Pension Mary

We really loved our six-night stay and would return. Parking is expensive in this area, though the receptionist can help with it. We booked Mare Olympus hotel on a bit of a whim after Jet2 offered a pretty reasonable autumn rate for a quick stop. We'd stayed nearby before, including at its sister Hotel the Mirimare spa, but this time wanted to be in town somewhere quieter, and this place suited us with a low all-in price. It's an old building with old-world charm, not a modern boutique hotel, and its star rating roughly reflects what it offers. Our one-bedroom suite looked over Marabello Bay and the Town beach. It was moderately spacious, with a small balcony, a reasonably sized modern TV, kitchenette, microwave, portable twin-ring hotplate, fridge, kettle, sink, and the expected utensils. The bathroom had a bath and shower, sink, and toilet together. In the bedroom there were twin beds that could be joined as a double, a large mirror table, wooden shutters, and the air conditioning beside the table. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were fair to good. Sophia, who ran the restaurant, was a lovely woman. The entrance area was fairly roomy and led to toilets and showers near the pool and bar, just around the corner. There are lifts and stairs, but the lifts only fit about two people, so taking cases upstairs is a one-person-at-a-time job. Maria at reception was lovely and couldn't do enough for us. If you're after an older-style place in town, away from the crowds rather than a modern boutique hotel, this could suit you.

We've stayed here three times now. It's a friendly, small place, very close to the beach and other facilities. About 95% of the food is traditional Greek.

It's a basic apartment-style hotel, which suits me since I mainly need somewhere to sleep and wash when travelling. Our room was quiet, though we could hear noise from the stairwell quite clearly. Luckily the other guests stayed quiet too. The beds were good, but the water pressure was weak and the toilet didn't flush very well. Hot water was limited, especially in the evenings when lots of people were showering. We didn't eat at the hotel restaurant, so I can't say how the food is. The location was decent, with a small beach nearby, though getting to a store took a bit of a walk.

Our honeymoon began in Greece at Mare Hotel, and it was such a lovely start. Shops and restaurants are an easy walk away, and breakfast was outstanding. Maria suggested a five-hour boat trip from Agios Nikolaos to Spinalonga Island, with a delicious lunch and time for swimming. We loved it. The whole staff was exceptional, especially Maria, who went out of her way to make our stay comfortable and relaxing. We feel so lucky to have met her. Highly recommend booking here.