Aquila Atlantis Hotel

We had a very comfortable stay at Aquila Atlantis. The location was excellent, with an easy walk into Heraklion Old Town and more restaurants, cafés and bakeries nearby than we could possibly try. Even Starbucks was close by.

Our room was spacious enough for two people to move around comfortably, and we especially liked the bathroom layout, with an open vanity and shower area and a separate toilet closet. The bed was comfortable and a little on the firm side, which suited us well. Housekeeping was superb, and we appreciated receiving fresh bottled water each day.

The rooftop pool area was another nice feature. The pool itself was not heated, so during the cooler weather we mostly used the lounge chairs for reading or brought up drinks and snacks for cocktail hour. It was a very pleasant place to relax.

Parking was a huge help. The lot is secured, and you need to ask the front desk to open the gate before driving in. It is only about half a block from the hotel, so we found it easiest to stop near the gate, have one person walk to reception, and then drive in once the barrier was opened.

The hotel also seemed very well organized. There were times when we saw large tour/cruise groups and huge piles of luggage in the lobby, but it never felt particularly crowded, noisy or chaotic. The staff handled the groups very efficiently. Providing umbrellas for guests during the rainy weather was also a thoughtful touch.

My only real criticisms are minor. The elevators are quite small, and the “water view” room description was a bit generous. Yes, we could see the water, but the room did not really overlook it. Much of the view was across rooftops, nearby buildings and the working port, with the sea beyond.

Overall, Aquila Atlantis was comfortable, clean, well run and very conveniently located. It worked extremely well for our stay in Heraklion, and we would happily stay there again.

The nice looking room had a strong sewage smell, similar to the bad smell on older cruise ship cabin hallways. We reported the issue in the evening on Day 1 and maintenance had left for the day. Unfortunately the hotel was fully booked and we could not move to another room. Promised it would be addressed Day 2 at 9:00. Returned in the evening Day 2 and the issue was not resolved. Even asked our friends to check out our room, and they agreed - offensive smelling room. Reported the issue a second time and housekeeping was sent up to clean the bathroom (which would be the 2nd cleaning of the day) to no avail - the odor is in the AIR. Hotel still booked solid and we could not be moved. <-- Regardless of these issues, this is NOT a 5 star accommodation; it's 3.5 star tops. Pool deck chair material is old, stretched, and a bar painfully presses against your body (unless you slide your bottom past the bar at which point your back hurts from sitting incorrectly). Expect noise from planes taking off as the hotel is in the runway path. Breakfast is a step up from Hampton Inn, maybe closer to Embassy Suites - not 5 star. You must ask for wash cloths, sometimes twice. Location is walking distance to the "pedestrian" zone (all walking/no automobiles) with many good restaurants, shopping, and the Venetian Fort. Looking forward to early checkout tomorrow.

Lovely hotel with a great location. However, it is an older building that has been upgraded and modernised, and in some areas it is starting to look a little tired. I stayed in a Superior room overlooking the fortress and harbour, so the views were lovely. Unfortunately, the balcony had a solid concrete wall, which meant I couldn’t sit outside and enjoy the views properly. The walk into the main town wasn’t particularly enjoyable, as some of the streets were quite grubby and there was a lot of graffiti, which took away from the experience. The walk into the main town wasn’t particularly enjoyable, as some of the streets were quite grubby and there was a lot of graffiti, which took away from the experience. The pool area was nice enough, but there was a huge patio area that seemed quite underused, with only one table and a few chairs. I think this space could be utilised much better by creating a proper seating area with plenty of tables and chairs. A rooftop bar would also be a fantastic addition and would make much better use of the space. Housekeeping was excellent, and the staff were pleasant and helpful enough. Overall, though, I personally wouldn’t rate this as a 5-star hotel. I would say it is more in keeping with a 4-star standard.