Idi Hotel

I visited the hotel Idi in the early 1990s and had a very relaxing stay. The experience was so good and I had so many delightful memories that I decided to return. Of course there have been many changes and upgrades in the intervening years; new buildings housing more rooms, smarter and bigger dining areas - but what has not changed is the sense of tranquility and the high level of personalised customer service. The owners and their team work extremely hard providing excellent services but they do it happily and with enthusiasm. I would thoroughly recommend a stay at the hotel Idi for a refreshing break in a beautiful, secluded location that is also a hub for easy access to the rest of the island of Crete.

We just spent three nights in this friendly, family run establishment. The hotel nestles in a idyllic setting in the mountains in it’s own beautiful mature gardens. We loved so many aspects here: genuine and attentive staff who looked after our every need, the beautiful mountain views from our balcony, the lovely food in the family run restaurant and at breakfast. A lot of the foods are home made (jams, cakes) or home grown in the vegetable garden. We enjoyed a hike into the Rouvas Gorge (walking routes start a mere 400 m from the hotel) , drove to the nearby town of Mires (Moires) for Saturday market and the Minoan settlement of Phaistos. If you are looking for a peaceful location in Crete, yet with a lot on your doorstep to do and see, look no further! Thank you Evi and family!

IDI Hotel is an absolute “must” if you’re traveling to Crete! Evi and the entire staff went above-and-beyond when I fell ill during my vacation. Their hospitality, delicious restaurant, and stunning views brought me back to good health. Where else can you get your drinking water from a mountain stream and walk outside your hotel room and see mountains all around you? The location is serene, surrounded by mountains and just a 10-minute walk from the lake. The village of Zaros is also lovely and has some great restaurants and shops. My vacation has just ended, and I’m already ready to return.

Perfect peaceful setting and surrounded by mountains and fresh air. The staff was friendly and the food was superb. Especially loved the mountain tea that they served at their lavish breakfast buffet. Highly recommend that you give this a try. It made my trip truly a memorable experience. Will definitely return here when i again visit Crete.

Evi Almbantaki is a phenomenol host! She is amazing. I had to leave a pre-planned Pilgrimage when I became sick. Evi cared for my every need, and some I didn't even know I had. Hotel Idi is gorgeous, nestled in the PsiloritIs Mountains in Zaros, Crete. It is clean, organized and well run. The food is excellent, and the staff are great.

This hotel was a big surprise. The hotel was excellent and the food was very good. The staf was very helpful. It was fun to se the fishfarm near the restaurant. The surroundings was very beautiful. The old buildings and the big trees gave this place a perfekt look.

A surprisingly good hotel, for which we payed 75€ for a triple room with balcony and a great breakfast (they also have a pool). Watch out when using Google Map though, it guided us to the hotel via small routes that are not even doable by car! Frankly, we didn't expect to find such a great place in the middle of "nowhere". We especially liked the great variety they had for breakfast. The reception was very friendly and helpful. And the hike starting the nearby Votomos lake through the Rouvas gorge was the absolute highlight of our Cretan holiday.

Immaculate hotel with beautifully manicured gardens and large swimming pool overlooking the mountains. The Lake of Zaros (Votomos) is a short walk away where there is a good taverna where we had an excellent meze lunch. Directly next to the hotel is a traditional watermill, trout farm and Votomos taverna where we had dinner while watching the sun set over the mountains. Our room was very modern with a very comfortable bed, walk in shower, flat screen television, fridge and large balcony overlooking the mountains. Free Wi-Fi and an excellent breakfast was included in the rate.

I highly recommend staying in Idi hotel The hotel is family run and everyone who works there genuinely cares about what they do. The hotel and rooms are extremely clean and well looked after. This was our first family holiday being based in the mountains. The mountains and lake are beautiful. The restaurant is linked to a fish farm and is also family run and we ate there 9 out of 12 evenings. The quality and value of the meals was excellent and the staff made us feel really special. Being based away from the South beaches, we hired a car. The hotel will assist and get you the best rates. This really freed us up and gave us the opportunity to visit beaches- Matala, Komos and Agia Galini . ( Keep 2/3 euros spare for parking) There were lots of historic sites to visit in a 30 minute radius and Heraklion town was only a 50 minute drive. We hired a boat there and had a few day trips. The hotel staff will assist and help you plan your days out. In and around the hotel there are some fantastic hikes for all ages, starting at the beautiful lake Limni. Back at the hotel, the swimming pool was excellent, with lots of quiet shaded areas to read and relax. I highly recommend this hotel for couples and families. We will definitely visit again.