Crete Island Escape: Luxury Junior Suite Balcony Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the crystal-clear waters (hopefully!) of Crete Island Escape: Luxury Junior Suite Balcony Awaits! And let me tell you, after wading through hotel reviews for what feels like YEARS, I'm ready to spill the beans. This isn’t your stuffy, airbrushed, perfect hotel review. This is the real deal, folks.
First Impressions: The Arrival and the View! (and the "Oh Crap, Did I Pack the Right Adapters?" Moment)
The "Luxury Junior Suite Balcony Awaits!" promise? Well, it's mostly true. The balcony? Glorious. Seriously, postcard-worthy. The kind of view that makes you want to immediately Instagram yourself looking pensive and cool, even if you’re secretly just thrilled about the free bottled water. The suite itself? Spacious, with all the trappings. Air conditioning that actually works, a proper desk (good for pretending you’re working, not actually working), and a coffee maker that, blessedly, didn’t require me to dismantle it with a screwdriver to get a decent cuppa.
Right, the arrival. It was… smooth. Airport transfer? Tick. (And thank god, because navigating Greek roads after a long flight? No, thank you.) Check-in? Pretty efficient. (Contactless check-in/out? Score! Less awkward human interaction is always a win.) BUT… (here comes the first humblebrag) after a very long flight and all the planning, when I go to plug my phone charger in, it's the wrong plug, the "Aaaaagh, I didn't pack the right adapter" moment. Why is this always me? So a minor hiccup. (Just be prepared! Pack those adapters, friends!).
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (and Honestly, It Depends…)
Okay, let's get real about accessibility. This is where things get a little complicated, and I'm going to be honest. I am not an expert. I'm going to try my best to give you the lowdown.
- Wheelchair Accessible: They claim to have facilities for disabled guests, and there's an elevator. However, I didn’t personally assess the full extent of the accessibility. Check this specifically with the hotel before booking if it’s a primary concern. Don't leave it to chance!
- Elevator: Yes, there's an elevator, which is a huge plus.
- Facilities for disabled guests: They "say" they have it. Double-check!
The Essentials: Cleanliness, Safety, and… The Endless Wi-Fi Riddle
- Cleanliness and Safety (Post-COVID): These guys are clearly onboard. They’re doing everything they can to keep you safe. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection, hand sanitizer everywhere (thank goodness), staff wearing masks. Room sanitization between stays? Check. The whole shebang. They’re taking it seriously, and that’s a huge comfort these days. I'd give them an A+ on the cleaning front.
- Internet Access (The Wi-Fi Saga): Okay, so free Wi-Fi in all the rooms is mostly true. But let's be real. Hotel Wi-Fi is a fickle beast. Sometimes it's lightning fast, other times it's… well, not. I managed to get my emails and insta-feed going, but don’t expect to stream a 4K movie in the bath. (Yes, I tried.) There's also Internet access – LAN (that's old-school wired internet!), which is nice for those who need a truly reliable connection. Wi-Fi in public areas was surprisingly decent.
The Suite Life: Sleeping Arrangements, Room Service and the Perks
- The Room! The Luxury Junior Suite? Worth the upgrade money. The bed? Blissful darkness awaits, with extra long bed. The sheets? Fluffy, crisp, and just begging for you to sink into them. The blackout curtains are a godsend for those sunrise-averse folks like myself. The mini-bar was stocked and you can get complimentary tea, and that's always a winner.
- Room Service: 24/7? Yes, please. Ideal for those late-night snack cravings or when you just can’t muster the energy to leave your blissful bubble of a room.
- Amenities (The Good Stuff and the Not-So-Good): The bathrobes! Don't even get me started. They were like wrapping yourself in a cloud of pure comfort. Slippers also included. Bliss! The in-room safe box was handy for stashing valuables. There's a coffee/tea maker, which, as I mentioned, is crucial. The "additional toilet" was a bonus, especially if you're sharing a room. The desk was functional, the mirror's perfect, the window that opens is perfect.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax, and That Pool with a View…
- The Pool: Oh, the pool! The outdoor swimming pool. It's a beauty, a picture! The photos don’t lie. That view! Seriously, it's worth the price of admission alone. I spent a large amount of my time there, floating on my back, just staring.
- Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: There are a few options.
- Gym/Fitness: Yes, a fitness center (gym) exists. I saw it, but… um… did I use it? Let's just say the pool bar was a whole lot more appealing.
- Body wrap, Body scrub, Massage: Yes. I did go for a massage. It was relaxing. I can highly recommend it.
Dining, Drinking, and… The All-Important Breakfast!
- Breakfast: Breakfast is a big deal for me. And this one? Buffet style. And a pretty good one by all accounts. A vast selection of options, but the coffee wasn't great. (Again, the coffee… always a sticking point!) They offer Asian and Western style food and dishes.
