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- Friendly family-run hotel
- Beautiful beachfront location
- Tavernas and shops 5min walk
- Unspoilt area ideal for walking
- Four suites exclusive to Simpson Travel
2024 Holidays... 2023 Prices
Our 2024 holidays are now priced online and with our early bird promise, you can enjoy December 2022 prices when you book by 31 December 2023. View Price Freeze Terms & Conditions here.
Nestling by the Libyan Sea in the southeast corner of Crete is Makrigialos, home to the Artemis Hotel, a small, family-run establishment of 30 rooms and suites. Fronting a glorious sandy beach which shelves gently around the bay for half a mile or so, it’s a modest place, not for those seeking a high-end luxury resort, but the unique location offers access to a hidden Crete that so many visitors never see and countless opportunities for discovering a different side of this great island that's every bit as compelling as the tourist trails further west. For a glimpse of this extraordinary landscape, please view our Hidden Crete video.
The local area is largely focussed on agriculture, yielding an astonishing array of products; consequently tourism has less prominence here and once you turn off the main thoroughfare that runs along by the sea, a different world unfolds. Time has stood still and delightful small tavernas lie at the heart of the hillside villages with rural prices to match, and though the food may take a little longer to prepare, it’s freshly cooked and more than worth the wait.
The jewel in the crown is Pefki, where Piperia Restaurant is renowned for being one of the best for traditional Cretan fare. The proud owner Fanis uses only local ingredients – wild greens, artichokes, pomegranates, mushrooms – all collected on the nearby hillsides at different times of the year. The energetic will walk up the Pefki Gorge from Makrigialos to get there; more measured souls take a taxi and step out for the spectacular journey back down. Either way a visit is essential to experience Cretan hospitality at its very best; unhurried, unpretentious and utterly delicious.
The area is a walker’s paradise and there are many lesser-known archaeological sites too, including the impressive Moni Kapsa monastery, just a 10-minute drive from Makrigialos. Or, if you fancy travelling further afield, it's possible to rent a car for a couple of days to head further east and explore Xerokambos, Kato Zakros and Kouremenos.
At the hotel itself, you are guaranteed a warm welcome from Maria, the owner’s daughter, whose infectious passion for philoxenia shines through in everything she does. For Simpson Travel guests we have reserved eight suites in the hotel – the Palm Tree Suites. Situated on the ground and first floor, they are comfortable and cool, all with balconies or terraces overlooking the sea. The four beach suites are larger and have their own loungers on the lawn beyond their terraces with steps leading directly down to the sea; the balconies of the first floor suites offer a little more privacy with uninterrupted views across the bay. A lovely beachfront dining area with multicoloured tables is set out under a canopy of almiriki trees; served by the hotel restaurant it offers all the familiar Greek specialities and is celebrated locally as one of the best traditional eateries in the village.
Further bars and tavernas are a short stroll along the sand and though the hotel beach is a real draw, those in search of more solitary shores should head for Diaskari, just a 15-minute stroll away. Here, it feels wild and undiscovered (notwithstanding the excellent taverna at its entrance) and further along the coast again, a number of small, deserted beaches are scarcely visited, even in the height of summer.
For those interested in discovering an authentic taste of island life from a time gone by, our Palm Tree Suites couldn’t be better placed. As the history of this special spot begins to weave its way into your heart, its unpolished edges only begin to add to the appeal. Equally, the suites are an excellent choice for anyone who values warm, attentive service, value for money and a magnificent stretch of sandy coastline for a week to drop and flop.
Explore Hidden Crete
If you’re keen to see more of Hidden Crete, we are happy to arrange bespoke itineraries in May and October, combining a stay at the Palm Tree Suites with one or more of our other hotels in the east of the island; Mochlos Blue and Breezes @ Glaros Beach. Please call our Destination Specialists for further information.
Accommodation
Palm Tree Suites
- Four first-floor suites with balconies overlooking the sea (25m2)
- Four ground-floor beach suites with terrace and garden loungers overlooking the sea (35m2)
- Set within 30-room Artemis Hotel
Layout
- Kitchenette with fridge and tea and coffee making facilities
- Double beds (180cm beds that can be made as a twin on request)
- En-suite shower room with basin and WC
- Accessed by one flight of steps
General
- Complimentary WiFi
- Air-conditioned throughout
- Iron, ironing board, hair dryer, bath and beach towels provided
- Beachfront restaurant with shaded dining area
- Terrace bar and breakfast area
- Daily cleaning
- Parking space
- Bike hire from hotel
WiFi
- All properties with WiFi are able to support basic functionality such as web browsing and checking emails*
* We aim to offer an uninterrupted service but sometimes due to factors beyond our control reliability can be affected.
