More to know

When did it all start?

Ammos started almost 30 years ago. But it didn’t happen overnight, it’s been more of a marathon than a sprint – think Aesop’s tortoise and hare. It grew organically from humble beginnings, with the food, service and every detail thought out and carefully developed.

I am travelling without children. I hear that your hotel is very popular with families with small children. Will I feel comfortable in such an environment?

Ammos likes guests of all ages and kinds. The hotel is suitable for children however we are also very popular with couples and solo travellers due to our convivial vibe, design, great food and in-the-know concierge. That said, if you are allergic to kids, we are not a good match.

What’s the weather like in April and October (the beginning and end of the season)?

Crete has one of the warmest, sunniest climates anywhere in Greece and indeed Europe. April days are generally warm and sunny. Our pool is heated to an average 25oC, but the sea water is still quite fresh. You can enjoy sunbathing both on the beach and by the pool. October days are mostly mild, warm and sunny, with an average day temperature of 25-28oC. The sea is warm and swimmable (usually 22-24oC). In both April and October, evenings are cool, so do bring a light jacket. Of course, also due to global warming, good weather is sadly never guaranteed and there may be a few rainy or overcast days.

What is your star rating?

Ammos is an atypical hotel.

Anything exciting for 2023 and 2024?

Other than introducing new art and design and finally opening Red Jane bakery (it took us an eternity), we also just inaugurated, the “sunset” bar and lounge, on the rooftop. The space doubles as an outdoor yoga studio a few mornings per week.

Is Ammos hotel child-friendly?

Yes, we are very child-friendly.

Are your rooms and communal areas designed with children and child safety in mind?

We have each guest’s safety in mind, nevertheless parents with children are requested to pay extra attention and never never (never!) leave young children unsupervised-especially near the pool.

What facilities and equipment do you provide for babies and toddlers?

We can provide cots, high chairs (in the restaurant and your room), baby baths, baby blankets, baby towels, baby monitor, bottle steriliser, blenders and potties. We also have a baby changing unit in our restaurant WC.

Do you have a designated children’s play area?

Yes. The play area is parent supervised and we also have a nanny to take care of our little guests from Monday-Friday (10:00 – 13:00 and 16:00 – 19:00) and on Saturday (9:00 – 15:00).

What are your babysitting rates?

Please email us.

Can I find better rates on commercial travel sites?

We do not work with any commercial travel websites, so If you find better rates elsewhere, you are looking at the wrong hotel.

Why is there no online booking system?

That’s true, we do not have online bookings nor can one check our availability on any other site. We run a tight ship here and prefer to accommodate you individually. Also, Nikos is insanely good at replying personally to most requests -normally within a few hours.

Do you offer full or half board options?

We don’t.

Are there any hidden costs that I should be aware of?

No, but remember that breakfast is not included in the room rate.

What is the check-in and check-out time?

Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 12:00.

Is late checkout possible?

We only know if late checkout is possible on the day of your departure. If it is available, your time can be extended for an extra €15 per hour (starting after 12:00). It is not possible to pre-arrange late checkout, however you can book a room for an extra night with a 10% discount. If you wish to stay longer on your departure date and there are no rooms available, you are welcome to store luggage at reception, spend the day at our premises (beach, pool, restaurant etc.) and use our public facilities (shower and dressing room) prior to leaving. Kindly note that there is no space for putting a baby or child to sleep.

Do you charge a deposit?

A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total amount will be deducted 4 weeks before your scheduled arrival. The remaining 50% will be charged upon departure.

What is the default cancellation policy?

It is possible to cancel your booking up to 4 weeks prior to arrival with no penalty. For cancellations within 4 weeks of your scheduled arrival, a 50% charge of the total amount will apply (non-refundable deposit). Last minute cancellations (7 days before arrival), no-shows or reduction of stays while here will be charged the full amount. We are a small hotel and depend entirely on pre-bookings for maximum occupancy. As such, receiving a cancellation close to the arrival date leaves us with very little hope of refilling the room. On the off chance that we manage to fill the room, we are happy to refund on a pro-rata basis.

Please note, for garden view suites and group bookings, the hotel retains the right to perform a stricter cancellation policy.

Are you pet-friendly?

We accept dogs on condition that they are trained and well behaved, accustomed to travel and stay in hotel rooms, do not destroy furniture, do not bark (or bark moderately and not in the middle of the night:-), always on leash and friendly with small children.

Are the sun loungers by the pool and on the beach free of charge?

Yes, they are.

How big is your pool?

It’s not Olympic size but thankfully we are right on the beach 🙂

Is the pool heated?

Yes. In the cooler months (April, May and October) our pool is heated to an average of 25 degrees Celsius.

Do you have a private beach?

No, but the beach in front of the hotel is primarily used by our guests.

Do you provide complimentary beach towels?

Yes.

Can we use your restaurant or pool and beach facilities, even though we are not staying with you?

With the exception of the period 25 July to 20 August, we can accept non-residents at our restaurant on a walk-in basis. Please note that as our hotel guests have priority, walk-in guests can be turned away if our restaurant is very busy. Use of the pool and beach facilities is not permitted as these facilities are exclusive to Ammos guests.

We are staying with you and have friends staying in another hotel. Can we bring them along and use the restaurant and pool/beach?

Please talk to our front desk team. Accommodating this kind of request depends on several factors.

Do you serve at the beach or pool?

We serve unpretentious Greek fare (and some amazing cocktails) all day long also at the beach and pool.

How often do you clean the rooms?

Daily.

Is there free wifi?

