the long flight, the slightly dusty room – this was a pure, unadulterated slice of heaven. They offer a body scrub and a body wrap, which I skipped, but now I regret. There's a sauna, a steamroom, and a foot bath.
The swimming pool is stunning, with the pool with view, and views that will steal your breath away. The Gym/fitness center is functional, but nothing fancy.
Things to Do: Beyond the Poolside Bliss
Beyond the spa and the pool, there’s… things to do! They have family/child friendly facilities with Kids facilities and a babysitting service. I think there's a shrine.
They offer some audio-visual equipment for special events and indoor venue for special events. If you want to make this place the spot to propose to your loved one, you're in luck! There's a proposal spot.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the Confusing
Dimitris offers a ton of services. They have cash withdrawal, currency exchange, and a convenience store. Daily housekeeping will keep you happy. Doorman, elevator, and luggage storage are useful. And they have 24- Hour Front Desk!
They also have Facilities for disabled guests.
The Big Question: Would I Go Back?
Here's the thing: Dimitris Resort is not perfect. It’s a little rough around the edges, a touch dated, and the food is… well, variable. But! The location (amazing!), the spa (unbelievable!), the genuinely friendly staff (most of them!) – they create an experience that's more than the sum of its parts.
My Offer For You - Escape to Paradise:
So in the end, would I go back? Absolutely. And here’s why you should too:
Book your stay at Dimitris Resort now and receive :
- Complimentary upgrade to a room with a sea view (subject to availability).
- A free couples massage at our award-winning spa.
- A half-day guided tour to a Cretan village, experiencing genuine hospitality and a delicious Cretan meal.
But wait, there’s more! Because we understand the uncertainty of travel, we also offer:
- Flexible booking policy: Reschedule your stay up to 48 hours before arrival, no questions asked.
- Full refund guarantee: If you're within our flexible booking timeline, you'll get a full refund.
- Complimentary shuttle service to and from the local town for seamless exploration.
Remember: This is about the experience, the connection, and the memories. So, come on, book your stay!
Click here to book your escape to Paradise at Dimitris Resort, your Crete getaway awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Guest House in Mlini, Croatia
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your sanitized, bullet-pointed itinerary. This is a Dimitris Resort Hotel, Crete EXPERIENCE. And, frankly, I'm still recovering. Here goes:
THE GREAT GREEK ESCAPE (Or How I Accidentally Befriended a Seagull named Socrates)
Day 1: Arrival…and Immediate Chaos (the good kind)
- Morning (05:00): The alarm screams. My brain screams louder. Flight to Heraklion. Packing was a disaster. I swear, I packed three identical pairs of black shorts. Why? No idea. Maybe a coping mechanism for the sheer terror of leaving my cat, Mittens, alone for a week. (Mittens would not approve of a resort; she's a connoisseur of quiet disdain.)
- Afternoon (13:00): LANDED! The heat hits you like a wall. Okay, Crete, you've officially announced your presence. The Dimitris Resort shuttle, thank GOD. Already sweating through my travel shirt. The driver, a grizzled, smiling man named Kostas, blasting Greek pop. I have a feeling I'm going to love this.
- Afternoon (14:00): Check-in. The lobby is… overflowing. It's a beautiful kind of chaos. Families, couples, people holding oversized inflatable swans. I'm handed a welcome drink that tastes suspiciously like sunshine and raki. Sold. Room with a balcony, overlooking the pool. Score. (And a glimpse of the sea! Double score.)
- Afternoon (15:00): Discovered the pool. Glorious. Sun, water, a complete lack of responsibilities. Ahhhhh. Found a poolside lounger. This, my friends, is what heaven smells like. (It smells like chlorine and sunscreen, but still…heaven.)
- Evening (19:00): Dinner at the taverna. Ordered the mixed grill, because, let's be honest, I'm predictable. The food is incredible. So much lamb. So much tzatziki. I attempt to order a beer in Greek, butcher the pronunciation horribly, and end up getting a thumbs-up from the waiter, who clearly understands the universal language of "I'm an idiot." Which, fair.
- Evening (21:00): Stumbled upon the resort's "Greek Night." The music is loud, the dancing is enthusiastic (especially by the staff in traditional costumes!), and I'm pretty sure I've never laughed so hard in my life. Witnessed a man attempt to break a plate with his bare hands. He failed spectacularly. I think he might have broken something else.
- Night (23:00): Balcony, the sea breeze, a glass of local wine. Absolutely, perfectly, content. (Until I remembered I left my phone charging in the UK…)
Day 2: Boat Trip, Disaster, and a Lifeguard named Dimitri
- Morning (09:00): The boat trip. Booked it the previous night, slightly tipsy. Woke up realizing I'm terrible at seasickness. Boarding the boat and feeling the tiny waves made me nervous.