National tourist licence (EOT): 1040K032A0087900
Location
- Located on the beach in Makrigialos
- Shops and supermarket 5min walk
- Skippered boat hire 15min walk
- Ierapatra 30min drive
- Sitia town and local airport 35min drive
- Xerokambos 1hr drive
- Heraklion airport 1hr 30min drive
Car hire
Car options
Based on the number of people travelling, the following hire car(s) are included in the package price of your holiday:
- 2 guests – 1 Group C2, Fiat Grande Punto or similar*
*All our cars include comprehensive insurance with no excess charge.For this particular destination, the undercarriage, tyres, wing mirrors and windscreen are not included in the cover.
Car specification
Group C2 – 1.2-1.4 litre engine, 1 large suitcase*
The following cars are available as alternatives on request (supplements apply). Please call our travel specialists for details.
Group D2 – Hyundai i30 or similar, 1.4 litre engine, 2 large suitcases*
Group CA – Automatic Fiat Grande Punto or similar, 1.2-1.4 litre engine, 1 large suitcase*
Group D3 – Skoda Octavia or similar, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 3 large suitcases*
Group DA3 – Automatic Seat Toledo or similar, 1.4 - 2.0 litre engine, 3 large suitcase*
Group L2 – Skoda Yeti or similar, 2.0 litre engine, 3 large suitcases*
* Suitcase sizes are based on a large suitcase being approximately 75cm x 41cm x 31cm, a medium suitcase of approximately 65cm x 46cm x 29cm and a small suitcase of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
We had a wonderful holiday with Simpson Travel at the Palm Tree Suites. The room and hotel exceeded our expectations. The hotel was in a fabulous location on the beachfront with plenty of local tavernas a short walk away. Maria and her staff were brilliant hosts and Olympia the concierge was amazing.
Very enjoyable week. The location next to the beach is perfect. Hotel facilities and staff great. Nobody could do enough for you! Hotel restaurant was good food and good value. Didn’t venture far but the port and tavernas were also excellent. Will definitely ‘be back’!
The Artemis Hotel made for a delightful stay on one of the best beaches in the area. Maria and her team provided a very friendly and efficient service, always with a smile. Thanks to them all. We enjoyed being able to walk to a great selection of restaurants. Enjoyed travelling around including Xerokambos and Ierapetra Old Town. Thanks also to Olympia for looking after us and her suggestions of places to see and eat.
What can be better than staying in a hotel on the beach rolling out of bed onto a beach bed with waiter service for drinks?
The venue was excellent, right on a sandy beach set in lovely gardens. The staff were fabulous, and the hotel was not too busy. Very relaxing. Aim to return.
We loved everything and everyone at the Artemis and can’t wait to return next year.
Recommend the walk up to Pefki village and a good lunch at Piperia restaurant, excellent views. Highlight was visiting Kato Zakros – walking down through the gorge to a lovely beach, Minoan ruins and lunch. The drive over the mountains is stunning if a little terrifying with hairpin bends, but beautiful unspoiled country. Loved the hotel, nothing was too much trouble.
Such a charming hotel. The staff are so friendly and welcoming. What a treat to wake up to the sound of lapping waves on the shore. We found Gusto and Diaskari beach great places to eat.
Accommodation is fully up to the standard we’ve come to expect from Simpson Travel. The staff are very welcoming and friendly. Breakfasts were excellent. We’re sad to be here too early in the season to try the restaurant. Many thanks to Maria, with such an infectious laugh, and Pepe, who brought up our luggage on arrival and looked after us so well at breakfast time. Also to Olympia for her advice on our trip up into the hills to Pefki and suggestions for some excellent waterside tavernas – we enjoyed Gusto, Petra Bay (large portions!), and Faros. All in all a lovely week which we have thoroughly enjoyed.
Our choice of Greek properties is as diverse as the islands themselves, ranging from simple seaside charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal. To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.
* For further clarification on Facilities and Amenities, please view the 'Details' tab for each property or speak to one of our experienced sales consultants.
The Gulf of Mirabello is one of the most sought after enclaves of Crete. Here you'll find Elounda, a pretty waterfront town hosting some of the island's most exclusive hotels and restaurants and regular ferries across to the former leper colony Spinalonga, a disconcertingly beautiful island with a fascinating history made famous by Victoria Hislop's novel The Island. A little further east, fashionable Agios Nikolaos is a lively town with an abundance of charm and a great selection of restaurants and shops around the harbour.
But as you leave the Gulf of Mirabello behind and head south or east, the island reveals a rugged landscape harbouring the soul food of a simpler life. Our portfolio here celebrates the road less travelled, transporting guests from the mainstream to a hidden Crete that's often overlooked. From gorges and caves to the mountain communities of the beautiful Lasithi Plateau, from the tucked away waterfront village of Mochlos in the north to the timeless landscapes and homely tavernas surrounding Makrigialos in the south – this is Crete at its most warmly welcoming, without artifice, where you’re a guest and never a tourist.
Discover it for yourself by viewing our handpicked villas and hotels in The Gulf of Mirabello & South East Crete.
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