Cloud9 Hotel

We had a great week in Malia. Cloud 9 Hotel is handy for both the beach and the old town, with shops, supermarkets, restaurants and McDonald's nearby. We rented a car from Eurotrip Malia, got a good deal from the owner, and visited Heraklion, Agios Nicolaos, Sisi and Matala. Beautiful places. Our room was clean and pleasant, with a pool view and air conditioning, and we enjoyed the tasty breakfasts. The owners were very friendly and helped with whatever we needed. It's an adults-only hotel right on the Strip among the clubs and lively nightlife, so the music didn't bother us. Lively vibes.

You won't get any sleep before 6 a.m. with several very loud bars below the hotel and inside it. The staff weren't pleasant, and reception was empty all the time. The room was pretty small, and the AC took hours to cool it down. Breakfast started late and had very little choice. Sometimes the breakfast area was already closed before the stated end time. Do yourself a favor and don't go there. If I can even call this place a hotel, it's the worst place you could stay.

Right in the heart of the Malia strip, this is about as central as it gets. The hotel sits above the bar, and there's a great pool and back terrace looking out over the Cretan mountains. Our room was spacious and had a balcony too. Evenings at the bar had an electric atmosphere, with a great DJ playing classics that got everyone dancing and a varied cocktail menu. The whole team was friendly and eager to help. Check-in was smooth, and we got a welcome cocktail when we arrived. We had a mint experience and a proper Malia stay. Highly recommend.

Cloud 9 is such a nice place, and I love Dave and Alex, they're so funny! The food was amazing, and there's a lovely pool you can use. The staff were friendly and welcoming, made us delicious cocktails when we arrived, and prepared shisha with the flavor we wanted.