Marilisa Hotel

A peaceful family hotel right by the shore. The beach is only a two-minute walk away, and the airport is about 15 minutes by bus. Everyone on staff was lovely and ready to help with whatever we needed. A wonderful spot for a relaxing holiday.

It’s only about 70 metres to the sea, and there’s a pool bar beside the pool. Our room was spacious, with a balcony and a beautiful sea view, though some rooms face the pool instead. Inside we had a fridge, sink, TV, dressing table with hairdryer, wardrobe and a table for three. The room was cleaned every day, which was a first for us in nine years of visiting Crete. Towels and bed linen were changed every two or three days, or whenever we asked, without any trouble. The staff were lovely, helpful and always smiling, especially Maria and Niko. There’s a bus stop, supermarkets, shops, a taverna and cafés just a short walk away. The food could be improved. We’d love to come back next year! – AZ

The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the pool was a good size, with a few sunbeds and umbrellas. The beach is about a 150-metre walk, with sand and pebbles. There are no loungers to rent there, so bring your own things. Bus stops are only a few metres away, with services in both directions, towards Heraklion or Chersonisos and Malia, roughly every 20 minutes. The village is pleasant and has plenty of shops, tavernas and restaurants. Being close to the airport suited us because we don’t like long transfers, and we could watch planes coming in to land from the beach. The rooms are simple and a little dated, but quite spacious, fully equipped and always spotless. I did miss having an electric kettle and cups. Breakfast and dinner were buffet style, with something for everyone. Dinner usually had two meats, fish, pasta and sauce, at least two sides, bread, fresh and cooked vegetables, salads, fruit and two desserts. Breakfast had plenty of cheese, ham, eggs, bread, pastries, excellent yogurt, fresh fruit, vegetables and cereal with milk. The only drawback for our group was the coffee and tea. They were drinkable only with our eyes closed.

The staff were the nicest we’ve met at any hotel. They helped whenever we needed something. There was a little girl there for a while during our stay, and one staff member was buying her small gifts. It was very sweet, though I can’t remember that person’s name. We often had the poolside to ourselves, which made for a very relaxing time. We visited Crete for the first time, spending two weeks there in August. It was hot, but there was a slight breeze we hadn’t expected, which was nice. Our room had full air conditioning, a really comfortable bed, and was cleaned daily. We never saw bugs or ants inside, only the odd spider. The hotel sits along a road between the towns, so there aren’t many shops, but the ones around were lovely and the people were incredibly friendly. Olive soap was very cheap, around one euro for a bar, and I’d recommend picking some up since it costs so much more in the UK. Two beaches were within walking distance. The smaller one, about 50 metres from the hotel, had room for only two rows of loungers. The front row was around 15 euros each, and the back row about 10 euros each, though those might not be the exact prices. Another beach, about 15 minutes away, had a Blue Flag. Two loungers and a parasol there cost 7 euros, and it was absolutely stunning. We’d definitely come back. :)