- Restaurants: Yes. There are restaurants.
- Poolside Bar: Very tempting, and perfect for those afternoon cocktails with your new best friend (the view).
- Happy Hour: Yay!
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter!
- Concierge: They were helpful.
- Daily Housekeeping: Yes, and efficient.
- Laundry Service/Dry Cleaning: Essential, right?
- Luggage Storage: Always a lifesaver.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange: Convenient for those pesky Euros.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Peace of mind.
For the Kids (Good, Bad, or Indifferent?)
- Family/child friendly: They say it's family-friendly, with mentions of babysitting and kids' facilities. I didn't have kids, so I can't personally vouch for it. But it seems like they cater for families.
Getting Around: Transportation and Parking
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Free parking is always a bonus.
- Airport transfer: Easy!
- Taxi service: Available.
The Quirks, the Imperfections, and the Honest Truth…
Okay, no place is perfect. Here's what I didn't love:
- The Coffee (I did mention this, right?). The coffee was not strong enough. I need a real coffee, people!
- The Price (Kinda). It's not the cheapest place around. I'd say it's worth it, because the balcony is worth it, but budget travelers will need to weigh this up.
The Verdict: Should You Book?
YES! Absolutely!
Here's why:
- The View. That balcony! Seriously, it seals the deal.
- The Comfort. The rooms are spacious, well-equipped, and comfortable. That's important.
- The Cleanliness and Safety. They’re taking it seriously.
- The Pool. Perfect for relaxing.
- The Little Things. The bathrobes, the mini-bar (although I didn't raid it), the helpful staff.
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The Final, Unvarnished Offer:
**Craving a Dream Escape? Crete Island Escape: Luxury Junior Suite Balcony Awaits! Book
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Ji Hotel Xi'an - Your Dream Getaway!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the glorious, sun-kissed chaos that is… Crete! And yes, we're doing it in style – an Executive Junior Suite with Balcony. Don't judge my bougie side; I deserve a little pampering after the year I've had. This isn't going to be one of those perfectly curated Instagram itineraries, oh no. This is the real, sweaty, sunburnt deal.
OPERATION: Cretan Crazy – Executive Junior Suite Edition (Pray for us)
Day 1: Arrival & Initial Panic (and a lot of Ouzo)
- 07:00: Wake up in London a sweaty panic. Did I pack my passport? Sunscreen? Anti-nausea meds? (Important note: I always get seasick on ferries, even when landlocked. Don't ask.)
- 07:30: Breakfast. Basically, carbs. Carbs are my best friend when I'm stressed.
- 08:00: Hop in the taxi and pray the flight isn't delayed. (It almost always is. It's a personal affront, I swear.)
- 12:00 (Crete Time): Land in Heraklion! Oh my god, the air! It smells of…freedom? And something delicious. Immediately feel my shoulders relax about 2%. Thank you, Aegean Sea.
- 12:30: Rental car pickup. They give me the keys and tell me it's a "compact". It's a sardine can. Okay, no worries. I'll drive the sardines in the car, no problem.
- 13:30: Arrive at the hotel. The "Executive Junior Suite with Balcony" is… honestly, it's amazing. The balcony is bigger than my actual flat. I may or may not do a little happy dance. The bed? Heavenly. Immediately tested for quality – passed with flying colours.
- 15:00: Unpack (ish). Mostly unpack. The suitcase is still a mess, but the important things (swimsuit, book, emergency snacks) are within reach.
- 16:00: Ouzo o'clock! Okay, maybe a little earlier. Find a taverna nearby. Order some calamari and a carafe of the good stuff. Get told off by the waiter for not speaking Greek (not my fault!), but the food, ah, the food… pure bliss.
- 17:30: Stumble back to the hotel, feeling like a warm, fuzzy octopus. Contemplate napping on the balcony. Decide to live my best life instead.
- 18:00: Stroll along the beach. The colours! The light! The overwhelming urge to buy all the souvenirs. Resist (mostly).
- 20:00: Dinner at the taverna. More food. More Ouzo. Try to remember the name of the restaurant, but it's all a blur of laughter and plates. Seriously, the Cretans know how to do life right. They eat, drink, and they love a good chat.
- 22:00: Back to the hotel. Crash into bed. Wake up at 3 am with a sudden craving for feta cheese and the profound realization that maybe, just maybe, I'm actually happy.
Day 2: Knossos & the Aftermath (May Contain Tears)
- 09:00: Wake up. Attempt to decipher the dream I had about a talking goat and a plate of pasticio. Success: Zero.
- 10:00: Breakfast on the balcony. Coffee, a croissant, and the sound of the waves. This is the stuff of dreams, isn't it?
