Mantenia Hotel

I loved how calm and beautiful this place felt. It has a traditional, non-commercial feel, lovely staff, and an incredible location. The beach five minutes away had turtles hatching. It’s the opposite of mass tourism, and so relaxing.

We stayed seven nights at the Mantenia hotel this Summer and had a memorable vacation. Chrysoula and the staff were incredibly caring and went out of their way for us. We arrived very late and hungry, and she made us toast. Before we left, Chrysoula gave us produce from her garden and treated guests like family. The hotel has a rare soul, and the owners are so friendly. It’s well placed between Hania, Heraklion, and our favorite, Rethymno. I recommend renting a car to explore the beautiful island. We’ll definitely be back. Thank you, Crysoula, and everyone, for a wonderful vacation! 🌟💕 Mili

This is a welcoming family-run hotel if that’s what you’re after, rather than a luxurious one. We were pleased with our stay, though a few things surprised us or could have been handled differently. The owner is a lovely lady, almost 70, and speaks English quite well. We had comfortable rooms, but the bathrooms could use an update. Air conditioning costs extra, 6 euro per day, and they ask you to leave the key at reception when you go out because they only have one and want to make sure it isn’t lost. Breakfast is said to start at 8am, but everything is usually ready around 8:30-8:45am, which seems common across Crete. We were leaving for a hike at about 5am and would miss breakfast, so the owner offered to make us sandwiches for the day, a very nice family gesture. The pool looked clean and I think it’s cleaned every day. The beach is very close, but the sea was super wavy when we arrived. If you want calmer water, ask the owner, who recommended a great spot 20 minutes away.

Everything we needed was nearby, and the staff were familiar and helpful. We spent four nights in a comfortable, very clean room.