- Morning (10:00): The boat is gorgeous. Crystal-clear water. We’re heading to some hidden coves. The captain, a man who looked like he'd wrestled a kraken in his spare time, is regaling us with sea shanties. I feel…better. This is going to be the best day ever!
- Morning (11:00): The best day ever…until the nausea hit. Oh, the nausea. I spent the next hour clinging to the railing, looking like I was about to become one with the Meditterenean. I'm pretty sure the captain was offering me a sympathetic look. It was humiliating.
- Afternoon (13:00): Back on dry land. Still slightly green, but mostly recovered, and starving. Ate enough souvlaki to feed a small army. Found a secluded beach, completely empty, and built a tiny sandcastle. (Hey, I’m allowed to be childish on holidays, right?)
- Afternoon (14:00): Swim time! Well, until I found my way into the water, and the waves took my sunglasses away from me. So close to getting them back but it's too late, just watching them sink. Still so upset.
- Afternoon (15:00): A lifeguard named Dimitri, with eyes the colour of the sea, saw my tragedy. He smiled, dived in, and retrieved them! Not only that, he then spent the afternoon teaching me the Greek alphabet, and sharing his favourite spots for sea urchins.
- Evening (19:00): Dinner at the hotel, got drunk over some nice food again. Decided to learn more Greek words, and somehow involved my best friend back in the UK in a group video call. We laughed until our sides hurt, and I almost forgot about my lost sunglasses.
Day 3: The Palace of Knossos, and a Pigeon That Stole My Sandwich
- Morning (09:00): The Palace of Knossos. Historical stuff. Honestly, the history part was incredible. I love history. But the sheer number of tourists made it feel like rush hour on the tube, only with more sandals.
- Morning (10:00): Lost a bit of the map. Found a shop which sold a map. Got a bit lost again. Met a nice lady from Canada who used to live in Crete. Chatted for a bit. She was kind enough to point me in the right direction.
- Afternoon (12:00): Found myself back in the resort. Lunchtime. Grabbed a sandwich from the poolside bar. And that's when it happened. A seagull. A cunning, brazen, sandwich-thieving seagull. He swooped down, snatched half my sandwich, and then…sat on the railing, staring at me with what I swear was a look of smug satisfaction. I swear I saw the ghost of a laugh cross his beak. I named him Socrates, mostly because he'd just stolen a philosophical debate from me.
- Afternoon (14:00): Spent the afternoon by the pool, plotting my revenge against Socrates. (He still won.)
- Evening (19:00): Ate dinner inside. It was a buffet night, which meant mass chaos, delicious food, and a near-miss encounter with a large, wobbly plate of spanakopita. Survived.
- Evening (21:00): Another night by the pool bar, talking to a couple from Germany, bonding over our shared love of Feta cheese. The sky was filled with stars. Crete is a beautiful, beautiful place.
Day 4: Rethymno, A Monastery, and A Bottle of Olive Oil… (Or, My Near-Disastrous Souvenir Hunt)
- Morning (09:00): Day trip to Rethymno. Charming Venetian harbour, winding streets. Wandered around the old town.
- Morning (11:00): Visiting the Monastery. Quiet, beautiful, peaceful. The air smelled of incense and history. Definitely felt a little more grounded.
- Afternoon (13:00): Lunch at a taverna. Tried the local dakos salad (tomato, barley rusks, and cheese). Delicious.
- Afternoon (15:00): Souvenir shopping. (This is where things got a bit…hairy.) Determined to bring back authentic Cretan olive oil. Found a shop selling beautiful bottles. Picked one. Carefully. Carried it to the counter. The shop owner, a man with a magnificent handlebar mustache, gave me a knowing look. (I now suspect he's seen this disaster before.)
- Afternoon (15:30): On my way back to the hotel, the bottle slipped. The bottle shattered. The olive oil exploded all over the cobblestone streets. I stood there, covered in olive oil, mortified. The handlebar-mustached shop owner comes over, surveyed the situation. Then he started laughing. He helped clean up, and then – bless him – offered me another bottle. It's now the most important souvenir.
- Evening (19:00): Back at the resort. Dinner, and reliving my afternoon's olive-oil related misery with a newfound appreciation for the kindness of strangers.
- Evening (21:00): Socrates sighting! Apparently, he considers the poolside bar territory! The staff seemed used to him. The cheeky rascal.
Day 5-7: (Blurry. Beautiful, Fuzzy Memories…Mostly Involving Sun, Sea, and…Socrates?)
- Daily Routine Sunbathing, swimming, drinking coffee, and talking to Socrates.
- Food: Ate everything. Repeatedly.
- Evening activities: The most fun nights with the best people, sharing stories and laughter.
- Reflections: Crete is so memorable. The people, the food, the sea, all of it. It'
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