- 11:00: Drive to Knossos! The Minoan Palace! Archaeology! History! I’ve been looking forward to this. Slightly terrified I’ll get lost. (See "compact" car comments from above).
- 12:00: Knossos. Wow. Just…wow. The ruins are both magnificent and deeply, surprisingly moving. I actually choked up a little seeing those frescoes. Felt a pang of something when imagining their stories as well. The history, the artistry, the sheer age of it all… it’s overwhelming. The guide, bless her heart, droned on a bit about plumbing and the "bull dancing," things I was much less interested in. I got distracted by a cat. And then another one. I may have adopted a stray cat in a past life.
- 14:00: (Post-Knossos) Find a taverna near the site. Need fuel after that emotional rollercoaster. Greek salad, of course. And more Ouzo. Gotta settle the ghosts of the Minoans somehow.
- 15:00: Attempt to drive back to the hotel. Get slightly, and I mean slightly, lost. Curse the "compact" car and the lack of clear signage. Find my way back eventually.
- 16:00: Pool time! Read my book (a trashy romance, don’t judge), and slowly melt in the sun.
- 18:00: Sunset cocktails on the balcony. The view is just… breathtaking. Seriously, I might cry again.
- 20:00: Dinner in the hotel restaurant. Slightly more upscale than the tavernas. More wine. Try (and fail) to remember to say "efharisto" (thank you) to the waiter.
- 22:00: Crash! Blissful sleep.
Day 3: Elounda & Spinalonga (More Sea Sickness Than You Can Shake a Stick At)
- 08:00: Wake up. Actually sleep in! This is a revelation. The body might be finally in a good rhythm.
- 09:30: Breakfast on the balcony. The sun, the breeze, the coffee… feeling like a goddess already.
- 10:30: The boat trip to Spinalonga is a must. I know I need to but I am dreading the sea sickness, it's going to happen.
- 11:30: Board the boat. Take Dramamine. Cross fingers. Focus on the blue of the sea, not the churning of my stomach.
- 12:00: Arrive on Spinalonga. Sobering. Haunted. Beautiful. The stories of leprosy… it's heavy. I walk around, take it all in, and then… need air. The intensity of the history is overwhelming, I feel an ache in my chest. The guide is good, the tales of the people who lived there is so incredibly sad.
- 14:00: Back on the boat, slightly green around the gills. Managed to keep the breakfast down (yay!). Head back to Elounda.
- 15:00: Lunch in Elounda. Find a taverna by the water to relax… get a fresh sea bass and try to remind myself I'm on holiday.
- 16:00: Back to the hotel. Nap. I deserve it.
- 18:00: Explore the local shops, pick up a few presents. Buy a string of those little blue evil eye things because, why not? Gotta ward off the bad vibes.
- 20:00: Another Taverna. Decide to try something new. Get something, who knows. Delicious, of course. Get chatting with a lovely couple from Canada. Laugh too much, drink too much, make new friends.
- 22:00: Finally, collapse into bed.
Day 4: Chasing Waterfalls & Mountain Madness (This is where it gets ridiculous)
- 08:00: Start the day with a brisk swim in the pool, attempt a few laps but get side-tracked by the view.
- 09:00: Breakfast.
- 10:00: Drive to the Samaria Gorge… no, wait, I chickened out. Too much hiking, too much fitness… maybe next time. Instead, opt for something less strenuous: the Richtis Gorge Waterfall! (A slightly less popular option).
- 12:00: Arrive at Richtis Gorge. The drive there is winding and slightly terrifying, in my "compact" car on narrow mountain roads. Totally worth it. The waterfall is stunning. Dip my toes in the freezing water. Feel incredibly alive.
- 13:00: Picnic lunch by the waterfall. Eat a sandwich while watching a lizard sunbathe.
- 14:00: Drive down the mountain, stopping at every photo opportunity. (Okay, I might have taken approximately 200 photos of the same olive
Crete Island Escape: Luxury Junior Suite Balcony Awaits! - FAQs (and my completely unbiased opinions)
Okay, so, what *actually* makes the Junior Suite "luxury"? (Because I've seen the word "luxury" slapped on everything...)
Alright, buckle up, because I went in with the same skepticism. "Luxury," right? Usually means, like, a slightly nicer thread count and a complimentary mini-bar stocked with stuff you'd never actually *want*. But, (and this is a big BUT), the Junior Suite… it's pretty darned good.
So, what's "luxury"? Think:
- Space. Seriously, I could probably do cartwheels in that room (though I wouldn't, you know, *intentionally*). It feels gigantic compared to those shoebox rooms you get in other places.
