Casa Malena

The views of the sea and mountains are wonderful, and the owners and cleaner were very friendly. The place was beautiful and clean, with daily cleaning and regular changes of bedding and towels. They provided plenty of toilet paper, plus a fridge and a two-ring hob. A safe is available for an extra charge, and air con costs €7 per unit per night. My only suggestion would be to add mosquito nets to the windows. I’d definitely recommend it and will be back. Thank you, Sonia and team.

Best hotel in Crete. Make sure you go!

A clean place in a great location, with friendly owners and staff. I can’t fault it and will definitely be back.

Crete is still my favourite of the Greek islands. I’ve been visiting Greece for years, always going to different islands, and this summer I’m travelling alone in Malia for 14 days. I hadn’t been here before. Today is Tuesday, September 16, 2025, and I’m enjoying my last few days before heading back to wet Germany on Saturday 🙈 I usually stay in hotels, holiday apartments, or apartments, always trying somewhere different. CASA Malena is an apartment. The two hosts gave me a warm welcome when I arrived, just as I’d expect from the friendly, warm-hearted Greeks 🤗. But from the first moment, the room I was assigned didn’t feel pleasant or comfortable 🙈. The terrace looked out on an unfinished construction site, one of many here. Maybe the Greeks have run out of money, or maybe projects just take forever to finish 😂. The weather could have something to do with it too, since the sun was still blazing in September 😊. The terrace chairs were old and incredibly uncomfortable, and without any sun protection I couldn’t stay outside for even five minutes 🙈. I took the room anyway because I just wanted to settle in 😊. The next morning, I tried to explain the problem to the housekeeper, but she speaks very little English, so communication was difficult. 🙈 Everyone has a phone with a translation app in the 21st century, right? 😂 That worked perfectly. 🤗 She offered me a room in the other apartment, but it wouldn’t be free until the following Sunday, a week later, so I had to make the best of things. 😊 I spend my days at the beach anyway 🤗. When I eventually moved into the new apartment, I was happy with it. Its terrace chairs were super comfortable, and it had better kitchen equipment and utensils than the first apartment. I think solo travellers often get rooms that aren’t as well equipped 🙈. The idea seems to be, “She’s a woman, she won’t complain.” 😂 But I’m not like that! 😂 Malia has plenty to offer, including great tavernas, nightlife if you want it, and quiet when that’s what you’re after 🤗. But the waste separation here is a mess. It doesn’t exist, and you can see the rubbish every day 🙈. Greece introduced a tourist tax last year, depending on the accommodation’s star rating. The money is supposed to go toward infrastructure, but lots of places are still dirty 🙈. They really should make an effort with waste separation. The apartment is also very noisy. In the end, I wouldn’t come back to Malia. The apartment was okay, but it didn’t meet my expectations, and there are definitely nicer places in Greece, especially on Crete 🤗. I do want to say that the hosts always tried their best to make my stay in the apartment pleasant. Thanks again for that ❤️