Ethereal White Resort Hotel & Spa in Heraklio Town

If you're staying in the center of Heraklion, this location is great. There is parking available, and you'll be able to walk to restaurants, shopping, etc. I liked the feeling of being in the center of it all. The staff was also quite friendly, and this review is no fault of theirs. However, I feel it's really important to level-set expectations, in case you — like I did — are filtering accommodations by 5-star ratings. I have stayed in 2-star hotels that were better than this. The first and most problematic issue was the layout of the room. We had a room with a private plunge pool that was completely not functional. There is a large column in the center of the room. There is NO space for anything — no hooks for your towels. The bathroom has the ODDEST configuration that leaves zero room for your toiletries; completely impractical when getting ready. Unless you travel with ONE small carry-on per couple, you're going to have a hard time opening and accessing your luggage. Next: oh, that private plunge pool that might have you thinking that luxury awaits. NOPE. First, the orientation of the hotel is such that there is ZERO sunlight on the balcony, so although the plunge pool is heated, you should think of it as a jacuzzi, not a pool for laying out. Second, and this was the weirdest thing: There is a small sun lounger on the patio, but you cannot climb onto it unless you get INTO the plunge pool. That means you can only relax on it if you're planning to get wet. Should I mention the construction noise happening down the block? Now the rooftop terrace: There is a small pool but there are no sunbeds surrounding it. There are a couple of rooftop rooms and if you book one of those, you get chairs (NOT FULL LOUNGERS) next to the pool. Otherwise, you can choose one of a handful of loungers next to a cramped bar on the roof. There is cheap furniture throughout, really cheesy lighting choices in the lobby, and overall I felt: I've been DUPED. Look if you get a good deal and really want to stay in the center, maybe it's a decent option. But just go into your reservation with your eyes open. (I did not.)