Yes, there is free wifi throughout the hotel and rooms.

Are there mosquitoes in the room?

While less than other parts of Greece, there can occasionally be mosquitoes depending on the weather and the time of year. We provide electric mosquito repellents in every room.

What is your smoking policy?

All rooms are non-smoking. Guests can smoke in the outdoor restaurant and on their private balconies and verandas. That said, smokers are kindly requested to be considerate when they are next to children.

Is there a kettle in the room?

All rooms have a compact kitchenette which includes a fridge, two hot plates, a kettle and plenty of cooking equipment, cutlery and crockery.

Do you provide laundry and dry cleaning service?

Yes, we do provide an outsourced laundry & dry-cleaning service. Give us your laundry early in the morning and we will return it on the following day (with the exception of weekends). Dry cleaning takes 2 working days to return.

Does Ammos offer any massages and treatments?

Yes, we offer a small selection of massages in our dedicated treatment room. You can either pre-book in advance (email us and we’ll send you a list of available treatments) or book at the front desk on arrival.

Is there a gym at Ammos or nearby?

We have a small gym at Ammos, equipped with a Life Fitness treadmill and elliptical trainer/walker, a brand new Cybex Bravo compact functional trainer, bench press, weights and TRX equipment. We have a great Yoga teacher and Gym/Personal trainer for one-to-one private sessions. A few meters from our hotel, you will find a hairdresser and beauty salon. In the vicinity there is also a new (opened in 2022) Pilates studio.

Are there any coordinated physical activities which take place in your premises?

We just started offering yoga class three times a week on the rooftop, early in the morning. Please contact reception for more info or to book.

Is there a rooftop bar?

Inaugurated in July 2023, the sunset bar, open few days a week, invites visitors to enjoy rooftop views over the sea while enjoying a curated list of cocktails.

What time does the front desk open and close?

Front desk operates around the clock.

We will arrive late and want to eat at ammos when we arrive. Will your kitchen be closed by then?

Kitchen is open till 23:00. Should you arrive after this time, our staff will happily prepare a toasted sandwich or light snack for you. Please let us know if you wish us to prepare something to eat in your room on arrival. Alternatively, ask us to mail you our current menu, have a look and call us or emails before you arrive at Ammos (no later than 22:00) with your order. Your meal will be waiting for you on arrival.

Does the restaurant cater for vegetarians, vegans and those with lactose intolerance or gluten allergies?

Yes, there are dishes that are suitable for vegetarians, vegans and/or those who are lactose or gluten intolerant. Please inform the front desk and waiting staff about your allergies and remember that our menu descriptions do not necessarily include all used ingredients.

What is the operating hours of the restaurant? Do you serve at the beach or pool?

We serve breakfast 08:00-11:30 am. Then the breezy eatery stays open all day long serving Greek classics also at the beach and pool (plus, the little ones are well catered for).

I want to stay with you on my honeymoon. Will we receive any special honeymoon treatment?

Not really. Email us and let us know if you want to find something special in your room (e.g champagne) and we will gladly deliver the requested service.

Is the tap water drinkable in the hotel?

Yes, it is filtered and perfectly drinkable. It is also much healthier than water in plastic.

How far away is the hotel from the old city of Chania? Can I walk there?

We are 5 km away. It’s a 1 hour walk along the sand y beach or 15 minutes by taxi (8-10 Euro) or bus (every 20 minutes, 1,1 Euro).

Do you have sufficient parking space on your premises for all guests?

Yes, we have freem private open-air parking lot on our premises. Most of the time, this is sufficient for all guest cars but if there is no available space, please ask our help as we have a second parking lot in the vicinity.

What can be found in the vicinity of Ammos (walks, restaurants, shops, entertainment etc)?

Within walking distance, you will find a small wood/park, a children’s entertainment venue, several mini-markets, souvenir shops, supermarkets (500m), a pharmacy, paddleboat rental and a few local taverns. A hairdresser, beauty salon and pilates studio is also nearby. The only restaurants we recommend other than ours, are two very simple, family-run tavernas in the villages of Daratsos and Galatas. Both are a 20 minute uphill walk or a short drive. Please note, there is no decent sidewalk, so pushing a stroller can be difficult.

Are there stray cats in the hotel?

Yes, we do have a few stray cats like most hotels in Greece. But Jonny do not like them.

I want to hike the Samaria gorge; do I have to pre-book it?

No need for that. You can book your trip at the front desk right up until the day before your hike.

Do you provide transfer from Crete’s airports/ports?

If you do not wish to take one of the taxis that are readily available at every port and airport on Crete, please contact our concierge to pre-book a taxi at a special rate. You can also travel to Ammos by taking a bus from the airport to the city centre and taking another bus from the centre to Ammos.

Who is this Red Jane?

Red Jane, our new baby, is a bakery located downtown and designed by iconic Michael Anastassiades. Housed in an old foundry dating back to the 1930s, the building had been abandoned for many years – for Nikos it was love at first sight and the right thing to do after working exclusively at ammos for 30 years. He bought it and decided to open a space where the physical labour of artisanal baking could coexist with great design. Red Jane supplies daily Ammos with sourdough breads, pastries, cakes and coffee beans.

Who talks about you?

Ammos hotel has had a life rich in exposure. We have been featured in many magazines, newspapers and books in these 30 years of uninterrupted operation. To name a few: HTSP of Financial Times, Condé Nast Traveler (multiple times), Travel + Leisure, Monocle, Zeit Magazine (Jonny was on the cover:-), Sabato Magazine, Angelika Taschen Great Escapes Europe and many more.