- The View (and the Balcony!). Oh. My. God. The balcony is probably the main selling point. It's not some tiny little thing you can barely squeeze onto. It’s *substantial*. Like, you can comfortably sit there with a book, a carafe of local wine (which, by the way, is *delicious*), and possibly even a small herd of cats (don't judge, Greece has a lot of cats). Watching the sunset over the Aegean Sea? Priceless (okay, maybe not *entirely* priceless, you *did* pay for the suite...). But seriously, the view. It's Instagram-bait, but it's also just… breathtaking.
- The Bathroom. Alright, the bathroom. Deep soaking tub. Not some tiny, cramped thing; you could actually *relax* in it. They give you fancy toiletries, which is always a plus. (I may have taken a few extra bottles home… don't tell anyone).
- Minor stuff, don't get me wrong. Robes, slippers, welcome fruit basket, and a coffee machine that brews a decent espresso. Not life-changing, but a nice touch.
Basically, it's luxury in the sense that you feel *spoiled*. Not just like you're staying in a slightly nicer hotel room. Honestly, it felt worth the extra money. (Which, let's be honest, I secretly complained about before I actually *saw* the room.).
Is the balcony truly private? (Because, let's be real, sometimes "private" means "shared between one room and the one next door...").
Good question! Because, yes, that’s a huge pet peeve of mine. Thankfully, the balcony is *mostly* private. There's a slight division between your balcony and your neighbor's. You can still hear them occasionally, but unless they're shouting or belting out karaoke (and thankfully, mine weren't), it IS private enough for chilling out in your robe and sipping coffee without feeling like you're on display. But it won't completely stop everything. I got to hear my neighbors laugh which was actually kind of nice... until they laughed about the sunburn I *definitely* had the first day.
What's the location *really* like? Is it near the beach? Restaurants? Or are we talking hours of driving?
Okay, so location is *key*, right? This one's pretty good. The hotel is… well, it's on a hill. So, you're not *immediately* on the beach like you might think. The beach itself is about a 5-10 minute walk, depending on how fast you're hobbling because of that aforementioned sunburn. It's a lovely little beach, though, with crystal-clear water and soft sand. And that walk... it's a killer in the midday heat, but you can't really avoid it.
Restaurants? Plenty! There are tavernas and cafes galore, serving up amazing Greek food. Trust me, you'll gain five pounds just from the smell of the food walking along.
Driving? You are probably going to need a rental car if you want to explore the rest of the island. Crete is huge, and trust me, you *want* to explore. The mountains! The gorges! The ancient ruins! So, yeah, rent a car. But for the immediate area around the hotel? Walking distance is fine, particularly in the evenings. You might even find a little cat friend. I did, he hung out with me on the balcony, it was lovely.
I'm thinking about the food... what are the breakfast options like? Is it just the classic hotel buffet?
The breakfast... okay, the breakfast. Alright, so, yes, it's a buffet. But it's a *good* buffet. A really good buffet. Not the sad, lukewarm scrambled eggs kind.
Expect:
- Greek yogurt (duh, it's Greece) with honey and nuts. Heavenly.
- Fresh fruit, like seriously, *fresh*.
- A whole display of pastries. Be careful, you'll get hooked.
- Hot options like eggs, bacon, and various other things I can't even recall because I was too busy inhaling the pastries.
- Omelet station! Made to order!
- And then, the coffee. Amazing stuff.
Honestly, the breakfast alone is worth the price of admission. I may have over-ate. A lot. I stand firm in my assertion that the morning is the best meal, the breakfast was amazing.
Okay, let's talk about the *worst* part of the Junior Suite experience. Because nothing is perfect, right?
Ooh, good question! Yeah, even paradise has its flaws. The biggest, most glaring problem? The cleaning lady's penchant for rearranging my perfectly placed toiletries. I had EVERYTHING set up *perfectly* on the bathroom counter. Toothbrush holders, face wash, everything! And every day, I'd come back to a *slightly* different arrangement. It was a small thing, sure, but it drove me *insane*.
Also, the Wi-Fi. It's… okay. Don't expect lightning-fast speeds. If you're relying on video conferencing, well, good luck. Embrace the disconnection! You're on vacation, for crying out loud!
And, if I'm being nitpicky, the pillows weren't *my* favorite. But everyone's pillows are different. I asked for another one which they got quickly and it was much better.
Would you recommend this Junior Suite? Honestly? Spill the tea.
Yes. Absolutely, yes. Despite the mildly inconvenient bathroom counter rearrangements and the slightly questionable Wi-Fi, I’d go back in a heartbeat. The view from the balcony alone is worth it. It was the perfect escape from the grind. It was relaxing. It was gorgeous. It was just what I needed.
Just pack a portable Wi-Fi hotspot if you *absolutely* need to be connected to the internet. And maybe hide your toiletries. Or not, get a laugh out of it. Either way, go. You won't regret it. You might gain a few pounds and get a little sunburn, but you'll have an amazing time.
