Happy Days Studios

We spent a week here in April. The rooms are cleaned every other day, and while you’re close to the neighbours, you can hear them but it isn’t too loud. It’s quiet at this time of year. It was my first time somewhere that charged separately for air conditioning and WiFi, but you adapt to the places you visit. I had a lovely time. The food and nature are great, and if you enjoy walking, you can reach different seaside spots and watch the sun rise and set. There’s plenty to see if you’re here for nightlife too. Whatever you’re after, get out of your room and see what Crete has to offer. I definitely recommend it.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS! CRAPPY DAYS lived up to the name. The owners’ dog crapped by the sunbeds every day. The owner got angry and banged on my door because I’d locked my hired bike where the mopeds were parked, even though another staff member had said that was okay. She wouldn’t let me keep it in my room either, saying nobody steals there. Then staff moved the bike without telling me, and it was stolen. I was cycling up to Rosa Gorge before that happened. The TV and fridge didn’t work, and there was loads of rubbish under the bed. I couldn’t sleep any night. When people came in late, or talked on the balcony, it sounded like they were right beside me in bed. The balconies are set up so close together that they act like an echo chamber. They offer no privacy at all, you could have eaten off the neighbours’ plates. My balcony got no sun in the morning or evening, and the view was a wall and tractors. There were extra charges: 3 euros a day for room tax, though I heard they sometimes charged 2; 63 euros a week for air conditioning; and 10 euros a week for WiFi. It also cost 25 euros to stay past 11 on the last day. The maid, who I called ADOLF, wouldn’t let me into my room after she’d washed the stairs and got aggressive about it. On the last day, ADOLF let herself into my room before 11 and told me to leave. The beach is a 45-minute walk from CRAPPY DAYS. Aside from all that, Malia is beautiful. Thanks to Tom, Mike, and Zane, who also contributed to these facts.

The hotel itself is very nice, with clean rooms and a lovely pool. But when I booked through booking dot com, it said air conditioning and WiFi were included. The hotel wouldn’t provide them unless I paid extra, even after I showed proof of what I’d paid for. They weren’t accommodating about it, so be aware or you could end up out of pocket like I did.

There were nine of us, and after reading the other reviews we were nervous about our week at Happy Days Studios. Once we arrived, though, we were pleasantly surprised. The owners were very nice. We paid a deposit plus WiFi and air conditioning in cash when we arrived, and got 20 euros back at the end of the week depending on the condition of the room. The rules seemed reasonable, including no loud balcony music after 11 pm and no bringing outside food or drinks to the pool. The rooms were modern and clean, much nicer than we expected. We had two single beds and a sofa bed, which wasn’t what we thought we’d paid for, and had to ask for another mattress because the sofa bed was so uncomfortable. The air conditioning costs extra, but works really well. They only provide one toilet roll and no hand soap, though shops nearby sell both. There’s also a little shop at the hotel with a few essentials. WiFi works well near the pool, including in rooms close to it. The hotel restaurant was great value, with lots of breakfast, lunch, and dinner choices. The old town is also less than a five-minute walk away, with lots of traditional Greek restaurants. All of us were happy with our stay, and I’d recommend the hotel to anyone going to Malia.